| | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum and Nick Taylor-Vaisey | | | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Zi-Ann | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → The prime minister heads to The Rock to break bread with Europe’s odd couple. → International Trade Minister MARY NG tells Playbook she was “shocked” Conservatives voted against an updated trade deal with Ukraine. → Bill C-234 (a.k.a. the carbon carve-out bill) is up for debate again in the chamber of sober second thought. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | |  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel are in Canada today. | Kenzo Tribouillard/ AFP via Getty Images | ROCK TALK — Imagine diplomatic relations so calm that envoys almost wish for a problem or two in order to feel some excitement. “The problem is that it's all very well, but a few irritants could be a welcome challenge to dynamize the relationship," one EU diplomat tells POLITICO’s BARBARA MOENS of the status of Canada-EU relations. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in St. John’s, Newfoundland to host European Commission President URSULA VON DER LEYEN and European Council President CHARLES MICHEL at a two-day Canada-EU leaders’ summit (the 19th edition). Related reading: Trump looms over EU-Canada summit by Barbara and Zi-Ann. — The big news: Canada is expected to become the latest country to sign into a “green alliance” with the EU, matching agreements the world’s largest trading bloc has inked with Japan and Norway. Europe wants to work with Canada to get countries on board a global carbon pricing system, according to a Wednesday briefing with EU officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the summit. The EU is currently experimenting with a carbon border adjustment tariff — a carbon tax — to incentivize the development and use of greener technologies. — Transition talk: Liquefied natural gas and the problem of getting direct shipments to Europe will also be on the agenda. “Everybody knows that Canada does not have the infrastructure that links to Europe,” said another official, adding that Canadian exports must go through the United States to get across the Atlantic. — VIP baggage: Von der Leyen’s second trip to Canada this year is already a win in Trudeau’s books even before the summit gets going in the slushy shoulder season that usually repels visitors. The prime minister’s guests, and the PM himself, may appreciate the distance from their parliamentary bubbles. Michel met a war-torn Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY in Kyiv earlier this week ahead of the start of the European Commission’s formal accession talks with Ukraine. Von der Leyen arrives fresh from a trip to the Middle East after facing criticism for her handling of the war between Israel and Hamas — a topic that has also maimed morale within Trudeau’s Liberal party. — Look over there: If the weather behaves, leaders will bid each other adieu on Friday with a photo-op on Signal Hill, which the Prime Minister’s Office says was chosen for symbolism. In 1901, Italian inventor GUGLIELMO MARCONI set up communications equipment on the site, overlooking the city and harbor, on which he received the first transatlantic wireless signal. | | | | A message from Amazon: Did you know more than 41,000 Canadian selling partners sell in the Amazon Canada store, including many small businesses? In 2021, Amazon’s Canadian selling partners sold more than 100 million products (more than 200 products every minute). Canadian entrepreneurs thriving in Amazon’s store include women, families, and artisans. Learn their stories, and discover how Amazon is inventing on their behalf with powerful and cost-effective tools and services to support their business growth. | | | | | For your radar | | |  Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a news conference on Parliament Hill in September. | Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images | CUFTA DRAMA — International Trade Minister MARY NG says she’s “shocked” Conservatives voted against a bill to implement an updated free-trade agreement with Ukraine. “I really am,” Ng told Playbook before stepping into the women's caucus meeting in West Block. “They shouldn't be playing political games and on something that they allege is some kind of hardship on Ukraine, when, in fact, Ukraine — they're fighting a war!” — House hullabaloo: Conservatives turned heads this week when they voted as a bloc against Bill C-57, government legislation that would implement a modernized Canada-Ukraine free-trade agreement. Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE accused Liberals in the House on Tuesday of “shamefully” voting “to impose a carbon tax on the people of Ukraine.” Ng called baloney on the claim. “Ukraine has had a price on pollution, a carbon tax, since 2011,” she said. “There's no issue about compliance. There's no issue of meeting environmental standards.” When Government House Leader KARINA GOULD spoke on the topic during Wednesday’s question period, she was heckled by Conservative MPs, notably MICHAEL COOPER, who repeatedly yelled “carbon tax!” — What the deal actually says: The environmental chapter of the proposed agreement includes a provision that identifies the promotion of “carbon pricing and measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks” as an area of mutual interest. It’s one line on a list of nine bullet points. Another flags the development and use of “cost-effective, low‑emissions technologies and alternatives” to mitigate climate change. Canada and Ukraine are both signatories to the Paris Agreement. The EU has a carbon tax and Ukraine is vying for ascension as a member state. — Tories take tax fight global: Conservatives have been in vehement support of Ukraine since Russia launched its war and the party’s vote against the bill over a climate clause was a surprise. Yes, fighting the carbon tax was very on-brand. But opposing a free-trade agreement bill, expedited on Ukraine’s request, was something new. The Conservatives have given the Liberals an unexpected inch to appeal to supporters of Ukraine and members of the diaspora community. Communications strategy, pending. For Conservatives, the perception of the Liberals bringing their carbon tax abroad feeds into narratives about government overreach — meat for its anti-carbon tax fundraising and coalition-building machine. — Ukraine is watching: OLEKSIY GONCHARENKO, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, will be a witness at today’s House international trade committee meeting, where the deal is up for discussion — as well as the Conservatives’ opposition to the carbon pricing element. | | | ALSO FOR YOUR RADAR | | |
A CALL FOR COOLER HEADS — The fate of Bill C-234 got caught up this week in an emotional tussle over the personal conduct of senators. And that was before the “wanted” posters.
The drama is almost certain to continue today as the Senate considers a private member's bill that would remove the federal carbon levy from the natural gas and propane that is used in such farming activities as drying grain and heating barns. Debate on an amendment that could ultimately send the bill back to the House was interrupted Tuesday when Sen. RAYMONDE SAINT-GERMAIN raised a question of privilege. — A quick rewind: Saint-Germain accused a small group of Conservatives of intimidating members of the Independent Senators Group (ISG) back on Nov. 9. Sen. BERNADETTE CLEMENT had motioned to delay debate by two weeks so absent senators could put their views on the record. That motion passed, 29-24. The Tories were visibly frustrated with the motion, which they insisted was a delay tactic. “After violently throwing his earpiece, the Leader of the Opposition [DON PLETT] stood before Sen. Clement and me as we sat at our desks, yelling and berating us,” Saint-Germain told the chamber. — The other side: Plett preemptively launched his own defense. "I am passionate and I am dedicated to what I believe. I will never apologize for that. I will fight hard for my cause and my party, but I want to do it in a respectful manner," Plett said. "My wife asked me, 'When are you schoolchildren all going to grow up?' We are becoming similar to what the House of Commons is in their Question Period. I take some responsibility for that." — The consequence: For nearly two hours Tuesday — until the chamber suspended for an evening break — senators debated an amendment from Sen. LUCIE MONCION that would reduce the sunset clause on the bill's carbon tax carveout. — Keep track: When they returned at 8 p.m., senators spoke to Saint-Germain's question of privilege for 90 minutes — and then another 30 minutes on a separate question of privilege raised by Sen. DAVID WELLS, who claimed Sen. Moncion also behaved inappropriately. By the time those conversations were exhausted, only a few minutes remained for debate on C-234. The Senate adjourned at 11 p.m. without a vote on the amendment, or the full bill. — What the Liberals want: Sen. MARC GOLD, the government's rep in the chamber, expressed explicit support for Moncion's move to tweak the bill. "The government supports this amendment,” he said Tuesday. Gold denied Conservative accusations that the bill would languish on the House of Commons order paper — effectively killing the carbon carve-out. "When a private member’s bill is amended, it is automatically put on a list for debate" in the House, Gold insisted. "It is scheduled in an orderly calendar." — What's next: More interventions on Saint-Germain's question of privilege, which Conservative senators requested. Speaker RAYMONDE GAGNÉ cautioned against repetition after so many senators spoke to the topic on Tuesday. “Senators should avoid repeating arguments already made, and, I emphasize, be focused,” she said. The question of privilege is on today’s agenda. | | TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will be in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He has an afternoon visit with local trades students on his schedule. The EU-Canada leaders’ summit kicks off in the evening at a reception. The PM’s remarks will be live at 5:30 p.m. (7 p.m. NT).
— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Toronto to tour a rental housing development on the first stop of her Fall Economic Statement roadshow. Media availability begins at 12 p.m. 9:15 a.m. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT will headline at the Senate energy committee, which is studying Bill S-14. 10:30 a.m. Green Party Co-Leader ELIZABETH MAY and Bloc MP KRISTINA MICHAUD join environmentalists for a press conference in West Block to urge the government to release its emissions cap framework ahead of COP28. 11 a.m. CHRIS FORBES will make his committee debut as finance DM when he appears at the House public accounts. Auditor General KAREN HOGAN is also on the witness list. 11 a.m. Ukrainian MP OLEKSIY GONCHARENKO and United Steelworkers Union’s GEORGE SOULE are on the board as witnesses at the House international trade committee’s study on Bill C-57, government legislation to implement the Canada-Ukraine free-trade agreement. 11:30 a.m. Housing Minister SEAN FRASER heads to The Other Place to be a witness at the Senate banking committee, which is studying “matters relating to banking, trade and commerce generally.” 3:30 p.m. National Defense Minister BILL BLAIR, his deputy minister BILL MATTHEWS, Canada’s Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. WAYNE EYRE and Emergency Preparedness Minister HARJIT SAJJAN are all witnesses at the House national defense committee’s study on rising domestic operational deployments and challenges facing the military. | | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | |
FES + 2 — Playbook has been consulting policy experts on their takeaways from the FES.
Here's DAN WOYNILLOWICZ, principal at Polaris Strategy + Insight: There are lots of things that Canada has to do to successfully navigate the energy transition, but one big thing that stands out is the need to finish cleaning up and then accelerate scaling up our electricity system. A common thread across the tens of billions of investment announcements, across the electric vehicle battery supply chain, is the attractiveness of Canada’s clean power grid. And the best way for Canadians to tackle high and volatile energy prices and reduce their energy costs is to get off fossil fuels and plug into clean electricity, swapping out gas cars and furnaces for EVs and heat pumps. Clean electricity is our superpower and we need a lot more of it, and fast — so it was surprising and disappointing to see planned investment tax credits for clean electricity kicked down the road by at least another year. These need to be a top priority and should be accelerated. Want to share your takeaways? We’re all ears. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— Top of POLITICO this hour: Democrats can’t quit Elon Musk’s X.
— Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT says he’s “very aware” Quebecers are angry with him. PHILIP AUTHIER reports in the Montreal Gazette on the PQ surging ahead of the CAQ in polls. — In The Honest Talk, KIRSTEN HILLMAN, Canada’s first female ambassador to the U.S., reflects on a recurring theme of being the only woman at the table. — Ex-RCMP intelligence director CAMERON ORTIS has been found guilty on all counts. The Globe and Mail’s KRISTY KIRKUP has the details. — For Global News, KAMYAR RAZAVI has a story on Indigenous rights colliding with Trans Mountain’s C$35 billion pipeline in Western Canada. — Shock result: Exit polls point to far-right leader GEERT WILDERS as the winner in the Dutch election. The question now, though, is whether any other parties are willing to join Wilders to form a coalition. POLITICO’s ELINE SCHAART, PIETER HAECK and JAKOB HANKE VELA take a look at “Nexit?” | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: Justice Minister ARIF VIRANI celebrates today — so does former Liberal Cabinet minister JANE PHILPOTT.
Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: Liberal MP ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER getting a picture with former Israeli Prime Minister NAFTALI BENNETT before leaving the country … Liberal MP PAUL CHIANG made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Richmond Hill. Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY posting on X about the “welcome news” about a temporary humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war — a full dinner, breakfast and lunch after the news broke. Movers and shakers: MURRAY SEGAL and ANTHONY PRIMERANO reappointed to two-year terms on the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments each as “special adviser to the prime minister.” Media mentions: APRIL LINDGREN pens a proposal in J-Source to create an annual census of local news outlets and a news poverty index … End of an era for journalist HARRISON LOWMAN, leaving TVO’s The Agenda after 10 years. | | | | A message from Amazon: Did you know more than 41,000 Canadian selling partners sell in the Amazon Canada store, including many small businesses?
In 2021, Amazon’s Canadian selling partners sold more than 100 million products (more than 200 products every minute).
It takes a lot to run a small business. Canadian entrepreneurs thriving in Amazon’s store include women, families, and artisans. Learn their stories, and discover how Amazon is inventing on their behalf with powerful and cost-effective tools and services to support their business growth. | | |
| | PROZONE | |
If you’re a subscriber, don’t miss our latest policy newsletter from KYLE DUGGAN, ZI-ANN LUM and SUE ALLAN: What to expect at the EU-Canada summit.
In other Pro headlines: — U.N. votes to forge ahead on global tax effort in challenge to OECD. — An ESG backlash spurs a new corporate strategy: greenhushing. — Russia is holding next year’s global climate summit ‘hostage.’ — An ESG backlash spurs a new corporate strategy: greenhushing. — Internet of Tanks: NATO courts the tech scene. | | On the Hill | |
9 a.m. The Senate agriculture committee will hear from Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change CATHERINE STEWART as it continues its study on soil health.
9 a.m. The Senate fisheries and oceans committee reunites to continue its study on Canada’s seal population and its impact on fisheries. 9:15 a.m. Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT will headline at the Senate energy committee, which is studying Bill S-14. 11 a.m. CHRIS FORBES is at the House public accounts committee. 11 a.m. Ukrainian MP OLEKSIY GONCHARENKO and United Steelworkers Union’s GEORGE SOULE are on the board as witnesses at the House international trade committee. 11 a.m. The House environment committee will continue its study on freshwater. 11 a.m. The House status of women committee has Bill S-205 on its agenda. 11:30 a.m. Housing Minister SEAN FRASER will be a witness at the Senate banking committee. 11:30 a.m. The humanitarian situation in Gaza will again be the topic of study at the Senate foreign affairs committee. 11:30 a.m. Sen. MOBINA JAFFER and Sen. KIM PATE will share a 30-min time slot at the Senate social affairs committee to take questions related to Bill S-235. 11:45 a.m. After it finishes a discussion on “special expenses budget,” the Senate legal and Constitutional affairs committee will hear from one of its own, Sen. CLAUDE CARIGNAN, on a bill he’s sponsoring (Bill S-231). 12 p.m. Federation of Canadian Municipalities President SCOTT PEARCE holds a media availability with Halifax Mayor MIKE SAVAGE at the Château Laurier to discuss cities’ housing needs. 1 p.m. A group representing Canadian individuals and families with relatives in Gaza will hold a press conference in West Block. 3:30 p.m. The House national defense committee will study rising domestic operational deployments and challenges facing the military. 3:30 p.m. Métis National Council President CASSIDY CARON will be at the House Indigenous peoples committee as part of MPs’ study on Bill C-53. 3:30 p.m. The House citizenship and immigration committee will meet for the third time on its study on closed work permits and temporary foreign workers. 3:30 p.m. The House veterans affairs committee will meet for a briefing on trauma-informed practices. 3:30 p.m. The House industry committee has Bill C-27 on its schedule. 3:30 p.m. Bill C-40 is up for study at the the House justice committee. 3:30 p.m. Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX will be at the the House government operations committee to take questions related to supplementary estimates. | | TRIVIA | |
Wednesday’s answer: LESTER B. PEARSON and PAUL MARTIN SR. represented Canada at U.S. President JOHN F. KENNEDY’s state funeral on Nov. 25, 1963.
Props to BOB GORDON, GUY SKIPWORTH, GEORGE SCHOENHOFER, MATTHEW CONWAY, MARCEL MARCOTTE, SCOTT LOHNES, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, CHIARA MORIN, JIM CAMPBELL, RYAN SPERO, GERMAINE MALABRE, MATT DELISLE, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, NANCI WAUGH, SARA MAY, JOANNA PLATER and GORDON RANDALL. Today’s question: Who built the first gasoline-powered vehicle in Canada? 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. | | | | 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 | | | | |
