PORT WATCH — It’s nearly a month since labor turmoil erupted at B.C.’s ports, when thousands of dock workers walked off the job for 13 days, snarling billions in trade.
The ports are currently open, yet here we are again. The dock workers’ union decided Friday to reject a tentative agreement. Again. Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH is calling for back-to-work legislation.Again. Labor Minister SEAMUS O’REGAN is in the hot seat. Again. Yet the labor strife might be on the verge of ending, maybe sorta. Again. O’Regan said over the weekend that he'd asked the industrial relations board to investigate the labor standoff. If it had determined a negotiated resolution was not possible, it had the ability to impose a new collective agreement or binding arbitration. — The latest: The Canadian Press reports that the two sides say they've reached a new tentative deal. The Globe's BRENT JANG writes: "In a bit of déjà vu, the announcement of the tentative deal comes just 17 days after both sides approved and recommended acceptance of a separate proposed collective agreement that had been drafted by a federal mediator after talks stalled at the bargaining table." — Reax: Just days after a Cabinet shuffle, Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE is demanding that Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU jettison O’Regan over his management of the dispute, which he called a “long trail of failures” that came with “plenty of warnings.” SHOW ME THE MONEY — The latest fundraising stats for the federal parties are trickling in, but the full picture is missing without figures from the big blue fundraising juggernaut. The Conservative Party is pushing it closer to the deadline than the others. But here’s a quick snapshot of the rest. The Liberal Party, which held its most recent convention in the quarter, raised C$3.19 million, according to figures provided to Playbook, up from C$2.76 million the same period last year. As usual, all eyes will be on the contrast between the main opposition party and the governing Liberals, especially following the CPC’s banger first quarter and staggering record set in the final months of last year. The latest filings to Elections Canada for the second quarter of the year show the NDP pulled in C$1.37 million from 16,936 party donors — up from C$1.18 million the same period last year. The Bloc raked in C$239,513 from 1,444 people and the Greens C$408,348 from 4,351, a dip from C$437,835 last year. Today is the filing deadline for the April, May and June figures, but the stragglers may not appear publicly until quite late. More to come, usually served up with a side of fresh spin from party comms. SHUFFLED UP, DOWN, ALL AROUND — How might ANITA ANAND’s move from defense to treasury be newly interpreted this week? So far, it’s been a clear promotion. A clear demotion. An interesting lateral move. Shuffled out of the spotlight and into the shadows ... of an important “economic” job. Clear enough? — Theories floating around: Moving her to Treasury sets Anand up as a finance-minister-in-waiting, should CHRYSTIA FREELAND ever retire. Or, the move to Treasury was a sign of Anand being too ambitious and her leadership campaign being too loud. Or, it’s a sign Anand was too cozy with the department and her views on the defense budget came into conflict with the spending priorities of the Prime Minister’s Office. Or, it’s a sign she wanted out. Or, she’s being punished. Or ... — The view from afar: The Times of India called the new job a “key economic role” in Canada’s Cabinet, while a Hindustan Times headline reads “Indo-Canadian Anita Anand promoted.” — The view from up close: Oakville News reported Anand got in contact with her local chamber of commerce soon after assuming the role. In an interview with reporter KIM ARNOTT, Anand downplayed the notion she was shuffled into a low-profile gig and said she’ll be busy overseeing spending. “Every single policy of the Government of Canada flows through the Treasury Board – everything.” It echoed what she said on CBC’s Power and Politics, where she followed up the remarks with, "And yes, I am going to have to speak with my colleagues about the need for prudent spending and I'm looking forward to those conversations as well." — The view from the military: In a real talker of a story, DAVID PUGLIESEreported for the Ottawa Citizen that Anand’s defense policy update was unrealistic and is being rewritten by the PMO. It highlighted other tensions as well, like that she insisted Canada should not provide troops for a security mission to Haiti. Know someone who would like Ottawa Playbook? Please direct them to this link . Five days a week, zero dollars. | 
