Send tips | Subscribe here | Follow Politico Canada

WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. I'm your host, Nick Taylor-Vaisey. It's Thursday, which means MPs are eyeing their boarding passes and soon bound for far-flung ridings across Canada. But before they leave, they have some wheeling and dealing to do — especially if they have a private member's bill they want to see the light of day.

WHO NEEDS COMMITTEES? — The House is still seriously lacking in committees — an oft-repeated lament from this corner — but on Wednesday the chamber found a handy bypass.

Tory MP ROB MOORE rose after question period with a motion on Bill C-4, the Liberal government’s third attempt to ban the practice of trying to coerce vulnerable queer people into rejecting their sexual orientation. Moore asked the House to pass the bill at all stages and move it to the Senate. And so it did.

— House party: Liberal MP ROB OLIPHANT was first to cross the aisle, leaning in for an extended hug with Conservative MP MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER. Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI wasn't far behind, along with Tourism Minister RANDY BOISSONNAULT and Labor Minister SEAMUS O'REGAN.

They each toured most of the Conservative front bench. Rempel Garner literally jumped for joy. Tory ERIC DUNCAN, a row back, scored some handshakes, too.

"I want to sincerely thank the leaders and allies in all parties who made this possible," said Boissonnault, who once served as the PM's special adviser on LGBTQ2 issues.

"Some days are exceptionally good days," Tory MP MELISSA LANTSMAN tweeted.

— The making of the moment: Earlier in the day, the story was Conservative Leader ERIN O'TOOLE would allow a free vote on the bill, just as he did on similar legislation in the spring. He emerged from a caucus meeting with word that his party would try to fast-track it.

During the celebration in the chamber, Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU crossed the floor to acknowledge the moment with O'Toole (a brief exchange best compared to a handshake between coaches after an intense football game).

Credit the quiet work of House leaders for C-4's procedural express ticket to the Red Chamber.

Did someone forward this free newsletter your way? Click here for signup options.

DAYS WITH NO DOCS: 37 — More than a month has passed since Cabinet was sworn in, and the Prime Minister's Office yet to mention the powerful Cabinet committee membership or new mandate letters for ministers. Playbook is still counting the days.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Today, seven senators from five provinces will launch the African Canadian Senate Group, chaired by Sen. ROSEMARY MOODIE.

— ACSG members: WANDA THOMAS BERNARD, BERNADETTE CLEMENT, AMINA GERBA, MOBINA JAFFER, MARIE-FRANÇOISE MÉGIE and MOHAMED RAVALIA.

— Their mission, says Moodie: “For too long, our voices, contributions, and priorities have been ignored by our democratic institutions. As senators of African descent, we are committed to reversing this trend by working together. I am fortunate to be able to partner with such fantastic colleagues. We look forward to engaging with Canadians from coast to coast to coast and fighting for their priorities in Ottawa.”

— Top priorities: The ACSG will start by "advocating for a more inclusive committee process in the Senate and collaborating with community members to make progress on issues related to justice, health and economic fairness."

— Semantics: The ACSG isn't a Senate caucus, more like a working group. Its members still sit in the Independent Senators Group and Progressive Senate Group, and they'll keep contributing to the Parliamentary Black Caucus and the Canadian Congress of Black Parliamentarians.

Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in "private meetings." He'll also speak with Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY.

Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND will attend QP. And probably, Playbook is willing to guess, she'll be working on her upcoming fiscal update.

DIY FEDERAL LAW — Every so often, a backbench MP gets to build a law from the ground up, drafting and championing and debating and voting for it until the governor general gives it royal assent.

Wednesday's Playbook was in the room for the lottery that determined the order in which MPs can present their bills or motions to the House. In an unpredictable minority situation, a tiny fraction have any chance of passing. Before the last election, six private members' bills became law.

Playbook asked MATT JENEROUX and LEN WEBBER, two of those lucky few, for the scoop on how they pulled it off.

— It's personal: The origin story of a typical private member's bill can be intensely personal. Jeneroux's Bill C-220 expanded bereavement leave.

After he graduated from university, Jeneroux was competing for a job that required him to work on a temporary basis. His position was precarious when his grandmother fell ill, and he faced a choice. Keep working or spend time with her.

"I made the decision to stay at work, competitive to the end, to try to get one of those jobs — which I got," he tells Playbook. "But I regret to this day that I didn't get the opportunity to see my grandma in her final moments."

Webber's C-210 made it so every taxpayer has the chance tick a box on their annual tax form to agree to organ and tissue donation, information the feds pass along to the provinces. Webber's legislative mission started when his late wife, Heather, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had been a frequent blood donor, but was told she'd be unable to donate her organs.

"She cried. We both cried. It was a really emotional time," he explained to Playbook. He committed to doing what he could to maximize the number of people who signed up to donate their organs.

He discovered that Ottawa's role would have to be muted, because registries are run by provinces. (Tory MP ZIAD ABOULTAIF tried to create one with his own bill. It didn't get very far.) But most Canadians fill out tax forms — and one additional box would ruffle nobody's feathers.

— How to draft a bill: When a minister wants to craft a bill, they benefit from an array of fancy Department of Justice lawyers who are fluent in legislative legalese. PMBs are a different beast. MPs and their staff get the ball rolling on the initial text. Library of Parliament staff help whip the drafts into workable shape.

Jeneroux and Webber had their bills ready to go before the lottery in 2019. They entered the draw with serious anticipation.

— Winning the lotto: Everybody pays attention to the draw at the start of every session of Parliament. Jeneroux drew a promising number. Webber won it outright. Ever the Calgarian, he let out his inner cowboy — "Yahoo!" — when his name came up.

— Where to find cooperation: Most casual observers see very little true collegiality in the House of Commons. The most effective cooperation happens way behind the scenes, and Webber and Jeneroux got a taste of it when their PMBs started to gain traction.

— A long slog: Webber's law was years in the making. He first introduced an identical bill in 2016. Back then, he knew his odds of success would increase with the backing of his colleagues on the Commons health committee. He persuaded HESA to study organ and tissue donation to familiarize them with the material.

Meanwhile, he got to work lobbying everybody in sight. He'd grab a few minutes in the chamber, in a hallway, or over a beer at a pub. By the time the bill had passed second reading, Webber knew the health committee would be on board.

Jeneroux secured the support of the parliamentary secretary for labor, and then the NDP critic in the same portfolio. The other parties angled to tweak the bill's language, and ultimately changed his bill's original intent — to secure compassionate care leave for caregivers — into more time for bereavement. "It becomes a bit of a comms exercise and also an exercise in endurance," he says.

The first version of Webber's bill eventually passed the House but died on the order paper before the 2019 election. A few months later, he won the PMB lottery. C-210 received royal assent on June 21. (Jeneroux's bill followed eight days later.)

"This was definitely an all-party effort," Webber tells Playbook. "I give each of them a lot of credit, every party, for wanting this done."

— Tradesies: House debate comes at a premium in the Commons. Private member's bills are allotted only so much time each week, and there are a lot of them. MPs often do each other solids, giving their spots to colleagues whose bills have better prospects.

Sometimes, MPs who score well in the lottery don't have a bill to their name — and others smell opportunity. Jeneroux drew a disappointing 245 this week. Webber drew 266, but tells Playbook he hopes to sell another MP on a ready-made bill designed to promote Canada's energy sector.

NEW START — Interim Green Party Leader AMITA KUTTNER has no interest in running to be permanent leader. “In fact, I'm going to try to get out of it if anyone suggests that I do,” they said. Green MPs ELIZABETH MAY and MIKE MORRICE joined Kuttner, who is a week into their new role, at a presser in Ottawa. May will continue as the party’s parliamentary leader (as if there was any doubt).

— Key dates: Party rules stipulate a leadership campaign must kick off before the first six months of an interim leader’s appointment. That puts the deadline at May 24. The leadership contest must wrap within 24 months of Kuttner’s appointment: Nov. 24, 2023.

— “Multiple truths.” Kuttner attributed internal discord to a few unnamed individuals. “I have no interest in antagonizing anybody,” they said. “My role, I hope, is to really re-solidify with everyone within the party, to start the process of regrowth to make sure we heal, to make sure we fundraise and also to make sure that we run a good leadership contest.”

Ex-Green leader ANNAMIE PAUL compared herself to Conservative Leader ERIN O’TOOLE during an event hosted by the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee this week. While they both won leadership races around the same time, Paul said she inherited a party with rules that didn’t give her the same decision-making powers as O’Toole.

“He was able to appoint the political director, the communications director, the executive director, the fund director, president, et cetera. I have none of those powers whatsoever,” Paul said, adding she was able to choose a chief of staff and a couple others for her office.

Asked about Paul’s experience and proposal for on a structural review of the party, Kuttner called it a “fantastic idea.”

— Being and seeing green: Though Kuttner admitted they don’t have a clear understanding of what the party’s current finances are (spoiler: not good), a top priority, they said, is to fundraise “as hard as I possibly can” which could reverse cash flow issues that led the Greens to lay off staff in the summer and fall.

ALARM BELLS — Correctional Service Canada appears to have a persistent problem with harassment. The 2018 Public Service Employee Survey revealed that 32 percent of the agency's participating employees reported harassment in the year prior — the most of any federal organization that year. Two years later, that number had dropped to 24 percent, still the second-worst in government.

— New data: The 2021 National Employment Equity Survey of Women Employees at Correctional Service Canada dropped some eye-popping findings.

Only 41 percent of women employees who identify as having a disability agreed or strongly agreed that they “feel mentally and emotionally safe” at work.

Two in five women employees in Ontario say they’ve experienced gender-based harassment. That datapoint is 44 percent for those who identify as having a disability, and 41 perent for members of a sexual orientation, gender identity and expression minority group.

— The Top 3 culprits: Co-workers were named by 63 percent of respondents. "Those with authority over me" were cited by 55 percent. Another 36 percent pointed to people "for whom I have custodial responsibility" — e.g. offenders, patients and detainees.

— CSC's response: A spokesperson, PIERRE DEVEAU, said the agency takes the survey "very seriously." He added: "We do not tolerate harassment or inappropriate behaviour by staff and we remain steadfast in our commitment to build a respectful and harassment-free workplace."

Deveau pointed out some of the positive numbers: a majority of respondents were satisfied with work-life balance and flexible work arrangements; almost two-thirds "would feel supported" if they had concerns about discrimination; three-fourths say they feel valued and respected; and 84 percent say women are strongly represented in senior management.

— Next steps: Deveau said CSC commissioner ANNE KELLY will lead virtual town halls with employees.

What are you hearing that you need Playbook to know? Send it all our way.

Pro subscribers should not miss the Pro Canada PM memo from ZI-ANN LUM and ANDY BLATCHFORD: Get ready for FES-tivus.

In other headlines for subscribers:
— Omicron wave: How to do travel restrictions right this time.
— Biden will lay down new travel restrictions as Omicron threatens.
— This time, not even Frances Haugen can unite Congress on big tech.
— House Democrats to introduce bill to combat serial trade offenders like China.
— Brussels weighs minimum energy standards for nearly all buildings by 2030.

— The Globe reports via sources: Ontario to expand eligibility of Covid-19 boosters for adults 50 and older.

— MELISSA LANTSMAN is one of Chatelaine’s women of the year — awards renamed in 2021 after legendary editor DORIS ANDERSON.

— Global's DAVID AKIN reminds his readers that Canada's access-to-information system is hopelessly slow in responding to even basic requests. He brings receipts.

— ERIC GRENIER contemplates the politics of a hybrid House.

Birthdays: HBD to Nobel Peace Prize nominee SHEILA WATT-CLOUTIER, former premiers DAVID ALWARD (New Brunswick) and DARRELL PASLOSKI (Yukon) and Edmonton MLA JON CARSON.

Remembered: Conservative MP ERIC DUNCAN paid tribute Wednesday to former Liberal MP BOB KILGER, who died Monday. Kilger served as both the chief government whip and deputy Speaker of the House. He was an NHL referee before political life.

“People do not win six elections or serve as chief government whip or deputy speaker of the House, or as a mayor without having solid leadership skills like Bob had,” Duncan told the Commons before QP. “Always a good ambassador for our region, Bob was known for his style of bringing people together.”

Spotted: Former foreign minister MARC GARNEAU, recovering from hip surgery. … MICHAEL KOVRIG, growing a "freedom 'stache" for Movember. He tried last year in Beijing: "The detention centre’s warden made me shave it off."

Economist KEVIN MILLIGAN offering advice to the Official Opposition on how to be useful when they pester Liberals about persistent inflation.

MADDIE MORRIS, a trade commissioner in Seattle, celebrating her transition to a trans woman: "I am grateful to work for a government and in a region of the world that is supportive of LGBTQ2 rights in the workplace to make this possible."

Ambassador-designate DAVID COHEN looking a little chilly upon arrival in Ottawa.

BRUCE HEYMAN, another ambassador with a connection to Ottawa, sharing news of a health scare along with an endorsement for regular health checkups.

From the ethics files: New Brunswick's top cabmin, DOMINIC LEBLANC, agreed to a conflict-of-interest screen involving his friend — and business magnate — JAMES D. IRVING. LeBlanc's chief of staff, JAMIE INNES, will enforce the screen.

Tory MP DAN ALBAS filed a gift in the form of a night's stay — and breakfast — at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, U.K., courtesy of the Conservative Climate Foundation. The occasion was a Nov. 6 panel with American elected officials. (The hotel made some COP26 headlines, too.)

New lobbyists: Loyalist's MYKYTA DRAKOKHRUST signed up for Supply Chain Canada, which wants "funding to develop a supply chain modernization task force and action plan." … Proof's CAMERON PENNER is repping NGen, the "industry-led, non-profit organization leading Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster." … Summa's KAIT LAFORCE is lobbying for Vinted, an online second-hand clothing network founded in Lithuania that wants to "engage" the government on the GST/HST system.

Movers and shakers: KATHLEEN DAVIS, a senior foreign policy adviser to the PM, has left government after five years for a new post at the Clooney Foundation for Justice. … COLE HOGAN joined Proof Strategies as director of digital advocacy and campaigns.

ERICA VAN WYNGAARDEN is now a senior adviser to the ADM at NRCan's Strategic Petroleum Policy & Investment Office. … Competition Commissioner MATTHEW BOSWELL announced LILLA D. CSORGO as the Competition Bureau's new T.D. MacDonald Chair in Industrial Economics. … MICHAEL BARCLAY announced "Hearts on Fire," a chronicle of six years — 2000–2005 — that "changed Canadian music."

Media mentions: The Canadian Association of Journalists announced its annual Canada-EU Young Journalist fellows: ANNA DESMARAIS, LAURIE TROTTIER and MOIRA WYTON. … TV host RASSI NASHALIK has been inducted into the CBC News Hall of Fame.

Wednesday’s answer: Zoe’s, the bar and lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, was named after WILFRID LAURIER’s wife, LADY ZOE. Laurier was Canada’s seventh prime minister.

Points to PATRICK HART for having the correct answer and best reply: “Reminds me, I must pop in and see if they will return my life savings.”

Cheers to STACEY NORONHA, WALTER ROBINSON, HÉLÈNE CHEVALIER, JOANNA PLATER, JENN KEAY, GARY ALLEN, SEBASTIAN COOPER, MELISSA GARCIA, ALAN KAN, SEAN WEBSTER, GORDON RANDALL, GERMAINE MALABRE, JOHN GUOBA, ANNA KISIELEWSKA, KEVIN COLBOURNE, WAYNE FLEMING, BRAM AMBRAMSON (with answers that always go above and beyond), LEIGH LAMPERT, ZEV LEWIS and ELIZABETH BURN.

Thursday’s question: Who wrote the following words about Gov. Gen. MARY SIMON:

“She covered many territories

navigating with the stars

her ancestors beside her.

They have taught her reconciliation,

reciprocity, revitalization, restoration,

resurgence, resolution, resilience

and relationship.”

Send your answers to [email protected]

Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Alejandra Waase to find out how: [email protected]

Playbook wouldn’t happen without Luiza Ch. Savage, editor Sue Allan, Zi-Ann Lum and Andy Blatchford.