The ultimate Ottawa-bubble scandal

Dec 05, 2023

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By Kyle Duggan and Nick Taylor-Vaisey

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Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook.

In today's edition:

→ Another House speaker faces scrutiny.

→ Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE’s not-so-mini documentary.

→ Washington Poli-nerds vs. Ottawa Playbook Trivia.

DRIVING THE DAY

Speaker of the House of Commons Greg Fergus chairs his first question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Oct. 3, 2023.

Greg Fergus on his first day in the speaker's chair, back in October. | Sean Kilpatrick, The Canadian Press

(DON’T) TOUCH THE ROBE — Here we go again.

Knives are out for House Speaker GREG FERGUS, even after he apologized for a faux pas involving a video appearance at a partisan event.

The controversy ate up a good chunk of House time Monday.

— Rewind the tape: Fergus appeared in his formal speaker’s robes in a video that paid tribute to outgoing Ontario Liberal interim leader JOHN FRASER during the Ontario Liberal convention over the weekend.

— Fast forward: Not only is he in Conservative crosshairs, but the Bloc also wants him to step down. Bloc House Leader ALAIN THERRIEN called Fergus out for a lack of impartiality and flawed judgment.

“Were there other events that we haven’t found out about? Was that just the tip of the iceberg?”

Conservative House Leader — and former speaker — ANDREW SCHEER kicked off debate Monday with a question of privilege to send the matter to the House procedure committee and compared the situation to an NHL referee giving a pep talk to one of the teams before a game.

Scheer said he was “absolutely flabbergasted” and “deeply appalled” by the appearance at a partisan venue.

— Bit of a blooper: Fergus expressed regret the “video was used differently than intended,”
and Fraser had tweeted he was sorry it “wasn’t clearly communicated to his [Fergus’] office where and when it would be used.”

— En français: When Fergus apologized in the chamber, he did the important parts in French — one of the best moves the Liberals seem to have going for themselves right now,ruining the prospect of using sensitive moments as English video clips for social media.

Fergus started Monday’s sitting by telling MPs he was asked to make the video but he thought it was going to be played at an "intimate party” and said it was recorded “for a long-standing friend who was retiring,” according to the simultaneous translation from French (pour un ami de longue date qui quittait son poste).

When Scheer pointed out in the House that Fraser is not retiring from politics, and that he’s going back into partisan activities, Conservative MP SHANNON STUBBS, who sits just a seat down the row, turned her head and expressed surprise with a “Really!?” and a hearty laugh.

Many Conservatives pounced over the Fergus gaffe.

“How many other ‘private’ videos is he making in the Speaker’s office while wearing robes?!?” PIERRE POILIEVRE adviser JENNI BYRNEtweeted.

GARNETT GENUIS called it a “grave scandal,” while former speaker of the Saskatchewan legislature (now CPC MP) COREY TOCHOR said he had resigned from his role as speaker to “take part in a partisan event … that I could not attend because I was speaker” — a move he made when he decided to enter the federal political arena.

— Stall, stall, stall: An official from the office of Government House Leader KARINA GOULD accused the Conservatives of “playing procedural games to block debate on important legislation,” stalling debate on clean energy jobs Bill C-50, aka the Sustainable Jobs Act.

— Talk of the town: If Fergus wants to remain in the role for the long haul, he’ll have to find a way to get out — and stay out — of the news.

The speaker is not really supposed to be this interesting … which is how he ended up with the plum job in the first place.

The last speaker, ANTHONY ROTA,resigned after he did something really interesting in September.

For your radar

GO LONG — Political ads are supposed to last 30 seconds, maybe a minute. The conventional wisdom is that a modern-day attention span can't abide much more than that.

Somebody forgot to tell PIERRE POILIEVRE, the Conservative leader who has for years pumped out YouTube videos that regularly breach the five-minute mark. Poilievre outdid himself over the weekend, posting a 15-minute diagnosis of Canada's housing affordability crisis and his plan to vanquish it.

— The stats: Poilievre's team posted the slick video, narrated in mini-doc style, on Saturday. By Monday it hovered around 200,000 views and racked up more than 3,000 comments.

— Channeling the mainstream: A constant drumbeat of analysis insists Poilievre's antagonistic relationship with the news media is a deliberate sop to voters who don't trust what they see on TV or in the newspaper.

But Poilievre relies on the MSM to drive home his arguments, as broadcast vet KEVIN NEWMAN observed on LinkedIn.

His video cites mainstream clips, graphics and reporting more than 40 times. Sources include the National Post, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, CTV News, Global News, and Bloomberg. Poilievre also points to stories published by The Canadian Press, which he claims is a Trudeau PR team, and CBC News, which he has promised to defund.

— Spin cycle: Poilievre also points to housing shortage projections produced by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which he refers to as "Canada's Housing Agency." That's a different frame than Andrew Scheer used to criticize CMHC. In that case, it was "Trudeau's housing agency."

Coming in Wednesday's Playbook: Economist and housing expert MIKE MOFFATT will check Poilievre's work.

— The political impact: Broadcast journalist DAVID AKIN was skeptical of Poilievre's mini-doc approach, arguing that it's a big ask of "even the most rabid partisan."

But COLE HOGAN, a digital comms specialist at Earnscliffe who has worked on campaigns for DOUG FORD and JASON KENNEY, says long-form videos simply meet the audience where it's consuming content.

"YouTube alone reaches 98 percent of Canadians across all audiences," Hogan wrote to Playbook. "As of last year, over 17 million Canadians streamed YouTube to their TV and when they did, over 60 percent of them watched content that’s 21 minutes or longer. We’re constantly looking for more content, and substance."

That lecture-style approach is new for Canadian digital campaigns, Hogan says, but the YouTube generation appears to be tuning in: "We’ll see if his opponents can keep up."

— His opponent: Housing Minister SEAN FRASER fired off a snappy response: "For him, it’s about how many people watch his videos. For me, it’s about how many Canadians have a roof over their head. The right path forward requires investments in housing, not cuts to the programs that get homes built."

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU chairs a Cabinet meeting, then attends Question Period.

— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND will make an announcement at 9 a.m. She will be at the Cabinet meeting at 10 a.m. At 2:30 p.m., she will meet with Yukon Premier RANJ PILLAI.

— The Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly gets underway at the Shaw Centre. The AFN will vote for a new national chief tomorrow.

1 p.m. Labor Minister SEAMUS O'REGAN and Employment Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT launch a union-led advisory table “to advise the government on how best to support workers affected by economic change.”

MEDIA ROOM

— The top read on POLITICO on Monday: Trudeau plays the Trump card.

— NATIONAL POST reports: Foreign interference inquiry denies full standing to Conservatives, NDP.

— CBC News’ CATHARINE TUNNEY reports on the broadcaster’s move to cut 10 percent of its workforce, citing a C$125-million shortfall.

— PAUL WELLS pulled the trigger on a podcast interview with CBC honcho CATHERINE TAIT. They talk about most of the things you'd hope to hear Tait speak about on the record.

— In the Globe and Mail, KAREN HOWLETT deciphers a new OECD report warning about the “several areas” where Canada is falling behind on health care.

— Organizers behind a solidarity rally with Israel on Parliament Hill say they were “shocked” after 17 chartered buses no-showed in Toronto, RYAN TUMILTY reports in the National Post.

PROZONE

Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit on Dec. 4, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The scene at COP28 where Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced new methane rules on Monday. | Rafiq Maqbool/AP

Our latest policy newsletter for POLITICO Pro subscribers from SUE ALLAN and ZI-ANN LUM: Guilbeault: More on less methane.

In other news for Pro subscribers:

— Canada tightens impugned rules on methane.

— The state of the climate in 9 charts.

— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency orders plastics company to stop making “forever chemicals.”

— Report finds that corporate support for carbon capture and storage doesn’t match UN guidelines — report.

— Former U.S. ambassador charged with serving as agent for Cuba.

Talk of the town

The crowd at Ottawa Playbook trivia

A hundred-plus poli-nerds walk into a bar ... Monday in D.C. | Luiza Savage

PLAYBOOK IN D.C. — POLITICO Canada hosted the second semi-annual Ottawa Playbook Washington Trivia Night at Astro Beer Hall a few blocks from the White House.

One-hundred and twenty Canada-U.S. trivia geeks filled the hall with cheers, jeers and arcane knowledge.

Canadian Ambassador KIRSTEN HILLMAN asked a round of questions. Conservative MP ERIC DUNCAN was in the crowd. The winning team was a smarty-pants gang of Canadian embassy staff who scored 24 points out of a possible 30.

The winners of Ottawa Playbook trivia.

The winning team with Playbook's Nick Taylor-Vaisey. | Luiza Savage

PLAYBOOKERS

Birthdays: HBD to former Conservative MP JOAN CROCKATT and to MIKE SOLBERG of New West Public Affairs.

Send us birthdays: ottawaplaybook@politico.com

Spotted: Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT's approval rating, in freefall according to Angus Reid's latest numbers … Former PMO senior manager for research and advertising ALEX KOHUT dispelling the myth that political parties constantly produce internal polling on voter preference: "It costs a lot and horserace polls aren't useful enough between elections to justify that."

MPs MELISSA LANTSMAN, ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER, MARCO MENDICINO, MARTY MORANTZ and MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER among those braving the cold for the large rally on the Hill in support of the Jewish people.

Former PMs STEPHEN HARPER and JEAN CHRÉTIEN posing for a photo together; twice, as LAUREEN HARPER posted the three of them together.

Spotted on American TV: KEVIN O’LEARY appearing as a talking head on Fox News; Defense Minister BILL BLAIR speechifying on C-SPAN 2 reruns.

Foreign Interference Commissioner MARIE-JOSEE HOGUE releasing the list of parties granted standing to participate in the inquiry, which includes: HAN DONG, MICHAEL CHAN, ERIN O’TOOLE, YUEN PAU WOO, the CPC and NDP, and many more … *jazz hands*

Movers and shakers: Former Liberal MP BERNADETTE JORDAN will have a new gig soon as Canada’s newly appointed consul general in Boston. (ICYMI her predecessor RODGER CUZNER is now a senator.)

MAHEEP SANDHU got a promotion in Energy Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON’s office to strategic communications and parliamentary adviser.

Governor General MARY SIMON has sworn in four new heads of missions: Gambian High Commissioner MOMODOU LAMIN BAH; Cambodian Ambassador SOPHEA EAT; Eswatini High Commissioner KENNEDY FITZGERALD GROENING; and Suriname Ambassador JAN MARTEN WILLEM SCHALKWIJK.

AROUND THE HILL

11 a.m. The House fisheries committee will meet to study supplementary estimates with department deputy minister ANNETTE GIBBONS in the hot seat.

11 a.m. This summer’s Port of Vancouver strike is up for discussion at the House international trade committee. Notable witnesses include Alberta Transport Minister DEVIN DREESHEN; Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association President; and CEO BRIAN KINGSTON and Global Automakers of Canada President DAVID ADAMS.

11 a.m. The House foreign affairs committee’s subcommittee on international human rights will meet to continue its study on international disability-inclusive education.

11 a.m. The House heritage committee will continue its study on “tech giants current and ongoing use of intimidation and subversion tactics to evade regulation in Canada and across the world.” PETER MENZIES and The Hub’s editor at large SEAN SPEER are on the witness list.

11 a.m. Auditor General KAREN HOGAN and Citizenship and Immigration Deputy Minister CHRISTIANE FOX will be at the House public accounts committee.

11 a.m. The House environment committee will begin its meeting debating NDP MP TAYLOR BACHRACH’s motion asking members to urge Ottawa to work with the B.C. government to create a C$1-billion watershed security fund.

1 p.m. Labor Minister SEAMUS O’REGAN and Employment Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT will hold a media availability in West Block to announce a new union-led advisory table “to advise the government on how best to support workers affected by economic change.”

3:30 p.m. Immigration Minister MARC MILLER will be up at the House immigration committee to take questions on supplementary estimates. Deputy Minister CHRISTIANE FOX is on the witness list, her second parliamentary committee appearance on the same day.

3:30 p.m. Bill C-53 will be up for clause-by-clause consideration at the House Indigenous and northern affairs committee.

3:30 p.m. The House justice committee will meet to take Bill C-40 through clause-by-clause consideration.

4 p.m. The House veteran affairs committee will continue their study on the experience of women veterans.

5 p.m. The Senate national finance committee will meet to discuss supplementary estimates before changing topic in the second half to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-241.

Behind closed doors: The special joint committee on medical assistance in dying will meet to talk about a draft report.

TRIVIA

Monday’s answer: On Dec. 4, 1914, 21 executives from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec assembled in a meeting room at the Chateau Laurier to create the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

Props to KEN FAULKNER, EMMA MACKENZIE HILLIER, MATT DELISLE, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, PETER WALKER, GREG MACEACHERN, MARCEL MARCOTTE and GEORGE SCHOENHOFER.

Have a harder question? Send it our way.

Reader J.D.M. STEWART sent in today’s question: PETER C. NEWMAN’s “Renegade in Power” was published 50 years ago. What was the original title supposed to be?

Answers 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? Run a Playbook ad campaign. 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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