What Ottawa should be talking about

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Jun 29, 2023 View in browser   By Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Kyle Duggan Presented by Google Programming note: Ottawa Playbook won't publish on Friday, June 30. We'll be back in your inboxes first thing Monday morning. Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Nick | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → Do we need to talk more about the Arctic? → What else should be on the Hill's radar this summer? → A former House speaker lands a new gig. DRIVING THE DAY THE FIRST THING — APTN News first reported last night that 163 chiefs and proxies voted at an online meeting of the Assembly of First Nations to oust National Chief ROSEANNE ARCHIBALD. "The unprecedented online meeting was held in private," the broadcaster noted, "ahead of a full assembly meeting in Halifax starting July 13." A BIG GET — Former House speaker GEOFF REGAN is joining Sandstone Group, a strategic advisory firm with a new crisis comms practice, as a senior adviser. "Geoff's wealth of public-private expertise will give our clients a privileged line of sight into government decision-making and exercise of power," said managing partner NARESH RAGHUBEER. Regan has also beefed up his business bonafides since leaving the Commons in 2021. In March 2022, he took a Harvard Business School course on how to be a corporate director as part of a transition program that helps MPs "re-establish themselves" in the outside world. ARCTIC SECURITY — Ah, summertime. The Hill slows to a near-halt. Staffers and journalists take long-delayed vacations. We have time to talk about ostensibly urgent issues that are perennially crowded out of the parliamentary fights du jour. Senate committees elbow their way into a news cycle. So it was on Wednesday, one of the reliably slowest hump days of the year in the post-silly season news vacuum, when the Senate committee on national security, defense and veterans affairs published a report on Canada's glaring gaps in Arctic defense. — Sober second thought: Arctic defense has not been a key priority for Canada since the Cold War. But senators say the country needs to re-engage on Arctic security in a changing geopolitical environment with new risks from foreign powers and climate change. We've heard this all before. — Spread too thin: At a news conference unveiling the report, Independent Sen. TONY DEAN, who chairs the committee, warned that Canada’s armed forces are “below complement, under-resourced and stretched to the limit.” — The Globe headline on the report: Canada urged to buy new submarines capable of operating in the Arctic. — Here's a talker from another time: Canada in the past declined to partner with the U.S. on its ballistic missile defense program. Asked about it at the press conference, senators said it’s something Canada should reconsider. “If we want to maintain that relationship with the U.S., ballistic missile capacity should be considered again by the federal government,” Dean said. “We’re thin on the ground in many respects.” Don't expect a sudden about-face from the Trudeau government on American-made missiles flying across Canadian skies. But 'tis the season of food for thought. — Meanwhile, in the U.K.: Defense Minister ANITA ANAND is warming up for July's NATO summit with a trip to the United Kingdom. Anand meets today with Canadian military personnel at a military base, delivers a speech at a think tank and holds a bilateral meeting and media availability alongside BEN WALLACE, the U.K. secretary of state for defense. The word count on "Arctic" in Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU's joint statement this week with Nordic leaders hit a whopping five — including by stressing the importance of the region in "maintaining a safe and stable global climate." The Arctic is a thing. Anand and the PM should make time for it this summer. DUMPWATCH — Friday is the Friday to end all Fridays before the Canada Day long weekend. Set your alarms for 5 p.m., the hour in Ottawa to drop news that newsmakers would rather be neither seen nor heard.   A message from Google:   TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region for "private meetings." — Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Quebec City. — Defense Minister ANITA ANAND is in the U.K. 8 a.m. (1 p.m. BT) Anand delivers remarks at the Royal United Services Institute. 9 a.m. The Parliamentary Budget Officer publishes costing notes on the government's clean electricity and clean technology tax credits. 10 a.m. Tory leader PIERRE POILIEVRE holds a press conference in Halifax. 10 a.m. An embargo lifts on the Communications Security Establishment's 2022-2023 Annual Report. 10:45 a.m. (3:45 p.m. BT) Anand and Wallace speak to reporters following their bilat. 2:30 p.m. Freeland will tour an advanced technology manufacturing facility. She'll be joined by Health Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS. 5:30 p.m. (6:30 AT) Poilievre holds a meet-and-greet in Truro, Nova Scotia. HALLWAY CONVERSATION UNDER THE RADAR — It's all the rage in the Ottawa bubble to talk about a much-ballyhooed government "reset" planned for this summer. We'll indulge all of your favorite Cabinet speculation as the chatter picks up in July. Stay tuned. Today, we're putting a different spin on the reset convo. We asked three smart observers for their answer to this question: "What should Ottawa be talking about this summer that we didn't spend enough time on in the winter and spring?" KEMA JOSEPH, consultant at Crestview Strategy in Toronto: Canada has openly expressed interest in gaining a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, namely to increase its chances of getting a seat on the U.N. Security Council. One of the most significant global human rights movements is the International Decade for People of African Descent. Yet, Canada has been very quiet about the initiative, which is powered by three themes: recognition, justice and development. It's hard to imagine Canada gaining a seat on the Human Rights Council while being quiet about this movement. Ottawa should talk about it this summer, especially with the observance coming to an end in 2024. NICK SCHIAVO, director of federal affairs at the Council of Canadian Innovators: I’d really like to see Ottawa talking about our country’s national cybersecurity strategy. Just this week, Suncor was hit by a cyberattack that’s going to cost them millions. Indigo was hit by an attack that halted their operations for days. In the past couple of years, both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have been hit by huge attacks. This week’s Waterloo Security Dialogue underscored the need to get a new national cybersecurity strategy done, to wrap around many of the government’s new innovation initiatives. Securing our digital systems is one of the most pressing national security issues of our time, and there’s an urgent need for a strategy that creates an industry-forward and truly national framework to prepare Canadians, businesses, municipalities and institutions for the coming wave of AI and quantum-based attacks. Canada already has quite a few great cybersecurity companies. What we need is policymakers talking about the issue and taking a leadership role. OMAR ALLAM, global trade and geopolitical adviser: Canada needs to urgently rethink its economic policies with international trade and investment at the center of its new foreign policy. Additionally, we need to think about designing new trade and economic partnership models that go beyond traditional free trade agreements. Ottawa also needs to think about creating an early stage export financing vehicle that supports Canadian exporters in pursuing global infrastructure projects. It should cover upfront costs and project development risks and remove funding from political cycles. Lastly, where are the next 5-10 markets we want to get out in front of, and is the private sector primed and ready. We also need to give serious thought into how to re-engage with Saudi Arabia and how to deepen relations with Qatar, UAE, Egypt, India, etc. WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN Who's up: Families Minister KARINA GOULD, who celebrated her 36th birthday on Wednesday by pumping up federal child care spending with PM Trudeau at a Mississauga re-announcement of a C$625-million infrastructure fund for renovations, retrofits and new child care facilities (note: first pledged in budget 2022). Who's down: Canadian newspapers, following the news Tuesday that Postmedia and the owners of Metroland papers — as well as the Toronto Star — acknowledged they're in merger talks. The two sides are pledging "economies of scale in the business model," which skeptics read as "future layoffs." When Postmedia merged with the Sun chain of newspapers in 2015, their big promise was that newsrooms wouldn't merge. They did. Layoffs followed. MEDIA ROOM — STEPHANIE LEVITZ of the Star reports on PIERRE POILIEVRE, likability and "the Great Glasses Debate." — Top of POLITICO: Inside JOE BIDEN's dramatic backchannel to Russia as a near-coup unfolded. — EMILY BLAKE writes from Yellowknife: Nunavut's historic land-use plan submitted after 16 years. — GLEN MCGREGOR weighs in via his brand-new Substack on the latest Ottawa public art to cause a stir. McGregor notes the city's proclivity for immediate and visceral negativity whenever a taxpayer-funded art piece is installed around town. — From the Yukon News: "Bail reform, climate, Arctic security discussed at western premiers’ meeting" — On The Line, KEVIN NEWMAN points the CRTC to an option as it considers a Bell Media bid to reduce local news programming: "Dismiss the application and order Bell to continue supporting real journalism using the substantial profits generated by its protected wireless business and its other divisions enjoying the spoils of technological upheaval." — Policy Options' KATHRYN MAY scored an exit interview with JANICE CHARETTE. She posed a question: "How are organizations dealing with one crisis after another, with workload pressures 24/7 and in the complicated and somewhat conflictual operating environments governments are functioning in?" PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to KATALIN CSEH, a Canadian-born Hungarian physician who serves in the European Parliament. Former federal Cabmin DAVID DINGWALL, former Ontario Cabmin JOHN MILLOY and former senator CHARLIE WATT also celebrate. Spotted: A date for provincial by-elections to fill vacancies left by MITZIE HUNTER in Scarborough-Guildwood and MERRILEE FULLERTON in Kanada-Carleton. Voters will vote July 27. MP SHERRY ROMANADO, awarded honorary membership in the International Association of Fire Fighters “for her steadfast support of the union’s efforts to end occupational cancer.” The order-in-council approving the new collective agreement negotiated by the Canada Revenue Agency and the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The deal runs until Oct. 31, 2025. A C$127,305.80 contract awarded to Forum Research for polling on "environmental climate change" … Ex-USTR ROBERT LIGHTHIZER's take on CHRYSTIA FREELAND's NAFTA renegotiating style (via the eagle-eyed ALEX PANETTA). Movers and shakers: Edelman, the global PR and consulting firm, announced 240 job cuts. BMO Capital Markets also shed 100 jobs. Guelph MP LLOYD LONGFIELD told his constituents in a letter that he won't seek reelection in the next federal campaign. Crestview Strategy consultant CAMERON DOHERTY logged a meeting on behalf of Tecpetrol with five Natural Resources officials: MARK BOYLAND, JONATHAN TERKEL, AIDAN DITCHBURN-TROUT, ANDREW GHATTAS and STACEY JANOTA. Temple Scott Associates senior counsel BRIAN KLUNDER is now lobbying on behalf of Environmental Defence Canada. Media mentions: MO AMIR marked five years of the This is VANCOLOUR pod … RICHARD BLOOM informs LinkedIn that he was caught up in recent Bell Media cuts. PROZONE If you’re a subscriber, don’t miss our latest policy newsletter: Senate report: Step up on Arctic defense. In other Pro headlines: — White House takes its sales pitch to the road, touting legislative wins in GOP strongholds. — Steve Oroho to step down as minority leader this weekend. — U.S. issues Wagner-related warning on sub-Saharan Africa gold trade. — EPA opens up $7 billion for low-income solar programs. — Oregon lawmakers make a play for more federal climate money. (via E&E) TRIVIA Wednesday’s answer: You will find a giant crow made entirely out of recycled tires along a National Capital Commission multi-use pathway on the Lebreton Flats near Pimisi Station. Props to MICHAEL POWELL, GEORGE SCHOENHOFER, STUART BENSON, FERNANDO MELO ("I'm a big fan"), WARREN ASKEW, D.G. STRINGER, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, ALYSON FAIR, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, SHEILA GERVAIS, CAMERON RYAN, SARA MAY, DAN MCCARTHY ("More closely resembles the pile of dinosaur poop in Jurassic Park"), GERMAINE MALABRE, LAURA JARVIS, ALEX BALLINGALL, CHIP SMITH, SM LEDUC and AMY BOUGHNER. Today’s question: On this day in 2007, thousands of people lined up overnight … for what? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Want to grab the attention of movers and shakers on Parliament Hill? Want your brand in front of a key audience of Ottawa influencers? Playbook can help. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen: Without Luiza Ch. Savage, Sue Allan and Emma Anderson.   Follow us on Twitter Nick Taylor-Vaisey @TaylorVaisey Sue Allan @susan_allan Maura Forrest @MauraForrest Kyle Duggan @Kyle_Duggan Zi-Ann Lum @ziannlum POLITICO Canada @politicoottawa   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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