| | | | |  | | By Zi-Ann Lum and Kyle Duggan | Presented by MOWI | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Ottawa Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → The NDP comes through for GREG FERGUS, again. → Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. talks Trump in Montreal. → A paper trail on military exports to Israel. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | |  Speaker Greg Fergus survived an ouster attempt on Tuesday night with support from Liberals, the NDP and Green MPs. | Sean Kilpatrick, The Canadian Press | CHASING FERGUS — Another Conservative gambit to bounce GREG FERGUS from the House speaker chair failed after a late-night vote on Tuesday. Conservative MP CHRIS WARKENTIN’s motion seeking to find Fergus in contempt of Parliament was defeated 168-142. So, no speaker election Monday, though the results guarantee it won't be easy going. Conservatives want to oust Fergus — a mission that started long before silly season. The party has shown dogged determination to get him to resign, questioning from the outset his ability to set aside partisanship — a case that has benefited from a series of gaffes. — Scandal rewind: Warkentin raised the alarm last week over a Liberal-sponsored summer BBQ invite that teased an evening with Fergus and took potshots at PIERRE POILIEVRE’s “reckless policies” — a no-no for someone whose impartiality is tantamount to job performance. Liberal party HQ took the blame. The text was “auto-populated, standard” language, they said, posted without Fergus’ knowledge. Those pesky predictive text algorithms! — Everywhere all at once: In a West Block committee room on Tuesday where House policy on workplace harassment and violence prevention was under study, Tories grilled Fergus about his impartiality. Meanwhile in the chamber, MPs were debating a motion on allegations of partisanship against the speaker. — Obvious fodder: The Conservative war room points to Fergus' history in the party to back its narrative that “Liberal partisanship” is popping up in forums where it shouldn’t.
There’s his history as president of the Young Liberals in the 1990s and his appointment as parliamentary secretary to the prime minister. Being the subject of an ethics watchdog report that found him in breach of rules hasn’t helped, either. Ditto with that personal video he recorded in his speaker’s robes for outgoing Ontario Liberal leader JOHN FRASER. During that outcry Fergus asked MPs for a “second chance,” vowing “nothing like this will never happen again.” — Inside 225-A: Minutes before Fergus was scheduled to appear in the witness chair, Tory MPs huddled at the side of the room. MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER joined caucus colleagues LUC BERTHOLD and ERIC DUNCAN and staffers to walk through their game plan. — Musical chairs: There are no female Conservatives on the House procedure committee, but REMPEL GARNER subbed in a round for Conservative vice-chair MICHAEL COOPER. During a bigger discussion of how the House of Commons itself would handle workplace harassment, she told the committee she first lost faith in the speaker’s impartiality when he defended Trudeau during “Elbowgate.” — OH in the cheap seats: ANDREW SCHEER popped in after the gavel dropped to hear opening remarks from Fergus. He and a staffer chatted at the back of the room about the questions he’d flipped to be asked at the meeting. “It has been my objective to improve the atmosphere in the House,” Fergus told the committee. “Decorum is an issue which has been raised with me not only by members, but also by the general public.” At the back of the room, Scheer, a former House speaker, muttered: “It’s not your job to please the public.” | | A message from MOWI: MOWI and the coastal safe salmon farming sector drive economic and job growth across Canada and in First Nations communities, while honouring their commitments to responsible, sustainable, environmental stewardship. Currently, government is considering the terms of licences salmon farmers need to continue operations. Any further uncertainty in the sector will mean more declines in production, job losses, and less interest from global investors. We need certainty. That means a minimum of a 6-year licence. | | |
| | For your radar | | |  Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said the Canadian Embassy is in contact with the team preparing policy for a potential Trump presidency. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | OTTAWA TO WASHINGTON — Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. KIRSTEN HILLMAN shared a glimpse of what her work looks like as a diplomat in America in the year 2024. Questions about a potential second Trump presidency and Ottawa’s readiness for another bumpy road drove the fireside chat between Hillman and journalist SANDRINE RASTELLO at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. One advantage the Canadian government has now that it didn’t have in 2017, is that they know Trump and many in his circle, Hillman said. “There are many people who are still with him,” she said in French. “We've worked with these people before, but we've also kept in touch with them over the 3.5 years since he left Washington.” — Homework on Trump’s policies: Hillman said the Canadian Embassy is in "constant" contact with the three to four people preparing Trump’s policies. — The catch: “All these people tell us, ‘We're preparing these policies,’ but, of course, it's going to be Mr. Trump, if he's reelected, who's going to choose them,” she said. — NATO nagging: Hillman said the topic of Canada not meeting NATO’s 2 percent spending target is a common complaint that comes up with members of Congress — both Democrats and Republicans — since defense is a topic that resonates across the country. The conversations normally start with a platitude about being happy Canada is increasing defense spending, she said, before they end with, “but it's not enough.” | | Where the leaders are | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will be at caucus and at Question Period. He then heads out of town to headline a 5:45 p.m. party fundraiser at Chateau Royal in Laval, Que. Liberal MP FAYÇAL EL-KHOURY hosts the PM. — Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND will attend caucus at 10 a.m. At 2:30 p.m. she has a date with the Senate’s finance committee. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET and Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY did not release their public itineraries by deadline. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will be at his party’s 10 a.m. caucus meeting and has afternoon plans to attend Question Period. | | | DULY NOTED | | |
— Energy Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON and Liberal Party B.C. director DUNCAN WLODARCZAK co-host a Vancouver party fundraiser featuring Housing Minister SEAN FRASER as guest speaker. Venue: Loden Hotel. Start time: 6 p.m. PT.
8 a.m. (2 p.m. GMT+2) Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY and her Swedish counterpart TOBIAS BILLSTRÖM will hold a joint press conference after their bilat in Stockholm. 8:30 a.m. National Defense Minister BILL BLAIR will deliver a keynote speech at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries’ annual CANSEC trade show. After his speech, Blair has plans for a brief scrum with reporters. | | | | A message from MOWI:   | | | | | PAPER TRAIL | |
ISRAEL EXPORTS REVEALED — Global Affairs has detailed the military goods Canada has exported to Israel since the war in Gaza broke out on Oct. 7.
Documents published by the House foreign affairs committee on its website list items designed for military use that Canada sent to the war-torn nation up until Feb. 12. The last item was dated Jan. 8, the day Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY insists the government froze new exports. — Listed: Since the war started, Canada has exported … mostly parts and data. That includes circuit boards used in radar, radio communications and recon, targeting systems, aircraft display and navigation and land vehicles. The list mentions a server used for “sensor arrays and associated technology.” — Not exactly detailed: Most of the item categories were vaguely listed as exports to an Israeli company. The pages note the final products might also end up used by Canada or allied nations, including NATO countries. — Total value: C$70.4 million, of which C$47 million is for “known end users in Canada and allied nations.” The list was requested in February by NDP MP HEATHER MCPHERSON, who said she’s received 250,000 emails on the issue. At the time, she noted that years ago when the committee made a similar request about Canadian military exports to Turkey, the revelations led to a suspension of transfers. — Nothing spicy, Ottawa insists: An accompanying letter written by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister DAVID MORRISON says most military export permits the department approves are for parts and components, and anything sent to Israel since Oct. 7 has been “for non-lethal equipment only.” “Canada has not issued any permits for items destined to Israel for major conventional arms or light weapons” such as vehicles, artillery, tanks and missile launchers since 1991, he wrote. During the past three decades, Canada has issued four export permits — in 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2018 — for small arms, such as pistols and rifles. — Tall order: The final motion from the committee requested information back to 2006, with a 30-day deadline. Morrison said that would amount to more than 50,000 pages of records that in a “best-case scenario” would take dozens of staff a year to process. | | | MEDIA ROOM | | |
— Team Biden’s anxiety has morphed into palpable trepidation months out from the U.S. election, more than a dozen party leaders and operatives told POLITICO’s CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO, SALLY GOLDENBERG and ELENA SCHNEIDER.
— Top of Newswatch this hour via CBC News: Intelligence watchdog calls out panel for failing to sound alarm on election interference. — The National Post’s JOHN IVISON asks STEVE VERHEUL about the likelihood Canada will find itself inside a “North American tariff wall.” — Liberal MP RYAN TURNBULL is calling out budget watchdog YVES GIROUX for being quiet about an error in its carbon price analysis. The Canadian Press’ NOJOUD AL MALLEES has the story. — Conservatives are offering to help quickly pass the Liberals’ foreign interference bill, CATHARINE TUNNEY reports for CBC News. — Nomination watch: Former Conservative candidate LOGAN MCLELLAN is vying for the party’s nomination again in Egmont, Saltwire reports. McLellan finished second to Liberal ROBERT MORRISSEY in the 2019 election. | | PROZONE | |
Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers by KYLE DUGGAN: Canada reviewing China countermeasures, “of course.”
In other news for Pro readers: — Pennsylvania Democratic pushes natural gas, nuclear for hydrogen tax credit. — Will big business rescue Biden’s climate law? — Orbán’s think tank is on a mission to break Europe’s climate ‘consensus.’ — Dems in full-blown ‘freakout’ over Biden. — Biden administration outlines guardrails for voluntary carbon markets. | | A message from MOWI: True reconciliation in Canada must include opportunities for shared economic prosperity and advancement with First Nations. Government can support advancing reconciliation with a regulatory environment that supports First Nations opportunities and reduces Canada’s carbon footprint. A draft transition plan that enables the salmon farming sector to thrive, does both.
We cannot overstate the costs to local communities, and the provincial and national economies, if a new transition plan draft creates questions about our long-term operations. MOWI’s coastal safe salmon farming contributes over $955 million in economic activity, including more than 2,698 Canadian jobs.
MOWI’s impact reaches beyond the communities where we create jobs or our financial contributions to the economy.
Salmon farming provides Canadians and their families with high-quality, affordable, healthy, and sustainable choices at grocery stores and restaurants across the country.
We need the certainty of a minimum 6-year extension to continue to serve our families, and yours. | | |
| | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: CN senior manager of government affairs BROOKE MALINOSKI and journo and author LINDEN MACINTYRE celebrate today.
Spotted: LAUREL COLLINS, BARDISH CHAGGER and KEVIN WAUGH showing up to record their Canada Day messages in West Block’s pop-up video studio, which also stocked the Fleurdelisé for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day recordings. Ontario Premier DOUG FORD paying tribute to his late brother ROB, who would have turned 55 on May 28. Noted: The Conservative comms team reprising their “Trudeau’s Successor” moniker for MARK CARNEY in a Tuesday press release … Tories used it in an April 30 statement calling Carney to testify at the House finance committee — now they want him to show up at “a House of Commons Committee.” Movers and shakers: GUILLAUME BERTRAND has left the DPM’s office to be press secretary for Public Services and Procurement Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS. Media mentions: The Canadian Press has a new Ottawa bureau chief and it’s KATHLEEN HARRIS. It’s a full-circle move for Harris, who after a three-decade career in journalism, left CBC News’ parliamentary bureau last year for a gig at Compass Rose. In memoriam: Former Liberal Senate caucus leader JOSEPH DAY has died at 79. | | ON THE HILL | |
→ Find House committees here.
→ Keep track of Senate committees here. — It’s caucus day on the Hill. 9 a.m. The Parliamentary Budget Office publishes a new report titled, “Composition of Corporate Income Tax Revenue, 2018 to 2022” on its website. 11 a.m. Justice For All Canada holds a press conference in West Block to advocate for student activism related to anti-Israel protests on university and college campuses. 12 p.m. The Senate subcommittee on veterans’ affairs discusses homelessness. 1 p.m. Sen. MARILOU MCPHEDRAN and Green MP MIKE MORRICE hold a press conference in the National Press Theatre to draw attention to the National Vote16 Summit, an initiative organized by McPhedran to get people talking about lowering the voting age. 2:30 p.m. The Senate’s finance committee hears from Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND on Bill C-69, the budget implementation bill. 4:15 p.m. The Senate banking committee is reviewing the open banking framework in the budget and will put questions to the Competition Bureau’s BRADLEY CALLAGHAN, and the Canadian Bankers Association’s ANDREW ROSS and ALANA BARNES. 4:15 p.m. The Senate foreign affairs committee hears from Ukrainian Ambassador YULIYA KOVALIV. 4:15 p.m. Justice Minister ARIF VIRANI appears before the Senate’s legal affairs committee to discuss budget provisions. 4:15 p.m. The Senate social affairs committee is among the many going through Bill C-69 with a fine-tooth comb. 4:30 p.m. Minister of Public Services and Procurement JEAN-YVES DUCLOS will be at the House committee on operations and estimates to take questions on Main Estimates. Afterward, Treasury Board President ANITA ANAND also appears. Then at 6:30 p.m., Canada Post Corp. President DOUG ETTINGER testifies on postal service operations in rural and remote areas. 4:30 p.m. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations GARY ANANDASANGAREE, Minister of Indigenous Services PATTY HAJDU and Minister of Northern Affairs DAN VANDAL will be at the House committee on Indigenous and northern affairs to speak to Main Estimates. 4:30 p.m. The House industry committee takes Bill C-27 through clause-by-clause consideration. 6:45 p.m. The Senate’s Indigenous Peoples committee hears from First Nations Major Projects Coalition’s SHARLEEN GALE and SHAUN FANTAUZZO. 6:45 p.m. The Senate’s transport committee goes clause by clause through Sen. JIM QUINN’s Bill S-273, which declares the Chignecto Isthmus trade corridor in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to “the general advantage of Canada.” Behind closed doors: The House defense committee will discuss its report on procurement. The House immigration committee is drafting reports on two studies: the government's response to a report by a special committee on Afghanistan, and another on temporary foreign workers. The House foreign affairs committee will discuss its report on Canada’s approach to Africa. | | TRIVIA | |
Tuesday’s answer: The Dionne quintuplets — ANNETTE, EMILIE, YVONNE, CECILE and MARIE — were born May 28, 1934. Yvonne arrived first.
Props to ROBERT MCDOUGALL, CHRIS LALANDE, GANGA WIGNARAJAH, GORDON CLAUDE RANDALL, RAYLENE LANG, BOB GORDON, LAURA JARVIS, JOHN MERRIMAN, JOHN ECKER, JENN KEAY and ANJUM SULTANA. Wednesday’s question: On this date in history, who said: “Welcome to another miracle on the prairies!” Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Writing Playbook tomorrow: NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY. Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage. Correction: Tuesday’s Playbook misstated David Herle’s new role at Rubicon Strategy. He is a partner. 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. | | | | 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 | | | | |
