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Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → What happened to talkative Liberal caucus dissenters? → The seeds of Liberal attack ads. → MARK HOLLAND remembers the bad old days. |  | Talk of the town | |
THE BIG PIVOT — You can already see the contours of long-awaited Liberal attack ads.
All week long, Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU 's team has insinuated that Tory foe PIERRE POILIEVRE is hiding something from the Canadian people. Why else, they wonder aloud, would Poilievre refuse security clearance that could offer insight into attempted foreign interference in his own party's ranks? Poilievre insists doing so would put a muzzle on him, barring him from needling the government on its handling of malign forces. Still, Trudeau appears to believe he's found a winning issue. On Wednesday, he peppered almost every question period response with similar lines about Poilievre's inability to engage with security and intelligence agencies. The PM tested a mock slogan: "Get the clearance. Get the briefings. Protect Canadians." Sounds an awful lot like a tagline. — Now it's personal: Wednesday's QP ended on a feisty note. Independent MP KEVIN VUONG claimed a Cabinet minister "is not working in the service of Canada." Vuong didn't name names, but he was talking about MARY NG — one of the subjects of a press conference he called earlier this week questioning her loyalty to Canada. Ng rejected "conspiracy theories" claiming she's a Chinese government asset. Sitting in the front row of the government benches, Ng shook her head and pointed at Vuong. "Disgusting," she said repeatedly. "Shame on you." — Vibe shift: Last week, a leaky Liberal caucus fueled news cycles. MPs quietly confided in Hill reporters, hoping their movement to dump Trudeau found momentum. On caucus day, the dissenters' silence was deafening. Many remained mum as colleagues who supported Trudeau raced to the mics. Asked if anybody in the room requested a secret ballot meant to decide Trudeau's future, a Liberal MP was categorical on the way out: "Nobody asked." → The question of the day: What's next for disgruntled MPs who days ago sent a sharp message to their boss? Are you a Liberal MP? Do you want to spill your feelings? We're happy to talk. | | | | A message from Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of our evolving business landscape. Discover how Canadian businesses are leveraging the power of AI to drive innovation, enhance productivity and stay ahead in a competitive market. The future of work is here. Learn more. | | | | | For the record | |
BLAST FROM THE PAST — On his way out of the weekly Liberal caucus meeting, Health Minister MARK HOLLAND got unvarnished about his party’s worst days.
Holland's message about grumbling in the caucus room: This isn't that. He first served as an MP under former PM PAUL MARTIN, and endured two terms in opposition before losing his seat in 2011 — a disastrous campaign that reduced the party to a rump and set the stage for JUSTIN TRUDEAU's ascent. Holland spoke candidly about his earlier years in caucus. — First, the unity message: "The thing that we’re all focused on is on defeating [PIERRE] POILIEVRE and the threat that he represents. There’s total unanimity in that. And I can tell you that I was in caucus in ’04, ’06, ’08, ’11. All during that period, I’ve never seen the kind of unity of purpose in this," he told reporters. — Everybody fights sometimes: "Is there a discussion about how we best do that? Of course. That’s always taking place. We, unfortunately, don’t seem to have the ability to keep our caucus discussions internal. I can assure you that every party has its differences. Every party is talking about them. We just happen to talk about them openly." — You think this is bad? "In ’04, ’06, '08, and ’11, there was so much in-fighting and so much ego that a lot of times, it wasn’t about that. … In those years, I watched people’s egos and ambitions take precedence over the priorities of the country and our common values. I can tell you that it was the hardest part of living through those days." — Rock bottom: "I had people who were literally cheering for [Liberals] to fall apart so that somebody else’s ambitions could manifest. It was an incredibly dysfunctional period of time." | | | Where the leaders are | | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Montreal. The PM will deliver remarks at the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, join the confab's "family photo," and meet the Ukrainian delegation. — Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Toronto with no public-facing events. — Playbook hasn't seen public itineraries for Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET or NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH. — Green Leader ELIZABETH MAY will meet with members of the Land Claims Agreements Coalition and has plans to attend Parliament virtually. | | | DULY NOTED | | |
11:30 a.m. Chinese Ambassador to Canada HE WANG DI delivers a talk to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.
| | 2024 WATCH | | |  "I Voted Today" stickers are seen during early in-person voting Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) | AP | FIVE DAYS TO GO — Another set of swing-state polls out Wednesday night shows an almost comically close race between KAMALA HARRIS and DONALD TRUMP. Fox News surveys show the two candidates virtually even in Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — both on full ballots including third-party candidates and in head-to-head matchups. Our colleagues have those details here. Keep up with the campaign via POLITICO’s live blog . — In case you missed it: Former Republican California Gov. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has endorsed Harris. Famed Apollo 11 astronaut BUZZ ALDRIN has endorsed Trump. — In related reading: LISA FRIEDMAN of the NYT compares Trump and Harris on climate: One calls global warming an "existential threat," the other dismisses it as a "scam." | | | | A message from Canadian Chamber of Commerce:   | | | | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— “Canadians are already tired of listening to the scratchy broken record that is PIERRE POILIEVRE, which means he might very well become the fourth Conservative leader Trudeau beats,” CURTIS GILLESPIE writes in the Literary Review of Canada while sharing his take on newish Trudeau books by PAUL WELLS and STEPHEN MAHER.
— The plot thickens in Elgin-St. Thomas-London South, where potential Tory candidate ANDREW LAWTON's recent comments have sown some local confusion about the race for the party nomination. — The Hub contemplates a Poilievre Cabinet. — ALEX HIMELFARB is on the latest “WONK” pod. — The Star’s JOY SPEARCHIEF-MORRIS spoke to KIMBERLY MURRAY about her report on missing children and unmarked graves at residential schools. — The Globe’s ANN HUI considered the future of Tik Tok in Canada — and beyond. — Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT told The Narwhal ahead of COP16 that political differences — between federal parties as well as different levels of government — are in the way of Canada’s pledges to conserve nature. | | PROZONE | |
For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by KYLE DUGGAN: India’s expected cyber ‘flex.’
In other news for Pro readers: — For sale: Data on voters who are likely to support political violence. — California's hottest new crop is sunshine. — Mining sector struggles to meet the green moment. — Wall Street on Trump v. Harris. — One in three tree species at risk of extinction, assessment says. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to Liberal MP KIRSTY DUNCAN, Conservative MP CHRIS D’ENTREMONT, journo AMANDA LANG and former MP YVES ROCHELEAU (80).
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way Spotted: Two-time survivor of breast cancer YVONNE JONES, urging Canadian women to get a mammogram. “I am proof that early detection saves lives,” she told her colleagues in the House on Tuesday. — In the House: Conservative MP DAMIEN KUREK, delivering an emotional tribute to his late father, Jay, eliciting a standing ovation and hugs from colleagues … Bloc Québécois MP XAVIER BARSALOU-DUVAL, recognizing the 30-year political career of outgoing Bloc MP STÉPHANE BERGERON. The Bloc caucus hooted and hollered until MPs all over the chamber clued in and indulged another standing O. Liberal MP ANJU DHILLON, occupying CHRYSTIA FREELAND's front-row seat beside JUSTIN TRUDEAU in the deputy PM's absence … Conservative MP DON STEWART, seated in Deputy Leader MELISSA LANTSMAN's seat beside PIERRE POILIEVRE. Former British Columbia Premier CHRISTY CLARK, added to the Future Voters Summit roster as a "distinguished speaker." Sen. MARILOU MCPHEDRAN, making the case in the Senate for a National Thanadelthur Day while also honoring current-day Indigenous powerhouses: the late MARY TWO-AXE EARLEY, CINDY BLACKSTOCK, PAM PALMATER, AUTUMN PELTIER, DIANE REDSKY, SANDRA LOVELACE NICHOLAS, LILLIAN DYCK, ROSEMARIE KUPTANA, DAPHNE ODJIG, JACKIE TRAVERSE and ALANIS OBOMSAWIN. Noted: Sen. RATNA OMIDVAR included an Oscars-sized list of thank yous in her final Senate speech. She opened with tech services ("I call them at 8 a.m. and they are there; I call them at 4:30 p.m. and they are there”), bus drivers and Senate pages — for bottomless cups of mint tea. She expressed gratitude to the Senate clerk, interpreters, technicians, Library of Parliament analysts, Usher of the Black Rod, Senate administration, Chamber Operations and Procedure Office, clerk EMILY BARRETTE, PAUL FAUCETTE (“the ice to my fire”), STEPHANIE SAUNDERS (“my right hand and my left hand”) and to Senate Speaker RAYMONDE GAGNÉ. “It takes a village to keep this place functioning,” she said. — Watching from the Senate gallery: Director DEEPA MEHTA; students from Kitigan Zibi School in Maniwaki and Immaculata High School. Movers and shakers: ANDRÉ BEAULIEU is the new chair of the Public Policy Forum’s board of directors. … ALLAN MACMASTER, until recently Nova Scotia's deputy premier and finance minister, is seeking the federal Conservative nomination in Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish. | | | | A message from Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Artificial Intelligence is transforming how businesses operate and innovate. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Future of Artificial Intelligence Council is at the forefront of the latest trends and practical applications of AI in Canadian business. Whether you're looking to streamline processes, improve customer experience or unlock new growth opportunities, the technology is available. Stay informed on how AI is shaping the future and giving Canadian companies a competitive edge. Discover more here. | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | |
Find the latest House meetings here. The Senate schedule is here.
8:15 a.m. The House Indigenous affairs committee goes clause by clause through Bill C-61 which deals with ensuring clean and safe drinking water on First Nations lands. 8:15 a.m. The House national defense committee hears from space defense experts. 8:15 a.m. The House industry committee studies credit card practices and regulations. 8:15 a.m. The House agriculture committee hears from witnesses on the intergenerational transfer of farms and new entrants. 9 a.m. The Senate agriculture committee hears from Jasper Mayor RICHARD IRELAND about the growing issue of wildfires in Canada. (He’s up in the second hour of the session.) 9 a.m. The Senate energy and environment committee hears from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and former Bank of Canada Governor DAVID DODGE about climate change and the Canadian oil and gas industry. 9 a.m. The Senate fisheries committee studies ocean carbon sequestration. 9 a.m. The Senate’s internal economy committee hears from Sen. SCOTT TANNAS and others on internal financial and administrative matters. 11 a.m. Official languages resumes debate on a motion by Liberal MP ANGELO IACONO. 11 a.m. Defense Minister BILL BLAIR appears at the House veterans affairs committee, along with Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. JENNIE CARIGNAN. 11 a.m. The House government operations committee continues its study on Indigenous procurement. 11 a.m. The procedure and House affairs committee hears from witnesses on Bill C-65. 11 a.m. The House human resources committee hears from various groups about workers in the seasonal industry and the Employment Insurance Program. 11 a.m. The House justice committee meets to briefly discuss Bill C-270 , Conservative MP ARNOLD VIERSEN’s private members’ bill on pornographic material. Afterward, MPs will go in camera to discuss their study on antisemitism. 11 a.m. Manulife’s SCOTTY GREENWOOD will be a witness at the House citizenship and immigration committee, which is studying pension transferability, and delays in permanent residence and visas for Hong Kongers. 11:30 a.m. The Senate banking committee hears from witnesses on Bill C-280. 11:30 a.m. Former Liberal Cabinet Minister JOHN MANLEY is among those appearing before the Senate foreign affairs committee on Bill C-282 that deals with supply management and trade negotiations. 11:30 a.m. The Senate legal affairs committee hears from the Canadian Bar Association and other legal groups on Bill C-40, which deals with miscarriage of justice reviews. 11:30 a.m. The Senate social affairs committee goes clause by clause through Bill C-284. 3:30 p.m. The House health committee studies Conservative MP BLAINE CALKINS’ private members’ bill, C-368, which deals with natural health products. 3:30 p.m. The House infrastructure committee hears from witnesses for its study on recreational boating regulations. 3:30 p.m. At the House finance committee’s pre-budget consultations: Diabetes Canada, the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada and Qikiqtani Inuit Association, among others. 3:30 p.m. The House foreign affairs committee hears from witnesses on advancing a two-state solution. 3:30 p.m. On the agenda at the House public safety committee: “Electoral interference and criminal activities in Canada by agents of the government of India.” Behind closed doors: The House science and research committee huddles over its report on climate change in Canada’s Arctic. | | TRIVIA | |
Wednesday’s answer: What percentage of eligible voters didn't cast a ballot in the 1995 referendum on sovereignty? The answer is 6.48 percent.
Props to ROBERT MCDOUGALL, RAY DEL BIANCO, JOANNA PLATER, MARCEL MARCOTTE, MATTHEW DUBÉ, MALCOLM MCKAY, GORDON RANDALL and FELIX BERNIER. Today’s question: Who was the first Bloc Québécois candidate elected to Parliament? Send your answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Writing tomorrow's Playbook: KYLE DUGGAN. Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage. Advertise in our Playbook. 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 | | | | |
