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WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. I'm your host, Maura Forrest, with Zi-Ann Lum. Today is JUSTIN TRUDEAU's second attempt at the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Also, the RCMP's use of facial recognition technology extended well beyond Clearview AI. And we bring you the results of POLITICO's latest live trivia night at the Metropolitain. Did someone forward Ottawa Playbook your way? Click here to sign up for your own edition. It's free! | | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada: Leveraging the well-proven MQ-9 platform that has supported Five Eyes and NATO missions for more than a decade, Team SkyGuardian brings together the best in business and technology to serve Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the many industries that support them. Our government and industry team will help ensure Canada's safety and security for the long term. | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | |
SECOND CHANCE — Today is the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that JUSTIN TRUDEAU won't spend in Tofino.
We had to mention it. The day, also known as Orange Shirt Day, honors survivors and the children who never returned home from residential schools. As Governor General MARY SIMON said in a speech Thursday, it's an opportunity to reflect on how things have changed. "When I was growing up, children were taken away to residential schools. And at the day school I attended, I was punished if I spoke my language," she said. "Today, Indigenous children can go to school in their own communities. They can learn and speak their own language, whenever and wherever they want." — It is also, perhaps, a motivating force: On Thursday, the Senate passed a motion apologizing for Canada's role in the residential school system (approximately 14 years after former prime minister STEPHEN HARPER made a similar apology). The Senate, if you'll recall, was mired for years in a rather embarrassing scandal involving former senator LYNN BEYAK's insistence on sharing her thoughts about residential schools. — And, inevitably, it has prompted reviews of the Liberal government's record on Indigenous affairs. "Discrimination doesn't feel any better for a child if the government is smiling or if it's smirking," CINDY BLACKSTOCK, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, told the Hill Times this week. "In some ways, it's worse when they're smiling, because it gives the illusion that your life is better, but it's really not. You're still not getting a clean glass of water." — Speaking of drinking water: The government has ended 135 long-term advisories since 2015, but it fell short of its promise to end drinking-water advisories on First Nation reserves by March 2021. Currently, 32 long-term advisories are in effect in 28 communities. — And child welfare: Earlier this year, the federal government and First Nations leaders reached a C$40-billion child welfare settlement. But as the CBC's OLIVIA STEFANOVICH reported Thursday , its fate is still caught up in legal wrangling. — Measuring progress: This week, the House of Commons debated a bill that would establish a national council for reconciliation, to monitor and evaluate governments' progress toward reconciliation. The Liberals started the process of creating a national council back in 2017, but Bill C-29 was only tabled in June. Conservative MP GARY VIDAL recently told the House the Liberal government "time and again on Indigenous issues, makes big announcements, holds press conferences, takes photographs and then proceeds to ignore the real and difficult work." — The upshot: In the Hill Times interview, Blackstock pointed out that the Liberals do at times act quickly. When 215 potential unmarked graves were discovered at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. last year, for example, the government appointed an Indigenous languages commissioner, modified the citizenship oath to recognize Indigenous rights and created the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in short order. "That's the lesson the public needs to take from this: governments don't always create change, but they respond to change." — Elsewhere: In Manitoba, an NDP bill to make Sept. 30 a statutory holiday failed on Thursday, though the Progressive Conservative government says it will happen — just not this year. — Over at the public broadcaster: Some Radio-Canada journalists were uncomfortable with an invitation to participate in an Orange Shirt Day march in Ottawa on Thursday, attended by CEO CATHERINE TAIT, Le Devoir's ANNABELLE CAILLOU reports. | | For your radar | |
FACE-OFF — Remember how the RCMP made a splash back in 2020 when it admitted using facial recognition technology from Clearview AI? Well, it turns out that wasn't the only such tool the national police force had at its disposal.
Documents recently tabled in the House of Commons show the RCMP has signed contracts with multiple purveyors of facial recognition tech, though it says it has stopped using the technology pending an internal assessment launched after the Clearview AI debacle. POLITICO has the full story this morning. — The details: In particular, the RCMP seems to have been using two programs, Traffic Jam and Spotlight, in its efforts to fight child sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Both allow law enforcement to match a photo of a child's face to online sex trafficking ads, using Amazon's facial recognition tool, Rekognition. Clearview AI was controversial because it scraped three billion photos from the internet and made them available to law enforcement with no real limits as to how they could be used. On the other hand, both Traffic Jam and Spotlight are marketed as targeted tools to fight child sexual exploitation. — So what's the problem? Critics warn Canada doesn't have a legal framework in place that sets out how law enforcement can use facial recognition technology. The RCMP has also not been open about what tools it uses. The office of the privacy commissioner says the RCMP made them aware it was using Traffic Jam and Spotlight this past summer. The documents say the police force has been using the tools since 2016, though it has temporarily stopped using their facial recognition capabilities. A spokesperson for Canada's privacy watchdog says facial recognition can be an important tool to help solve serious crimes and find missing people, but it can also "erode human rights." — What's next? The House of Commons ethics committee has been studying facial recognition technology since last year, and met twice this month to review a draft report, expected to land very soon. | | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada:   | | |
BELTWAY BLITZ — November's midterms are coming. And Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY is on diplomatic duty in Washington, D.C. to, as a senior government source put it to Playbook, "ensure that whatever the results, there's a certain continuity in the relationship."
— Today's agenda: Joly will meet with Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN today. Futureproofing the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership (remember that?) is a priority. Expect the Indo-Pacific region to come up, the source said. As for Canada's much-anticipated strategy: Joly is still working on it. It was a week ago when the PMO named JENNIFER MAY as Canada's new ambassador to China. Surely, new marching orders are around the corner. Maybe it'll come up in Joly's discussion with the Atlantic Council's FREDERICK KEMPE and CNN's JIM SCIUTTO today. Did you know our inbox takes previews of unpublished consequential government plans? Tell us what will have the bubble buzzing tomorrow: ottawaplaybook@politico.com — Meeting log: Joly met Thursday with Sen. BOB MENENDEZ (D-N.J.) and Sen. JIM RISCH (R-Idaho), the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate's foreign relations committee. Sen. MITT ROMNEY (R-Utah) accepted a meeting request. And Sen. TIM KAINE (D-Va.), who showed up in Nova Scotia last year for the Halifax International Security Forum, also made time for a sitdown. NatSec people: This year's conference is happening Nov. 18-20. | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | |
7 a.m. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will participate in a sunrise ceremony and sharing circle with residential school survivors in the Niagara region.
10 a.m. The PM will speak at the "Beyond the Orange Shirt Story" event. 10 a.m. Governor General MARY SIMON will welcome 100 school children to Rideau Hall to speak about the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 10 a.m. Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will participate in an event hosted by the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. 10 a.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will attend Remember Me, a ceremony for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Parliament Hill. 10:30 a.m. Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY meets with U.S. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN in Washington, D.C. They will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. The Governor General will deliver remarks at Remembering the Children, a commemorative event for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa. The prime minister will also attend. 3 p.m. Joly is the guest of honor at an Atlantic Council event discussing the role Canada plays in continuing to aid Ukraine.
| | WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN | |
Today, we resurrect one of our favorite traditions, in which we tell you whose stock went up during the past week, and whose took a nosedive.
— Who's up: HEATHER BRADLEY, d-comm extraordinaire, whose announcement that she'll be stepping down after 29 years in the Speaker's office was met with universal sadness by the members of the parliamentary press gallery. — Who's down: Quebec immigration minister JEAN BOULET, who said during a debate this week that "80 percent of immigrants go to Montreal, don't work, don't speak French, and don't adhere to the values of Quebec." Oof. But actually, things aren't looking so bad for Boulet. He might not be able to keep his job as immigration minister, but he could keep a seat in cabinet, Coalition Avenir Québec Leader FRANÇOIS LEGAULT said Thursday. | | Talk of the town | |
QUESTION PERIOD — There's a new trivia champion in town. The team from H&K Strategies emerged victorious at POLITICO's second live trivia night at the Metropolitain on Thursday evening. They were rewarded with a bottle of the Speaker's Scotch.
House Speaker ANTHONY ROTA was on hand to ask the first round of questions, and Playbook legend ROBERT MCDOUGALL handled another round.
| 
Speaker Rota: Oh, oh! | POLITICO Canada | The runners-up were as follows: 2. Canadian Cattle Association 3. Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs 4. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management 5. McMillan Vantage (the defending champs) Congrats to all the participants, and remember to reserve your spot in the next round — date TBD — by emailing us at ottawaplaybook@politico.com. | | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada: Learn about the remotely piloted multi-mission aircraft building Canadian industrial partnerships that deliver sovereignty and security for Canada. | | | | | MEDIA ROOM | | — How has Canada measured up on its promise to implement the TRC report's 94 calls to action to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples? APTN News is keeping track. — CP's MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH reports: Ottawa mayor wouldn't speak to Parliament security service during convoy, official says. — Who is the working class in Canada? SEAN SPEER, SOSINA BEZU and RENZE NAUTA tease out answers in this new paper. Read more on the Hub. — Top of POLITICO this morning: Georgia and Nevada on their minds: Senate watchers sweat two swing states. — MARK CARNEY accuses the Truss government of undermining the Bank of England, the Guardian reports out of a BBC interview. In related news, the Globe reports: Canadian banks having second thoughts about Carney's Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. — The Green Party is downsizing its leadership race following an exodus from the party's leadership organizing committee, the CBC's DAVID THURTON reports. — Conservative MP MICHAEL CHONG joined caucus colleague ERIN O'TOOLE on the Blue Skies pod for a conversation about foreign policy. — And from the CBC's AARON WHERRY: Parliament's climate debate is stuck in the past.
| | PROZONE | | | 
Joly and Blinken during an earlier visit. | Olivier Douliery/Pool via AP | For POLITICO Pro subscribers, catch up to our latest policy newsletter from ZI-ANN LUM: What we know about MÉLANIE JOLY's bilat with ANTONY BLINKEN. In other news for subscribers:
— Ian inflicts staggering losses on Florida's growth machine.
— 'There's no executioner': The plot to replace World Bank boss stalls.
— Oil and gas producers emitting more methane because of flawed flaring, study finds.
— Democrats brace for a national security brain drain.
— GOP tries to outpace White House effort to regulate investment in China.
— Fed lays out plans for climate-focused bank exercise. | | Playbookers | |
Birthdays: WILLIAM STAIRS, who served as d-comm for two federal party leaders, as well as director of issues management for STEPHEN HARPER. Celebrating Saturday: Liberal MP SUKH DHALIWAL, philanthropist and child care advocate MARGARET MCCAIN and Canadian businessman JIM PATTISON.
Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: U.S. Ambassador to Canada DAVID COHEN at a Toronto Region Board of Trade reception with VIC FEDELI … MÉLANIE JOLY, in conversation with MITT ROMNEY … Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON with Japanese Ambassador YAMANOUCHI KANJI in Ottawa … Heritage Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ in Mexico City with Tory MP SHELBY KRAMP-NEUMAN as part of the Canadian delegation. Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE in Tokyo meeting with Toyota and battery maker Prime Planet Energy & Solutions … Conservative MP MARTIN SHIELDS, Canadian Cattle Association BBQ correspondent … WAYNE LONG's mom visiting the Liberal MP in Ottawa… PIERRE POILIEVRE's one-on-one with SCOT DAVIDSON featuring beer, bags of beets, and carrots. Twenty-three of Parliament Hill's carillon bells, off to the Netherlands to be refurbished … The Peace Tower, illuminated in orange with the flag flying at half-staff. Newly minted Sen. IAN SHUGART, being sworn in to the Red Chamber … Canada's new ambassador to China, JENNIFER MAY, at the Wednesday launch of a new book on Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy by FEN OSLER HAMPSON, GOLDY HYDER and TINA J. PARK. Movers and shakers: Families Minister KARINA GOULD was honored for her Czech roots and support for bilateral relations with the Czech Republic … JOHN BRASSARD , too, for establishing a parliamentary friendship group despite having "no Czech connection" … Caucus colleague JOHN BARLOW was awarded Western Wheel's 2022 reader's choice gold medal winner for "favourite local politician/councillor". Media mentions: Ex-CTV chief news anchor LISA LAFLAMME sang a duet with JANN ARDEN at the Journalists for Human Rights' annual gala in Toronto. Longtime CBC Saskatchewan news anchor TED DELLER is retiring after 32 years. Farewells: Sen. VERN WHITE is resigning from the Red Chamber as of Oct. 2, and moving to Finland (h/t PETER MAZEREEUW for the Hill Times). BROCK HARRISON has left the office of Alberta Premier JASON KENNEY, days ahead of the UCP leadership election. "A few lessons learned," he wrote. "Politics is easy but governing is hard. Leadership is lonely. Decency and loyalty are disappearing virtues." | | HOUSE BUSINESS | |
It is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a federal statutory holiday.
| | TRIVIA | |
Thursday's answer: "Find those constituents who are too busy doing good work to troll you." MEGAN LESLIE shared this advice as 49 rookie MPs arrived in Ottawa last year.
Props to ROBERT MCDOUGALL. Friday's question: Who founded Orange Shirt Day? Send your answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn't happen: Without Luiza Ch. Savage and editor Sue Allan.
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