| | | | |  | | By 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: → Where to find Canada's federal fundraising battlegrounds. → A year-end tally of MP expenses — including millions in travel costs. → The best POLITICO reads on the 2024 campaign. |  | For your radar | |
FUNDRAISERS GALORE — Conservative dominance with political donors is the "dog bites man" of federal politics. It's so bad that Liberals are hawking beach accessories — party-branded frisbees and "Sunny Ways" towels — to squeeze out merch bucks.
— Alienation watch: Liberals also took a swipe at their own in a recent fundraising appeal in a story about national campaign director JEREMY BROADHURST and the state of things in the early 2000s. The note read, in part: "The party felt like a 'private social club' that focused solely on leadership races, making it hard to rally volunteers during elections, Broadhurst recalls. He wanted to challenge the status quo to give the party a more competitive edge when he became national director ahead of the 2015 election. When he heard, ‘that's not how we do things,’ he saw it as a cue to try something new.” Suffice to say, former members of the "private social club" might take a pass on current fundraising and beach bumming Liberal-style. — Battleground showdown: Every fundraiser with a C$200-plus entry fee attended by senior party officials — ministers, party leaders or leadership hopefuls — ends up in an Elections Canada registry. The agency lists 413 events since 2019. Liberals and Conservatives have spent time in many of the same places since the dawn of the PIERRE POILIEVRE era in September 2022. Conservatives have hosted 20 fundraisers in Toronto since the new guy took over. Liberals trail at 18. In the all-important "905" region that surrounds the megacity, Liberals have hosted 23 events, ahead of the Tories' 15. The score is 18-7 for the Liberals in British Columbia's lower mainland, and 14-7 in and around Montreal. — This calendar year: Narrow the spreadsheet to 2024, with Liberals trailing badly in the polls and Conservatives finding new places to compete, and a different story emerges. Poilievre's party has held 11 fundraisers in Toronto, where the electoral map could look bluer after the next vote. The Liberals? Three. The ever-scrumptious 905 is close, too: Liberals, 9; Conservatives, 8. It's 5-4 for Liberals around Vancouver, and 5-3 for the governing party in Montreal. — Ministers, ministers everywhere: Team Trudeau has fanned out for dozens of events since the last election. Trudeau has attended 41. Eight have hit double digits: RANDY BOISSONNAULT (18), ANITA ANAND (17), MÉLANIE JOLY (16), FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE (16), JONATHAN WILKINSON (13), SEAN FRASER (13) and MARY NG (11). Note the rumored leadership hopefuls on the list. → 2024 tally: Trudeau (9), Champagne (7), Boissonnault (6), Fraser (4), MARC MILLER (4), MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU (4), Anand (3), Joly (3), Wilkinson (3), Ng (3), RECHIE VALDEZ (3), SORAYA MARTINEZ FERRADA (3), CHRYSTIA FREELAND (3). Nine ministers have attended two events this year. Ten logged a single appearance. | | | Where the leaders are | | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region with no public-facing events for the second day in a row. (Listen, we're not saying a Cabinet shuffle is happening, but this is a lot of deliberate radio silence for post-vacation midweek August.)
— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND has not released her itinerary. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE headlines a 5 p.m. local time party fundraiser at a Halifax private residence. — Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET’s schedule has him on tour in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, meeting with Rio Tinto Alcan at 9 a.m., then holding a press briefing at 11 a.m. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH has not released his schedule for the day. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY is meeting with constituents in her riding. | | DULY NOTED | |
— Governor General MARY SIMON kicks off a three-day tour of Nova Scotia by delivering the keynote address at the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council’s 75th anniversary.
7:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. AT) Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE participates in Congrès mondial acadien 2024 and joins in a fireside chat about “sustainable development as a lever for economic prosperity in Acadie.” 12:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m. MT) Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON will be in Saskatoon to announce funding for critical minerals with the Saskatchewan Research Council. | | | PAPER TRAIL | | | BILLS, BILLS, BILLS — Last year, MPs billed taxpayers for just shy of C$200 million in salaries, travel, hospitality and various contracts. The 2023-24 tally was $199,893,833.50. — Disclaimer off the top: These sums come with massive upfront caveats. These totals only add up MPs' various office budgets. House admin costs are excluded. Party leaders employ more people and travel more frequently, but the House doesn't pay for everything they do. Parties cover various costs. The prime minister and his Cabinet are often covered by their own departmental budgets. Sure, Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE rang up a combined C$7.96 million over the year compared to JUSTIN TRUDEAU's C$3.69 million tab. But that's only what they drew from House-related budgets. FWIW, JAGMEET SINGH tallied $3.58 million, with YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET following at C$3.52 million. — Travel totals: MPs racked up C$31.5 million in travel costs. → Top 5: Backbenchers with long flights home tend to spend more than colleagues in or near major cities. Nunavut MP LORI IDLOUT topped the travel spending (C$284,148.25), followed by Bloc MP KRISTINA MICHAUD (C$227,407.09), NDP MP NIKI ASHTON (C$218,571.38), Tory MP MARC DALTON (C$217,905.86) and Tory MP DAN MAZIER (C$216,537.96). Ashton has paid back thousands in travel claims that came under fire this year. — Post-loss costs: A handful of former MPs claimed a variety of allowable expenses long after their terms expired. Conservative NELLY SHIN billed C$1,786.35 for 2023 post-secondary courses in Ottawa and Victoria. Shin's caucus colleague, TAMARA JANSEN, belatedly claimed C$468.44 for shredding services dating to 2021. Then there's former Liberal MP RAJ SAINI, who quit his 2021 candidacy amid misconduct allegations (but has always denied any wrongdoing). Two years after the election, Saini claimed C$10,743 for language training. Shin and Saini's reimbursements follow the rules. The Commons offers up to C$15,000 for defeated MPs as they transition away from elected life. Health Minister MARK HOLLAND, who lost in the Liberals' near-wipeout in 2011 before making a comeback, told CBC's CATHARINE TUNNEY about the necessity of the program. "Having a service that helps folks make the transition back to a normal life — helps them get their resumé in shape, makes sure that their mental health is in a strong position and that they have the support they need to get reintegrated — is incredibly important," Holland said in 2019, when dozens of MPs lost their jobs. | | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | | | 2024 WATCH | | |  Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance greets reporters in Wisconsin last week. | Alex Brandon/AP | Today’s best POLITICO reads on the U.S. campaign: — JD Vance’s old blogs are boring — and instructive, DEREK ROBERTSON writes in POLITICO Mag. — POLITICO's ALLY MUTNICK and SARAH FERRIS explain the widening ambition of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC, which has unseated progressive Democrats — and is forcing the party's left flank to reckon with the powerhouse. — Writing from Las Vegas, MEGAN MESSERLY explains why Trump and Harris agree on nixing taxes on tips. (It’s a play for a key battleground state.) — JUAN PEREZ JR. considers the role of TIM WALZ, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, in selling a liberal care economy message — free school meals, boosted education funding, paid family leave and affordable childcare — as an antidote to the negative politics of gender identity and race. | | | MEDIA ROOM | | |
— Two weeks before a Cabinet retreat, The Hill Times revs up shuffle speculation — an annual summer tradition (which doesn't mean it won't happen).
— The Toronto Star's MARK RAMZY has the scoop on the behind-the-scenes Green Party leadership drama earlier this summer. — CBC's JASON MARKUSOFF goes inside Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH's attempt to thread a needle on gun rights. — APTN reports: Mining regulations in Ontario “unconstitutional” say First Nations chiefs. — Still on the mining beat, from The Narwhal: B.C. is home to “high-risk” toxic mine waste sites. Here are 5 you need to know about. — JANYCE MCGREGOR of CBC News considers the political stakes of taxing Chinese imports. | | PROZONE | |
Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers from KYLE DUGGAN: Parliament to probe foiled terror plot.
In other news for Pro readers: — US mayors pledge to electrify city fleets. — US eyes Iranian oil exports as threat of Israel attack grows. — UAW files unfair labor practice charge against Trump, Musk. — Belgian bankruptcy dents Europe’s chips dreams. — Biden hikes exemptions for solar cell imports. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to Sen. TONY LOFFREDA, former MP and MPP GARY CARR, retired Sen. RAYNELL ANDREYCHUK (80!) and GORDON THIESSEN, sixth governor of the Bank of Canada.
Movers and shakers: Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY announced four diplomatic appointments. → EMILY BURNS is high commissioner in Tanzania, replacing KYLE NUNAS. → VÉRONIQUE PEPIN-HALLÉ is ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, replacing JOCELYN KINNEAR in Vienna. → PASQUALE SALVAGGIO is high commissioner in Nigeria and permanent representative to the Economic Community of West African States, replacing JAMES CHRISTOFF. → STEWART WHEELER is ambassador to Argentina, replacing REID SIRRS. Government House Leader KARINA GOULD and Chief Government Whip RUBY SAHOTA were appointed to the Board of Internal Economy that administers the House of Commons. Spotted: STEVEN MACKINNON, JAGMEET SINGH and PIERRE POILIEVRE, making the rounds at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference in St. John's. Conservative MP GARNETT GENUIS, announcing the birth of baby ISIDORE. Former Ontario Premier DALTON MCGUINTY, leading walking tours in Kingston. Noted: A new Abacus Data survey says this: "Vice President KAMALA HARRIS is widely liked and would be the most popular political leader in Canada if she was leader of a Canadian political party.” In memoriam: Former Liberal MP MARLENE CATTERALL has died, according to former caucus colleague SHEILA COPPS: “The first woman Whip in Canada’s history, a joyful partner, mother and friend, Marlene was always there for those in need." Trudeau said on X, “Marlene Catterall was a trailblazer for women. Her tireless work as a social activist, politician, and Canada’s first female Chief Government Whip opened countless doors for future generations.”
| | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | |
— Several Cabinet ministers have events across Atlantic Canada.
8 a.m. (9 a.m. AT) Veterans Affairs Minister GINETTE PETITPAS TAYLOR will make an announcement on the net-zero economy in Riverview, New Brunswick. 9 a.m. (10 a.m. AT) Immigration Minister MARC MILLER will make an announcement in Church Point, Nova Scotia. 12 p.m. (1:30 p.m. NT) Seniors Minister STEVEN MACKINNON and local MP JOANNE THOMPSON will make an announcement at a seniors home in St. John's. | | TRIVIA | |
Tuesday’s answer: "Canada" first appeared in French explorer JACQUES CARTIER's journal on Aug. 13, 1535.
Props to MARCEL MARCOTTE, KELLY REGAN, GORDON RANDALL, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, ROHIN MINOCHA-MCKENNEY, MALCOLM MCKAY, JOHN ALHO, BRANDON WALLACE and DARRYL DAMUDE. Wednesday’s question: In 2018, which Canadian author recommended DONALD TRUMP's "The Art of the Deal" as "not a bad place to start" for anybody engaging in any type of negotiation? Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com 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.
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