| | | | |  | | By Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Zi-Ann Lum and Kyle Duggan |
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Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → MARK CARNEY plays to the home crowd. → DEBORAH LYONS reflects on her first trip to former Nazi concentration camps. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | | 
Carney in his happy place. | Nick Taylor-Vaisey/POLITICO | THE HOME CROWD — This wasn't exactly JED BARTLET sparring with reluctant voters in his fledgling fictional run for president on "The West Wing." MARK CARNEY's talk on "the new macroeconomy" was the hottest ticket in Rockcliffe Park last night. Organizers called the community center turnout "unprecedented," even opening the outside doors at the back of the cozy space to accommodate the overflow. — Compare/contrast: Carney and the fictional Bartlet share a passion for economics and a penchant for 10-dollar words. But this Rockcliffe room offered a different vibe than the veterans' hall where a loquacious Bartlet tussled with grumpy New Hampshirites. Both had free food: chicken for Bartlet, homemade cookies for Carney. The emcee, SUSAN D'AQUINO, introduced the headliner as "our Mark." The man of the hour lived around the corner in what so happens to be the safest Liberal riding in the land. This was a room of friendly faces. — VIPs: JOE CLARK and MAUREEN MCTEER nabbed seats upfront. Carney called Clark an "inspiration." — The Chateau, this was not: Carney keynotes these days bend to his audience. He wears his sustainable finance guru hat at international conferences, and his will-he-or-won't-he hat for partisan test audiences in Upper Canadian ballrooms. These evening remarks, delivered tie-less without notes only a few hours after a suited-up Carney took carbon tax questions from boisterous senators, fell somewhere in between. — A familiar joke: It's becoming clear which punchlines the former central banker enjoys repeating. He borrowed a zinger from a recent Canada 2020 speech in Toronto. When he ran the Bank of Canada, he said, the loonie was at parity. And inflation wasn't a problem. And the bank's balance sheet was much smaller. The room ate it up. — New material: Carney bluntly described the rules-based international trading system as more or less a thing of the past. He referenced MARIO DRAGHI's insistence that European markets would have to adapt to that reality in order to thrive. "I'm biased," he joked. After all, Draghi was a longtime European central banker who became Italian prime minister. Hint hint. Cue the laughter. (Carney left out their shared past as Goldman Sachs alum.) — Gotta go: This wasn't a Bartlet-style turning point on the way up the ladder. Just an evening among mostly friends. Carney mingled for a time after the formal program concluded, but he was clear about a hard out. The Oilers were on at 10. | | | Where the leaders are | | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU and President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami NATAN OBED will co-chair the meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee.
— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND will be at the House finance committee at noon. At 2 p.m., she’ll head to QP. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE hosts a 6:30 p.m. party fundraiser at a private residence in North York, Ont. — Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET has not released his public schedule. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will participate remotely in the House. | | DULY NOTED | |
— This morning, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, Canadian Franchise Association, and the Canadian Canola Growers Association sent a letter to Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND. The group called on the government to scrap a capital gains tax hike — and urged all political parties to "commit to a comprehensive, independent review of Canada’s tax system, which is currently complicated and burdensome and drives away investment." 8:15 a.m. Housing Minister SEAN FRASER and Families Minister JENNA SUDDS will testify at the Commons human resources committee. 9 a.m. Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ and Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister KAMAL KHERA will host a National Air Accessibility Summit in Ottawa at the Shaw Centre. A 12:30 p.m. media availability with the two ministers will take place at the venue. | | | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | | | |  Visitors walk through Auschwitz-Birkenau as they attend the annual "March of the Living" in Poland on Monday. | AP | BACK FROM POLAND — DEBORAH LYONS saw Auschwitz for the first time this week. About a week after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU appointed Lyons as Canada's special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism. She also served four years as ambassador to Israel from 2016-2020. But this year's March for the Living, an annual memorial walk between concentration camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau, marked Lyons' first trip to Poland. She joined high school and university students, as well as a small group of Canadian survivors of the camps, for a trip timed to Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day. She walked the grounds of Auschwitz with a survivor who'd spent months there with his father, watching as his mother and sister were ripped away from them and sent elsewhere. Lyons also watched another survivor search thousands of headstones near the former Treblinka camp for a stone bearing the name of his community. The group also visited Kraków, remnants of the Warsaw ghetto, and the Majdanek camp. Playbook caught up with Lyons before she flew home. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Why was it important to make the trip this year? This was a particularly profound time to be doing it, after Oct. 7 and the incredible, unprecedented antisemitism we're seeing in Canada. I wanted to be here to witness, to be present, to understand what there is to understand when you stand in front of those ovens, or when you look at the labor camps, and the railway cars that people were pressed into, and the incredible suffering that took place. Looking at just how far hatred leads when it is unchecked and not addressed and dealt with. How did students react? Kids were crying. They were in some cases sobbing. They were holding one another. They were holding on to an adult. Particularly as we stood in front of the oven in Majdanek, they were almost transported to another place. How does the human body and mind and soul somehow reconcile this? You just simply can't. It was incredibly painful, and very, very draining. But I would also say that everyone wanted to be there. Young people in particular, watching them at the candle-lighting ceremonies, it almost steeled you in a way. I could see it in them as we spoke with them after, to both be respectful of the people who lost their lives in this horrific period, but also to almost be a better person yourself, to go back and work for a better society, to work for a better future. Education ministers in seven provinces and one territory have committed to robust Holocaust education. But how well understood is it among students in 2024? I don't think in 2024 that students understand it well enough right across Canada. But I would also say that of young adults. We have to do a lot of work on education writ large. Public education, our library systems, our museums, our coverage. Exposing more about the true facts of the Holocaust because one of the big issues now is the amount of denialism, distortion, disinformation that's coming out. It's not even just a matter of kids.
| | MEDIA ROOM | |
— Top of POLITICO this morning: DONALD TRUMP's political fate likely won’t be decided by the courts after all.
— The Globe's IAN BAILEY reports: Unions for federal workers promise ‘summer of discontent’ of hybrid work rules. — From CBC News' DARREN MAJOR: MPs vote unanimously in support of designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group — Canada's sports safety watchdog says a program meant to curb abuse isn't working, reports the Star's JOY SPEARCHIEF-MORRIS. — Don't miss this headline from our colleagues in Washington: "MIKE JOHNSON is no FORREST GUMP" — The Globe’s LAWRENCE MARTIN writes: “A score-settling book by BRIAN MULRONEY is being kept under wraps.” | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to former MP MICHAEL LEVITT and B.C. NDP MLA DOUG ROUTLEY.
Send birthdays to ottawaplaybook@politico.com. Spotted: Conservative MP RACHAEL THOMAS, appearing to freeze when asked about her party's position on Radio-Canada's existence. National Defense Minister BILL BLAIR, dining at the Rideau Club with Lithuanian Ambassador DARIUS SKUSEVIČIUS, Estonian Ambassador MARGUS RAVA, Finnish Ambassador JARI VILÉN, Icelandic Ambassador HLYNUR GUDJONSSON and Danish Ambassador HANNE FUGL ESKJÆR where a “very frank” discussion about Canada’s defense policy and NATO cooperation was on the menu. At a Canadian Heritage-organized event in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building celebrating Asian heritage month, host Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Minister KAMAL KHERA and International Trade Minister MARY NG worked in shots at Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE for failing to "stand against hate" in remarks setting up Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU. Spotted in the crowd: Small Biz Minister RECHIE VALDEZ, Treasury Board President ANITA ANAND, Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister GARY ANANDASANGAREE, Mental Health and Addictions Minister YA'ARA SAKS, Sen. ANDREW CARDOZO, Liberal MPs JEAN YIP, YASIR NAQVI, PAUL CHIANG, RUBY SAHOTA, IQRA KHALID, PARM BAINS, JULIE DZEROWICZ, LENA DIAB, SALMA ZAHID, GEORGE CHAHAL, ADAM VAN KOEVERDEN, MAJID JOWHARI, BRYAN MAY, SONIA SIDHU, WILSON MIAO, RANDEEP SARAI, ANITA VANDENBELD and SHAFQAT ALI taking so many selfies with his caucus colleagues. At the Build a Dream reception at the Rideau Club: Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister MARCI IEN, Liberal MP CHRIS BITTLE, Build a Dream founder NOUR HACHEM-FAWAZ, Liberal staffer SHANE MACKENZIE, and Canada’s youngest female stonemason TESSA FERZLI. Down the hall at the Rideau Club, at author MARTIN RUST's book launch: LISA SAMSON, PAUL WELLS, GARRY KELLER, WILL ROBERTSON, LIAM THOMPSON, JOE FRYDAY, DAVID TAYLOR, ZACH FARAH and SHANNON COOMBS. Movers and shakers: Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY tapped veteran journalist JOYCE NAPIER as Canada's ambassador to the Holy See. (The Vatican-bound Napier, who grew up in Rome and is fluent in Italian, was in a joyous mood in the latter hours of Tuesday's Politics and the Pen gala. She complimented your Playbook host’s socks.) GEORGE SOULE, a former legislative staff rep for Canada's United Steelworkers and senior NDP staffer, starts a new gig as principal at Syntax Strategic. ELIZABETH ANDERSON, a Hill staffer since 2016, has left her post as Joly's director of operations: "I leave a bigger believer in government and our liberal institutions than when I started. And while politics has left me bruised, battered, and exhausted more than a few times, it is not meant to be easy." PMO chief of staff KATIE TELFORD disclosed her gifted ticket to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 27. Deputy chief BRIAN CLOW earlier reported his own ticket. Both sat with Thomson Reuters. Canada's D.C. ambo, KIRSTEN HILLMAN, sat with CBC News. Rubicon senior VP AARON GAIRDNER is lobbying on behalf of Ontario Shipyards, a Great Lakes-based company formerly known as Heddle Shipyards. JANE HALFORD was reappointed by Agriculture Minister LAWRENCE MACAULAY as Farm Credit Canada’s board of directors chair. Media mentions: The Canadian Association of Journalists has awarded its annual federal Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy to (drumroll, please) Department of National Defence for taking three years to respond to an access-to-information request about the cost of new warships.
| | | PROZONE | | |
Don’t miss our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers: Late show on Parliament Hill.
In other headlines for Pros: — USTR's expansive supply chain review has business worried. — Biden administration set to pitch new asylum changes. — Ohio senator calls for full ban on Chinese connected cars. — EU agrees €3B raid on Russian assets to buy weapons for Ukraine. — EPA to publish power plant climate rule, launching lawsuit window. — Oil industry penning orders for Trump to sign on day one. | | ON THE HILL | |
→ Find House committees here.
→ Keep track of Senate committees here. 8:15 a.m. The Commons languages committee hears from Employment Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT. 8:15 a.m. The House justice committee hears from Jewish students as part of its study into antisemitism. 8:15 a.m. Bill S-210 will be up for study at the House public safety committee. 8:30 a.m. Statistics Canada will release its April report on Canadian economic news, updated provisional death counts, and 2023 Canadian international merchandise trade numbers. 9 a.m. The Senate agriculture and forestry committee will meet to study “the growing issue of wildfires in Canada.” 9 a.m. The Senate fisheries and oceans committee will meet to study Canada’s elver fishery. 9:15 a.m. The Senate energy committee will meet to query NDP MP BRIAN MASSE about his private member’s Bill C-248. 10 a.m. The Bank of Canada will release its 2024 Financial Stability Report. 11 a.m. The House transport committee will continue its study on the state of airline competition in Canada. 11 a.m. The House health committee will pick up on its study on the opioid epidemic and toxic drug crisis. BC United MLA ELENORE STURKO will appear as a witness. 11 a.m. The House science committee will launch a study on research in Canada’s Arctic in relation to climate change. 11 a.m. Privacy Commissioner PHILIPPE DUFRESNE will take questions at the House access to information committee’s study on Main Estimates. 11:30 a.m. The Senate social affairs committee will continue its study on Bill S-249, Sen. FABIAN MANNING’s Senate public bill proposing the development of a national strategy to prevent intimate partner violence. 11:45 a.m. Tory MPs MEL ARNOLD and FRANK CAPUTO will be at the Senate legal and Constitutional affairs committee’s to take questions on Arnold’s private member’s Bill C-291. 11:30 a.m. The Senate banking committee will meet to study Sen. ROSA GALVEZ’s Senate public Bill S-243. 11:30 a.m. The Senate foreign affairs committee will meet to continue its study on Canada’s interests and engagement in Africa with witnesses including Tony Blair Institute for Global Change senior adviser GEOFFROI MONTPETIT. 3:30 p.m. Fisheries Minister DIANE LEBOUTHILLIER will be in the hot seat at the House fisheries and oceans committee’s study on Main Estimates. 3:30 p.m. The House natural resources committee will begin a new study on Canada’s electricity grid and network with three natural resources department officials. 3:30 p.m. BARBARA ZVAN, president and CEO of Canada’s expert panel on sustainable finance, will be a first-panel witness at the House environment committee’s study on climate impacts related to the Canadian financial system. Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner JERRY DEMARCO will take questions in the second half of the meeting. 3:30 p.m. The House heritage committee will continue its study of Liberal MP RON MCKINNON’s private member’s Bill C-316. 3:30 p.m. The House international trade committee will hear from witnesses including Aluminium Association of Canada President and CEO JEAN SIMARD and Canadian Trucking Alliance President STEPHEN LASKOWSKI in relation to MPs’ study on Canadian businesses in supply chains and global markets. 3:30 p.m. The House status of women committee will meet to study coercive behavior. Behind closed doors: The House public accounts committee will meet to review three draft reports. | | TRIVIA | |
Wednesday’s answer: “Two Are Dead, Shops Looted, Liquor Stolen,” read the Globe and Mail headline on May 9, 1945 after the Halifax VE Day Riots.
Props to MARCEL MARCOTTE, BOB GORDON, DAMIEN O’BRIEN, CHRIS RANDS, RALPH LEVENSTEIN, KEVIN BOSCH, DAN MCCARTHY, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, JIM CAMPBELL, NANCI WAUGH, DOUG RICE, LAURA JARVIS, JOHN AHLO, J.D.M. STEWART, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JENN KEAY and GORDON RANDALL. Props + 1 to ROBERT MCDOUGALL. Today’s question: A minister's chief of staff is a "two-key" hire. Who must agree on who gets the job? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan and Luiza Ch. Savage. 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 | | | | |
