| | | |  | | By Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Mickey Djuric and Mike Blanchfield | Presented by Canada's federal workers | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Ottawa Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. → ‘Captain Canada’ wins Ontario — again. → MARC MILLER and ANITA ANAND share updates from Washington. → JAGMEET SINGH has some thoughts on the G7. |  | THE FIRST THING | | | 
Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford takes a victory lap in Toronto on Thursday night. | Chris Young, The Canadian Press | FORD, MORE YEARS — DOUG FORD romped to a third-consecutive landslide Thursday evening — the first party leader to manage the feat in Ontario since LESLIE FROST's trio of majority wins in the 1950s. “DONALD TRUMP thinks he can break us,” Ford said during his victory speech. “He is underestimating the resilience of the Canadian people, the Canadian spirit. Make no mistake, Canada won’t start a fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’re ready to win one.” — The results: Ford racked up 80 seats and 43 percent of the vote. MARIT STILES' NDP maintained Official Opposition, securing 27 seats on the strength of 18.5 percent. BONNIE CROMBIE's Liberals managed 30 percent of the vote but only 14 seats. MIKE SCHREINER's Greens slotted into fourth place with two seats. Voter turnout was 45 percent. More unofficial results here. Crombie lost her own seat but vowed to stay on as leader. Cue the internal whispers about whether or not the party agrees. — The 905: The pivotal outer suburbs that surround Toronto can make or break an election. They tend to be the biggest battlegrounds where momentum can swing the overall result. Ford's opposition hoped a "Greenbelt" land swap scandal would punish the premier. Instead, he nearly swept the region for the third time in a row. — The scraps: Liberals and New Democrats duked it out for Official Opposition on the campaign trail. But Crombie's popular vote advantage fell far short of Stiles' seat count. New Democrats took Toronto's downtown core and urban seats in most of the province's major cities. Liberals carried several suburban seats in Toronto and Ottawa. Former Liberal MP TED HSU held Kingston. — Official party status: Parties only gain recognized status in the legislature, which grants them privileges and funding, if they win 10 percent of the province's seats. The current threshold is 12 seats. → Partial comeback: Liberals fell short in 2018 and 2022. Crombie's concession speech repeatedly emphasized the boost in seat count and return to official party status. Even if she can't join her colleagues in the chamber. | | | | A message from Canada's federal workers: Remote work has revolutionized the way we work in Canada. It boosts productivity, enhances work-life balance, saves taxpayer dollars, and reduces traffic and pollution. Remote work is how we'll build the public service of tomorrow—one that uses cutting-edge technology, maintains a human touch, and delivers better services to families and businesses. It creates a diverse workforce from communities across Canada while putting people first. Visit remoteworks.ca. | | | | | PLAYBOOK'S ONE-ON-ONE | |
TEAM PLAYER — Immigration Minister MARC MILLER is a self-described competitive guy. So much so, he was late for an interview Thursday because he got a bit lost on a morning run around Washington — and a race up the Lincoln Memorial steps against an unwitting fellow runner.
Out for a 5K run, he ended up logging a few more. “I can find my way out of any complex situation, but put me in a circle and I could literally lose myself,” Miller told Playbook. — Agenda items: Miller was one of several Canadian lawmakers in Washington this week. His itinerary included a meeting with “border czar” TOM HOMAN, Michigan Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER and a handful of others in Congress. On Thursday morning, President DONALD TRUMP pledged to enforce his planned 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico as of March 4 — after both were put on pause earlier this month. The hemming and hawing left Miller questioning the value of Canada's sustained lobbying effort. “No matter who you meet at the highest level, what is quite clear is that the decision ultimately is made by the president — and it can change,” Miller said. “It can be frustrating to feel you had a productive meeting, but then if that doesn’t give the outcome that you expect, then you feel like it was all for not.” — Giving it 110 percent: “I’ve been abusing hockey metaphors, but we’re going to leave it all on the ice. I’m for Canadians.” — Hockey you say: Since he brought it up, Playbook inquired about the elephant in the room: WAYNE GRETZKY’s relationship with Trump. “His wine is lousy, but I hear the bourbon is OK,” Miller said. “I was always a GUY LAFLEUR and MARIO LEMIEUX fan.” — About that ‘South Park’ quip: When Trump first started on about the 51st state, Miller likened the scene in D.C. to “an episode of ‘South Park.’” Turns out Miller doesn’t even watch the show. “I like ‘The Simpsons’ better.” | | For your radar | |
GIDDY UP — Transport Minister ANITA ANAND just wrapped a jaunt to Washington, where she met Transportation Secretary SEAN DUFFY. They didn’t exchange gifts, as officials often do, but they are now texting buddies — which she says is even better.
— Vibe check: “It was friendly. I was the first person he called upon being sworn in. I am the first person he met face to face in terms of the bilateral relationships that the United States has with its partners and allies,” she told Playbook earlier this week. — Flipping pancakes: They talked about getting Duffy up to Canada. “We discussed possibly meeting at the Calgary Stampede,” Anand said. Maybe the thought of the pair hosting a pancake breakfast motivated her decision to reverse course and run for reelection. — Seriously: With MARK CARNEY widely expected to win the Liberal leadership race and the party rising in the polls, Anand’s political fortunes are in play. She’ll join Carney tonight at a meet and greet. Her Oakville riding will be split into Oakville East and Oakville West in the next federal election. 338Canada shows both are a toss-up between Liberal and Conservative. | | | | Donald Trump's unprecedented effort to reshape the federal government is consuming Washington. To track this seismic shift, we're relaunching one of our signature newsletters. Sign up to get West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government in your inbox. | | | | | | | Talk of the town | |
SIT THIS ONE OUT — JAGMEET SINGH and his New Democratic Party are leading a campaign to keep DONALD TRUMP out of Canada that includes banning him from the upcoming G7 leaders meeting in Alberta set for mid-June.
“It should be obvious he can’t come,” Singh told Playbook. “He's a convicted criminal who has threatened our democracy and our sovereignty.” — Thank U, Next: The NDP leader said he’d be more comfortable with another U.S. politician subbing in for Trump. “We do need to have communication and diplomacy with folks in the states, with our allies,” Singh said. — Just not ELON MUSK: “If it's someone that shares the idea of us becoming the 51st state, then no,” they shouldn’t be allowed at the G7, Singh said. “Canada is not a real country,” Musk declared this week on X in response to an NDP-sponsored petition to strip him of his Canadian citizenship. — Lawls: Musk has since deleted the post. — For the record: The idea of a ban, both unlikely and highly unusual, has been dismissed by officials from the Canadian government. The PM dismissed the comments on Thursday, noting that it’s too easy for politicians to say anything they want. “There's a lot of that going around these days,” he said. “We won't play that game.” — Speaking of petition: NDP MP CHARLIE ANGUS is sponsoring another parliamentary petition to keep Trump out of Canada. It was spearheaded by Alberta resident GERARD ALDRIDGE. “I don’t think he deserves to be in our country, whether he’s a president or not,” Aldridge told JIM BRONSKILL from The Canadian Press. More than 44,000 Canadians agree, so far. — Open a new chapter: The G7 Leaders’ Summit in June should be focused on how Canada and its democratic allies in Europe and Asia can resist the U.S. president, Singh said. With Trump “cozying up” to “an actual dictator like VLADIMIR PUTIN” and calling Canada's ally, Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, a dictator “shows you who he really is,” Singh said. “We’re at a point now where we need to resist the things that he’s saying and doing.” — Fighting words: Singh’s not done cooking. He called Trump a “fascist” who must be stopped. Asked about his word choice, Singh replied: “I don't want him to be normalized. The things that he’s saying and doing are clearly very bad, and we need to just be plain and direct about it.” The White House did not respond to our request for comment. | | | | A message from Canada's federal workers:  
| | | | | WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN | |
Up: Washington photo ops.
Down: Current thinking on Britain. And Gretzky. And Tesla. | | PAPER TRAIL | |
THREE IS A TREND — Two-thirds of Canadians told Leger Marketing in November that too many immigrants are coming into the country — a 19-point increase in a year.
When Leger asked 2,252 respondents about their views on immigration in Canada, only 23 percent said "the right number" live here, and only 3 percent said "too few." These were the topline findings of a regularly commissioned tracking survey that has revealed dimming enthusiasm for immigration in three consecutive waves of polling. — Top anxieties: For years, tension has burbled over a tangible connection between a burst of post-pandemic migration and the cost of housing, and access to social services. Ottawa responded last year by capping temporary migration and reducing annual targets for new permanent residents. Immigration Minister MARC MILLER insisted in an interview this week that his three-year plan to reduce migration wasn't a response to the politics of the day. "People expect us to have a bit of a longer-term vision than just adjusting here and there when we feel it suits our political purposes, which is the idea of the levels plan," he told Playbook. By November, the polls hadn't yet turned. Forty-six percent of respondents agreed that "accepting immigrants from many different cultures makes Canadian culture stronger," which outpaced the 28 percent who disagreed. Still, 49 percent agreed immigration is "causing Canada to change in ways that I don't like" — ahead of the 26 percent who disagreed. Two-thirds said immigration has "placed too much pressure on public services," and 63 percent wanted the government to focus on helping unemployed Canadians instead of seeking out skilled immigrant labor. — Personal impacts: Leger quizzed respondents on the effect of immigration on their neighborhoods, cities or towns, provinces or territories, and Canada more broadly. At every level, respondents' negativity increased markedly between November 2023 and November 2024. For instance, 29 percent described a negative effect at the provincial level in 2023, trailing the 46 percent with a positive view. By last June, positive and negative sentiment were tied at 38 percent. In November, the numbers had reversed: 33 percent had a positive view, compared with 42 percent negative. — Immigration as identity: In the November 2023 wave, 61 percent agreed with the statement: "I am proud of Canada's reputation as an open and welcoming society." By June, that majority view had fallen to 56 percent. Three months ago it was 54 percent. | | Where the leaders are | |
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the National Capital Region with no public events on his agenda.
— Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE headlines an evening party fundraiser at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Toronto. — Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET and NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH have not released public itineraries. — Green Co-Leader ELIZABETH MAY will travel by ferry to Salt Spring Island and will attend the opening of the Salt Spring Island Film Festival. Co-Leader JONATHAN PEDNEAULT will travel from Victoria to Montreal. | | | | A message from Canada's federal workers: Remote work has revolutionized how we work in Canada. It boosts productivity, enhances work-life balance, saves the government money, and reduces traffic and pollution. It also creates a more inclusive public service, bringing in talent from communities across the country.
Remote work is how we'll build the public service of tomorrow—one that uses cutting-edge technology, maintains a human touch, and delivers better services to families and businesses. It's a smarter, more efficient way to serve Canadians while saving taxpayer dollars.
Despite its clear benefits, the government's push for rigid office mandates ignores the proven advantages of remote work. It's time to embrace the future and focus on policies that deliver real results for Canadians. Learn more at remoteworks.ca. | | | | | DULY NOTED | |
— Liberal leadership candidate MARK CARNEY is headlining an evening campaign meet-and-greet alongside Transport Minister ANITA ANAND in Oakville, Ontario.
— Democratic Institutions Minister RUBY SAHOTA headlines an evening party fundraiser in Brampton, Ontario. | | MEDIA ROOM | |
— A Globe investigation finds the Trump administration using misleading fentanyl figures to justify tariffs against Canada.
— TONDA MACCHARLES of the Star reports: The tariff threat tightrope drew tauter Thursday, while Britain, an erstwhile ally, threw Canada under the bus in its own rush to avoid Trump’s tariffs. — “The Trump regime’s first month was designed to disempower all of us. The shock and awe of permanent provocation was intended to make citizens and leaders alike forget that we too make history, we too have agency,” MICHAEL IGNATIEFF writes in Prospect. “But we mustn’t forget.” — SUSAN B. GLASSER’s column in The New Yorker: “Why aren’t we in the streets?” — From CLAIRE FAHY of the NYT: Feeling ‘slapped across the face By Trump,’ Canadians say they’ll skip U.S. trips. — Northern Affairs Minister GARY ANANDASANGAREE spoke to APTN’s Nation to Nation about the Trudeau government’s decision to apologize for trauma caused to generations of Inuit people in Arctic Bay because of forced relocations. | | PLAYBOOKERS | |
Birthdays: HBD to HADRIEN TRUDEAU, Liberal MP FRANCESCO SORBARA, Alberta NDP MLA ROD LOYOLA, CARSON JEREMA of the National Post, Sen. DAVID WELLS and retired Sen. LARRY CAMPBELL.
Saturday: Former New Brunswick Premier BLAINE HIGGS, WILLIAM WOLFE-WYLIE and JESSICA BRANDON-JEPP. Sunday: Former Ontario Cabmin ROD PHILLIPS (60!), Sens. ROSE-MAY POIRIER and YUEN PAU WOO and journalist NOJOUD AL MALLEES. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send deets. Noted: Health Minister MARK HOLLAND inked Canada’s first-ever national pharmacare deal with Manitoba on Thursday. Ottawa is handing more than C$219 million over four years for free contraceptives and diabetes medications for anyone with a Manitoba health card. Movers and shakers: VICTORIA BELBIN is seeking the federal Liberal nod in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador … CATHIE OUNSTED secured the Conservative nomination in Saanich-Gulf Islands, British Columbia. CTV’s HEATHER CARSON was elected treasurer of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Spotted: The Conservative Party of Canada, launching a TV and digital attack ad, accusing MARK CARNEY of giving “Canadian jobs to America.” Media mentions: AMANDA LANG is the new host of “WONK,” the Public Policy Forum’s podcast. | | PROZONE | |
For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by MIKE BLANCHFIELD: Behind the scenes of a high-stakes diplomatic blitz.
In other Pro headlines: — Trump predicts quick trade deal with UK. — Trump and GOP leaders discuss using tariffs to pay for agenda. — Cruz ‘hopeful’ Trump’s Canada, Mexico tariffs won’t take effect. — Trump says Canada, Mexico tariffs will go into effect March 4. — Project 2025 seeps into DOE policy. | | TRIVIA | |
Thursday’s answer: It was MAUREEN MCTEER who described 24 Sussex as an old, crumbling building with asbestos.
Props to BLAIR ARMITAGE, STAV NITKA, MARCEL MARCOTTE, PATRICK DION, JOANNA PLATER, MALCOLM MCKAY, BARB WRIGHT, JENN KEAY, RAY DEL BIANCO, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, DARRYL DAMUDE and SHAUGHN MCARTHUR. Friday’s question: Former Prime Minister PIERRE TRUDEAU helped induct two musicians into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards in 1979 and again in 1981. Who were they? Answer to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Think you have a harder question? Send it our way! | | | | 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 | | | |
