| | | | |  | | By Mickey Djuric and Nick Taylor-Vaisey | | 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: → MÉLANIE JOLY heads to Washington. → Ottawa’s soon-to-be cash-flow problem. → Diplomats discuss, uh, “The Diplomat.” |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is in Washington to talk trade. | Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO | HIT THE GROUND RUNNING — Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY has touched down in Washington to talk trade, investment and security with Republicans. Over the next two days, she’ll meet with allies of President-elect DONALD TRUMP — the first Cabinet member to do so since his resounding victory. — Face-to-face meetings: Playbook has learned that on the Republican side, Joly will meet with Sens. LINDSEY GRAHAM, LISA MURKOWSKI and RICK SCOTT. Among Democrats, she’ll meet with Sen. MARIA CANTWELL, a leading advocate for modernizing the Columbia River Treaty, which Canada and the U.S. hope to have finalized before Trump returns to the White House. — On the agenda: The minister will also take part in an Arctic security round-table. — Later this week: Joly will attend the Halifax International Security Forum, where she’ll meet with Republican Sen. JAMES RISCH. — Showing loyalty: Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND reiterated on Tuesday that Ottawa will align with the U.S. on China policy, including on trade. “We are not a backdoor to Chinese unfair[ly] traded goods,” she told reporters. “The same cannot be said of Mexico and I have heard personally from members of the Biden administration, from people who have been strong supporters of President Trump and who are his advisers, very grave concerns about Mexico serving as a backdoor for China into the North American trading space,” she said. “I believe those concerns are legitimate and Canada as a partner in the [USMCA] trading area shares those concerns.” Canadian Ambassador to the United States KIRSTEN HILLMAN, who attended the Canada-U.S. relations Cabinet meeting in Ottawa Tuesday, said Chinese investment in Mexico is being discussed with Americans “because it is a concern for the Americans.” “They are already discussing it with the Biden administration and certainly with the people on the Hill and the next administration too,” Hillman said in French. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU said he raised those issues directly with Mexican President CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM on Monday at the G20 summit. | | | | A message from Wealthsimple: This fall, Wealthsimple is celebrating 10 years of serving Canadians. By offering simple, powerful financial tools — from a no-monthly-fee, high-interest chequing account, to low-fee investing and pay-what-you-want tax filing — Wealthsimple has earned the trust of over 3 million clients from coast to coast. Now, Wealthsimple takes care of over $50 billion in assets, while operating at a sustainable profit. Learn more about how Wealthsimple became a Canadian success story. | | | | | For your radar | |
RUNNING OUT OF MONEY — Federal departments could soon run out of cash if the House of Commons remains at a standstill until it officially breaks for Christmas.
The government is trying to pass C$21.6 billion in new spending, but MPs must vote to approve it before funds can start flowing to departments. Treasury Board President ANITA ANAND said departments are “okay” with funding for the next three to four weeks before small departments start to run out, followed by larger ones. “[The supplementary estimates] do require a vote to pass and there is no way for the government to simply pull the rug out from under the House of Commons’ required voting process and say that they are in place,” she said. — Money at risk: Pay and insurance for federal workers; funding for First Nations; benefits for Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans; money to reimburse provinces for natural disaster damage; defense spending; and funding to support asylum seekers in Quebec. — The Conservatives in the way: For six weeks, the House has not been able to approve virtually any measures while Tories debate a privilege motion, a parliamentary procedure that takes priority over most other orders of the day — including spending approval. — How the Grinch stole Parliament: Before last Christmas break, the Conservatives introduced hundreds of procedural motions in the House to delay government work and spending. That logjam led to MPs voting non-stop for more than 24 hours as they chowed down on fast food and wrote Christmas cards to pass the time. This year’s spending is held up over a privilege debate. The House has ordered Liberals to hand over unredacted (this being key) documents to the RCMP related to a green technology fund conflict-of-interest scandal. — 29,000: That’s how many redacted documents the government released Monday. Government House Leader KARINA GOULD called it an “egregious abuse of power” for MPs to demand documents for a third party. The RCMP has said it wouldn’t be able to use documents obtained via House disclosure because the process could violate Charter rights. — Wanted: Santa’s Little Helpers: Liberals will need either the NDP or Bloc Québécois to vote in support of a motion to end the Tories’ debate. But neither party has so far seemed eager to help. They also want the documents. — Tis the season to be jolly: On Tuesday, DPM CHRYSTIA FREELAND said she was “confident” money would flow to departments before the new year, though she didn’t say how. — Instead, a plea: “We are a minority in Parliament and our ability to govern Canada does depend on other MPs being responsible, being true to their oaths to their constituents and to the country. I’m going to take this opportunity to call on them to be responsible as well.” — Payback is a … In 2011, the Liberals took down STEPHEN HARPER’s Conservative government over a document dispute, which led to a call for a federal election through a “government in contempt of Parliament” motion. Former Liberal Leader MICHAEL IGNATIEFF argued that Harper's Tories obstructed democracy by refusing to follow a House production order. It’s unclear if Poilievre’s team is borrowing from that playbook. On Tuesday, Conservative House Leader ANDREW SCHEER told reporters he’s focused on getting the docs. | | | | Democracy is facing a multi-front attack on nearly every continent. At the Halifax International Security Forum, senior military officers and thought leaders will have to choose whether to stand together against these challenges or go down the path of division. Follow the proceedings here. | | | | | | | Where the leaders are | | — Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will attend national caucus and question period. Later he will meet with the Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister JUDITH SUMINWA TULUKA.— Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will attend the national caucus meeting. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE and Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET have not released public itineraries. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will attend his caucus meeting. Later in the day, he’ll attend QP. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY is attending a caucus meeting then holding a meeting with the Breakfast Club of Canada. | | | DULY NOTED | |
1 p.m. Green MPs ELIZABETH MAY and MIKE MORRICE will join NDP MP ALEXANDRE BOULERICE and Bloc MP MONIQUE PAUZÈ for a West Block press conference on the federal record on emissions reductions. Environmental Defence's ALY HYDER will also join.
| | | | A message from Wealthsimple:   | | | | | Talk of the town | | |  Netflix | THE DIPLOMAT, IRL — ANNA HAGEN offered a lighthearted apology to KIRSTEN HILLMAN and DAVID PRODGER on Tuesday evening at the British High Commission. "For the PTSD, you're welcome," joked Hagen, an associate producer and story editor on Netflix's "The Diplomat," sitting next to Canada's envoy to Washington and the U.K.'s interim top diplomat in Ottawa. This conversation was catnip for binging diehards who made quick work of the show's second season when it started streaming on Halloween. — Art imitates life: The high-octane political thriller that fictionalizes the life of an American ambassador in London, KERI RUSSELL's KATE WYLER, is a smash hit among dips. …even if the show goes larger than life, as Hillman and Prodger reminded curious moderator MERCEDES STEPHENSON from Global News. Diplomats in the room told Playbook they see versions of themselves in the characters and the settings — even if they shake their heads at the sheer volume of sensitive information carelessly traded in unsecured settings. Hillman reviewed the show as a "terrific blend of fact and fiction," though her daily life, she made clear, includes far fewer secret intel exchanges at cocktail parties — and far less (literally) explosive drama. → Canadian angle: Some of the show's scenes were filmed at Wrotham Park, a country house and popular filming location on the outskirts of London that may look familiar to viewers of Downton Abbey, The Crown, and Bridgerton. The building's real-life owners are the Byng family — including former Governor General LORD BYNG, a commander of Canadian troops during the First World War whose name was immortalized among constitutional experts during the King-Byng Affair in 1926. — Why they made it: Hagen, who reminded the room that the third season of "The Diplomat" is currently in production, called the series a "love letter to institutionalists" — the public servants who stick around government amid turbulence and uncertainty. Spotted: NDP National Director ANNE MCGRATH, the Business Council of Canada’s GOLDY HYDER, HEATHER BAKKEN of Pendulum Group, CPAC President and CEO CHRISTA DICKENSON, KAN Strategies' GREG MACEACHERN, Housing Minister SEAN FRASER, Chief Science Adviser MONA NEMER, OpenText's SCOTT BRADLEY, longtime political adviser RENÉE FILIATRAULT, FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE's policy director BRONYWEN JERVIS. | | | | Want to know what's really happening with Congress's make-or-break spending fights? Get daily insider analysis of Hill negotiations, funding deadlines, and breaking developments—free in your inbox with Inside Congress. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— From POLITICO’s MERIDITH MCGRAW and NATALIE ALLISON: “DONALD TRUMP’s staff have privately grumbled about the new house guest at Mar-a-Lago who won’t seem to leave, while the company in question, ELON MUSK, continues to step out ahead of Trump on matters of both policy and personnel.”
— From the Globe’s BOB FIFE: Canada’s security agencies suspect Modi knew of plot to kill Sikh activist. — CHRISTOPHER NARDI and STEPHANIE TAYLOR have the latest on the growing pressure on Employment Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT to resign. — Our colleagues in Baku at COP29 report that while developing countries have publicly doubled down on their call for trillions in climate aid from richer nations, privately some acknowledge that a significantly smaller proposal that European Union governments are discussing might be the best they will get for now. — YVES GIROUX tells Bloomberg’s ERIK HERTZBERG that Justin Trudeau’s government has likely blown past a self-imposed fiscal guardrail. (Story includes PBO warning about the consequences of delaying the release of final spending and revenue numbers.) — From former Ambassador to the U.S. DEREK BURNEY: “Hysteria is an unhelpful response to Trump’s tariff threat.” | | PROZONE | |
For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by SUE ALLAN: Trudeau: Trump won’t divert Canada’s climate fight.
From LUIZA CH. SAVAGE: ‘USMCA alone will not prevent the tariffs.’ In other news for Pro readers: — Trump says Lutnick will oversee USTR, trade and tariffs from Commerce perch. — Don’t count on trees to stop global warming, scientists say. — China Commission calls to end normal trade relations with Beijing. — Biden inks billion-dollar climate deals to foil Trump rollbacks. — Trump, Musk head to site of SpaceX permit problems. | | | | A message from Wealthsimple: Today, more than 3 million Canadians trust Wealthsimple with their money. There’s no secret to their success: a simple, all-in-one platform for managing your money, with powerful financial tools and fair, transparent fees. Their motto, “Keep it simple,” means stripping away the confusing jargon, hidden fees, and clunky product experience that defines traditional financial services. But looking after Canadians’ hard-earned money also takes trust. Wealthsimple takes that trust seriously, holding itself to the highest standards of security and compliance. And by partnering with multiple CDIC members, Wealthsimple can stack deposit coverage for its clients — up to $1 million on eligible deposits. Whether they’re saving for a home, investing for their kids’ future, or navigating life’s big financial milestones, Wealthsimple is proud to support Canadians along every step of their financial journey. Learn more. | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to Ontario Premier DOUG FORD (60!), Conservative MP CHRIS WARKENTIN, Microsoft's KATE PURCHASE, MICHEL BOYER of the Ottawa International Airport Authority, and RYAN CLEARY, a former NDP MP who has since joined the Conservative Party.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it our way. Spotted: Sen. COLIN DEACON, lunching at The Met … TC Energy's CHRIS MCCLUSKEY, reporting his latest run-in with MARTIN SHORT (it's a thing). Noted: In Dawson City: Yukon council refuses to take oath to king. Movers and shakers: MATTHEW HOLMES is gearing up for a new role as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's executive VP international — and chief of public policy. Media mentions: Former executive editor of The Washington Post, SALLY BUZBEE, is joining Reuters as news editor for the United States and Canada … CBC's BOB MCKEOWN will retire from "The Fifth Estate" at the end of the month … CBC Ottawa's FALICE CHIN is headed to Calgary to "revamp" the West of Centre pod. | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | |
4:15 p.m. The Senate committee on banking, commerce and the economy studies Canada's monetary policy framework. Witnesses include uOttawa prof JACQUELINE BEST and Statistics Canada officials.
4:15 p.m. The Senate foreign affairs and international trade committee discusses the government's response to the committee's call for foreign service reform. Top of the witness list: Global Affairs DM DAVID MORRISON. 4:15 p.m. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee studies Bill C-40 on miscarriage of justice reviews. In the first hour, senators will hear from PAM PALMATER and TANYA TALAGA. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association follows. 4:15 p.m. The Senate social affairs, science and technology committee hears from experts, including the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition, on Bill C-252, which prohibits food and beverage marketing directed at children. 4:30 p.m. The House fisheries and oceans committee studies the impact of the reopening of the cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. MPs will hear from the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and Electricity Canada. 4:30 p.m. The House status of women committee meets on gender-based violence and femicides against women, girls and gender-diverse people. Witnesses include ESTHER UHLMAN, VALÉRIE AUGER-VOYER and former Sen. PIERRE-HUGUES BOISVENU. 4:30 p.m. The House international trade committee studies the relationship between Canadian women and trade. On the witness list: National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, Native Women's Association of Canada, Indigenous Tourism Alberta and Startup Canada. 4:30 p.m. The House public accounts committee keeps digging into the auditor general's bombshell report on Sustainable Development Technology Canada. MPs will hear from ANNETTE VERSCHUREN, the former chair of the board of directors of SDTC. 4:30 p.m. The House environment and sustainable development committee receives a briefing from Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner JERRY DEMARCO — and hears from officials representing different federal bodies. 6:45 p.m. The Senate Indigenous peoples committee meets on Bill S-268, which amends rules governing on-reserve lotteries. Senators will hear from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Tsuut'ina Nation. 6:45 p.m. The Senate national finance committee studies the estimates and "the practice of including non-financial matters" in money bills. Top of the witness list are officials from Public Services and Procurement Canada. 6:45 p.m. The Senate transport and communications committee examines local services provided by CBC/Radio-Canada. In the second hour, senators will hear from Francophone advocacy groups. | | | TRIVIA | | |
Tuesday’s answer: JOE JORDAN was the first federal politician in Canadian history to directly succeed his father as elected representative for the same constituency.
We received loads of replies from the Bluesky Strategy Group where Jordan now works. Props to WILL SHELLING, ANGELO BAKOULAS, GARY CORNEIL, LEAH YOUNG, JANICE NICHOLSON, ANTHONY VALENTI, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, ALYSON FAIR, NANCI WAUGH and RAY DEL BIANCO. Wednesday’s question: Name the first Haida woman elected to the B.C. legislature. Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Writing tomorrow's Playbook: MICKEY DJURIC and NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY. Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage. Want to advertise in Ottawa 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 | | | | |
