2 days ago
The PM finds his fixer
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→ Ottawa Inc. lands a top executive.
→ Trump's man in Ottawa dodges and deflects.
→ 'Canada's BERNIE SANDERS' rules out a comeback.
THE FIRST THING
THE CAT CAME BACK — Welcome back to the fishbowl, MICHAEL SABIA.
Prime Minister MARK CARNEY announced Sabia, a repeat former senior bureaucrat and longtime corporate executive, would start on July 7 as clerk of the Privy Council — a key adviser who oversees the sprawling federal bureaucracy.
Sabia replaces JOHN HANNAFORD, whose expertise through the transition between JUSTIN TRUDEAU and Carney has been 'invaluable,' the PM said in the statement. Hannaford will be named a privy councilor for his decades of public service.
— Saying the right things: Sabia's name was floating around office pools. His remarks at this week's Globe's Intersect 2025 conference weren't exactly a tell — but they would've landed well in the Prime Minister's Office.
'We have an ambition deficit,' the soon-to-be-former CEO of Hydro-Québec said of Canada.
The former Finance DM sang from Carney's time-to-build songbook, emphasizing the importance of hard-earned Indigenous buy-in for business deals.
'There is no substitute when working on these transactions for human presence,' he said. 'Human presence leads to trust. And we don't have a lot of that right now.'
→ Sounds familiar: We sense a theme emerging in the PM's inner circle of advisers, where a track record of speaking Carney's language in these uncertain times is a major asset.
Recall the words of MARC-ANDRÉ BLANCHARD (currently incoming PMO chief of staff) at the Public Policy Forum's April gala.
'There is no shortcut to trust,' he told a Toronto crowd. 'There is only the steady, honest, often uncelebrated, work of listening, of engaging with people who disagree with us, not thinking we know better, of standing in someone else's shoes, of doing the right thing and the right thing is often not theoretical perfection, but a good old Canadian compromise, even when it's hard.'
— Crisitunity: When Sabia led the U of T's Munk School in the pandemic's earliest days, he wrote this of the way out of the crisis:
'Governments will need to lead on this. Leaving it to chance will only make the reignition process longer, more difficult and more haphazard. What's more, we would forfeit a precious opportunity to shape our future economy. Remember Rahm Emanuel's famous: 'You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.''
— From the archives: PAUL WELLS on the enterprising Mr. Sabia (2023)
Trade war
CAN'T CONFIRM, WON'T DENY — Nothing like the whiff of breaking news to inject steak-like sizzle into a rubber-chicken lunch.
U.S. Ambassador PETE HOEKSTRA was taking the stage Wednesday at the Canadian Club of Ottawa when CBC — and then CTV — reported 'progress' and document-shuffling in talks toward a new Canada-U.S. economic and security agreement.
Trump's envoy took his hand-held microphone into the crowd on the hunt for anyone with fresh intel. Château Laurier lunchers hunched over their phones to find out more.
Hoekstra would not confirm any details, though he teased the possibility of a 'breaking news' moment.
— More mayhem: MERCEDES STEPHENSON of Global News opened her 'fireside chat' with Hoekstra by pressing for an update. Cue more media lampooning.
'Shh. Some people said those were secret,' Hoekstra said, in reference to reports POTUS and the PM are in direct communication. 'I don't know how those would be secret. I'd hate to see if it was wide open and transparent.'
— For the record: When asked for an update, a spokesperson for Canada-U.S. Trade Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC told Playbook: 'I cannot confirm anything on this matter.'
— A little salty: Hoekstra did say the U.S. is 'thrilled' with Canada's plans to bump up defense spending: 'We very much appreciate that you're stepping up to the commitment that was made in 2014 by all NATO countries.'
TALK OF THE TOWN
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK — CHARLIE ANGUS may be growing a one-man grassroots movement, but he insists he's not interested in leading the New Democratic Party.
Still though, he has thoughts on how he'd fix the federal orange team.
— Out: TikToks and Zoom.
— In: Pub nights and bean dinners.
'What we need is to make a party again that people feel like they belong to,' Angus said Wednesday on Parliament Hill.
— Don't look at him: 'I will not be running for the leadership,' the former MP told reporters.
— He's focused on bigger issues: Like raging against DONALD TRUMP and his policies.
The former NDP MP has been mobilizing progressive Canadians, bringing them out to political rallies on his 'Elbows Up/Resistance Tour.'
'This is a unique moment for Canada because what's leading the resistance are ordinary people,' Angus said.
— His declaration: Angus says the 'gangster president' is not just a political threat, but a danger to democracy. He points to Trump's relationship with VLADIMIR PUTIN and the deployment of the National Guard in California.
'This is now a clear and present danger on our border,' he said.
— Gaining ground: The rallies are drawing progressives by the hundreds, according to Angus' own account and estimates in local newspapers.
— There's no denying: That's more than former NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH managed during the federal campaign.
Angus called the NDP's loss under Singh an 'unmitigated disaster.' The two have not spoken since Singh lost his seat and the NDP caucus was reduced to seven.
Online comments about his rallies urge Angus to return to the political scene: 'Please run for PM,' reads one. Others view the longtime lawmaker as 'Canada's BERNIE SANDERS' and 'Canadian hero.'
— Seriously, Angus insists: He's moved on. 'I need to focus on Canada, and I will continue to focus full out.'
ON THE HILL
— Only the Bloc Québécois voted in favor of its non-binding motion calling on the government to compensate Quebecers for federal carbon rebates. The Bloc also failed to amend the motion to include British Columbia, which also administers its own carbon pricing scheme.
THE ROOMS THAT MATTER
— Sikh leaders will hold a press conference in West Block at 11 a.m. to discuss the PM's decision to invite Indian Prime Minister NARENDRA MODI to the G7 Summit.
— Ontario Energy Minister STEPHEN LECCE will be at a Canadian Club Toronto lunch event where he'll share his 'plan to power the strongest economy in the G7.'
— Emergency Management Minister ELEANOR OLSZEWSKI, Energy Minister TIM HODGSON, Indigenous Services Minister MANDY GULL-MASTY and Environment Minister JULIE DABRUSIN will hold a briefing on the 2025 wildfire season at 12:30 p.m. in the National Press Theatre.
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MORNING MUST-CLICKS
— EMILY HAWS and BOB FIFE report that the Senate is seeking to hold hearings on Carney's bills to cut taxes, fast-track major projects.
— Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon has rejected the Bloc Québécois' proposal to split Bill C-5 in two parts, the National Post reports.
— On 'The Decibel' pod, SARA MOJTEHEDZADEH and host MENAKA RAMAN-WILMS discuss the 140-page Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act. The CBC's EVAN DYER also takes a closer look at that bill.
— The PBO reports that an eligible first-time homebuyer would save an average of $26,832 in sales tax on a newly built home under Ottawa's latest housing proposal, Craig Lord of The Canadian Press reports.
— Former Finance Minister BILL MORNEAU told the Bloomberg Invest conference in Hong Kong that Canada should bolster ties with China to hedge against uncertainty from Trump's approach to bilateral relations.
— On 'The Global Exchange' pod, Sen. PETER BOEHM and Sen. PETER HARDER — both former sherpas — explain why pursuing a consensus document at next week's G7 Summit would result in 'a race to the bottom.'
— Former PM JEAN CHRÉTIEN is on the latest edition of the 'WONK' pod.
— And MARK BOURRIE, who 'ruined most of 2024' writing a book on PIERRE POILIEVRE, tells readers of The Walrus why Canada has not seen the last of the former MP from Carleton.
PROZONE
For Pro subscribers, here's our latest policy newsletter.
In other news for Pro readers:
— UN treaty to protect marine species moves closer to ratification.
— Cannabis users more likely to enter psychiatric intensive care, study finds.
— EPA reorg puts Great Lakes research at risk, scientists say.
— 'Scorched earth': Former diplomat on Trump's climate attacks.
— Trump's tariffs can be enforced for now, appeals court rules.
PLAYBOOKERS
Birthdays: HBD to former MPs DAVE MACKENZIE and CATHY MCLEOD.
SOPHIE NORMAND of Innovative Medicines Canada also celebrates, as does ANDREW MACDOUGALL of Trafalgar Strategy.
Noted: The SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD statue on the front lawn of the Ontario legislature has been uncovered.
Agriculture Minister HEATH MACDONALD is heading to Saskatchewan for his first official visit.
Spotted: Alberta's senior rep in Ottawa, JAMES CARPENTER, flashing a thumbs up with U.S. Ambo PETE HOEKSTRA.
— QP scenes: Conservative MP SCOTT AITCHISON, chatting up PM Carney before question period got underway … Carney, continuing a recent trend of sticking his hand in his jacket front pocket as he responded to opposition questions — a mannerism he shares in common with KING CHARLES III.
— At Rideau Cottage for the prime minister's garden party with the Parliamentary Press Gallery: MARK CARNEY, MARJORIE MICHEL, JILL MCKNIGHT, JOËL LIGHTBOUND, JULIE DABRUSIN, MANINDER SIDHU, MÉLANIE JOLY, WAYNE LONG, RECHIE VALDEZ, ELEANOR OLSZEWSKI, JOANNE THOMPSON, STEVEN MACKINNON, GARY ANANDASANGAREE, STEPHEN FUHR, MANDY GULL-MASTY, BUCKLEY BELANGER, STEVEN GUILBEAULT, HEATH MACDONALD, PATTY HAJDU, MARC-ANDRÉ BLANCHARD and MARCO MENDICINO.
— At the Pearson Centre gala honoring former Cabmin IRWIN COTLER: ANITA ANAND, JULIE DABRUSIN, MARIE-FRANCE LALONDE, RANDEEP SARAI, HELENA JACZEK, ALI EHSASSI, YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET, ALEXIS BRUNELLE-DUCEPPE, ROB OLIPHANT, DARYL FRIDHANDLER, RODGER CUZNER, LESLIE CHURCH, KARINA GOULD, YASIR NAQVI, ANDREW CARDOZO, TALEEB NOORMOHAMED, ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER, GREG FERGUS, KODY BLOIS, RACHEL BENDAYAN, JUDY SGRO, ANITA VANDENBELD, MARILOU MCPHEDRAN, FARAH MOHAMED, LISA HEPFNER, JAMIL JIVANI, VINCE GASPARRO, GIOVANNA MINGARELLI, JAKE SAWATZKY, JUDY WHITE, DUNCAN WILSON, DAWN ARNOLD, DAVID LAMETTI, IDDO MOED, YULIYA KOVALIV, ROSALIE ABELLA and HARRY LAFORME.
Rookie Conservative MP ROMAN BABER, lost in West Block, walking into the Liberal caucus entrance amid an ongoing meeting.
AI Minister EVAN SOLOMON, hanging out with France President EMMANUEL MACRON in the Canada pavilion at the VivaTech conference in Paris.
Movers and shakers: JOANNA DAFOE, a senior climate strategist and former chief to then-Environment Minister STEVEN GUILBEAULT, is leaving Parliament Hill … ANDREW BERNARDO is now principal adviser on defense and security for PAA Advisory | Conseils.
Lobby watch: The Canadian Bankers Association posted a dozen May meetings with senior public servants. Among the bankers' targets: Fentanyl Czar KEVIN BROSSEAU, Canadian ambo in Washington KIRSTEN HILLMAN, New York Consul General TOM CLARK, and Superintendent of Financial Institutions PETER ROUTLEDGE.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way.
TRIVIA
Wednesday's answer: ERNESTO ZEDILLO, president of Mexico at the time, delivered a speech in the House of Commons on June 11, 1996.
Props to JOHN ECKER, JOHN PEPPER, YAROSLAV BARAN, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JEFFREY VALOIS, KELSEY MACDONALD, RON CREARY, HUGUES THEORET, ELIZABETH BURN, PETER STUDER, DAVE PENNER, GORDON RANDALL, MARCEL MARCOTTE, MARJORY LEBRETON, MALCOLM MCKAY, JOHN ALHO and STEVEN HOGUE.
Today's question: After warning voters not to expect miracles — 'I am neither God, nor the czar, nor a hero' — who was elected on this date in history?
Send your answer to canadaplaybook@
Writing tomorrow's Playbook: MIKE BLANCHFIELD and MICKEY DJURIC.
Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
