| | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum, Sue Allan and Nick Taylor-Vaisey | | | Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. In today's edition: → Mood on Parliament Hill: Can we go home now? → U.N. climate envoy MARK CARNEY sets the stakes for COP28. → Boeing lands a multi-billion-dollar military contract. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge was on the hot seat at heritage on Thursday morning. | Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press | POINTS OF ORDER — Things are salty on Parliament Hill. Conservative MP JOHN NATER was forced to rise in the House after QP on Thursday with an apology for Speaker GREG FERGUS. “I did indeed indicate that you are a joke. That is true,” Nater said. “I'm sorry for that. And I withdraw.” It took Brampton Centre MP SHAFQAT ALI six attempts to deliver a one-minute member’s statement. Liberal and Conservative MPs screamed profanities and accused each other of being House chaos agents. “I have never witnessed that in my experience here in the House of Commons for well over 10 years now,” Liberal MP KEVIN LAMOUREUX said on a point of order. — Meanwhile at committee: “I have never had so many challenges as I am getting today,” JUDY SGRO, chair of the House committee on international trade, said this week during debate on the Canada-Ukraine trade deal. She’s been on the Hill since 1999. Thursday’s early-morning session of the House heritage committee also got shouty. Fresh off announcing the federal government’s C$100 million deal with Google, Heritage Minister PASCALE ST-ONGE was in the hot seat in the Wellington Building’s Room 415. The minister was on hand to speak to her mandate, though she took plenty of questions on the new Google arrangement that emerged in the aftermath of the government’s Online News Act. Asked also about Meta, which has blocked Canadians from sharing news links, St-Onge said it’s clear the social media platform is “pulling out from real fact-based journalism.” She advised MPs there are “ideological reasons” Facebook won't comply with the legislation. Here’s a taste of the discussion and, uh, debate: — Good: Conservative MP RACHAEL THOMAS led off the morning with pressing questions about the details and dynamics of the deal: “What is the criteria that the government will use to determine whether or not an outlet is an eligible news business?” “Will the CBC be approved as an eligible news business in this deal with Google?” “How will this bill support local, ethnic, BIPOC news outlets?” St-Onge said details will be revealed in regulations published by Dec. 18. — Bad: “You sit here with a smirk on your face,” Thomas accused St-Onge — a point she circled back to after the uproar. “I'm simply making an observation with regards to the conduct of the witness who happens to be the minister,” she said. “And, chair, she does sit there with a smirk on her face.” — Ugly: During another round of questioning, the committee erupted when Thomas asked St-Onge — “it's completely your choice for a bilingual country, but if at all possible” — to please reply in English. “There are five people shouting point of order,” committee chair HEDY FRY was heard to say in the fray that followed. All this made news — as most surely was the point. And it obviously generated social media fodder. As the Star's ALTHIA RAJ explains: "The intention is not to hold the government to account, or to have probing, insightful exchanges; it’s about the video clips of fake outrage that can be generated to mobilize support and raise funds." So there was outrage and orchestrated pushback: “The Conservatives won’t stand up for Canada’s official languages,” tweeted one Liberal communications director. ”We always will.” Thomas later apologized in a letter distributed to the House committee. Ten days to go until break. Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook your way? Five days a week, zero dollars. | | | | A message from Google Canada: We help defend critical infrastructure in Canada.
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BILL WATCH — Liberals are still making hay over the Conservatives’ surprise vote against Bill C-57, the government’s legislation to implement the Canada-Ukraine free-trade agreement.
— ICYMI: The House international trade committee released a report on its formal study of Bill C-57 this week. No government response is required. If it passes third reading, the bill heads to the Senate. — What’s next: Another potential political showdown. The bill returns to the House when it will be called at report stage and third reading this afternoon. | | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | |
— Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will be in private meetings.
9:30 a.m. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT will hold a media availability from COP28 in Dubai. 11 a.m. Immigration Minister MARC MILLER will be in Sherbrooke, Quebec to attend a city hall citizenship ceremony to welcome 35 new Canadians. 2:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. PT) Energy and Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON will be at Canada Place in Vancouver to make an announcement on supply chains. A media availability will follow. 5:30 p.m. The prime minister will stick around the Greater Toronto Area, in North York specifically, to headline a Liberal party fundraiser hosted by International Development Minister AHMED HUSSEN at the Pan Pacific Toronto. | | WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN | |
UP: Canadian media outlets who fretted they might suddenly vanish from Google prior to the last-minute C$100-million-a-year deal on C-18 announced this week.
DOWN: Canadian media outlets looking to get their news back on Facebook. | | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | | | | 
"It is a huge mistake to sit and think this is just going to happen by itself," Mark Carney says of net zero. | AFP via Getty Images | GOOD COP, BAD COP — MARK CARNEY, U.N. special envoy for climate finance and action, set the stakes for the COP28 U.N. climate summit during a conversation with POLITICO’s ANNE MCELVOY. “What we’ll be looking for at COP is who steps up amongst the oil and gas companies and commits to not doing something in the distant future, but doing something over the next few years,” he said on this week’s Power Play podcast. “We’ll start to judge who’s performing and who isn’t,” he said. Listen to the pod here. A few highlights: On the way to net zero: “It is a huge mistake to sit and think this is just going to happen by itself. There are ways to accelerate it and to make the transition benefit as many people as possible today, and certainly they will benefit. Our kids and grandkids will benefit tomorrow and the day after if we get this right.” On China’s and clean energy: “China is very much at the table to be absolutely clear. China is at the table and, in some respects, setting the table in terms of the scale of investment that's happening there in real time in clean energy. I'll give you a rough number, which will be broadly right, which is about 40 percent of the investment in clean energy — think wind, solar, hydrogen, as well as electric vehicles — is happening in China. "China is moving very rapidly on this. Yes, they still have some investments in coal. And the question is, when is that going to peak? That peak is getting a lot closer. But the momentum is there. And then with respect to finance where I operate, they are very engaged in helping to build a system that gets capital money to where it needs to go to get emissions down.” Does he want to be prime minister? “The prime minister has, I think, every intention of serving his term and beyond. And, there’s various ways for me to serve. I believe in public service and the way I’m serving now is trying to serve is through this work that we've been discussing because it's critical for Canada and critical for the world.” On Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and climate change: “You'd have to go back to when BRIAN MULRONEY was prime minister when the Conservative Party last took these issues of climate change seriously. In fact, if the lead of Mr. Mulroney had been followed through, Canada and the world would be in a better place. “I'm a strong believer now that if you’re removing a policy, you should put in place another policy that is at least as effective. But the idea of just ripping things out, putting the country in a worse position and leaving the worst problem for another day for a subsequent government … that should be called out.” — In case you need it: How to watch the climate summit like an expert. — In case you missed it: SUZANNE LYNCH is writing a Global Playbook from COP28 to keep you briefed on the summit. | | | | A message from Google Canada:   | | | | | For your radar | | |  At the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai on Thursday. | Guiseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images | TALKING POINTS — Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT got on the horn with ZI-ANN LUM just before leaving for COP. Highlights of the conversation appeared in Thursday’s Ottawa Playbook The full transcript is here for POLITICO Pro subscribers. During the conversation, Guilbeault admitted the federal government has struggled to communicate its climate goals and policies. “What is the problem specifically and who’s responsible?” Zi-Ann asked. Here was his reply: “It's an easy political message for [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poilievre to say the cost of everything is going up because of the carbon tax. “It's harder for us to explain the intricacies of our carbon-pricing system: You pay more money; it's a price signal. But we return the money to you: We’re helping you in this transition. You can choose to maintain your same lifestyle and then your extra cost of carbon will be covered by the climate incentive payment. If you choose to adopt different behaviors, then you'll have more money in your pocket. “I mean, you saw how much time it took me to explain that. It is a more complicated conversation to have. “Nevertheless, we need to find ways to better communicate, not just on pricing, but I think on climate change in general. We have a climate literacy campaign that's going to start soon. It's going to be the largest we've ever done in the country. “And it's not propaganda. We're not trying to sell anything to the Canadian public. But just to make them better understand what's happening with climate change and what are some things that can be done to fight climate change.” | | ALSO FOR YOUR RADAR | |
SOLE SOURCED — In the end, Bombardier's full-court press to convince Ottawa it could convert a business jet for a multi-billion-dollar military contract had a fatal flaw.
The aircraft didn't exist yet, and none of the aerospace giant's powerful allies could persuade bureaucrats, the military or federal Cabinet to give it a shot. — Boeing or bust: Ottawa's worst-kept secret was that federal officials were angling to buy the Boeing P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to replace the Air Force's 40-year-old fleet of CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol planes. The long-rumored purchase, pegged at a total value of C$10.4 billion, materialized several months after the U.S. government sent a formal offer north of the border. The first Poseidon will roll off delivery lines in 2026, with the rest to follow before the end of 2027. — Up in the air: Government officials in a technical briefing noted the aircraft's track record with allies and the sheer number already airborne. The message from Ottawa was clear: The Auroras are outdated, and a years-long procurement process wasn't in the offing. Cue the grumbling in the offices of Bombardier and its project partner, General Dynamics Mission Systems, which claimed to be able to convert a Global-series jet for military purposes. All the company wanted was an open competition — a fair shot at going toe-to-toe with Boeing's best offer. — All for naught: Bombardier had won over Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT, Ontario Premier DOUG FORD, the Bloc Québécois federal caucus, and the House defense committee. But anybody Bombardier champions on the inside of the procurement process failed to prevent a federal Poseidon adventure. — Memories: Almost exactly two years ago, Ottawa dropped Boeing's Super Hornet fighter jet from the high-stakes competition to replace decades-old CF-18 jets. The feds had earlier abandoned a plan to buy a smaller fleet of Super Hornets as an interim measure — a decision reportedly instigated by a Boeing trade dispute with, wait for it, Bombardier. No hard feelings, eh? | | | MEDIA ROOM | | |
— A group of covert CSIS officers in B.C. is breaking their silence to tell of rapes, harassment and a toxic culture at the spy agency, DARRYL GREER of The Canadian Press reports.
— Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief ABRAM BENEDICT tells CBC News’ OLIVIA STEFANOVICH that First Nations communities have had no choice but to turn to courts to challenge what they’re calling unfair and discriminatory impacts of the carbon tax. — Ottawa goes to court to get C$122,000 grant back from LAITH MAROUF employer, MARIE WOOLF reports out of Thursday's heritage meeting. — PAUL WELLS talked to ANGUS TOPSHEE, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, about a “generational challenge” in naval readiness. — Maclean’s features a story by SARAH TRELEAVEN on “DNA detective” DEAN LERAT, an RCMP officer and member of Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan who is helping communities fill in ancestral blanks. — CHRISTOPHER READ of APTN News looks at what the Canada Water Act could mean for Indigenous people and communities. — DAVE COURNOYER considers the contenders to one day replace NDP Leader RACHEL NOTLEY: “Choose wisely. The successor could be the next Premier of Alberta.” — We have video from last night's messy debate: Hannity and DeSantis v. Newsom. — Here's the latest from AARON WHERRY: "The fight over the Senate's handling of the carbon tax is a portent of things to come." — POLITICO’s SARAH WHEATON writes on TUCKER CARLSON, “Trump’s shadow diplomat.”
| | PROZONE | |
If you’re a subscriber, don’t miss our latest policy newsletter from ZI-ANN LUM: Freeland says ‘for sure’ economy is slowing down.
Also for Pros: Our own KYLE DUGGAN teamed up with E&E News’ HANNAH NORTHEY for a long read on the next big EV minerals challenge facing the U.S. and Canada. In other news for Pro subscribers: — Here comes the Cybertruck, loaded with controversy. — Global deal to phase out fossil fuels is in trouble. — U.S. timber harvests climb in national forests. — California lawmakers plan autonomous vehicle intervention. — Meta says U.S. stopped sharing foreign threat intel on elections. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HDB to Conservative MP DAN ALBAS.
Celebrating Saturday: HBD to Inuk activist SHEILA WATT-CLOUTIER, former premier DAVID ALWARD (New Brunswick) and former Edmonton MLA JON CARSON. Blackbird Strategies consultant KEITH SHEPPARD also celebrates. Celebrating Sunday: Munk School prof MEL CAPPE and MP ANITA VANDENBELD. Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . Spotted: Heritage chair (and doctor) HEDY FRY, making a point of popping on a mask at the start of Thursday morning’s meeting. MP TODD DOHERTY, who championed the 988 suicide crisis hotline, discussing its Thursday launch. "I believe it's going to save lives much the same as 911, when minutes and seconds count." Former prime minister STEPHEN HARPER paying tribute to the late HENRY KISSINGER: “An influential advisor to many, including myself, Dr. Kissinger’s legacy of diplomacy and thoughtful contribution to geopolitics will be sorely missed.” Movers and shakers: Green candidate AISLINN CLANCY won Ontario's Kitchener Centre byelection. SAM GOODMAN is leaving Hong Kong Watch to become senior policy director at the China Strategic Risk Institute. Media mentions: LIAM FOX has bid adieu to the Hill after working his last shift with the Canadian Press’ Ottawa bureau. | | | AROUND THE HILL | |
7:30 a.m. CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks and partners will host a breakfast in the Valour building (Room 268) to raise awareness of rising HIV rates among Indigenous peoples.
9:30 a.m. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT will hold a media availability from COP28 in Dubai. 11 a.m. Immigration Minister MARC MILLER will be in Sherbrooke, Quebec to attend a city hall citizenship ceremony to welcome 35 new Canadians. 2:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. PT) Energy and Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON will be at Canada Place in Vancouver to make an announcement on supply chains. A media availability will follow. 5:30 p.m. The prime minister will stick around the Greater Toronto Area, in North York specifically, to headline a Liberal party fundraiser hosted by International Development Minister AHMED HUSSEN at the Pan Pacific Toronto. Outside the bubble: Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ will be at the Port of Halifax to make a supply chain announcement; Foreign affairs parliamentary secretary ROB OLIPHANT will be in Bulgaria to meet MARIYA GABRIEL, the country’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs; Green Party Co-Leader ELIZABETH MAY is in Dubai to attend COP28.
| | TRIVIA | | Thursday’s answer: Three decades before DAVID WILKINS arrived at Lornado to serve as U.S. ambassador in Canada, his one and only visit to Canada came when he was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. Think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best . Props to ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JOHN DILLON and GEORGE SCHOENHOFER. Today’s question: Of their actions, on this day in history, who said: “I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day . . . No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Emma Anderson and Luiza Ch. Savage. 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 | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | 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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