| | | | |  | | 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: → CHRYSTIA FREELAND vs. unnamed sources. → Nurses with ground game at the premiers’ meeting in Halifax. → BILL BLAIR cautions against overreacting to DONALD TRUMP. |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | |  “I just consider it a real privilege every day to do my best to serve Canada and Canadians,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday when asked about the Globe's report on her Cabinet status. | Getty Images | FIFE FALLOUT — Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND did her best to dance around questions about a spicy Globe report that suggested her time as finance minister may be running out. Freeland didn’t say much more than what she already told Bloomberg in New York City a day after BOB FIFE’s unidentified sources shined off an Ottawa bubble chestnut about the prospects of MARK CARNEY replacing Freeland in finance. Speaking to reporters in Markham on Tuesday, Freeland said she talks with Carney often. — By the way: “He’s actually my son's godfather,” she said. — For the record: Asked if Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU has offered reassurance that she will be staying on as finance minister, Freeland told reporters she feels she has the support and confidence from the PMO to do her job effectively. — The Globe headline: “Freeland mum on her future as Finance Minister." — Show don’t tell: Freeland said she and Trudeau had a long conversation on Friday morning — a chat that Bloomberg reported touched on the Fall Economic Statement. Freeland and Trudeau also spent time together in Mississauga and Brampton on the weekend, including at Liberal MP IQRA KHALID’s annual BBQ — a public event that was not on either of their itineraries. (Both had issued advisories noting “no public events.”) — Today in the Greater Toronto Area: Trudeau and Freeland will join Mayor OLIVIA CHOW for a photo op at a regional transit facility. — How the DPM sees her job: Reaching for pathos, one reporter asked Freeland what it’s been like to have her job performance and future open to public scrutiny. “I spend very little time feeling sorry for myself,” she said. “I grew up on a farm. I know that there are millions and millions and millions of Canadians who work much harder than any of the dignitaries standing behind this podium, and who do it for less money and less acclaim.” — Future proofing: One of the nuggets in the Globe story that went through multiple iterations online was the idea that, should Carney take up finance, Freeland would be shuffled to foreign affairs, a post she held during DONALD TRUMP’s presidency. Trudeau responded to Trump’s election with a January 2017 Cabinet shuffle that put Freeland and FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE into key portfolios with a focus on the Canada-U.S. relationship. Staff was added to the PMO to support the all-hands-on-deck NAFTA renegotiations. Disruption is in the forecast (it was already), given Trump’s decision to pick Ohio Sen. J.D. VANCE as his running mate. | 
Canada's U.S. envoy says J.D. Vance "knows Canada well." | Evan Vucci/AP | Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. KIRSTEN HILLMAN made diplomatic comments about the veepstakes winner, describing the border-state venture capitalist to CTV News’ VASSY KAPELOS at the RNC convention as someone who “knows Canada well.” — What’s also known: Trump’s decision to share the ticket with another pugilistic Republican signals the former president’s bet to go all in on populism. Liberals have been naming and shaming Conservatives for years for copying his tactics. — In related reading: US allies grapple with J.D. Vance. Hillman, Champagne and International Trade Minister MARY NG have been busy connecting with MAGA world, part of the government’s never-ending “Team Canada” charm offensive. In May, Hillman and Ng were dispatched to Texas, a state where border issues are hot, to meet with pro-Trump Republican Gov. GREG ABBOTT. They bridged opposing opinions on social issues, such as abortion, by not bringing them up, focusing instead on trade. — Team Canada homework: Abortion remains a perennial North American election issue in 2024. Democrats have already launched attacks against Vance, calling him an extremist on abortion rights and a political neophyte who will enable Trump's “extreme” agenda. The latest headlines from POLITICO: — A new kind of Republican Party is forming at the RNC. — How do you turn the temperature down when you’re running against Trump? — How J.D. Vance’s shocking inexperience turned into an asset. — House Dems plot last-ditch effort to delay Biden nomination. | | For your radar | |
CRITICAL ACCESS — The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions pulls off a rare threading of the needle whenever premiers gather for summer meetings. On Tuesday in Halifax, they scored facetime with premiers before joining a noisy healthcare rally across the street.
— Breakfast time: The CFNU organizes an unofficially official annual panel on healthcare that draws most premiers. This year, 11 of 13 took in the 90-minute, closed-door session. Only Quebec's FRANÇOIS LEGAULT and the Northwest Territories' R.J. SIMPSON weren't in the room Tuesday morning, though Simpson sent officials on his behalf. — Also in the room: CFNU president LINDA SILAS spoke alongside three panelists: former health minister JANE PHILPOTT, long-term care expert SAMIR SINHA and nurse practitioner SANTINA WEATHERBY. The Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Labour Congress and a smattering of other stakeholders also sent reps. — How it happens: Silas told Playbook nurses used to stalk the meetings with hopes of cornering premiers. "I've sat in many lobbies, waiting for one of them to come out," she says. Eventually, the CFNU pitched a panel, arguing it would be more efficient. They've run them for more than a decade. The cardinal rule: No media allowed. "When reporters are in the room, especially for premiers, everything is measured. Everything is orchestrated," Silas says. "This is not orchestrated." — Inside the room: Premiers asked panelists about worker morale, homecare, long-term care and seniors' housing. "They got frank answers," Silas said. — Outside the room: The Nova Scotia Health Coalition and Canadian Health Coalition, alongside the CFNU and others, made noise at a lunchtime rally across the street from the Westin where premiers gathered. Ralliers munched hotdogs and listened to speeches. Among the tunes blasted by a jubilant tubaist: "When the Saints Go Marching In," a Christian hymn with apocalyptic lyrics — perhaps a subtle nod to Canada's overtaxed healthcare system? — In related news from Global: Health care tops agenda at premiers’ meeting. | | ALSO FOR YOUR RADAR | |
Q&A — BILL BLAIR is downplaying scrutiny of Canada’s NATO spend, saying you can’t solve the problem just by pulling out a credit card at an arms show.
In an interview with our own KYLE DUGGAN, Canada’s defense minister defended the 2032 timeline the government shared at last week’s NATO summit and advocated for cooler heads amid threats from DONALD TRUMP to disrupt the military alliance. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation, edited for length and clarity. Trump could be headed to the White House soon — he’s threatened 10 percent tariffs against allies, suggested he would encourage Russia to attack NATO members lagging on defense spending and in the past he’s called in the past for 4 percent of GDP on defense . Are you worried? We go into the future with eyes wide open. I’m very confident Canada is stepping up and is doing its part and its job. For example, our investment in NORAD modernization is very much in lockstep coordination with our American allies. The rhetoric of electoral politics is such that I would caution to not overreact to it. Sure, but he does introduce a certain amount of chaos into things, and then you have other allies now talking about raising the defense spending floor to even 3 percent. Are you not worried Canada is going to be left behind? Not in the least. I think if I shared a direct border with Russia and given the very aggressive and illegal actions they’ve undertaken, and the rhetoric that’s coming out of Putin and his people right now about disrespecting other countries’ sovereign borders — I understand their anxiety and their concern. My NATO allies very much value Canada’s contribution and they’re grateful that we’re continuing to invest. They recognize that for decades, like many of our NATO allies, Canada had under-invested in the military. We’ve more than doubled our defense spending in the last eight years and it’s going up 27 percent next year over this. By 2029, we’ll have tripled it. We’re moving forward very aggressively to increase defense spending and create new and needed capabilities for the Canadian armed forces. But at the same time, they recognize the investments we have to make are going to cost big dollars and take time to deliver. POLITICO Pro subscribers can read the Q&A here. | | | | Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more. | | | | | | | Where the leaders are | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU and Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND are in the GTA for a photo op with Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW.
— Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE and Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET have not released their itineraries. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will be in Vancouver with plans to deliver a morning speech at the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Convention. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will be in Ladysmith, B.C., to deliver a speech titled at a seniors’ center. | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | |
9 a.m. Health Minister MARK HOLLAND will make an announcement and take questions in the National Press Theatre related to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new import requirements for all dogs entering America as of Aug. 1.
11 a.m. The House ethics committee will meet to study conflict of interest claims against Employment Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT, despite the federal ethics watchdog having no concerns about the case. MPs will grill witnesses including Boissonnault’s former business partner STEPHEN ANDERSON and lobbyist KIRSTEN POON. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— “Our politics at the national level has become deeply personal and guttural,” TIM POWERS writes in The Hill Times. “Playing people off of one another, and exploiting collective anxiety is a common practice among the major party leaders, and is tip-toeing to something worse.
— ALEXANDER PANETTA and JENNA BENCHETRIT report from the RNC: “This might be Trump's Republican Party for many years.” — RUDYARD GRIFFITHS writes at The Hub: “The key thing policymakers need to understand about a second Trump presidency is its immediate and relentless velocity.” — From BRYAN PASSIFIUME of the National Post: Federal government hired more than 10,000 new public servants last year to reach record high. — Question from ERICA IFILL in The Hill Times: “Is the girl-boss era coming to an ignoble end?” — “Canada's auto theft crisis appears to be reversing course,” writes CTV News’ CHRISTL DABU about a new report by Équité Association tracking the trend. | | PROZONE | |
Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers by SUE ALLAN and ZI-ANN LUM: Status update on Canada-U.K. trade talks.
In other news for Pro readers: — Canada teases new energy efficiency rules for buildings. — Oil and gas sector 'concerned' by Trump tariff plans. — California exports help Western grid manage new energy record. — Can a ballot initiative transform a California refinery town? — House Dems plot last-ditch effort to delay Biden nomination. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to McMillan Vantage VP ASHLEY CSANADY and Globe opinion editor ADRIAN LEE. Greetings also to former MPs CHARLES LAPOINTE (80!) and to CYRIL KEEPER.
HBD + 1 to Liberal MP JAMES MALONEY (60!). Spotted: Former NDP MP DANIEL BLAIKIE, the adviser to Manitoba Premier WAB KINEW, attending meetings in Halifax … Personalized, blue and green Leonardo pens made by Aurora, gifted to PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU by Italian PM GIORGIA MELONI at the G7 Summit. Movers and shakers: Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has announced four diplomatic moves: PATRICIA ATKINSON will become ambassador to Panama. KAROLINA GUAY is heading to Chile in that role. JEFFREY MARDER will take on that assignment in Spain. KEITH SMITH will be high commissioner in New Zealand.Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE named DREW OLSEN as vice-chair and chief executive officer of the Copyright Board of Canada, for a five-year term that starts towards the end of August. The New Brunswick conglomerate J.D. Irving recently posted June meetings with five Cabinet ministers: Champagne, GINETTE PETITPAS TAYLOR, SEAN FRASER, MARY NG and JONATHAN WILKINSON. The company also lobbied BILL MATTHEWS, the secretary of the Treasury Board, and several departmental officials. National Defense Minister BILL BLAIR’s press sec DIANA EBADI is into her final week in the role. SIMON LAFORTUNE started this week as Blair’s new press sec, hailing from MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU’s office. Ebadi is heading off to McGill for law school in the fall. Media mentions: The Toronto storm knocked out power in the CBC’s newsroom on Front Street (h/t LORENDA REDDEKOPP). | | TRIVIA | |
Tuesday’s answer: Six women held premierships for part of 2013: British Columbia's CHRISTY CLARK, Alberta's ALISON REDFORD, Ontario's KATHLEEN WYNNE, Quebec's PAULINE MAROIS, Newfoundland and Labrador's KATHY DUNDERDALE and Nunavut's EVA AARIAK.
Props to DENISE SIELE, MARC LEBLANC and ROBERT MCDOUGALL. Wednesday’s question: Name the Bank of Canada governor who was born in 1910 and lived to 102. 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. 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 | | | | |
