This is the daily Politics Briefing newsletter, written by Ian Bailey. It is available exclusively to our digital subscribers. If you’re reading this on the web, subscribers can sign up for the Politics newsletter and more than 20 others on our newsletter signup page. Have any feedback? Let us know what you think.
Canada’s Supreme Court has upheld the federal government’s right to impose minimum carbon-pricing standards on the provinces.
Thursday’s long-awaited ruling offers support to a key piece of the federal Liberal government’s climate-change plan amid speculation that a federal election looms.
In a 6-3 decision, the court stressed Ottawa’s authority under Canada’s 1867 Constitution to legislate on matters of national concern – and the provinces’ inability to fight global warming effectively on their own.
And the majority ruling, written by Chief Justice Richard Wagner, describes climate change as a “threat of the highest order to the country and indeed the world.”
Globe and Mail justice reporter Sean Fine reports on the ruling here.
The federal Liberal government seized on the ruling as a validation of their climate-change policies.
“This decision is a win for the millions of Canadians who believe we must build a prosperous economy that fights climate change – many of whom participated in the courts’ hearings,” Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinsonsaid in a statement.
In a reference to a vote by Conservative party delegates at a policy convention last week, Mr. Wilkinson said, “There should be no question as to whether climate change is real, or whether climate action is the right thing to do for the planet, for jobs and as human beings – only Conservative politicians are disputing that.”
At the convention, 54 per cent of attending delegates voted against a resolution that would have included the line “climate change is real. The Conservative Party is willing to act” in the Tories’ official policy document.
Responding to the ruling, Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole said that a Conservative government would still repeal the carbon tax as promised.
“We will protect the environment and fight the reality of climate change, but we won’t so it by making the poorest pay more,” Mr. O’Toole said in a statement.
“The Supreme Court recognized that policies related to emission reduction touch on federal and provincial jurisdiction. Conservatives prefer a collaborative approach to tackling climate change to make progress while also helping maintain a strong economy.”
Mr. O’Toole repeated his commitment to release a “clear and comprehensive” climate plan. He has said the party will do so soon, before an expected federal election.
In Toronto, federal Green Party Leader Annamie Paul said she was encouraged that the Supreme Court has validated climate change as real, requiring a co-ordinated response across Canada, with a “critical role” for the federal government.
“We now know that we have a partner in the Supreme Court, that they recognize the seriousness, the urgency of the matter and the need for co-ordination and collaboration across levels of government,” Ms. Paul told a news conference.
Columnist’s Comment, Campbell Clark:“When the Supreme Court declares that the federal government’s carbon-tax legislation is not only constitutional but also a necessary measure to address a threat to humanity, it is obviously a victory for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals. But to really judge the short-term political implications, keep your eyes on the small-c conservative premiers who took the feds to court: Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, and Ontario’s Doug Ford. It is their tone that matters: will they ease off, or go back to fighting carbon taxes tooth and nail? The federal Conservative Leader, Erin O’Toole, doesn’t want climate change to be a central issue in the next election campaign. But will influential conservative premiers be sending message that it is time to compromise, or time to fight?”
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Protecting Canadian businesses/intellectual property: The federal government is stepping up efforts to protect Canadian intellectual property and strategically sensitive businesses from falling into the hands of foreign governments and their proxies.Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagnehas unveiled revised guidelines laying out new areas of concern for Ottawa as it scrutinizes foreign takeovers and investments in key sectors of the economy as well as funding of high-end research.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is concerned by new trade controls on COVID-19 vaccines, but said his government will ensure that reported restrictions on exports from India and the European Union won’t affect Canada’s vaccine supply.
Story continues below advertisement
Military Investigation Reviewed: Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has asked the acting chief of the defence staff to review an investigation into allegations of misconduct in the Royal Canadian Navy. The request follows a report published Tuesday by Global News stating an internal probe into sexual-misconduct allegations against senior naval officers had wrapped up before all witnesses or complainants were spoken to and that investigators concluded no wrongdoing took place.
Ontario Budget: Ontario will spend billions more fighting the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and is projecting deficits into the last half of this decade, pushing up debt levels to unprecedented heights. The province’s second pandemic budget forecasts a $33.1-billion deficit in 2021-22, falling from the record $38.5-billion worth of red ink caused largely by expenditures to combat COVID-19 in 2020-2021.
Anti-Asian Racism: From The National Post: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he believes a “confluence of events” that includes the COVID-19 pandemic and a more aggressive China on the world stage are contributing to rising rates of anti-Asian racism in Canada
PRIME MINISTER’S DAY
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds private meetings as well as discussions with David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group. The Prime Minister also hosts a virtual meeting with Jewish community leaders.
LEADERS’ DAYS
Story continues below advertisement
Green party Leader Annamie Paul holds a news conference in Toronto to react to the Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the federal carbon tax.
Robyn Urback (The Globe and Mail) on why the Conservatives need to act as if they intend to form government: “But the next election, whenever it will be, will likely occur in a climate distinct from the ones of the past. We will ostensibly be much closer to pandemic recovery, meaning there will be something of a general aura of optimism – even euphoria – in the air. Indeed, by then, whatever stumbles the federal government experienced in procuring vaccines early relative to peer nations might well be forgotten – or at least obscured by the joy of being able to eat in a restaurant without the gentle hum of anxiety in the background – leaving Mr. O’Toole with the challenge of getting Canadians to pay attention to a promise of change when things, compared to the recent past, will seem pretty good.”
We recently asked Politics-Briefing newsletter readers if they have any questions for the bureau. Thank you to reader Marie Cocking of Vancouver, who sent in our first question.
Marie writes: As I understand the Canadian parliamentary system, budgetary allocation decisions must be made in Parliament. How long, then, can a government go without introducing a budget and still be said to be governing with the confidence of the House?
We asked Bill Curry, who covers finance, to answer.
Bill Curry: “Thanks for the question. The last federal budget was tabled on March 19, 2019. Researchers at the Library of Parliament recently went through all federal budget dates since Confederation and found that this is the longest gap between budgets in Canadian history. The fact that this happened during a period in which the Liberals only hold a minority of seats in the House of Commons shows that a budget is not technically necessary for a government to maintain the confidence of the House. While a budget puts all of the government’s spending plans into a single package, what MPs actually vote on to approve spending are called supply bills. Each department produces spending requests – which are called estimates – for Parliament to review and approve. After MPs have had a few weeks to review the estimates – which can include calling public servants and ministers to explain this spending – the government introduces a supply bill that is based on the estimates. (For anyone who wants more information on this, the process is explained here. The House has continued to approve supply bills throughout this period without a budget, which is why the government maintains the confidence of the House and the operation of government continues. As we recently wrote , however, the lack of a budget means MPs have to approve piecemeal spending plans without the benefit of an overarching budget plan.”
READERS’ POLITICAL NEWSLETTER QUESTIONS
Send along your political questions and we will look at getting answers to run in this newsletter. It’s not possible to answer each one personally. Questions and answers will be edited for length and clarity.
Got a news tip that you’d like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@globeandmail.com. Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
