Decision day for port workers

A daily look inside Canadian politics and power.

Aug 04, 2023 View in browser   By Kyle Duggan Programming note: Ottawa Playbook won’t publish on Monday, Aug. 7. But we’re back in your inboxes first thing Tuesday. Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. In today's edition: → B.C. dock workers decide today on the next turn in their ongoing labor standoff → New figures reveal how much the government is spending on polling → Who filed to represent Pokemon in the lobby registry DRIVING THE DAY Cargo containers and cars on rail lines in Delta, British Columbia, last month. | Darryl Dyck l The Canadian Press PORT VOTE DEADLINE — Today may be the end of the rollercoaster ride of the labor dispute between thousands of B.C. port workers and their employers. Dockworkers are heading into their final day of voting on whether to ratify the latest agreement, with billions in trade hanging in the balance. Earlier this week, the Canada Industrial Relations Board imposed today as a final deadline for the union. Voting takes place until 6 p.m. local time. — How it plays out: Some signs suggest the conflict will pass with an anticlimactic end. But if the vote fails, the prospect of federal involvement immediately returns. There would be two days for both parties to make submissions to the CIRB, and another two for responses. MARK THOMPSON, professor emeritus at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, said the whole saga has been “very unusual.” There hadn’t been a big labor dispute at the port in so long, it was almost like the parties involved were “rusty” on how to go about resolving it. “This time, the way that the government has set things up, they [the workers] don't have much of a choice.” — Doesn’t end here: While today could spell the end of this particular story, labor relations in Canada appear to be trending toward more events like this one. Just look around. There’s the Metro strike in Toronto and the recently resolved Windsor Salt strike. “I think we're probably in for a period of unrest,” Thompson said. “The whole labor market was kind of turned on his head during the pandemic. People quit their jobs and there's still shortages of labor. Unemployment is very low. So things are on the workers’ side for the first time in a while and inflation is very disruptive of labor relations.” STICKING POINT REVEALED — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH spilled the beans on one item his party has been pushing for in backroom negotiations of a public inquiry into foreign interference: including countries other than China. Answering questions from reporters at an event about rent affordability in Halifax, he said his party has been urging the Liberals and Conservatives to also factor in Russia, India and Iran. “The other parties haven't been clear on their stance about including other countries. Some of them have been resistant,” he said. “We've been saying that it should include any major country that's involved in or engaged in any allegations of interference.” But CP’s Mickey Djuric reports the Conservative Party has indicated terms for an inquiry have already been worked out. That leaves a big question around names for who could lead it. — Sympathy extended: Singh — the only federal leader to make a media appearance Thursday — said he has also reached out to JUSTIN TRUDEAU about the prime minister’s surprise separation from SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU. “Any family that’s gone through a separation can recall the really difficult time that is. And of course it's even more difficult if it's in the public eye, and it's important to acknowledge how that's going to impact the kids. And so I want to respect all those things, respect their ask for privacy and I’ve reached out just to express my sympathy for what's going on.” Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook your way? Click here to sign up for your own edition. It’s free! TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region for private meetings and was scheduled to speak with Niger President MOHAMED BAZOUM — who has been detained during a coup in his country. Statistics Canada will release the Labour Force Survey for July. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board releases Toronto home sales figures. WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN Taylor Swift during the opener of the Eras tour in Glendale, Ariz., on March 17, 2023. | Ashley Landis/AP Photo Up: Toronto, where TAYLOR SWIFT will perform six shows after Canada was left off her Eras Tour — something US Weekly is attributing to “JUSTIN TRUDEAU’s plea.” The Star touts the inside story of how Toronto landed the six-show tour finale. Down: Media outlets relying on Facebook and Instagram to distribute their content, as Meta started this week to ramp up its removal of news from its platforms in Canada. PAPER TRAIL ADD IT UP — Evidence-based decision-making doesn’t come cheap. The Trudeau government notched another record high for spending on public opinion research since it came to power in 2015. The tab creeped up to C$20.3 million for the past fiscal year as research volume increased, according to the latest data from a government report. That’s $C2 million more than last year and nearly double the C$11.3 million figure from three years ago. This follows a general upward trend in research spend and volume since Trudeau took office. Before that, the Harper government had moved to constrain research spending, shrinking the amount down to the range of around C$4-5 million. “Considerable research was conducted to support Canada’s post-pandemic recovery and mitigation of the health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19,” the report said. “The research was aiming to better understand Canadians’ day-to-day financial management and well-being in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.” — Hey, big spender: Public Health Agency spent the most of any department — C$4.1 million — on 28 custom studies. Privy Council Office only issued three custom studies, yet notched up C$2.2 million. — Most contracts: 22 to Environics, 20 to Ekos, 17 to Advanis, 15 to Ipsos, 13 to Quorus. — Biggest earners: Environics at $2.5 million, Advanis at $2.3 million, Ekos at $1.8 million, Ipsos at $1.7 million, Strategic Counsel at $1.4 million. MEDIA ROOM An artist's sketch of former President Donald Trump conferring with his defense lawyer during his appearance at the Federal Courthouse in Washington on Thursday. | Dana Verkouteren via AP — POLITICO’s KYLE CHENEY has next steps in the DONALD TRUMP election interference case, along with a fun bit of color. — AARON WHERRY's column is at the top of CBC News this morning: JUSTIN TRUDEAU begins a new chapter of his political life. — The Star’s ROBERT BENZIE says Ontario Premier DOUG FORD has received a preview copy of BONNIE LYSYK’s audit of his controversial Greenbelt land swap. Findings are not expected for another few weeks. — NIA WILLIAMS of Reuters reports via Canadian Natural Resources Ltd: Trans Mountain Expansion to call for pipeline fill this fall. — JORGE ANTUNES of Nunatsiaq News reports on the sealskin-ribbon cutting at the opening of Iqaluit’s C$84.9 million deepsea port. “Once the big show was over, the Qamutik — an NEAS Sealift ship that was in Frobisher Bay for a cargo delivery — quietly made its way back out to sea. Later, it appeared to deliver its cargo the old-fashioned way, by barge.” — Conservative MP MARTY MORANTZ disputes a claim in a Guardian newspaper report that there are zero Canadian Conservative MPs who support abortion rights: “I can safely say with 100% certainty this is fake news,” he tweeted. — SAMMY HUDES reports that more cost restructuring could be in the cards for Bell as its net earnings plunge. Meta and Google came up on the earnings call for making “very aggressive moves” in their response to C-18. — In case you missed it, CARRIE TAIT was on The Decibel pod to discuss the class-action lawsuit against the Calgary Stampede that alleges that for decades the organization did not properly protect children from a sexual predator. PROZONE CABINET TO-DO LIST — In our latest policy newsletter for POLITICO Pro subscribers, ZI-ANN LUM talks to Small Business Minister RECHIE VALDEZ. The newly installed rookie minister says queries about the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) are “definitely the number one question” she hears from business owners. Ottawa is facing calls to forgive government loans given to businesses during the pandemic. “What I'm hoping to do is really work with my colleagues, the new Cabinet, and on my local colleagues and stakeholders to come up with the right solution, whatever that may be, for Canadians,” she said. In other news for Pro subscribers: — Interior wants advice on first-of-its-kind nature study. — Rishi Sunak’s home hit by Greenpeace in oil and gas protest. — DOD rolls out a plan to attract and fund increased cyber workforce. — California's quarterly EV sales surpass 25 percent mark for the first time. — New York affordable housing production up from the previous fiscal year. Playbookers Birthdays: Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier DANNY WILLIAMS, author ROGER MARTIN and economist RANDALL WRIGHT. Over the weekend, HBDs go out to Liberal MP HEDY FRY and former cabmin CATHERINE MCKENNA. On Monday, Traxxion Stratégies President KARL BELANGER and NP reporter CATHERINE LÉVESQUE. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . Spotted: Rookie Liberal MP BEN CARR and rookie Cabinet minister GARY ANANDASANGAREE running into each other at the Winnipeg airport … SEAMUS O’REGAN and MARCI IEN posing in a Petty Harbour rowboat. HANNAH CARTY and KAYLA ZHU at the Investigative Journalism Foundation were quick to spot Pokémon Company International in the lobby registry. BEN PARSONS and SHEAMUS MURPHY from Counsel Public Affairs filed to rep the company on Bill C-27 and to “make the Internet a safer place for children by encouraging Canada to adopt prescriptive rules and corresponding penalties regarding children's data handling.” Movers and shakers: EDITH DUMONT was introduced Thursday as the new lieutenant governor of Ontario — the first Franco-Ontarian in the history of the province to take on the gig. ALANA KITELEY has left her post as director of issues management and parliamentary affairs at the Prime Minister's Office. Chilean mining company SQM tapped Longview senior adviser SANDY BLACKWOOD to rep it on the Hill. Top priority: "the implementation and application of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy." — PricewaterhouseCoopers partner JULIEN LASSONDE, a lobbyist for Korean lithium-ion battery producer SK IE Technology (SKIET), logged a July 24 meeting with a pair of bureaucrats: ANGELINA ERMAKOV, deputy director of the federal Strategic Innovation Fund's Aerospace and Transportation portfolio; and NIDAL ISLAM, a senior investment analyst at ISED. SKIET is reportedly considering three southern Ontario locations for a prospective battery separator manufacturing plant, the company's first in North America — and is exploring potential federal and provincial funding. The Logic also reported on SK's conversations with Ottawa about "specific permitting and land negotiations for a copper-foil factory." Media mentions: CTV News chase producer CAROLINE O’NEILL has left “Power Play” on her own volition to join Carleton University as a journalism instructor … JACOB DUBÉ is joining the Globe and Mail’s audience team as a content editor. KATE MCKENNA joins CBC’s parliamentary bureau as a full-time reporter … And J.P. TASKER has been promoted to senior reporter at the public broadcaster. CPAC Senior Producer DAN FONDA is retiring this week after 27 years on the Hill, and today’s his last day. In memoriam: MARY JEANETTE CHRISTIE HOUSE is being remembered as “a hilarious story-teller and all round party gal.” House served “with panache and elegance” when her husband Max became Newfoundland and Labrador's 10th lieutenant-governor. She died July 31 at the age of 94. “My grandmother lived a pretty extraordinary life. Heck of a run,” tweeted SALLY HOUSSER.   TRIVIA Thursday’s answer: Canada took home the most medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. In news from 2023: The government of Alberta just pulled its support for a bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Props to GUY SKIPWORTH, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, GORDON RANDALL, JOHN MERRIMAN, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, STEVE KAROL, JOANNA PLATER, CHIP SMITH, GOZDE KAZAZOGLU and ELLA D’SILVA. Today’s question: On this day in history, an event on Parliament Hill led to a “wet, dirty, strenuous struggle.” Wrote one observer: “Hercules had no labor equal to the task.” What the heck happened? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best . 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: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, Luiza Ch. Savage 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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