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| By Zi-Ann Lum and Kyle Duggan | ||||
Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. Let's get into it. In today's edition: → Who said what at a super glitzy U.S-Canada summit in Toronto. → DAVID JACOBSON on the case for real talk about bilateral relations. → ELIZABETH MAY shares her take on the NSICOP foreign-interference report. | ||||
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2024 PREGAME — DONALD TRUMP wasn’t in the room but he may as well have been. BMO and the Eurasia Group hosted its second annual U.S.-Canada Summit at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Toronto, attracting coiffed and well-suited cross-border interlocutors to an exclusive all-day networking fest. POLITICO Canada attended as a media partner. — Capturing the zeitgeist: One notable change since the 2023 jamboree was the confidence of the Americans on stage — Obama strategist DAVID AXELROD, former Trump adviser GARY COHN and the Eurasia Group’s IAN BREMMER — in prognosticating that Trump likely would be president if a vote were held today. Waves of catered breakfast, lunch and mini desserts broke up the day’s panels, which hit on hot bilateral topics: American election speculation (of course), Canadian election speculation, plus the billions on the line that rely on stable and predictable bilateral relations. — Not on the menu: Discussion of social issues. — Recurring fire: The mandated 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement came up in panel after panel as the Next Big Thing to tackle stateside. U.S. Ambassador DAVID COHEN did his best to downplay concerns, insisting governments are calm and cool about it — unlike the chattering classes. — Notable quotables: Ontario Premier DOUG FORD said “American protectionism” is the No. 1 cross-border issue that keeps him up at night. IBM Vice Chair GARY COHN, Trump’s former economic adviser, joked off-the-cuff about Canada's status as a little-brother riding the coattails of a stronger U.S. economy. “You guys can tag along, it’s okay. … Bs get degrees," he quipped. — NATO nugget: Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY called the Middle East the “toughest issue on Earth.” She was defensive during an onstage interview when POLITICO editor-at-large MATTHEW KAMINSKI pressed on Canada’s laggard status with NATO spending. “Have you read our last defense policy update?” asked Joly, adding Canada can be on a path to 2 percent when spending on submarines factor into its formula. “More is coming.” Kaminski put the question to “Biden whisperer” Sen. CHRIS COONS (D-Del.), who joined Joly on stage. His response was diplomatic: “What matters most is the trajectory.” — Remote work reality check: Press secretary MYAH TOMASI hopped onstage to hand a phone to her boss, Treasury Board President ANITA ANAND, during a panel with Canada’s former chief trade negotiator STEVE VERHEUL. A vote on Bill C-40 was underway in the House and it was time for Anand to vote. — Movers and shakers: After stepping off stage, Joly took an elevator to the fourth floor where there were private breakout rooms of all sizes where VIPs could host meetings. She lingered on the private level for a few hours, oscillating between meetings inside private rooms and outside in the quiet hallway. — Covert “Team Canada” meeting: Innovation Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE and International Trade Minister MARY NG weren’t speakers on the agenda, but the pair quietly showed up on the Ritz’s fourth floor to hold secret meetings with Sen. Coons, Ambassador Cohen, Illinois Democratic Gov. JB PRITZKER, Alaska Republican Gov. MIKE DUNLEAVY and invited Yukon Premier RANJ PILLAI to be in the room. — Talking to Americans: Edmonton-raised MARK CARNEY sported an Oilers pin on his lapel as he recycled a stump-like speech — on the rise of authoritarianism and what Canada must do to compete in a growing arms race in industrial policies — a 6.5-minute closing keynote, delivered limply, in a half-filled room keen to get to co*cktail hour. — Know thy audience: Carney, who’s name is now established in the Liberal leadership rumor mill, worked in an appeal to the Americans in the room on a topic that will ring loud in Washington next month. “Canada must pull our full weight in NATO,” he said. “This is no longer an option. It's an imperative.” Spotted in Toronto: Former Cabmin DAVID LAMETTI; Consul General in New York TOM CLARK; KARIM BARDEESY, executive director of The Dais; former premiers BRIAN TOBIN, BRIAN GALLANT and STEPHEN MCNEIL; BRAEDEN CALEY, executive director of Canada 2020; MARK FISHER, president and CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region; foreign affairs deputy minister DAVID MORRISON; JANICE STEIN, founding director of The Munk School; OpenAI global affairs vice president ANNA MAKANJU in a private meeting room with ISED deputy minister SIMON KENNEDY. And: Retired prof and journo CHRIS WADDELL; TOM PITFIELD, CEO of Data Sciences; Wilson Center’s Canada Institute director CHRIS SANDS; Business Council of Alberta’s MIKE HOLDEN and ADAM LEGGE; Public Policy Forum President & CEO ED GREENSPON; Amazon’s JACOB GLICK; BRETT THALMANN, founding partner of Nexus Strategic Consultants; columnist TASHA KHEIRIDDIN; Podcast host DAVID HERLE; GZERO publisher EVAN SOLOMON and the Toronto Star’s TONDA MACCHARLES, catching up outside the plenary hall. | ||||
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“I have no worries about anyone in the House of Commons," Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said on Tuesday. | Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press | ||||
SMOKE AND MIRRORS — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY was Tuesday's newsmaker of the day, advancing debate on the bombshell report that had shocked the nation and prompted accusations of treasonous behavior by unnamed elected officials. The B.C. MP became one of the privileged few to read the uncensored version of the NSICOP report that alleges lawmakers aided foreign governments with their interference plays. May took aim at the political and media hype, telling reporters the “totally understandable media firestorm” that ensued from the redacted version’s release was “overblown.” — Quotable quotes: “I have no worries about anyone in the House of Commons. There is no list of MPs who have shown disloyalty to Canada,” she said. “I am vastly relieved.” “We're talking about smoke and mirrors and political posturing.” — But, but, but: She walked away from it “very disturbed.” One former lawmaker, she said, must be “fully investigated and prosecuted” for proactively sharing privileged information with a foreign operative. That person should “absolutely” be named. — Her Goodreads review: “It’s somewhere between…” she said, trying to come up with a relatable danger gauge. “It's not as bad as a JOHN LE CARRÉ novel, but it's a bit more worrying than MISS MARPLE.” — Her motivation: She and her constituents were “good and freaked out” by the allegations, and she became “terrified that the gong show that is Parliament will result in fewer Canadians voting” because of the way the issue became hyper politicized. — First-mover advantage: NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH might also want to see the report, but May got access first by hounding the government and beelining for a secure room. — Failure of leadership: She said other party leaders did Canadians a disservice by not reading the unredacted report so that Parliament could have a “reasonable, grown-up conversation.” “Let’s keep our eye on the ball,” she said. “What are foreign governments seeking to do in Canada?” — Not fully vindicated: May said a few lawmakers may have benefited from foreign governments interfering in nomination contests — something she said is not new to Canadian politics. But she said the intelligence on those instances falls “far short of what could be considered disloyalty to Canada.” — Changed her mind: May said reading the report changed her vote on a Bloc opposition motion to refer the matter to the public inquiry into foreign interference. — Where the story could go: Around and around. May said it would be unfair to toss the “hot potato” to Justice MARIE-JOSÉE HOGUE, which she said will abdicate parliamentarians of their responsibilities and ultimately leave everyone back where they started with no clear answers. MPs passed the motion yesterday, with the two Green MPs the only to vote against. That buys the government, and Parliament, some months until Hogue reports back. But then the issue will boomerang back a lot closer to the next election. — This, too: May used the opportunity to blast sponsored travel for lawmakers as a form of foreign interference, saying there’s no “free lunch” in politics. — In related reading: From AARON WHERRY of CBC News this morning: "A 'cloud of suspicion' hangs over Parliament — and no one knows what to do about it." | ||||
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— Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND will join the Liberal caucus meeting at 10 a.m. and later attend QP. — Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE and Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET have yet to release their public itineraries. — NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will attend caucus at 9 a.m. Before tucking into QP, he will join MP LAUREL COLLINS to discuss her bill to criminalize coercive control. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY is in Ottawa with plans to attend caucus and participate in parliament. | ||||
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8:45 a.m. Industry Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE will take part in a breakfast dialogue on U.S.-Canada relations at the Conference of Montreal 2024. Bank of Canada Governor TIFF MACKLEM will participate in a panel at the conference later in the afternoon. 11 a.m. Emergency Preparedness Minister HARJIT SAJJAN, Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT, Energy Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON and Indigenous Services Minister PATTY HAJDU will hold a press conference in the National Press Theatre to deliver an update on the 2024 wildfire season. 1 p.m. Liberal MPs PETER FRAGISKATOS and ARIELLE KAYABAGA have been dispatched to their London-area ridings to make an announcement at General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada HQ related to military assistance for Ukraine. 7 p.m. Champagne will be back in Ottawa to headline a Liberal fundraiser at the Med Supper Club with MP SAMEER ZUBERI in Ottawa Center, a riding held by MONA FORTIER. | ||||
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President Barack Obama is greeted by David Jacobson, right, and then Toronto Mayor David Miller, left, after arriving in Toronto in 2010 for the G8 and G20 summits. | ||||
SUMMER OF 2009 — DAVID JACOBSON says it was a “golden age” when he was appointed U.S. ambassador to Canada by BARACK OBAMA. “There was a wind at our back,” Jacobson told Playbook on the sidelines of the BMO-Eurasia Group U.S.-Canada Summit. “I couldn't screw up as hard as I tried.” — New wave: JOE BIDEN’s popularity in Canada isn’t 85 percent, he said, and it’s no secret Canadians aren’t in love with DONALD TRUMP either. Jacobson, now vice chair of summit sponsor BMO Financial Group, set the stakes at the start of the day by observing on stage that U.S.-Canada relations are at an “inflection point.” Playbook caught up with him to ask more about the moment at hand. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity: What were you trying to convey about the “inflection point”? The elections that are coming up in our two countries are going to have an enormous impact on the relationship. It's no secret that if JOE BIDEN is re-elected, things may go a little more smoothly — not perfectly. They never do. If DONALD TRUMP were to be elected, re-elected — however you want to define what he's doing — there'll probably be more tension. The domestic challenges in both countries, visions in both countries, and the geopolitical challenges we face together really make it crucial that we have a very thoughtful and very realistic conversation about the relationship. Is there a theme to the questions or curiosities you hear from your American peers about Canada’s federal election? Everyone I talk to perceives Canada as the friend of the United States — as probably the best friend of the United States. That’s true, not just among the government elites, but among just folks on the street. The problem is that it's such a comfortable relationship people don't worry about it. Someone once described to me — and I thought this was a great analogy — Canada is the “A” student in the class. And the teacher spends their time worrying about the “D” students, “C” students, and maybe the “B minus” students. The “A” students? They’ll be fine. Canada is the “A” student. We just kind of shrug and go, “Well, of course, they’re fine. We don’t need to worry about them.” That’s the biggest challenge. | ||||
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— Top of POLITICO this hour: Trump still owns the GOP. Here’s what else we learned in Tuesday’s primaries. — On "THE BIG STORY" pod this morning: What exactly is "Canadian content" in 2024? — Pollster GREG LYLE of the Innovative Research Group joined TVO’s “The Agenda” to discuss how Canadians are doing. “It’s over for Trudeau,” the pollster tells STEVE PAIKIN during the interview. “If you’re a Liberal insider and you’re Trudeau, the question is: ‘Does he serve the party better by taking a hit, or does he serve the party better by getting out of the way?” — Toronto Star business reporter ANNA PEREIRA says Mayor OLIVIA CHOW has been meeting bank CEOs to discuss how to get Torontonians back in the office. — POLITICO’s GIORGIO LEALI reports from Paris where French President EMMANUEL MACRON says he will not resign “whatever the result” of the upcoming French parliamentary elections. Also from our POLITICO colleagues in Paris: Is Macron too toxic to win? | ||||
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In other news for Pro readers: — Canada is ‘pretty high’ on Trump's agenda, former adviser warns. — Dengue surges in Europe driven by climate change. — How an emboldened right could spell trouble for the European Central Bank. — Soaring insurance rates an ‘existential challenge’ to affordable housing. — U.S. Department of Energy reshuffles carbon management officials. | ||||
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Spotted: MP TIM LOUIS with an SO31 entirely in French: “J’étudie le français depuis trois ans.” The JEAN AUGUSTINE Centre for Young Women's Empowerment, on the hunt for an executive director. MP TALEEB NOORMOHAMED paying tribute in the House to Sen. MOBINA JAFFER, “a champion for women's and children's rights, for human rights, a proud African, a proud Ismaili Muslim, a proud mother, daughter, grandmother, wife and proud Canadian.” Jaffer, who was appointed to the Senate in 2001, will be 75 in August. Movers and shakers: J.D.M. STEWART announced via X that after 30 years of teaching, he is moving on “to expand my horizon & embrace new opportunities.” Montrealer MATHIEU GRONDIN is Ottawa’s new “nightlife commissioner.” | ||||
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→ Keep track of Senate committees here. 11:30 a.m. Public Safety Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC and Justice Minister ARIF VIRANI will be at the Senate veterans affairs committee to take questions on the government’s foreign interference legislation. 4:15 p.m. The Senate legal and Constitutional affairs committee will study Bill S-17, Senate government legislation that proposes a grab bag of changes to 58 Acts and three regulations to correct grammar, spelling, “erroneous cross-references, punctuation, “archaic wording” and discrepancies between English and French versions of laws. 4:15 p.m. The Senate social affairs committee will study Bill C-58. 4:30 p.m. The House government operations and estimates committee will study federal regulatory modernization initiatives. 4:30 p.m. The House foreign affairs committee will continue its study of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. 4:30 p.m. The House industry committee will discuss Bill C-352. 4:30 p.m. The House Indigenous and northern affairs committee will consider Bill C-61. 6 p.m. Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX will be a first-panel witness at the Senate national finance committee’s study on Supplementary Estimates (A). The second panel will take Bill C-59 through clause-by-clause consideration. 6:45 p.m. The Senate social affairs committee will go clause by clause through Bill C-50. Behind closed doors: The House liaison committee will elect a vice-chair and talk “committee business”; the House national defense committee will go over drafting instructions for their report on rising domestic operational deployments and challenges; the Senate ethics committee will talk about “future business.” | ||||
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Props to DARREN MAJOR, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, LAURA PAYTON, MICAH SIENNA, ANGELA LEE, GEOFFREY CHAMBERS, MARC LEBLANC, JACK ALARIE, CAMERON RYAN, AMY SCANLON BOUGHNER, SEAN MOORE, SARA MAY, CHELSEA BERRY, ALYSON FAIR, ADAM C SMITH, JIM CAMPBELL, JANE DOULL, CHRIS RANDS, DAVE EPP, BILL PRISTANSKI, KATE MCKENNA. And also to WAYNE EASTER, JOHN MATHESON, ETHAN BUSS, PATRICK DION, MARCEL MARCOTTE, NANCI WAUGH, JOHANNA MIZGALA, GORDON RANDALL, ALEX STEINHOUSE, MATTHEW CONWAY, LISA KIRBIE, JOHN ECKER, CHRISTINA NORRIS, DANIEL PROUSSALIDIS, RALPH LEVENSTEIN, ALEX WELLSTEAD, CHRIS MCCLUSKEY, JOHN MERRIMAN, ALESSIA PASSAFIUME, JOANNA PLATER, DIANNE SHERRIN, JENN KEAY, CHRISTOPHER LAWTON, LUCAS BORCHENKO, GERRY THORNE and JOHN DILLON. Wednesday’s question: On what occasion in June 1947 was “Missouri Waltz” performed by the Peace Tower carillon? Answers to ottawaplaybook@politico.com Writing Playbook tomorrow: NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY. Playbook wouldn’t happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage. Want to grab the attention of movers and shakers on Parliament Hill? Want your brand in front of a key audience of Ottawa influencers? Playbook can help. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | ||||
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