Field notes from D.C.

A daily look inside Canadian politics and power.

Jul 04, 2023 View in browser   By Kyle Duggan and Nick Taylor-Vaisey Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → We check in with Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. DRIVING THE DAY Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman says that relationships are key to whatever comes next. | Francis Chung/POLITICO THE VIEW FROM 501 PENNSYLVANIA AVE — When POLITICO Ottawa headed south to Rosslyn, Virginia, for a company confab, we were lightheartedly ribbed around town for bringing Canada’s wildfire smoke along with us. The haze was so bad at one point last week that the Washington monument was nearly completely obscured in the view from our headquarters overlooking the Capitol. Yet Canadian Ambassador to the United States KIRSTEN HILLMAN tells Playbook that when she chats with White House staff, lawmakers like Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER, the tone is much more somber and the pitches for help pour in constantly. “It's mostly about: Are we helping enough? Is there more we can do? Can I get an update?” she tells Playbook. The view of Congress from her office, which would make Tony Stark jealous, was crystal clear when we spoke. Here are three takeaways from our roundtable chat with Hillman at Canada’s embassy in Washington, which is so (strategically) close to the nation’s center of power that a representative can come for lunch, rush back for a vote and then make it back in time for coffee and dessert. POLITICO Canada in conversation with the ambassador. | Francis Chung/POLITICO — Talking to Americans: Hillman said she welcomed the nascent American Canadian Economy and Security caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the U.S. House and Senate that hopes to focus on the continent's northern neighbor. It gives Hillman, and any visiting Canadians, another friendly forum in Washington. MARK AMODEI (R-Nevada) and LIZZIE FLETCHER (D-Texas) launched the initiative last month. Playbook noted that the congressional northern border caucus and the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group already facilitate conversations between lawmakers. Did a gap need filling? Hillman said there's plenty of talk about physical border issues among border lawmakers and Canadian counterparts. But this new group isn't focused on crossings. “This group that has brought itself together clearly feels like congressional representatives from Texas and Nevada have something to say, and what they have to say — and what they want to talk about — is broader. It's about the relationship in the more geostrategic and domestic strategic sense.” — Trump 2.0: If you want a diplomat to activate diplomacy mode, just ask about DONALD TRUMP. Surely the embassy is thinking about 2024, Playbook mused, and one candidate in particular who could end up on the Republican presidential ticket. The election cycle is all about activating a broad network, Hillman said. “We think about the election cycle from the perspective of making sure that we have the relationships in place, and the information flowing to those strategic relationships, well in advance of any kind of election," Hillman said. “So making sure that we have the contacts that we need, making sure that we are raising consciousness with everybody from both sides of the aisle and across the country, about the priorities in the Canada-U.S. relationship — our priorities, but also our contribution to the success of different regions and communities across this country. That is how we prepare for whatever comes next.” Asked about Trump, Hillman pointed to the mutual wins — a tough NAFTA renegotiation that she says produced a better deal, not to mention border cooperation during the Covid era. “I'm not saying that it wasn't sometimes difficult,” she says, “but it worked and I just think that that is something that we will be able to count on again.” The scene in Washington earlier in June. | AP The cautious optimism beams from 501 Pennsylvania Ave. — Plugged in on all issues: Playbook also asked about the Energy Transformation Task Force, which met in May to start connecting experts on such things as crafting electric vehicle charging regulations, as well as dealing with critical minerals and small modular nuclear reactors. Hillman said those experts have set to work on those projects, but there’s no date set yet for reconvening to check in on their progress. “We identified, on both sides, issues that we wanted to make sure were driven to a conclusion that were seen as immediate priorities.” Playbook asked if there are milestone dates set out. Yes, she said. But they’re all internal. Can’t scoop your own government on announcements. TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the Ottawa area with private meetings on his itinerary. 10:30 a.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in Toronto and will “discuss his plan for more affordable homes in Toronto.” (Attention: Mayor-elect OLIVIA CHOW.) 4:30 p.m. U.S. Ambassador DAVID COHEN and his wife, RHONDA COHEN, host a U.S. Independence Day celebration at Lornado in Ottawa. MEDIA ROOM — ROSEANNE ARCHIBALD plans to fight to reclaim her position as AFN National Chief, WILLOW FIDDLER and PATRICK WHITE report for the Globe. — The Canadian Press says talks to end a strike at British Columbia's ports have stalled. — The CBC’s CATHERINE TUNNEY writes that despite warnings, many small government bodies still aren't using special cyber defences. — Manitobans are scheduled to go to the polls Oct. 3. Analyst ÉRIC GRENIER suggests the province is leaning NDP, “but verging on toss-up.” — Veteran columnist SUSAN RILEY argues in the Hill Times that the government’s climate initiatives are outdated before the ink is dry. — The Tyee’s AMANDA FOLLETT HOSGOOD writes on Lytton’s long road home. — The NYT reports: Meta’s ‘Twitter killer’ app is coming. — THE VERGE says Twitter’s ‘new’ Tweetdeck lives behind a verified paywall. — CHARLIE WARZEL writes for The Atlantic: ELON MUSK really broke Twitter this time. — Calgary Mayor JYOTI GONDEK tells Maclean’s “everyone should just lose their ideologies and focus on solving problems.” — POLITICO’s CLEA CAULCUTT reports from Paris: After the riots, EMMANUEL MACRON must fix a broken France. — In case you missed it, a top read at POLITICO: Canada’s closer: How Trudeau’s pitchman is outplaying America. — Finally, the Globe’s CAMPBELL CLARK explains why the PM is boxed in. PROZONE For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter: No rush to reconvene Parliament yet. In news for POLITICO Pro subscribers: — Trump's USMCA deal turns three with trade deficits higher than ever. — Biden’s hydrogen bombshell leaves Europe in the dust. — The self-inflicted voting machine misinformation crisis looming over 2024. — Americans haven't bought Biden's economic message. Wall Street might. — FBI digital sting shows the promise — and limits — of hacking hackers. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to the NDP’s BRIAN TOPP and to retired MP CHRIS CHARLTON (60!); also celebrating today: retired senator MARJORY LEBRETON, Empire Company CEO MICHAEL MEDLINE and Quebec MNA CHANTAL ROULEAU. Spotted: Consul General RANA SARKAR, celebrating Canada Day “amid the California redwoods.”  KATY MERRIFIELD of Wellington Advocacy and podcaster MO AMIR, sharing news of an “extra special” July 1 ... SCOTT REID, listing the 25 greatest Canadian songs/performances. “First pick: Snowbird.” Elections Canada-commissioned polling, in which 74 percent of those eligible to vote in Mississauga-Lakeshore’s by-election last December said: "I am sure I voted." Actual turnout: 27.8 percent. Movers and shakers: NATO is expected to confirm today that JENS STOLTENBERG will stay on for another year. ALEX MARLAND is officially on the job — Acadia University’s inaugural Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership. Media mentions: BRANDON BUECHLER has left CTV National News for a new role with Digital Extremes. Being a journalist is hard, he said. “It takes a toll - psychologically, physically, socially. And it’s a price I decided I could no longer pay. So, it’s time for a new adventure.” In memoriam: “Politics wasn’t easy, but IAN DAVEY was,” WARREN KINSELLA writes of his friend and former colleague who died just before Canada Day. “I learned from him,” MICHAEL IGNATIEFF said in a tweet of his former chief of staff. “I miss him and mourn his loss.” Film critic MARC-ANDRÉ LUSSIER, a longtime journalist at La Presse, died on Friday at the age of 63. TRIVIA Monday’s answer: Cree has the largest number of speakers of any Indigenous language in Canada, with more than 100,000 speakers reported across six provinces in the 2016 census. Props to TOBY HARPER-MERRETT, LYNNE CHICHAKIAN, GORDON RANDALL, LISA WEBNE-BEHRMAN, GERMAINE MALABRE, JOHN MERRIMAN, LISA KIRBIE, MARC LEBLANC, FERNANDO MELO, KEVIN BOSCH, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, GEORGE SCHOENHOFER and CAROLYN MCCRIMMON. Today’s question: Who played BRIAN TOPP in “Jack,” a biopic about JACK LAYTON? Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Have a stumper for Playbook’s trivia players? Send it our way.   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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