Sophie Grégoire Trudeau turns a page

A daily look inside Canadian politics and power.
Apr 24, 2024 View in browser
 
Ottawa Playbook

By Zi-Ann Lum and Nick Taylor-Vaisey

Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Ottawa Playbook | Follow Politico Canada

Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU’s new book is exactly as advertised.

CHRYSTIA FREELAND shares notes on a “JAMES BOND-ish” meeting in Washington.

→ Plus, results from the fourth round of the First Annual POLITICO Canada Trivia Cup.

DRIVING THE DAY

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attends a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall on November 20, 2019 in Ottawa, Canada. - Trudeau unveiled an inward-looking cabinet Wednesday. The prime minister expanded his cabinet to a slightly larger 36 members after the Liberals lost 20 seats on October 21, reducing a once-mighty juggernaut to a minority government. (Photo by Chris Wattie /   AFP) (Photo by CHRIS WATTIE/AFP via Getty Images)

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is the author of a newly published book on wellness and mental health. | AFP via Getty Images

STANDING APART — SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU’s new book was never going to be a tell-all.

Nor is it political, her publicist insists to Playbook, though “Closer Together” does open with glowing praise from former U.S. secretary of state HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON.

What it is though, is a wellness book that fuses memoir with mental health-oriented interviews featuring Governor General MARY SIMON, Canadian author LIZ PLANK, singer-songwriter JEWEL, Canadian physician GABOR MATÉ, Canadian Olympian MARK TEWKSBURY and others.

There are simplified breathing exercises and playful recollections about the formative experience of growing up in a cabin in Sainte-Adèle, 90 minutes outside of Montreal.

Interview excerpts appear in a Q&A format with questions designed to showcase Grégoire Trudeau’s emotional intelligence — a quality her estranged husband also leaned on once upon a time — a “skill” that set him apart in politics.

— No tabloid news: Tiny glimpses into the private life of Canada’s first family (sex-positive parenting!) are threaded through the book — but it offers no fodder to fuel gossip about why Grégoire Trudeau’s 18-year marriage to Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU’s fell apart.

“Don’t expect much oversharing,” reviewer MARSHA LEDERMAN writes in the Globe.

And, of course, Grégoire Trudeau doesn’t owe the public that information.

— Awkward space: It’s too early to say if the book will blow up in the same way as MICHELLE OBAMA’s “Becoming” did — a bit of an unfair comparison in the niche genre of autobiographies from political spouses. The two women’s public profiles are fundamentally different.

Unlike in the United States, there’s no formal office for the prime minister’s spouse in Canada. MAUREEN MCTEER, wife of former PM JOE CLARK, wrote in her 2003 memoir that she had no idea what was involved in the role until she was in it.

It's all very DIY, as MARGARET TRUDEAU can attest. The PM’s mother once said in an interview that she wasn’t “intended for political public life” — and a lack of clear causes to champion or goals to pursue while her husband, PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU, was in office didn’t help.

In the same way, there was no role for Grégoire Trudeau, an accomplished broadcast journalist, to fill.

— Lessons taken: “Closer Together” is an appeal for human connection in a fracturing world — a radical read given the zero-sum state of Canadian politics. It’s also a continuation of Grégoire Trudeau’s work to dismantle stigmas around eating disorders and mental health.

— Trick mirrors: The mother of three, who celebrates her 49th birthday today, is a polarizing figure in the Ottawa bubble, dismissed by some as “Trudeau’s wife” or written off as a Rockcliffe Park new-age yogi. She writes about being wrongfully stereotyped by “wearing formal clothes that don’t represent the real me” to official events.

— That was then: It feels like eons since a .gif of Trudeaus’ dance moves during the 2013 Liberal leadership convention portrayed the couple as Canadian political darlings.

— This is now: Grégoire Trudeau shares passing mentions about what her family is currently exposed to as a result of a rise in polarization and threats of political violence.

“On several occasions, protesters have tried to physically harm Justin as we’ve walked in a parade as a family,” she writes, adding that her family now has bodyguards 24/7.

“My children have seen posters of their dad standing on the gallows in front of an executioner, and we’ve seen ‘F*ck Trudeau’ signs in car and truck windows while walking or driving around town. It’s hard to experience and see things like this and not react. It’s hard to accept that threats, bullying and uneasiness are part of your day-to-day life, and it’s hard, as a parent, to think that your kids might not be or feel secure in the midst of all this,” she writes.

— Bigger forces at play: Grégoire Trudeau was on the defensive when “The Current” host MATT GALLOWAY asked if the hate spewed against the prime minister feels personal.

“It’s not personal, Matt. There are greater movements in our society that explain the human behavior right now,” she said, adding that the inclination to analyze this as a phenomenon unique to her estranged husband is “irresponsible.”

As a mental health advocate, she said she has come to understand that people who need help or feel insecure or are angry need to feel safe. It’s a humanizing message the prime minister has started to repeat to negligible results.

For your radar


MEETING MINUTES — Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND says last week’s “Five Eyes” finance ministers’ meeting in Washington was all about critical minerals.

“It was sort of very JAMES BOND-ish,” Freeland told a Toronto business audience Tuesday. “We met in a secure room in the Treasury, and so on, to talk about security of critical minerals and metal supply chains and sources.”

U.S. Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN hosted the meeting on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group’s spring meetings.

“There is such a concern among our allies … of the vulnerability of those supply chains to countries that aren't our friends,” Freeland said, adding that Canada has the same concerns.

U.K. Chancellor JEREMY HUNT chaired the meeting after Freeland led the previous one. “We will have more meetings,” she said.

Know someone who could use Ottawa Playbook? Direct them to this link . Five days a week, zero dollars.

Where the leaders are


— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Toronto with Housing Minister SEAN FRASER. They have a 10:15 a.m. press conference in their schedules to promote the budget.

— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is on The Rock with “private meetings” and 1:30 p.m. (3 p.m. NT) plans for a media availability with Labor Minister SEAMUS O’REGAN to talk about the budget.

— Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE has not released a public itinerary.

— Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET is in Victoriaville, Quebec for meetings.

— NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is in Edmonton with plans for a 11:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. MT) media availability with MP HEATHER MCPHERSON to talk about pensions.

— Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will be at the Nanaimo Courthouse at 10 a.m. PT for the sentencing hearing of party deputy leader Rainbow Eyes (A.K.A. ANGELA DAVIDSON) in charges related to the Fairy Creek logging blockades.

DULY NOTED


Today on the budget roadshow: HOUSING: Indigenous Services Minister PATTY HAJDU is in Lytton, British Columbia; Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister KAMAL KHERA is in Kingston; Veterans Affairs Minister GINETTE PETITPAS TAYLOR is in Charlottetown; International Development Minister AHMED HUSSEN is in Sault Ste. Marie; Immigration Minister MARC MILLER is in Whitehorse; Government House Leader STEVEN MACKINNON is in Ottawa; Justice Minister ARIF VIRANI is on the same assignment in Toronto; Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT, Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE and Natural Revenue Minister MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU will be in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

7 p.m. (5 p.m. MT) JONATHAN WILKINSON headlines a Liberal fundraiser in Edmonton to support RANDY BOISSONNAULT.

2024 WATCH

Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in New York. (Curtis Means/DailyMail.com via AP, Pool)

Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in New York. (Curtis Means/DailyMail.com via AP, Pool) | AP

BRACING FOR TRUMP 2.0 — The prospect of DONALD TRUMP’s return as U.S. president is consuming chancelleries across Europe, British author JOHN KAMPFNER writes for POLITICO. 

Diplomats are writing copious briefing notes, he says. “They’re offering a wide range of scenarios, including more trade barriers, the U.S. giving up on Ukraine and rendering NATO virtually redundant, and Washington possibly extending a greater license to authoritarians around the world, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.”

What’s so unnerving, Kampfner observes, is that even detailed analysis is based on guess work. “As Trump’s first term showed, he doesn’t follow predictable patterns of behavior.”

In other 2024 coverage from POLITICO: 

Republicans are starting to worry about RFK Jr.

Inside the fight for top Trump national security roles.

How a second Trump presidency could tear Europe apart.

MEDIA ROOM


— Top of POLITICO this hour: Senate overwhelmingly passes long-delayed Ukraine and Israel aid.

— From JANYCE MCGREGOR of CBC News: What to watch for as Honda announces its new presence in Canada's EV industry.

— CTV News’ DANIEL OTIS reports Senate expenses climbed to C$7.2 million last year, marking a 30-percent increase over the previous year.

— In a Q&A for The Globe and Mail, TREVOR COLE interviews Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW on her plans to “fix a city in decline.”

— The Globe’s JUSTINE HUNTER reports that B.C. has put its social media harms bill on hold.

— From POLITICO columnist JONATHAN MARTIN: How Speaker MIKE JOHNSON is taming Trump and his party — against all odds.

BRUCE ANDERSON and ALEX KOHUT share some bad-news polling for the Liberals: “Only 1 in 10 Canadians thinks they will benefit from the 2024 budget.”

— And from NANOS RESEARCH: “No lift for federal Liberals coming out of budget.”

— What Liberals are touting: The PM’s conversation with SEAN RAMESWARAM on “Today, Explained.”


PROZONE


Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers: A plastics debate in the Ottawa bubble. 

From JORDAN WOLMAN, MARIE J. FRENCH and ZI-ANN LUM this hour: Populist buzzsaw puts Democrats on the defensive on climate.

In other news for Pro readers:

Forests trap less carbon than before, EPA says.

4 takeaways from Biden’s $7B solar grant announcement.

FTC poised to finalize sweeping ban on most non-competes.

Chamber CEO criticizes tariff-hiking politicians.

Amid decline, coal seeks new champions in Washington.

PLAYBOOKERS


Birthdays: SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU celebrates today, twinning bdays with columnist CHANTAL HÉBERT (70!), Liberal MP ALI EHSASSI, former Tory MP WAJID KHAN, former PC Ontario cabinet minister HELEN JOHNS, former Nova Scotia deputy premier KAREN CASEY and McMillan Vantage senior VP D'ARCI MCFADDEN.

Birthdays, gatherings, social notices for this community: Send them our way.

Spotted: MPs COREY TOCHOR and BRANDEN LESLIE with a petition to save plastic strawsANA POILIEVRE visiting Kelowna … Japanese Ambassador KANJI YAMANOUCHI taking up Liberal MP TERRY SHEEHAN’s invitation to visit Sault Ste. Marie.

International Trade Minister MARY NG, International Trade Deputy Minister ROB STEWART and Canada’s Ambassador to South Korea TAMARA MAWHINNEY meeting with LG Energy Solution executives in Seoul.

Movers and shakers: GARY VIDAL, CPC MP for Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River, announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election.

DAVID HUNT has been appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.

ON THE HILL


Find House committees here.

Keep track of Senate committees here.

Parliament returns April 29.

We're tracking every major political event of 2024 on a mega-calendar. Send us events and download the calendar yourself for Google and other clients .

TRIVIA

POLITICO Canada Trivia winners on April 23, 2024, in Ottawa.

Laura Payton's "Super Secret Cyber Spy Agency" team is heading to the trivia cup finals in June. | Nick Taylor-Vaisey

TRIVIA CUP — The public servants' round of the First Annual POLITICO Canada Trivia Cup was a nailbiter. LAURA PAYTON's SUPER SECRET CYBER SPY AGENCY edged out YVES GIROUX's PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET ORACLES. Both teams finished with 26 out of a possible 30 points, but the cyber spies were closer on the tie-breaker.

Both teams advanced to the championship round on June 3. They'll be joined by the third- and fourth-place finishers: KING'S TRIVY COUNCIL and HAIR FORCE ONE.

— Honorable mention: THE TRUTHS TO POWER failed to move on to the championship, but they nearly nailed the tie-breaker. The question: What was the total population of the federal public service in 2023, according to the Treasury Board's count? Think you know the answer without googling? Send your best guess to ottawaplaybook@politico.com.

— Calling all parliamentarians: We're recruiting MPs, senators and their geekiest and keenest staff for May 6 at the Met. We have plenty of space. Just cook up a team name and recruit your sharpest colleagues.

— Signing up is easy: RSVP to the quizmaster today!

Now, on to daily trivia

Tuesday’s answer: JEAN CHAREST was 28 when he was named minister of state (youth) in BRIAN MULRONEY’s Cabinet.

Props to ALEX STEINHOUSE, SCOTT LOHNES, SEAN MOORE, STEPHEN RUSTON, NATI PRESSMAN, PETER KATZ, JOHN DILLON, JEAN CHAREST, MARCEL MARCOTTE, KENT HOVEY-SMITH, MATT DELISLE, CAMERON RYAN, RALPH LEVENSTEIN, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and CHRIS LALANDE. 

Wednesday’s question: Tell us who wrote: “In Canada, the stars align in such a way as to let the Conservative moon block out the Liberal sun about once in a generation.”

Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com

Writing Playbook tomorrow: Nick Taylor-Vaisey.

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: Editors Sue Allan, Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage.

 

Follow us on Twitter

Nick Taylor-Vaisey @TaylorVaisey

Sue Allan @susan_allan

Maura Forrest @MauraForrest

Kyle Duggan @Kyle_Duggan

Zi-Ann Lum @ziannlum

POLITICO Canada @politicoottawa

 

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

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Listen on Apple Podcast
 

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://login.politico.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings

This email was sent to salenamartine360.news1@blogger.com by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post