That was cathartic

Politico

17-02-2025

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Let's get into it.
→ About that hockey game …
→ PIERRE POILIEVRE delivered a message to DONALD TRUMP — and also shared a campaign blueprint.
→ MARK CARNEY revealed the big-name Conservative who tried to recruit him.
TALK OF THE TOWN
BARE KNUCKLES — It was almost too on the nose when Canadians and Americans dropped the gloves three times in the first nine seconds of a high-octane, best-on-best hockey showdown in one of the most electric arenas on the continent.
Thousands of Montrealers had already ignored an announcer's plea to respect 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' passionately sung by the Royal Canadian Air Force Band's DAVID GRENON. The pent-up emotion was palpable on TV and in bars across Canada.
— So much subtext: None of the players talks politics with reporters. Sure, this hockey rivalry has always been fierce. But whatever motivated the players, that testosterone-fueled brawling captured the emotion of this deeply uncertain moment in Canada-U.S. relations.
— Spotted: Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU was in the stands. So was Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, fresh off an afternoon of speechifying in downtown Ottawa.
Even the MARK CARNEY watch party at an Ottawa South sports bar was buzzing about the tilts. (Carney didn't boo the American anthem, though he joined most of the Liberals in the room in belting out 'O Canada' in both official languages.)
— Oh yeah, the result: 3-1 for the U.S., in case you missed it.
— Save the date: The Canadians and Americans could renew hostilities in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday in Boston (where the arena will be named after a Canadian bank until at least 2045). Canada will need to beat Finland today.
Expect plenty of chatter if they get that far: Will the American crowd boo the Canadian anthem? Will the players keep their gloves on? Will DONALD TRUMP stir it up on Truth Social?
DRIVING THE DAY
NON-PIVOT PIVOT — Word was Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE had a pivot in store for a highly anticipated rally on a wintry Flag Day in Ottawa. Surely, DONALD TRUMP's tariff threats and dismissive words about Canada's viability as a nation would force a rhetorical reboot: Out with 'ax the tax,' in with 'Canada First.'
In the end, the crowd got plenty of both.
— Carbon crusade: Poilievre soundly rejected any notion that he's abandoning his years-long fight against the federal carbon levy. Instead, he doubled down on it.
'Before the tariff threats, we were talking about a carbon tax election. But now with these threats, I have to concede I've had to reflect on whether it is a top of mind issue,' Poilievre said. 'After much reflection, I have concluded that the carbon tax will be an even bigger issue in the coming election than we thought.'
— Message for Trump: Poilievre came out hard against Trump's wayward musings about Canada joining the American union. He cautioned that an 'unprovoked attack on Canada's economy' would 'turn a loyal friend into a resentful neighbor.'
— Money line: Poilievre echoed former Prime Minister STEPHEN HARPER's recent comments — at an invite-only Ottawa launch of his most recent book — about the potentially devastating cost of saving Canada.
→ Poilievre's version: 'We will bear any burden and pay any price to protect the sovereignty and independence of our country.'
→ Harper's version: 'If I was still prime minister, I would be prepared to impoverish the country and not be annexed, if that was the option we're facing … Now, because I do think that if Trump were determined, he could really do wide structural and economic damage, but I wouldn't accept that … I would accept any level of damage to preserve the independence of the country.'
More from POLITICO: MICKEY DJURIC was in the room for the speech.
→ Carney counter: Poilievre's prepared remarks name-checked the Liberal leadership contender 23 times. Mentions of fellow contender CHRYSTIA FREELAND: zero.
Where the leaders are
— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in Skidegate, British Columbia, to participate in a community celebration of the Haida Title Lands Agreement. Trudeau will be joined by Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister GARY ANANDASANGAREE and Immigration Minister MARC MILLER.
— Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET, NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH and Green Leader ELIZABETH MAY have not released their itineraries.
For your radar
PLATFORM PREVIEW — The Liberal knock against the Conservative leader is that he favors slogans over substance. MARK CARNEY constantly makes that claim.
During Poilievre's rally, he laid out what sounded an awful lot like a campaign platform — and even a governing plan for his first few months in office.
His 65-minute speech covered eight themes: Canada-U.S. relations, economics, natural resources, internal trade, borders, fentanyl, national defense and citizenship.
Many of his pledges offered no timelines. But some did.
— First moves: We already know Poilievre's first bill will likely eliminate at least the consumer-facing carbon levy (and perhaps more). He told podcaster JORDAN PETERSON that he'd also move quickly to build more homes and pursue criminal justice reform.
Saturday offered more early-days hints.
→ Natural resources: Within 60 days, Conservatives plan to repeal the controversial federal law — passed as Bill C-69 — that overhauled resource project approval processes. They'd also 'immediately green light all federal permits for the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario.'
→ Interprovincial trade: Poilievre would convene a First Ministers' Meeting within 30 days to eliminate 'carve-outs and exemptions' in the Canada Free Trade agreement — and offer a funding 'bonus' to provinces that play ball on internal trade.
LEADERSHIP RACE
CARNEY CLAIMS — MARK CARNEY gave his first national interview to CBC's ROSEMARY BARTON. The back-and-forth aired Sunday morning.
We heard five key takeaways:
— Harper calling: Last week, DAN LETT wrote in a Winnipeg Free Press column that 'various parties' had reached out to Carney over the years. The campaign did not respond to Playbook's requests for specifics, but the former central banker quietly revealed a stunning revelation to Barton: STEPHEN HARPER asked him to be finance minister in 2012.
At the time, JIM FLAHERTY was still finance minister — and held the job until he died in 2014. Carney was still heading the Bank of Canada. He told Barton pursuing politics would have been 'inappropriate' at the time.
DIMITRI SOUDAS, Harper's former director of communications, poured cold water on the claim. 'Mark Carney is not telling the whole story, and Prime Minister Harper certainly does not support Mr. Carney in any way,' he said in a statement to CBC News.
— Part-time job: Carney downplayed his work as an economic adviser to the Liberal Party, a gig first announced last September at a summer caucus retreat.
He joked to Barton that until he launched a leadership bid, he balanced three full-time jobs (U.N. envoy, Brookfield Asset Management chair, Bloomberg chair): 'How much time do you think I spent advising the government?'
The strong implication: not very much.
— Election timing: Conservative MP MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER recently stoked a juicy rumor: If Carney were to win the leadership, JUSTIN TRUDEAU would immediately call an election before the new Liberal leader replaced him as PM.
On Sunday, Carney repeatedly assured Barton that a leadership victory would hand him the keys to the PMO, saying: 'If I am selected as the leader and therefore prime minister…"
— New pipelines: Liberals are increasingly bullish on increasing pipeline capacity. Energy Minister JONATHAN WILKINSON recently opened the door to conversations about a west-east pipeline amid a more complex Canada-U.S. relationship.
Carney supports the 'concept' of west-east pipeline. 'We as a nation need to build some new pipelines for conventional energy,' he told Barton, pledging to speed up approvals.
— Internal trade: Knocking down interprovincial trade barriers is in vogue these days for most political leaders. Carney promised to 'quickly convene' premiers to sort out that file.
LIGHTS OUT — Leadership contender CHRYSTIA FREELAND sat for an interview with MSNBC's ALI VELSHI, a Canadian journo who described the former deputy PM as an 'old friend of mine.'
Freeland borrowed from Ontario Premier DOUG FORD's Playbook as she laid out her anti-tariff plan for an American audience.
'If you didn't have Canadian electricity, the lights in your building right now might not be shining,' she told Velshi. 'And Trump Tower, you know, that famous escalator, it might not be operating because you get electricity from Canada for New York.'
— Policy alert: Freeland is announcing a housing platform this morning. Her plans include the elimination of the GST on new homes worth up to C$1.5 million for first-time buyers, which she claims will save them up to C$75,000.
In the provinces
ONTARIO LEADERS' DEBATE — Tonight during the supper hour on a debate stage in Toronto, it will be three against one as DOUG FORD squares off with NDP Leader MARIT STILES, Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE and the Green Party's MIKE SCHREINER.
The Toronto Star's MARTIN REGG COHN points out that Ford was thrown off his game during Friday's Northern Ontario debate. 'Not because Ford flopped, but because he was forced off his canned campaign script,' he writes of the premier who insists he needs a new mandate to fight Trump tariffs.
'Friday's debate changed the channel by challenging the agenda Ford has been foisting on voters since he triggered this absurdly early election.'
COUNTDOWNS
Your reminder of some key events edging ever closer.
— Sitting days until summer: 49 max.
— Calendar days until Statistics Canada's next inflation data: 1 … The PM's deadline to call a by-election in Halifax, N.S.: 13 … The House's scheduled return: 35.
LEADERSHIP WATCH — Dates to watch in the race to replace JUSTIN TRUDEAU.
— Calendar days until the candidate entry fee final payment deadline: 0 … Advance voting opens: 9 … New leader announced: 20.
Which must-watch countdowns are missing from this list? Tell us!
TRUMPQUAKE
PEACE TALKS — Senior Trump administration officials are heading to Saudi Arabia to start peace talks with Russia in a bid to end its war with Ukraine, POLITICO's ROBBIE GRAMER and PAUL MCLEARY reported Sunday.
POLITICO was first to report that Ukrainians were invited — which came as a surprise to Kyiv.
News of the talks has rattled Ukrainian officials, with President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY saying, 'I do not know what it is,' in reference to the meetings. Ukraine has made it clear it will not accept a settlement imposed on it.
— Today in Paris: French President EMMANUEL MACRON is convening an emergency summit of European leaders to discuss Ukraine and security in Europe.
Ahead of the meeting, U.K. Prime Minister KEIR STARMER said the U.K. is 'ready and willing' to put British peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine.
— Later this week: G20 foreign ministers will meet in Johannesburg. U.S. Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO has announced he is taking a pass — accusing Pretoria of having an 'anti-American' agenda.
MEDIA ROOM
— DAVID SKOK joined 'The Herle Burly' pod to discuss the growing influence of big tech and politics. 'For years I have felt that our business community has not spoken up enough,' the editor and founder of The Logic tells DAVID HERLE. 'I am a champion of hearing it more.' The conversation picks up on reporting by CATHERINE MCINTYRE, LAURA OSMAN and MURAD HEMMADI: Inside Canadian tech's not-so-quiet shift to the right.
— The New Yorker's ERIC LACH writes on conservative prosecutor DANIELLE SASSOON. 'She offered her resignation, and put her career on the line, rather than do the dirty work Washington directed her to do.'
— PETER S. GOODMAN in the NYT explains how Trump's one-for-one tariff plan threatens the global economy.
— 'No way this will happen,' Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY says of the suggestion Russia should be reinstated in the G7.
— From POLITICO's JAMIE DETTMER in Munich: 'Is this the end of NATO?'
— MURRAY BREWSTER of CBC News points out that in the wake of 51st state threats, there has been no direct public condemnation by allied leaders. 'It seems — in the face of Trump — we find ourselves alone.'
PLAYBOOKERS
Birthdays: HBD to MP CHRIS BITTLE. JEFFREY SIMPSON, former national affairs columnist at the Globe for 32 years, also celebrates today.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way.
Movers and shakers: DANIÈLE HENKEL is the latest Friday-afternoon Senate pick — announced by the PM to fill a vacancy for Quebec.
Noted: SABRINA NANJI shared a BINGO card for tonight's Ontario leaders' debate.
SPOTTED: The PM at the closing of the Invictus Games in Vancouver.
SARAH TAYLOR, Canada's ambassador to Russia, leaving flowers on the grave of ALEXEI NAVALNY, one year after his death.
Podcaster and Rubicon partner DAVID HERLE and his former boss, PAUL MARTIN.
Former Conservative MP ERIN O'TOOLE, campaigning in Uxbridge on behalf of Ontario Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY.
At the Munich Security Conference: Canadian Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY at the FRAUEN100 event co-hosted at the Charles Hotel by Goals House, the Aspen Institute Germany and Gates Foundation … ALI TEJPAR, chief of staff to the foreign and defense policy adviser to JUSTIN TRUDEAU, at the POLITICO Pub … Sen. PETER BOEHM, 'waving the flag,' meeting with Belarusian democratic leader SVIATLANA TSIHANOUSKAYA, and getting a reality check on the European view of Canada-U.S. relations.
PROZONE
For Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter by SUE ALLAN and MICKEY DJURIC: Trump factor forces Conservative rethink.
In other news for Pro readers:
— Trump suggests he might impose auto tariffs on April 2.
— White House officially launches national energy council.
— Vance's week of waging war on EU tech law.
— Sefcovic to visit Washington as trade war looms.
— Trump Media says it lost more than $400M last year.
TRIVIA
Friday's answer: The maple leaf on the Canadian flag boasts 11 points.
Props to JOHN ECKER, ROSS LECLAIR, MARCEL MARCOTTE, MARY JANE ALLAN, BOB GORDON, ROSEMARY CRANE, MELISSA FELD, LAURA JARVIS, GORDON RANDALL, RAY DEL BIANCO, JOANNA PLATER, PAUL PARK, BILL GARVIN, TRACY SALMON, AMY SCANLON BOUGHNER, MARK RAMZY, ALYSON FAIR, MALCOLM MCKAY, JENN KEAY, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, ETHEL FORESTER, ABHAY KATOCH and BARBARA WRIGHT.
Today's question: On this date in history, who did GARRY KASPAROV defeat in the final game of a six-game match?
Send your answer to [e-mail]
Writing tomorrow's Playbook: NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY and SUE ALLAN.
Playbook wouldn't happen without: POLITICO Canada editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and Luiza Ch. Savage.