| | | | |  | | By Kyle Duggan and Nick Taylor-Vaisey with Philippe J. Fournier | Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let’s get to it. In today's edition: → Olympic appreciation, a PABLO RODRIGUEZ update, plus some good advice. → Ottawa’s mayor MARK SUTCLIFFE is ramping up a campaign against the feds. → Plus, the Liberal government spent C$19.4 million on 155 public opinion studies last year. |  | FROM THE DESK OF 338CANADA | | | | 
Paris is seen during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 26, 2024. | Francois-Xavier Marit/Pool Photo via AP | Happy Friday. My name is PHILIPPE J. FOURNIER and today is the final day of my Ottawa Playbook “summer residency.” Thanks for all your kind words. OLYMPIC PRIDE — As the Paris Games wind down, a new poll from the Angus Reid Institute suggests just more than half of Canadians (52 percent) followed along with interest, although 87 percent expressed pride in seeing Canadians compete. — Should Canada host? Angus Reid said 69 percent of Canadians disagreed with the following statement: “I would like to see my city, or the major city close to me, bid for a future Olympic game.” — Seriously, no: In British Columbia and Alberta, two provinces that hosted the Olympics not so long ago, 69 percent said Canada should not bid on future games. About the same number (68 percent) held that opinion in Quebec, which hosted the Montreal Olympics in 1976. In Ontario, 70 percent said they want no part of a future bid. That’s as unanimous as it’s going to get. ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE — Earlier this week, we lamented that there’d been no fresh polling from Saskatchewan since March. On Wednesday, Saskatoon-based Insightrix released fresh data. — Statistical tie: Insightrix found the provincial New Democratic Party and the incumbent Saskatchewan Party in a statistical tie provincewide (48 percent to 47 percent). If these numbers are confirmed, it would lead to the closest election campaign in two decades in the province. Four years ago, Premier SCOTT MOE led the Sask Party to a 29-point victory over the NDP. — Cities versus countryside: The poll reveals a stark rural-urban divide. In the capital Regina, the NDP leads the Sask Party by 25 points. In Saskatoon, that margin grows to 30 points. Outside the cities, the Saskatchewan Party dominates with a 32-point lead in the north and a 22-point lead in the south. BY-ELECTIONS PREDICTIONS — Fans of “The Numbers” pod encouraged ÉRIC GRENIER and I to engage in some early wagering on the Sept. 16 by-elections in Elmwood–Transcona and LaSalle–Émard–Verdun. — The scenarios: Among plausible outcomes, which is the most and least likely with the data currently available? Éric was bullish on the Conservatives picking up Elmwood–Transcona from the NDP. We both chose the NDP to upset the Liberals in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, though we think it should be close. Listen or watch the exchange here. FOR THE RECORD — Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ was put on the spot Thursday during a newser and asked if he plans to run for leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party. “I've been approached by a lot of people to go back to the party where it all started for me years ago, and it's a privilege and honor to be approached by so many people,” he said. “But that's my only comment.” LAST THING FROM ME — Remember to look up at the stars — it calms the brain and puts our Earth problems in perspective. Nerdily yours, Philippe. | | | DRIVING THE DAY | | |
CAME OUT SWINGING — Ottawa Mayor MARK SUTCLIFFE used what he’d billed as a surprise “significant announcement” Thursday to pick a fight with the Trudeau government, arguing his city is being shortchanged into a financial crisis. And he fired shots at the province, too.
— Squeaky wheel: “Ottawa is facing a financial crisis … that is not of our own making,” Sutcliffe told reporters. “We need this fixed or we’re in big trouble.” He accused the federal government of short-changing the city on property taxes (officially,payments in lieu of taxes) by nearly C$100 million during the past five years, following an internal city review. On the transit side, he said local taxpayers have been left holding the bag because other levels of government don’t help pick up the tab on cost overruns. — Why now: Sutcliffe is seeking to amp up pressure by rallying public support in a David vs. Goliath style “fairness for Ottawa” campaign, warning federal and provincial election cycles will make his lobbying window tight, “so we need to act quickly before we run out of time.” — Related read: BLAIR CRAWFORD has a rundown of the dispute in the Ottawa Citizen. — Context: That follows a big loss of transit ridership due to the pandemic and federal teleworking policies, and court battles with the feds over disputed property taxes. — The stakes: He raised the prospect of service cuts and tax hikes if the city doesn’t get the financial aid it needs. He even dangled a threat that extending the light-rail system would become financially irresponsible without financial help. — Fishing for funds: GUILLAUME BERTRAND, spokesperson for Public Services and Procurement Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS, said officials are working with the city to “ensure that payments in lieu of taxes for Crown-owned properties are fair.” “Many local governments across Canada are trying to find new sources of revenues to face the cost-of-living crisis we are experiencing right now,” he said in a statement. “This is a global phenomenon, not one specific to the region or the City of Ottawa. And while interest rates are going down and inflation is back inside the Bank of Canada target for a sixth month in a row, we understand it remains difficult for many municipal governments.” | | PAPER TRAIL | |
POLL POSITIONS — The Liberal government spent C$19.4 million on public opinion research during the past year, according to a report by Public Services and Procurement Canada.
That paid for 155 studies, the bulk of which were polls, during the past fiscal year ending in March. — Biggest spenders: Public Health Agency of Canada ordered up 21 studies valued at $3.5 million. Privy Council Office, meanwhile, paid C$2.2 million for just four custom studies, which included the largest of all the government contracts for the year — a C$1.1 million contract with Elemental Data for continuous polling. Health Canada had 20 studies at C$2.1 million, while the Canada Revenue Agency paid C$1.2 million for 13. — Top winners: Advanis Inc. won C$2.5 million in contracts for 17 studies, Ipsos $2.1 million for 14 and Léger Marketing had 20 studies at C$1.8 million. Others above the million-dollar mark: Environics Research Group, Ekos Research Associates, Earnscliffe Strategy Group, The Strategic Counsel, Elemental Data, Quorus and Phoenix SPI. “These insights are imperative to advancing responsive governance and evidence-based decision making,” the report says, which notes its studies covered subjects such as climate change, zero-emission vehicles, dental care and affordability challenges. — Context: The Trudeau government ramped up spending on public opinion research after it first came to office, after it had dwindled to only about C$3.8 million in 2015 following the Harper government slashing opinion research budgets. But while the total yearly bill has hovered around C$20 million for the past three years, it’s still short of the highs of the early 2000s. In fiscal 2006/07, research costs soared to C$31.4 million. | | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | | | Where the leaders are | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region with no public events on his itinerary.
— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND has not released her public itinerary. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE holds a 9:30 a.m. press conference in Hamilton. — Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET is in Grosse-Île in the Magdalen Islands where he will visit Mines Seleine. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in Winnipeg to put up signs in Elmwood-Transcona with NDP candidate LEILA DANCE. At 3:30 p.m. local time, they will visit the First Nations Pavilion at Folklorama. — Green Leader ELIZABETH MAY will compete in the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and McTavish Academy of Art annual bocce tournament.
| | | DULY NOTED | | |
Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is headlining a Saturday evening fundraiser in Brampton, Ont. The host is local MP RUBY SAHOTA, whose redrawn riding is vulnerable to hard-charging Conservatives.
| | WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN | |
UP: The number of tense summer committee meetings as the circuit gears up.
DOWN: JORDAN PETERSON losing his legal battle against an order to do social media training. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— Global News reports that KONRAD VON FINCKENSTEIN has launched a third preliminary probe into Employment Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT’s business dealings.
— The Globe’s BILL CURRY reports that MPs studying the ArriveCan controversy have voted to order the government to turn over an internal investigation interview. — AARON WHERRY's take on the status of women committee debacle: “The only real debate is over who should feel the most embarrassed.” When The Canadian Press asked MARCI IEN to comment on the meeting, she told them committees are independent. — Maclean’s showcases 10 Canadian cities where the benchmark home price falls under the national average of $700,000. — SEAN SPEER at The Hub interviews former Immigration Minister CHRIS ALEXANDER on how Canada vets immigrants in the wake of the arrests of a father and son on terrorism-related charges. — CARL MEYER of The Narwhal says the oil and gas industry lobbied PIERRE POILIEVRE dozens of times over a year. | | PROZONE | |
Catch the latest POLITICO Canada newsletter for Pro subscribers via SUE ALLAN: Ottawa urged to defend ‘CUSMA fortress’ from China.
In other news for Pro readers: — Chinese EVs face surprise EU tariff hit. — POLITICO Pro Q&A: Chancellor of the Exchequer RACHEL REEVES. — How Britain's far right rallied on Telegram. — It's Elon Musk's X and governments are having to live with it. — Wary of Trump, Azerbaijan, businesses shun COP climate talks.
| | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to JOE HANDLEY, educator and public servant before becoming the ninth premier of Northwest Territories.
Saturday: Former Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI, retired Manitoba politician JUDY WASYLYCIA-LEIS and former Sen. BOB RUNCIMAN. Also celebrating: DAVE HANCOCK, shortest serving premier in Alberta’s history. Sunday: Toronto’s NORM KELLY and former MP TONY VALERI. Birthdays, gatherings, social notices for this community: Send them our way. Spotted: Rebel News, booking cabins on Holland America's MS Zaandam for an Alaskan cruise in June 2025. Port stops include Tracy Arm Inlet, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. EZRA LEVANT and co. will host panel discussions and mix with passengers at dinner. Manitoba Premier WAB KINEW at the premier of “Star Wars: A New Hope”in Ojibwe held in Winnipeg. PIERRE POILIEVRE already out door knocking with newly minted CPC candidate ERIKA ALEXANDER. The Conservatives turning PAUL WELLS’ recent substack about the PM’s increasingly vague schedule into a fundraising pitch to supporters, claiming Trudeau is out secretly campaigning. Former Rodriguez chief of staff JOHN MATHESON chiming in on an FT story about Meta and Google piloting an ad campaign in Canada aimed at teens by suggesting some questions lawmakers should be asking. Movers and shakers: XAVIER ROY joins the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as its new SVP of engagement and communications. Send Playbookers tips to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . | | TRIVIA | |
Thursday’s answer: Former PM STEPHEN HARPER put MICHAEL FORTIER in Cabinet despite not having a seat in the Commons, before appointing him to the Senate.
Props to LAURA PAYTON, ALEX STEINHOUSE, GUY SKIPWORTH, MARCEL MARCOTTE, DEREK DECLOET, MELISSA COTTON, DENISE SIELE, PATRICK DION, JOHN DILLON, PATRICK ST-JACQUES, DAN FONDA, JOHN MERRIMAN, CHRISTINA DE TONI, SEAN P. WEBSTER, RYAN MACKAY, BLAKE JOHNSTON, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, JOSH ZANIN, JOSEPH CHAMOUN, NICOLAS PELLETIER, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, FRANCIS DOWNEY, SARA MAY, LAURA JARVIS, JOHN ALHO and CHRISTINA DE TONI. Friday’s question: Who did former Quebec Premier JEAN CHAREST bring into his Cabinet from MICHAEL IGNATIEFF’s team before they were elected? Answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank 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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