Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Air Canada’s chief executive is leaving the company after setting off a political and public relations storm with an English-only video about the death of two pilots in a tragic collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Nicolas Van Praet and Eric Atkins report that Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of September, according to a news release today from the airline.
Rousseau will continue to lead the company and serve on the board of directors until that time, the carrier said.
The CEO sparked outrage and indignation in Quebec and Ottawa over his inability or unwillingness to speak French despite committing years ago to learn the language.
Air Canada is headquartered in Montreal and subject to Canada’s Official Languages Act, meaning it has to communicate in both languages on important matters.
Last week, he drew heavy criticism for a video uploaded to the airline’s website in which he expressed his “deepest sorrow for everyone affected” by the LaGuardia Airport accident and provided a factual update of the situation. He said only two words in French in the nearly four-minute video: “Bonjour” at the start and “merci” at the end.
Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Rousseau’s video showed “a lack of empathy and a lack of sensitivity,” given that some of the victims and their families are French-speaking. Prime Minister Mark Carney said it lacked judgment and compassion. Air Canada’s board of directors came under heavy pressure to address what was quickly ballooning into a major crisis.
In other news, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is leading a trade-diversification mission to China this week, expanding on a recent trip by Carney to Beijing, aimed at resetting strained bilateral ties.
Robert Fife reports that Champagne will meet senior Chinese finance and banking officials during a visit from April 1 to 4. China is expected to reciprocate with an investment delegation to Canada later this year.
Brian Tobin, vice-chair of BMO Financial Group and a former Newfoundland premier, said Ottawa’s move to build on Carney’s China initiative will be welcomed by the Canadian business community and could open the door to significant Chinese investment in Canada.
“Over the last five years, the Canada-China relationship has been characterized by a continued growth of exports to Canada and flattening of exports back to China,” he said.
Over that period, China exported roughly $89-billion annually to Canada compared with only $30-billion of Canadian exports to China.
“So, the time to get back in business is now,” Tobin said. “China is an important trading partner for all countries.”
The Champagne visit is part of Carney’s effort to improve trade relations with China, India, Europe and other countries amid continuing U.S. trade conflict.
Also today, the federal government and Ontario announced they will spend $8.8-billion to reduce the province’s municipal real estate development charges by up to 50 per cent, offering another boost to homebuilders at a time when new home sales across the country have plunged.
Rachelle Younglai and Laura Stone report that the governments said the taxpayer funds will help cut up to $200,000 in taxes and fees for a new home in Ontario, marking the latest incentive designed to revive the homebuilding market.
Developers have long complained about the steady increase in development charges, which are fees municipalities require developers to pay to help cover the cost of providing infrastructure such as roads and sewage.
The development charges, along with higher borrowing and construction costs, have made it difficult for homebuilders to launch projects.
“This will lower upfront costs and create certainty for builders to build affordable homes you can buy and rent,” Carney said at a news conference to announce the funding.
Air Canada announced on Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of September.Mario Beauregard/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
New NDP Leader Avi Lewis faces a complex political dynamic rebuilding party: Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said they’re looking forward to working with new NDP Leader Avi Lewis, though provincial NDP leaders appeared split on their desire to do the same.
As the federal gun buyback deadline looms, questions are raised over how it’ll be enforced: The end of March will bring yet another milestone in Ottawa’s decades-long campaign to take control of firearms like the ones used in mass shootings over the past four decades. But, unlike past gun-control measures, this one lacks widespread support from a crucial partner – local police.
Canadian banks, pension funds have provided billions in financing to ICE contractors, advocacy group says: The environmental advocacy group Stand.earth analyzed financial data from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the private financial data firm LSEG.
Former Ontario NDP leader running for federal Liberals says Carney unites across political spectrum: Doly Begum says she spoke with Carney before deciding to run for the federal Liberals, crediting him with an ability to unite people from across the political spectrum.
High-speed rail project connecting Toronto and Quebec City sparks backlash over cost, land use: The federal government’s multibillion-dollar plan to build a high-speed rail connecting Toronto to Quebec City is facing pushback from some residents in Eastern Ontario who warn it will damage the environment and affect their way of life.
PEI to become first province to start colorectal cancer screening at age 45: The move is meant to counter rising rates of the disease among younger patients.
On our radar
Commons on a break: The House of Commons is on a two-week break, with MPs returning on April 13. The Senate is also on a break through April 14.
Prime Minister’s Day: In Toronto, Mark Carney met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and held a housing-related news conference with Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Carney was also scheduled to attend a Liberal fundraising event in Markham hosted by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Markham-Unionville MP Michael Ma and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, who represents Markham-Thornhill.
Party Leaders: In Toronto, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May campaigned with Andrew Massey, the party’s candidate in the University-Rosedale by-election. In Winnipeg, NDP Leader Avi Lewis held a news conference. No schedule released for other party members.
Ministers on the road: In the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Affairs Minister for Saudi Arabia, and discussed ways to develop relations between the two countries as well as Iranian behaviour in the region.
In Edmonton, Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, on behalf of Anandasangaree, announced $650,413 in federal support to the City of Edmonton through the Crime Prevention Action Fund.
In the Montreal suburb of Mirabel, Government Transformation Minister Joël Lightbound and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced new contracts in support of Canadian Armed Forces operations.
In the Northwest Territories town of Inuvik, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, on behalf of Northern Affairs Minister Rebecca Chartrand, announced funding to support water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in Inuvik.
In Montreal, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne outlined government plans to deal with economic crime, including extortion concerns and provided an update on the National Anti-Fraud Strategy. Quebec Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher also attended.
Holt in Europe: New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is leading a trade mission to Belgium and France this week with a delegation that includes CEOs from Port Saint John and the Port of Belledune. The goal is to strengthen relationships, further trade opportunities and advance major New Brunswick port projects.
Avi Lewis Team: During his news conference in Winnipeg today, NDP Leader Avi Lewis announced several members of his transition team. Savhanna Wilson, who was Lewis’s campaign manager, will serve as his chief of staff. Peyton Veitch, Lewis’s campaign policy director and formerly ministerial affairs director to Manitoba’s Justice Minister, Matt Wiebe, will be the leader’s principal secretary. And Donya Ziaee, who was communications director on the leadership campaign, will be his director of communications.
Quotes of the Day
“Oh Christ. I almost drank your water. Did you have a sip of that?” - Ontario Premier Doug Ford at a news conference in Toronto with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Ford was speaking to Carney after moving to take a sip of water from a glass on the lectern.
“I didn’t touch it.” - Carney
“OK. I’ll take a sip. This isn’t going to turn me into a Liberal is it?” - Ford
“I would be delighted to get advice from Jagmeet. I think he remains, as I found knocking doors in the last election, and as I found criss-crossing the country over the last six months, there is so much love for Jagmeet out there in our base, in our party and beyond. And he’s got some kind of magic I would love a part of.” - NDP Leader Avi Lewis at a news conference in Winnipeg today.
Question period
In 2010, Stephen Harper made a cameo appearance in the CityTV, CBC TV series Murdoch Mysteries, which is set between the late 19th century and early 20th century. Harper, the Conservative prime minister between 2006 and 2015, played a Toronto police desk sergeant who does not recognize Wilfred Laurier, Canada’s prime minister between 1896 and 1911, when Laurier shows up at the desk at a Toronto police station. Who played Laurier?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Mark Carney’s new defence industrial strategy could meet the same fate as Trudeau’s ‘third option’
While Mr. Carney has demonstrated considerably more interest in defence than Mr. Trudeau, it will take much more than preliminary bilateral agreements for real diversification to become a reality.
— Roy Rempel was responsible for defence policy matters in the Office of the Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015
In the Iran oil shock, energy superpower Canada must seize the day
This is the moment when Prime Minister Mark Carney can lead to turn a crisis into a strategic response. Given Canada’s vast but still underdeveloped hydrocarbon resources, it is well placed to help allies manage some of the fallout from this conflict.
— Perrin Beatty, former CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and a former minister of defence and foreign affairs, and Fen Osler Hampson, professor of international affairs and Chancellor’s Professor at Carleton University
Mark Carney’s strategy for the public service becomes clearer
That the federal bureaucracy is too slow, scared and scrutinized to respond effectively to a world gone mad seems beyond debate.
— Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
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.
The answer to today’s question: Brian Paul, who has had roles in such series as the current Memories of a Killer and Sheriff Country, as well as such past series as Anne with an E and Designated Survivor.