| | | | |  | | By Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Kyle Duggan and Zi-Ann Lum | | | Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → The race for the House speakership is heating up. Campaigns are on. → JUSTIN TRUDEAU shuffled Cabinet committees. We keep score. → Will this all blow over … or what? |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | |
THE RACE IS ON — Conservative MP MIKE LAKE proved Wednesday that unanimity is still possible in the House of Commons.
At least for roughly 30 seconds. Lake watched as 322 other MPs voted in favor of his private member's motion, which called on the government to give maximum consideration to people with disabilities whenever it spends money on education at home or internationally. "We come together when we need to," said Deputy Speaker CHRIS D'ENTREMONT, the well-respected understudy of former speaker ANTHONY ROTA who is now a leading contender in the race for the chair. Tory MP STEPHEN ELLIS and NDP MP RICHARD CANNINGS also watched their own sponsored bills sail through the Commons. It's unclear how the secret ballot that elects the next speaker will shake out. Odds are it won't be as simple. THE SPEAKER RACE — D'Entremont, a Conservative MP, is in. He's considered a steady hand with experience in the chair. The next speaker takes over at a time when the House is held in particularly low esteem in the eyes of Canadians. A seasoned hand would soothe anxiety on the front and back benches. Liberals could cast a ballot for a Tory in a gesture of good faith — an attempt to shelve partisanship and elect a new speaker with support across parties. The opposition could also unite around D'Entremont without Liberals. Or not. Liberal MP GREG FERGUS is also gunning for the job. The three-term parliamentarian is well-liked, wears a broad smile and regularly rocks a bow tie in the chamber. He'd also be the first person of color to take on the role. Until a few weeks ago, Fergus was parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU — a closeness to the center that works against him among Conservatives. He's also a former national director of the Liberal Party. There was also that ethics violation when Fergus penned a letter of support for a TV channel's application to the CRTC in 2021. (Fergus lost Tory MP MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER's vote for that one.) But last night in reception rooms, there was buzz among confident Liberals that he's a serious contender. Some were certain he had it in the bag. — Unofficial, unannounced names filling Playbook's texts: Liberal MP ALEXANDRA MENDÈS and NDP MP CAROL HUGHES, assistant deputy speakers who know their way around the chair. — Unofficial, unannounced names that could — maybe — end up on the ballot: Liberal MPs PETER SCHIEFKE and DAVID MCGUINTY. — The campaigning: Candidates don't have much time for the art of persuasion. They can try to sway regional caucuses with impromptu presentations, sneak hallway conversations with key players, and charm the city's small-but-mighty cocktail circuit. — What's next: MPs are off on Monday for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. But Tuesday is election day.
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APOLOGY WATCH — … is over. Trudeau on Wednesday expressed regrets on behalf of Parliament for inviting and applauding a 98-year-old man who fought in the Second World War with a Nazi-aligned unit.
The Conservatives did not appreciate the prime minister speaking on behalf of Parliament. Tory MP MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER’s repeated “Nope” complemented the cries of “It’s your fault” and “You wear this” that bellowed from the opposition benches. “This is going to get reported on internationally,” Rempel Garner heckled. True. — Spotted in the gallery: Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW enjoying (or maybe not) the birds-eye view above Liberal MPs’ desks as Trudeau took all of Wednesday’s questions. — Caught in the act: Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE’s charge that Trudeau is “too frightened” to answer a question was too much for Foreign Affairs MÉLANIE JOLY. She was caught off guard by the chamber-yard taunt and covered her mouth after letting out a loud “Ha ha!” — Life of a scandal: Conservatives say the apology is not enough for a prime minister who should take personal responsibility. Observers say it may be enough to quiet controversy. On CBC News, AARON WHERRY writes: “bad faith blame-casting in the Commons is making a grim situation worse.” B'nai Brith Canada and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center are calling on Canada to declassify documents about the presence of Nazi war criminals in the country. COLIN ROBERTSON, a former Canadian diplomat and vice president at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said that of all Canada’s current burning foreign policy problems, such as plunging relations with India and China, this wound should mend the fastest. “To me, this is one that blows over,” he said. “This is an embarrassment but I think there was no malicious intent. This was simply cockup.” JANICE STEIN, one of Canada’s foremost foreign affairs experts who teaches at University of Toronto, said the speaker owning up to his mistake and the prime minister apologizing should “mitigate most of the damage.” “With friends and allies, will that be enough? Most certainly,” she said. “With Russia, this provided just a wonderful opportunity to fuel its allegations Ukrainians have a deep association with Nazism.”
| | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | | SPEAKER CV — In Wednesday's Playbook, Earnscliffe's SEAN MURPHY explained why MPs are on the hunt for a speaker who can maintain order. MATTHEW DUBÉ, a senior associate at Proof Strategies and former NDP MP, tells Playbook the House also needs a competent manager. Here are his notes: Sean Murphy is correct about the importance of potential speakers having good rapports with MPs. He is also right to point out that MPs should be skeptical when candidates promise magic solutions for decorum — no matter how much they, and we, want them to work. — Governance: The speaker chairs the Board of Internal Economy which, while not top of mind for many MPs, makes significant operational decisions, including how many resources are allocated to MPs and parties in the House. Having a speaker who can create consensus there, and keep out partisanship, helps MPs more effectively do their jobs. — Administration: The speaker is also the de facto CEO of the House administration. They hold ultimate responsibility for everything from the support MPs receive for IT, to running their offices (on the Hill and in ridings), to transition support after defeat or the decision not to run again. While the speaker might not be intimately involved in that work, MPs will want someone who can be a competent manager. None of this is glamorous, but it’s critical for MPs to do the essential — though rarely talked about — parts of their work. None of this takes away from the essential role of the speaker as the “referee” who presides over the House. At the end of the day, they are responsible for safeguarding the rights and privileges of all MPs. What do you think the House needs in a speaker? Who should it be? We’re all ears. | | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada:   | | | | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Montreal. — Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND will be in Toronto with private meetings on her itinerary. 8:15 a.m. Conservative MP JOHN BARLOW will be at the House agriculture committee. 10:30 a.m. Governor General MARY SIMON will deliver remarks to honor residential school survivors at TD Place Arena in Ottawa. 10:15 a.m. International Trade Minister MARY NG will speak at the Elevate Festival in Toronto. 11 a.m. Trudeau will make an announcement on electric vehicle supply chains with Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT. Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE and his provincial counterpart, PIERRE FITZGIBBON, will join. 11:30 a.m. Employment and Official Languages Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT will be at the Senate social affairs committee. 2 p.m. Trudeau will participate in a roundtable discussion with leaders from the artificial intelligence sector. 3:25 p.m. Trudeau will meet with "innovators in artificial intelligence." 3:30 p.m. National Defense Minister BILL BLAIR heads to the House national defense committee. 4 p.m. (1 p.m. PT) NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in Vancouver with plans to speak at the ILWU Canada’s Young Workers Conference, which is closed to media. | | | For your radar | | |
THE FINAL SHUFFLE — The PM is so laser-focused on the economy that he's no longer content to have just two Cabinet committees on the case.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister's Office refreshed its roster of committees that carry out the day-to-day business of Cabinet behind the scenes. Nobody really talks about them, but corner anybody who works in government and they'll insist this is where the real work gets done. The committee shuffle is the latest move in the Liberals' scramble to respond to affordability woes, uncertain economic growth and a long-term transition to a low-carbon world. Warning: Prepare for a bevy of BOLD NAMES and hot-button priorities: housing, energy transition, national security. — Cascading changes: Trudeau's summer Cabinet shuffle initiated weeks of staff overhauls, a revamp of parliamentary secretaries, and this week's freshening of House committee chairs. — So many lasers are focused: Cabinet has not one, but two parallel committees — titled "A" and "B," respectively — that handle issues under the umbrella of "economy, inclusion and climate." Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE chairs the "A" team, with Veterans Affairs Minister GINETTE PETITPAS TAYLOR heading up the "B" team. Add to that a new "ministerial working group" on the middle class, economy and housing, chaired by Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND. Toss in another working group on "regulatory efficiency for clean growth projects," chaired by Labor Minister SEAMUS O'REGAN. — What are working groups, exactly? The Privy Council Office offered an explanation to Playbook. "Typically, only members of the Cabinet may participate in Cabinet committee meetings," a spokesperson wrote. "Working groups have a more flexible structure, allowing for the participation of relevant experts, as needed. They do not consider policy proposals (memoranda to Cabinet), but instead are forums to help set the Government’s strategic direction in the relevant areas, and ensure the progress of priority files." — A brand-new National Security Council: When Trudeau shuffled his front bench in July, he announced his intention to assemble a team focused exclusively on national security. The NSC, chaired by the prime minister, will offer a "forum for strategic decision-making and for sharing analysis of intelligence in its strategic context." Translation: It's a place to receive sensitive intelligence and speak freely about what to do with those briefings. The inaugural members of the NSC are Defense Minister BILL BLAIR, Champagne, Freeland, Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY, Public Safety Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC, Emergency Preparedness Minister HARJIT SAJJAN and Justice Minister ARIF VIRANI. That group is distinct from the Cabinet committee on global affairs and public security, which focuses on trade promotion, security threats to Canadians and emergency management. And it's also separate from the ad-hoc Incident Response Group, which is a "dedicated emergency committee in the event of a national crisis or during incidents elsewhere that have major implications for Canada." — Treasury Board: Trudeau also shook up the committee which oversees federal financial management and spending. ANITA ANAND serves as president, with former president JEAN-YVES DUCLOS in the vice chair role. O'Regan stays on as a member, but Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister MARCI IEN joins for the first time, alongside TERRY BEECH, the rookie Cabinet minister in citizens' services. — Busy bees: O'Regan sits on six committees, including the powerful "agenda, results and communications" group chaired by Trudeau. (Prayers to his scheduling assistant.) O'Regan's workload is equaled only by fellow Newfoundlander GUDIE HUTCHINGS, who chairs the reconciliation committee. Agriculture Minister LAWRENCE MACAULAY, the longest-serving of any minister, sits on only one committee: economy, inclusion and climate. He's also a Treasury Board "alternate." | | | MEDIA ROOM | | | — JUSTIN LING writes: “History is messy, horrible, complicated. All we can do is face it.” — Courtesy our colleagues in D.C.: Who won, who lost and who flopped in the second GOP debate — And from POLITICO in Brussels: Can Europe survive Trump 2.0? — From KADY O’MALLEY: A deep dive into parliamentary procedure and the race for speaker. — From ALESSIA PASSAFIUME of The Canadian Press: What ever happened to Trudeau’s most important relationship? | | | | A message from Team SkyGuardian Canada: Learn about the remotely piloted multi-mission aircraft built on Canadian industrial partnerships to deliver sovereignty and security for Canada. | | | | | Playbookers | |
Birthdays: HBD to former Conservative MP CANDICE BERGEN, Liberal MP STEVE MACKINNON, Sen. BRIAN FRANCIS, retired senator DENNIS DAWSON and Ambassador STÉPHANE DION.
Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: Liberal MP ALEXANDRA MENDÈS leaving national caucus meeting with a pack of smokes and a dart in her hand. Movers and shakers: Irving Oil posted a meeting with PIERRE POILIEVRE policy adviser CONNOR MACDONALD and stakeholder relations manager JWANE IZZETPANAH. JASON EASTON officially left his role as chief of staff to International Trade Minister MARY NG on Tuesday. KEVIN COON started Wednesday … Easton isn't leaving the Hill. After taking some time off, he’ll start in the Prime Minister's Office in a new “strategic advisor special projects” role, reporting to Trudeau’s chief of staff, KATIE TELFORD. Telford, spotted at CPAC's fall parliamentary reception bash at the Sir John A. Macdonald building, along with BRIAN CLOW, MICHAEL SERAPIO, JULIE VAN DUSEN, ANDREW THOMSON, STEPHANIE KUSIE, ANNE MCGRATH, BEN WOODFINDEN, SEBASTIAN SKAMSKI, SARAH FISCHER and ARIEL POLLOCK. Skamski and CBC's KATE MCKENNA, posing in a 360-degree rotating camera booth. HUGUES THÉORÊT is now senior government relations adviser at Sandstone Group. | | | | Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of the first episodes in September – click here. | | | | | | | PROZONE | |
If you’re a subscriber, don’t miss our latest policy newsletter from NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY, ZI-ANN LUM and SUE ALLAN: The final shuffle.
In other Pro headlines: — Young adult cannabis consumers age out of risky use, study finds. — Revoking China's trade status is a 'blunt instrument' with high costs, report says. — ‘No AI exemptions’: Lina Khan warns AI companies against building monopolies. — “The most important case that the FTC has brought in its 109-year history.” — Buttigieg: Shutdown would furlough 1,000 air traffic controllers. — EU and U.S. leaders set for Oct. 20 summit. | | On the Hill | |
— Find the latest House committee meetings here.
— Keep track of Senate committees here. 8:15 a.m. Conservative MP JOHN BARLOW will be at the House agriculture committee meeting to take questions about his private member’s legislation, Bill C-275. 9 a.m. The parliamentary budget officer releases a new report titled, “Investment tax for clean technology manufacturing.” 9 a.m. Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX will be at the Senate agriculture and forestry committee, which is studying Bill C-234. 9 a.m. The Senate internal economy, budgets and administration committee meets. 11:30 a.m. Employment and Official Languages Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT, plus six department officials, will be at the Senate social affairs committee as part of senators’ study of Canada's temporary and migrant labor force. 11:45 a.m. The House legal and constitutional affairs committee meets to study Bill C-48 (bail reform). 3:30 p.m. National Defense Minister BILL BLAIR heads to the House national defense committee to brief MPs about his mandate and priorities. The prime minister’s office has yet to release new mandate letters. 3:45 p.m. The House government operations and estimates committee flips its cameras on to talk “committee business” after being in-camera for the first half of their meeting. — Behind closed doors: Seven House committees will meet in camera. Same so for the Senate fisheries and oceans committee. | | TRIVIA | |
Wednesday’s answer: The Inuktitut word “ajuinata,” which Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY said he learned last Friday from Governor General MARY SIMON, means “to never give up against all odds.”
Props to CAMERON PENNER, MAX FINEDAY, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, QASIR DAR, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, GEORGE SCHOENHOFER, MICHAEL MACDONALD, DOUG RICE, BOB GORDON and WAYNE EASTER. Today’s question: “It was a day when Canadians achieved some measure of glory alone, without the help or the blessings of the Americans, the English or the French,” ANDREW COHEN wrote of this day in history. To what was he referring? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com 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.
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