| | | | |  | | By Sue Allan and Mickey Djuric | | Presented by |  | | | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Nick | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading the Ottawa Playbook. Let’s get to it. In today's edition: → Canada’s answer to Trump 2.0? Everything’s fine. → What we’re watching: Baku, Washington, Cloverdale—Langley City. → A hero is laid to rest: “We know he wants his work, our work, to continue.” |  | DRIVING THE DAY | |
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY — The Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations will meet early this week, and then often. Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND said Friday’s session was dominated by two urgent issues: trade and the border.
— Canada’s calling: The PM managed to get President-elect DONALD TRUMP on the horn last week. The DPM has been in touch with USTR ROBERT LIGHTHIZER. And Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY assured reporters she’s been in touch with “many key influencers” within the Trump administration. — State of play: When Trump returns to the White House, Canada will stare down the possibility of a 20 percent tariff, an influx of asylum seekers and no end of hassle over defense spending. Advice is flying fast and furious: THE GLOBE AND MAIL ed board: “Mr. Trump’s election to a second term has put the free world, Canada included, in a crunch. Ottawa needs to recognize that fact — and take action, quickly.” EDWARD GREENSPON, JANICE GROSS STEIN and DREW FAGAN: “Take a deep breath, Canada. Focus on the opportunities, not on your worst fears.” Economist TREVOR TOMBE on The Hub: “Bold action is needed, and it’s needed now.” SHACHI KURL, Angus Reid Institute: “A second Trump term could have faced the makings of a unified Team Canada 2.0 approach. But it won’t. This close to a federal election domestically, there is no political upside for [PIERRE] POILIEVRE to co-operate with the Liberals. And the overall downside for Canada? That’s yet to be calculated.” MIRO CERNETIG, CEO and publisher of Cityage.com: “It’s time to start remaking Trump’s perception of the Canada brand, to tone down past anti-Trump rhetoric, to find mutual interests not grievances. If we choose to be Canada-la, as many Canadians might be inclined, we’ll be in for a difficult four years.” MATT GURNEY, TVO Today: “We should have started years ago, but we didn’t. So the next best time to start is right now. Today. And I don’t just mean ‘say it’s a challenge or an emergency or a threat.’ I mean act like you mean it.” — Smile and wave: For now, Trudeau’s government just hopes to sound undaunted. As MICKEY DJURIC reports, the response from the PM and his team in the days since Trump’s emphatic victory: Everything is fine. “In my experience, President Trump respects strength, and he respects people and countries who are strong and clear in defending their countries — in defending their national interest,” Freeland said Friday on the Hill. “That’s what I’ve always done, and that’s what I will continue to do.” — In related listening: ALTHIA RAJ was joined on the “It’s Political” pod by DAVID MACNAUGHTON, GERALD BUTTS, FLAVIO VOLPE, HASSAN YUSSUFF, CATHERINE FORTIN LEFAIVRE, WILLIAM PELLERIN and LAURA DAWSON. On the agenda: Trump. | | | | A message from The Public Policy Forum: The Public Policy Forum builds bridges among diverse participants in the policymaking process, offering new perspectives and feeding fresh ideas into policy discussions. We research issues, convene frank, publicly interested dialogue, find practical policy solutions and celebrate exceptional policy leaders. We also publish reports that help move the policymaking needle. Most recently we released our 2024 Atlantic Momentum Index, which highlighted a region experiencing unprecedented growth while grappling with the challenges that accompany rapid expansion. | | | | | THREE THINGS WE'RE WATCHING | | |  The implications of Donald Trump's election loom over global climate talks. | AP | BAKU → THE FUTURE — The COP29 climate summit is underway. — Follow this crew: POLITICO has a team of reporters in Azerbaijan: KARL MATHIESEN, SARA SCHONHARDT, ZIA WEISE, SUZANNE LYNCH, CHARLIE COOPER and ZACK COLMAN. — The stakes: “The COP29 conference is doomed to be defined not only by Trump’s return to power, but also by the absence of those who might resist him,” Mathiesen writes. On Monday, America’s top climate diplomat JOHN PODESTA told foreign officials that the U.S. remains committed to fighting climate change, even if Trump isn’t. “This is not the end of our fight for a cleaner, safer planet. Facts are still facts. Science is still science,” Podesta said. “The fight is bigger than one election, one political cycle in one country.” Energy and Natural Resources Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON sounded a similar note last week. “Climate change isn’t a political issue, or it shouldn’t be a political issue,” he said. “It’s a science issue.” — State of play: The world is bracing for Trump to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement for the second time. Schonhardt reports that this time, he could move faster and with less restraint. “We have seen this story,” former climate minister CATHERINE MCKENNA said Monday, referring to Trump’s first term. “And when that happened, we saw that the world stepped up.” TRANSITION OF POWER — POLITICO has a live blog tracking the latest news, analysis and updates on the presidential transition of power from JOE BIDEN to DONALD TRUMP. Some decisions since we last published: → Trump picked House Republican Conference Chair ELISE STEFANIK of New York to be his next ambassador to the United Nations. Our colleagues report: “With Stefanik, Trump is elevating a fierce critic of the U.N. as his emissary to the world body — the latest sign that he plans to make good on pledges to strongly support Israel on the world stage and play hardball with international organizations and alliances.” NAHAL TOOSI and ROBBIE GRAMER report that UN officials plan to charm Stefanik. → Trump picked former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director THOMAS HOMAN to serve as a “border czar.” → The president-elect tapped former New York Republican Rep. LEE ZELDIN to be his administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. Here’s POLITICO’s JOSH SIEGEL and ALEX GUILLÉN : “If confirmed, Zeldin will carry out Trump’s energy and environmental agenda, which includes pulling back Biden-era rules on climate and air pollution and potentially rescinding millions of dollars in funding for clean energy under the Inflation Reduction Act.” → Trump plans to nominate Sen. MARCO RUBIO to serve as secretary of State, according to two people informed of the decision. → Senior adviser STEPHEN MILLER will be deputy chief of staff for policy in the Trump administration. Keep track: Make POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook your guide to the preparations, personnel decisions and policy deliberations of Trump’s transition. FA LA LA LA LA — The PM has picked Dec. 16 for the by-election in Cloverdale—Langley City, British Columbia. The vacancy was created earlier this year when JOHN ALDAG resigned to run in the B.C. provincial election where he ended up losing to Conservative candidate HARMAN BHANGU. — The race so far: MADISON FLEISCHER will represent the Liberals against TAMARA JANSEN, who served as Conservative MP for the riding from 2019 to 2021. The votes will be counted around the time Ottawa is clearing out for winter break, though that’s unlikely to distract from headlines like the ones that followed Liberal defeats this year in Toronto and Montreal. → 338Canada projection: “CPC safe.” | | | | A message from The Public Policy Forum:   | | | | | Where the leaders are | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in New Brunswick where he will meet Premier SUSAN HOLT.
— Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND is in Toronto where she will hold private meetings with policy experts to discuss economic growth. | | | DULY NOTED | | |
Liberal Cabinet ministers are holding three fundraisers today. While Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE is in Brossard, Tourism Minister SORAYA MARTINEZ FERRADA is across the St. Lawrence in Montreal — and Immigration Minister MARC MILLER is meeting donors in Coquitlam, British Columbia.
| | | | The lame duck session could reshape major policies before year's end. Get Inside Congress delivered daily to follow the final sprint of dealmaking on defense funding, AI regulation and disaster aid. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— The federal government is urging both sides in the British Columbia port dispute to return to the table, CHUCK CHIANG of The Canadian Press reports. The Star’s RYAN TUMILTY explains why Canadians will feel the pain of the port lockouts.
— Former Finance Minister BILL MORNEAU made news when he told VASSY KAPELOS, “I would question whether putting caps on emissions right now is the right time.” — The Logic’s DAVID REEVELY reports on MATHIEU GRONDIN’s mission to improve Ottawa nightlife. — CBC News reported that British Columbia health officials are investigating what's believed to be the first human case of avian influenza caught in Canada. — Maclean’s has published the “Rich List” — a ranking of the wealthiest Canadians. — Germany will hold its federal snap election on Sunday Feb. 23, lawmakers and officials in three of the major parties told our colleagues this morning. — Finally, in case you missed it via CHRISTOPHER NARDI in the National Post: One more firm alleges it was defrauded by Liberal cabinet minister's partner. | | COUNTDOWNS | |
Your reminder of some key events edging ever closer.
Sitting days until Christmas break: 22, at the absolute most … Summer: 91, at the absolute most. Calendar days until APEC Economic Leaders’ Dialogue: 3 … G20 summit: 6 … Statistics Canada’s next inflation data: 7 … Nova Scotia's election: 14 … The Bank of Canada's next interest rate announcement: 29. Which must-watch countdowns are missing from this list? Tell us! | | | PROZONE | | |
For Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by DOUG PALMER and SUE ALLAN: Trade and the border top Cabinet's Trump 2.0 agenda.
In other news for Pro readers: — American interest in Canadian citizenship is spiking again. — Trump world, Congress discussing how to raise tariffs by legislation. — Crypto won the 2024 elections. Now comes the easy part. — Ted Cruz could soon head a Senate committee. What does that mean? — French regulator opens probe into Peter Thiel-backed betting platform. | | IN MEMORIAM | |
THE WORK CONTINUES — “One of the things when we think about MURRAY SINCLAIR is that this man was the living embodiment of reconciliation in our country,” Manitoba Premier WAB KINEW said in recent days.
The late senator and judge was honored Sunday at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg — the first national commemorative ceremony for an Indigenous person. “He fought especially for the most vulnerable of us,” said CINDY WOODHOUSE NEPINAK, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Sinclair’s Anishinaabe name was Mazina Giizhik, or “one who speaks of pictures in the sky.” “As he is now free from pain and feeling nothing but joy; we encourage all to not look back in sadness but focus on happiness and the beauty of life and love. We know he wants his work, our work, to continue. Mazina Giizhik-iban’s life has been a beacon of integrity and compassion,” his family said in a statement. — Watch the ceremony via APTN. — On the “Front Burner” pod, TANYA TALAGA, PHIL FONTAINE and KIM MURRAY discuss the lessons they learned from Sinclair. — The online book of condolences is here. | | | | Policy change is coming—be the pro who saw it first. Access POLITICO Pro’s Issue Analysis series on what the transition means for agriculture, defense, health care, tech, and more. Strengthen your strategy. | | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | |
Birthdays: Former Speaker PETER MILLIKEN, former Cabmin BARBARA MCDOUGALL and economist and politician MICHEL AUDET.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. Spotted: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN in Ottawa on the weekend: “I’m moving to Canada!” Travel guru SCOTT MCCORD at Canada House with High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom RALPH GOODALE. PRESTON MANNING was celebrated at an event in Calgary over the weekend. JENNI BYRNE said on X that the former Reform Party leader represents “the untold story of the modern conservative movement.” KORY TENEYCKE shared notes from the shindig off the top of this week’s “Curse of Politics” pod. Conservative MP ERIC DUNCAN, celebrating his 37th birthday with pals. Noted: CATHERINE MCKENNEY, launching their bid to become MPP of Ottawa Centre. ROB BATHERSON, past president of the Conservative Party of Canada, will be the Conservative candidate in Halifax West. … ANDREW LAWTON has won the CPC nomination to contest Elgin—St. Thomas—London South. DAVID COLETTO of Abacus Data, sharing his company’s mantra: “Don’t be jerks.” Winnipeg Free Press reviewed “Dangerous Memory” by NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS — “a very readable personal memoir.” In memoriam: Conservative MP LESLYN LEWIS paid tribute in the House to the life of Haldimand County Ward 4 councilor MARIE TRAINER, “a devoted, humble, selfless leader and a groundbreaker.” Trainer, who served her community over multiple decades, died late last month. Movers and shakers: AISIX Solutions Inc. announced the appointment of BEN MULRONEY as adviser for public relations and government relations. The Ottawa Citizen reports the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada voted SEAN O’REILLY as the new president of the union’s board of directors. STÉPHANIE FRÉCHETTE and KATIE FRANCIS will be full-time VPs. DAVID SUTHERLAND and EVA HENSHAW will be part-time VPs. | | | | A message from The Public Policy Forum: The Public Policy Forum’s latest report, called Adjusting the Sails: 2024 Atlantic Canada Momentum Index , makes a convincing case that Atlantic Canada is showing momentum across a range of indicators, including the macro economy, the labour market, human capital, innovation and investment, and quality of life. "Every sailor knows the old saying: We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails," the report notes. "Atlantic Canada is in the biggest boom since the Second World War, but it won't last forever. In the last decade, social and demographic shifts as unpredictable as the wind have come from every compass point in Atlantic Canada — and it's clear political and economic leaders need to trim the sails if the region is to maintain its momentum." Sign up for PPF’s weekly Atlantic Momentum newsletter to keep up to date with breaking economic and innovation news from the region. | | | | | |
This week is a constituency week. The House and Senate do not sit.
| | TRIVIA | |
Friday's answer: Sen. JANE CORDY announced her retirement from the Senate last week. This is her ninth parliament.
Props to ROBERT MCDOUGALL. And a few more readers who knew “the last spike” was made of iron: MAIA EASTMAN, JENN KEAY, MALCOLM MCKAY. Today’s question: Name the parliamentarian who wrote “My Three Years in a German Prison.” Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com . Want to grab the attention of movers and shakers on Parliament Hill? Want your brand in front of a key audience of Ottawa influencers? Run a Playbook ad campaign. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage. | | | | 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 | | | | |
