Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Former federal cabinet minister Bill Blair has been appointed as Canada’s new high commissioner to the United Kingdom, setting the stage for his exit from elected politics. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office announced the appointment today. The former Toronto police chief, who has represented Scarborough Southwest in the House of Commons, succeeds Ralph Goodale. Blair’s appointment takes effect this spring.
In other news, members of Parliament agreed today to fast-track the government’s GST credit legislation through the House of Commons by Wednesday.
Bill Curry reports that Melissa Lantsman, one of the Conservatives’ two deputy leaders, received unanimous consent for her motion to quickly approve the bill.
Speaking with reporters on Parliament Hill, Lantsman said her party is willing to see the bill move through the Commons at “lightning speed,” while expressing concern over the policy’s $12-billion price tag.
The legislation, Bill C-19, is set for its first day of debate today. It would enact what the government calls the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
The policy would bring in a five-year enhancement to the quarterly GST/HST credit, which is an income-based benefit paid to about 12 million Canadians. There are no restrictions on how the money is spent.
Lantsman said her party will “acquiesce” to allow the legislation to pass but also criticized the policy for providing minimal support for individuals at a high fiscal cost.
She pointed out that the credit was not part of the government’s November budget.
Also today, Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques released an independent cost estimate of the benefit that said its six-year price tag is estimated at $12.4-billion.
That is slightly higher than the $11.7-billion estimate provided by the government last week.
Carney announced the measure on Jan. 26, the first day Members of Parliament returned to Ottawa after the holiday recess.
Elsewhere, the federal Conservative’s three-day convention in Calgary is being followed by nearly a week’s worth of events to mark 20 years since Stephen Harper first led the Conservatives to electoral victory.
Stephanie Levitz reports that the proceedings, beginning today, will serve up an immediate contrast between Mr. Harper and current leader Pierre Poilievre.
Much was made in Calgary of the fact Poilievre received 87.4-per-cent support in his leadership review – more than Harper secured when he had to face the membership after losing the 2004 election.
Harper went on to win three governments after that, raising the question of whether Poilievre can pull off a win of his own.
Bill Blair in Ottawa in November, 2024.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Quebec maintains tuition hike for out-of-province students at English-language programs: The government says the higher fees are meant to prevent Quebec taxpayers from subsidizing a large part of the education of Canadian students who are not from the province.
Universities Canada sends delegation to India to strengthen countries’ economic ties: The five-day trip this week involves more than 20 university presidents to meet with counterparts in Indian higher education and the Indian government.
Departing envoy to U.S. says it’s unclear whether USMCA review will conclude this year: “It’s very difficult to predict,” says Kirsten Hillman, now ending a six-year term as Canadian ambassador to the United States. “This is the first time that we’re using this review process. And so there’s no history to go on, to know exactly how that’s going to run.”
Darlington nuclear refurbishment done early and under budget: Today’s announcement regarding the fourth and final refurbished reactor at Darlington concludes a multibillion-dollar, decade-long overhaul intended to extend the Ontario station’s life for another three decades.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney has no public events today. However, his office announced that he spoke with Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, about principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as Greenland.
Party Leaders: No schedules released for party leaders.
GG in Norway: Governor-General Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser, are in Norway from today through Wednesday, taking part in an Arctic Frontiers Conference in the city of Tromsø, and meeting with their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja, as well as His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, in Oslo. They will also attend a dinner given by Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide.
New Ministerial Lead for Jasper: Carney has announced that Eleanor Olszewski, the emergency-management minister, will co-ordinate the federal government’s recovery and rebuilding efforts for Jasper, which was hit by major wildfires in 2024.
Quote of the Day
“I’d like to believe it but maybe I’ve been here too long to know folks say things but what matters to Canadians is the action they are going to take.” – Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, during a news conference on Parliament Hill today, commenting on Conservative support to fast-track the government’s GST credit legislation.
Question period
Stephen Harper’s prime ministerial portrait will be unveiled on Parliament Hill this week. Such portraits is a tradition for Canadian prime ministers. The portrait for Joe Clark, prime minister in 1979 and 1980, featured an artistic decision that was a first among such works of art. Why?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
A warmer Poilievre, but frozen in time
Now all that’s over, perhaps Mr. Poilievre can move on to the big picture for the future. But this convention was an opportunity to relaunch for the broader public and he was still talking about how the party won 2.5 million more votes in the last election and won mock elections among high-school kids.
— Campbell Clark, Chief Political Writer
Mark Carney delivered hard truths at Davos. Canadians deserve to hear the same
Having to deal with a fact-free President comes at a time when national economies are changing at a rapid rate, when Ottawa is dealing with a difficult fiscal situation, when the economically transformative power of AI is fast making its presence felt, and when national unity is back on the country’s political agenda. Together, they constitute a powerful brew that needs to be addressed.
— Donald J. Savoie is the author of Speaking Truth to Canadians About Their Public Service.
In fighting organized crime, Canada is losing its way
As we have seen with the second presidency of Donald Trump, we are now living in a world where both democracy and the rule of law are under threat, and where organized criminality – whether by design or neglect – is being given the tools to allow it to flourish. We must do better up here in Canada.
— Neil Boyd is chair of the board of directors of the Vancouver-based, UN-affiliated International Centre for Criminal Law Reform.
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
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The answer to today’s question: Clark’s portrait, created by Alberta artist Patrick Douglas Cox, was the first to show a Prime Minister addressing the House of Commons.