| | | | |  | | By Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Sue Allan | | Presented by |  | | | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Ottawa Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → Non-binding drama on the Hill. → The subs on Poilievre’s reading list. → Imagine a social platform for “serious, decent communication.” |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | |  "If the Liberals do not give us what we demand ... we will start discussing with opposition in order to have this government fall," Yves-François Blanchet said Wednesday afternoon. | Spencer Colby, The Canadian Press | SYMBOLIC WIN — A united opposition in the House approved a non-binding motion Wednesday that expressed support for a Bloc-sponsored private members' bill on old-age payments. — Well, actually: A united opposition plus former Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ and a band of five Atlantic Liberal MPs. Rodriguez, now an independent MP, voted remotely and likely didn't hear the Bloc's "Pablo!" chant when his face appeared on chamber TVs. The Liberal five were RENÉ ARSENEAULT, SERGE CORMIER, MIKE KELLOWAY, WAYNE LONG and KEN MCDONALD. It's not clear what the vote means for the life of this Parliament. The motion pushed for "royal recommendation" of Bill C-319, a procedural step required for private member's bills that spend taxpayer money. The PMB would beef up old-age security payments by a combined C$16 billion over five years. Liberals said the motion set up a bad precedent of forcing a royal recommendation via PMB. MPs can't force the government's hand with a non-binding motion, but the bill lies at the heart of a Bloc legislative ultimatum. If C-319 and another PMB on supply management policy aren't the law of the land by Oct. 29, the party has threatened to pull its support for the government in confidence votes. Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET threatened talks with other opposition parties as early as next week if the government doesn't get C-319 moving. — Status report: The bill is currently at third reading in the House, and would need to clear a final vote in that chamber before speeding through the Senate. | | | | A message from Universities Canada: Canada’s reputation as a leading destination for international students is in jeopardy due to recent federal policy changes aimed at reducing student permits. While it’s crucial to address housing and immigration challenges, these measures are hindering Canada’s universities’ ability to attract global talent, sustain university funding and advance research. International students are essential to Canada’s future economy and innovation. It’s time to restore Canada’s legacy as a global education leader. Learn more. | | | | | PAPER TRAIL | |
HOUSE RECEIPTS — Another fiscal quarter, another C$40.8 million billed to the House of Commons — aka taxpayers — by elected officials. Millions spent on democratic mundanity: salaries, travel, IT services, office rent, advertising, and even tiny Canada pins.
Here's what stood out to us in the first quarter of 2024-25, which covers April-June. — We've all been there: Playbook always keeps an eye on voice and data overage fees for mobile devices, of which MPs racked up C$72,443.11 over Q1. The top spender on that line item: MARK HOLLAND, whose office's C$2,420.59 beat runnerup HARJIT SAJJAN by more than C$600. — Miscellaneous receipts: Pins and flags (C$11,197.64), shredding services (C$5,753.32), language training (C$12,546.17), office renovations (C$37,853.21). — Leader ranking: Tory boss PIERRE POILIEVRE's sum total of expenses, which cover his leader's office and his smaller MP office, reached C$1,553,585.13. The NDP's JAGMEET SINGH finished second at C$675,945.33. PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU, whose totals also include the Liberal research bureau, added up to C$670,540.71. Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET rounded out the quartet at C$602,536.93. → Key disclaimer: These numbers don't count ministers' office budgets, including the Prime Minister's Office, which come with their own budgets. — Comms help: The Opposition Leader's Office paid C$12,000 to Mash Strategy, an influential brand management and marketing firm in conservative circles that has worked on OLO contracts since Poilievre's early days as leader. Poilievre's team also spent 76 bucks in the quarter on OpenAI, the San Francisco-based creator of ChatGPT — the addictive chatbot with which we've all dabbled. — Outside consultants: The OLO billed taxpayers for C$26,400 paid to VIVEK DEHEJIA, a Carleton University econ prof and Canada-India expert who writes regularly about the bilateral relationship. Poilievre's office also spent C$8,000 in the first quarter to 13753301 Canada Inc., another longtime contractor whose sole director is conservative operative MATT WOLF. Poilievre's team didn't respond to a request for more detail about those contracts. — Poilievre's reading list: The OLO paid for The Globe and Mail, Le Devoir, The Logic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Western Standard, The Wall Street Journal, Postmedia (including Brunswick News and SaltWire) and the Epoch Times. Poilievre's MP office budget — distinct from OLO — paid for The Hill Times. | | Where the leaders are | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will depart for Paris to attend the 19th Sommet de la Francophonie.
— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Toronto where she will visit a local small business, a meeting closed to media. — Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET and Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE have not released public schedules. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will take part in QP. — Green Leader ELIZABETH MAY will attend Parliament in person. | | | | A message from Universities Canada:   | | | | | In the provinces | |
SASKATCHEWAN VOTES — As Saskatchewanians prepare for an Oct. 28 voting day, SCOTT MOE's Sask Party is favored to win its fifth-straight term. CARLA BECK's NDP is out to end a losing streak in a province where winning was often the party's expectation.
This is, after all, the land of TOMMY DOUGLAS. Playbook got on the horn with DALE RICHARDSON, a principal at Earnscliffe Strategies in Regina who spent five years as a Sask Party staffer. Here's what he's watching. — Day One: Moe's first promise was to cut income taxes by raising personal exemptions. Beck has pledged to take the sales tax off children's clothes and groceries, and to suspend the provincial gas tax. — Will the carbon tax be a thing? In short: Yes. "Quite prominently," Richardson says. Beck has come out against the federal carbon levy, and reminded Ottawa cousin JAGMEET SINGH of her party's position in April. Singh has since distances himself from the measure (and punted questions about his own climate plan down the road). But Richardson says Moe's squad will work to haunt the opposition. "They're gonna use clips of the NDP candidates saying that they actually do support the carbon tax," he says. — Showdown to watch: Richardson has his eye on GENE MAKOWSKY vs. SALLY HOUSSER in Regina University. → In this corner, wearing green: Makowsky is a three-term MLA and veteran Cabinet minister who won a Grey Cup in 2007 with the Roughriders — and entered the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Makowsky is social services minister, and he has always won comfortably. → In this corner, wearing orange: Housser, a born British Columbian raised in Newfoundland and Labrador, is a well-known New Democrat on TV. She was once JACK LAYTON's press secretary and deputy national director of the federal NDP. She advised NDP premiers in Alberta and Manitoba. → 338Canada says: Toss-up, with a slight edge to Makowsky. — No help wanted: The Sask Party doesn't typically receive an influx of campaign operatives across the country, Richardson says. If you're a New Democrat with a win under your belt, chances are pretty high you will get a call to chip in to a competitive provincial campaign. Case in point: CHERYL OATES, a GT & Company principal who spent four years as a senior comms aide to former Alberta Premier RACHEL NOTLEY. Oates is the Sask NDP's campaign director. Conservatives with familiar faces in the Ottawa fishbowl are currently helping their flock on campaign trails in British Columbia (ANTHONY KOCH and STEPHANIE DUNLOP, for two) and New Brunswick (where seasoned campaigner STEVE OUTHOUSE is running the PC reelection bid). Not so of the top campaign team in Moe's world: "They're homegrown local people." | | | HALLWAY CONVERSATION | | | |  Věra Jourová takes questions after a meeting in Brussels on May 21, 2024. | AP | PLAYBOOK ONE-ON-ONE — European Commission Vice President VĚRA JOUROVÁ prefers facetime when meeting the top execs of the world’s social media platforms. “It's always important to sit at the table and look into their eyes and ask questions about how they feel about their business and whether they can promise more,” Jourová told Playbook during a visit to Ottawa last week. “Even if I am on top of European politics and they are on top of American business, we are real people who have to speak to each other,” she says. Person to person is vital, she adds — “otherwise they can write me the reports, which will promise everything.” — Conversation starter: Jourová tells Playbook she finally had to delete Facebook. “Thousands of people were sending me horrible messages, and I didn't have time to reply on the less vulgar ones. ”She’s also thought about quitting X, but was advised, “you’ll be politically dead.” — In a perfect world: “My prediction is that very soon, the people will have to invent something for serious, decent communication,” she said. “For instance, where the AI will not be allowed to enter.” — On the agenda: Jourová delivered a keynote in Toronto last week at a conference organized by the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and Paradigm. “We agreed at the conference that the children are not all right and that we all have to do everything possible to invite them back to normal, healthy life, and not to let them be victims of addictive algorithms,” she said. Jourová also visited The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto — “we will stay in contact.” In Ottawa, she met with the House ethics committee and held separate meetings to exchange notes with Heritage Minister PASCALE ST-ONGE and Justice MARIE-JOSÉE HOGUE, commissioner of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference. — In the crosshairs: Jourová discussed the EU’s ongoing battle with ELON MUSK about the proliferation of disinformation and illegal content on X. Asked if Europe was too slow to hold him to account, she replies: “Look, we are not police. We are enforcers who now have the right to look into the system of their algorithms. And we are asking Mr. Musk whether he took measures — whether he moderates the content in order to decrease the negative impact on society.”She expects answers. “And if the answers will not be satisfactory, we will ask again.” — In reading for Pros: EU questions TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat about algorithms over worries about mental health, disinformation. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— CATHERINE MORRISON of the Ottawa Citizen reports: Feds won't rule out forcing public servants back to office for four days a week.
— From STEVE CHASE and BOB FIFE: Advocates plead for stronger RCMP and CSIS crackdown on intimidation by hostile foreign states. — Shopify President HARLEY FINKELSTEIN tells The Canadian Press that a lack of ambition in Canada is creating a “600-pound beaver in the room.” — “The most important thing for any political party is you’ve got to have clarity of direction,” TONY BLAIR tells POLITICO’s ANNE MCELVOY on the “Power Play” pod. — Trump has campaigned on a wave of retaliatory criminal prosecutions. It’s not the first time he’s promised to lock up his rivals — but a second term would be different, ANKUSH KHARDORI writes for POLITICO Magazine. | | | | A message from Universities Canada: Canada’s reputation as a leading destination for international students is in jeopardy due to recent federal policy changes aimed at reducing student permits. While it’s crucial to address housing and immigration challenges, these measures are hindering Canada’s universities’ ability to attract global talent, sustain university funding and advance research. International students are essential to Canada’s future economy and innovation. It’s time to restore Canada’s legacy as a global education leader. Learn more. | | | | | PROZONE | |
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In other news for Pro readers: — Dockworkers are striking. What does that mean? — Port closures strike at Harris’ economic message. — Nvidia chief disputes climate consequences of AI. — Utilities warn of long and expensive recovery from Helene. — ADM halts carbon injections after finding second leak at Illinois site. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to CHRISTINE MCMILLAN of Crestview Strategy.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. Spotted: Sen. LEO HOUSAKOS, inquiring in the Senate about the status of MARK CARNEY’s task force on economic growth: "There are no members on this magical task force. There are no events scheduled. … There is no actual deadline for any such report." A long line of Hispanic Day on the Hill reception-goers, snaking around the side of the Macdonald Building. (PM Trudeau joined the party.) — Pre-QP scenes: Liberal MP BEN CARR, chatting for several minutes with Conservative MP MICHAEL CHONG … Green MP MIKE MORRICE, making his ministerial rounds. Wednesday's target: Revenue Minister MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU … Bloc Québécois MP JEAN-DENIS GARON, sidling up to Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE (and returning after QP) … Tory MP PHILIP LAWRENCE, citing Conservative-approved economist TREVOR TOMBE in an S.). 31 … NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH and MP LEAH GAZAN, escorting brand-new MP LEILA DANCE into the Commons. Singh, flashing the two-fingered "I see you" gesture at Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, whose party finished a close second in Dance's by-election … Tory House Leader ANDREW SCHEER, appearing to respond by offering mock baseball coach signals to the Liberal side. — QP scenes: PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU, calling Poilievre "full of sh-ame" (see what he did there?) … Speaker GREG FERGUS, promoting Poilievre to "right honorable" with a slip of the tongue … Not-a-CPC MP KEVIN VUONG, the Indy MP now seated next to the Conservatives, receiving a standing ovation from the Official Opposition. Movers and shakers: Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada BRUCE HEYMAN is the new CEO of Power Sustainable, an investment firm controlled by the DESMARAIS family and also a unit of Power Corp. MARC PALAZZO is the VP external relations at South Bow, which has spun off from TC Energy. KRISTIN ANDERSON, who was last at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, is meanwhile joining that company to lead government relations. | | | ON THE HILL | | |
Find the latest House meetings here. The Senate schedule is here.
8:15 a.m. The House Indigenous and northern affairs committee will study Bill C-61. 8:15 a.m. Innovation, Science and Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE will be at the House industry meeting for a briefing on his mandate. 9 a.m. The Senate energy and environment committee takes Bill C-76 through clause-by-clause consideration. 9 a.m. The Senate fisheries and oceans committee continues its study of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. 9 a.m. The Senate agriculture and forestry committee will focus on Bill C-275. 11 a.m. “Canada without barriers” is on the agenda at the House human resources committee. 11 a.m. The House operations committee returns to its study of the New York consul general’s residence. 11 a.m. The House procedure committee will study Bill C-377 with help from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Privy Council Office, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Treasury Board Secretariat. 11 a.m. The House veterans’ affairs committee continues to study the service and recognition of Persian Gulf veterans. 11:30 a.m. Bill C-294 is on the agenda at the Senate banking and commerce committee. 11:30 a.m. The Senate foreign affairs and international trade committee picks up its study on engagement with Africa. 11:30 a.m. Canada Post is on the agenda at the Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee. 11:30 a.m. Clause-by-clause consideration of the pharmacare bill is underway at the Senate social affairs committee. 3:30 p.m. The House transport committee continues its investigation of an Aug. 31 VIA Rail incident that left passengers stranded for hours. 3:30 p.m. MARK FISHER of the Council of the Great Lakes Region is one of the witnesses at the House science and research committee, which is studying the recycling of plastics. 3:30 p.m. The Council of Canadian Innovators is on the roster at the House finance committee, which is busy with pre-budget consultations. 3:30 p.m. The House health committee will study Bill C-277, which would establish a national strategy on brain injuries. | | TRIVIA | |
Wednesday’s answer: On Oct. 2, 1967, Chief Justice EARL WARREN swore in THURGOOD MARSHALL as the first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice in U.S. history.
Props to STEPHEN HAAS, MALCOLM MCKAY, STEPHEN KAROL, MARCEL MARCOTTE, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, MICHAEL HORNAK, GREG MACEACHERN, CAMERON RYAN, GORDON RANDALL, KEVIN BOSCH, SCOTT LOHNES, DENISE SIELE, JOHN MERRIMAN and DEREK DECLOET. Today’s question: The Sputnik rocket was launched on this date in 1957. How many times did it orbit the Earth? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Writing tomorrow's Playbook: KYLE DUGGAN | | | | 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 | | | | |
