Send tips | Subscribe here | Follow Politico Canada

Thanks for reading Ottawa Playbook. I’m your host, Kyle Duggan with Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Zi-Ann Lum. We have a snapshot of the home-stretch skirmish over making hybrid Parliament permanent, along with the latest passing of the buck at the House procedure committee, plus new eye-popping numbers on Phoenix overpayments. We also talk to Ontario Liberal leadership contender BONNIE CROMBIE.

TELECOMMUTE, CONTINUED — The House of Commons is poised to extend its pandemic-era measures that allow MPs to vote and work from home.

Or their cars.

Or the lobby outside the Chamber.

Or from pretty much anywhere — equipment be damned! — as Parliament watchers know well by now.

Government House Leader MARK HOLLAND’s motion up for debate would enshrine them in the standing orders, extending the temporary provisions beyond their pending expiry next week.

— Airing of grievances: Bloc and Conservative MPs are making it known all the ways they think it has gone sideways.

Government MPs can “sit at home in their pajamas” instead of appearing for late-night debates, said Conservative MP MEL ARNOLD.

His colleague JOHN NATER expressed frustration about “the absolute gong shows” at committees where chairs have not shown up in person.

The Tories have called for a return to in-person Parliament, but also pitched a compromise sunset clause after the next election.

But MPs with young families and those from far-flung ridings have long-maintained they gained important work-life balance under the new regime. Some have said they wouldn’t consider running again with those rules gone.

NDP MP JENNY KWAN pointed to the obvious — she got Covid-19 at one point and had to be quarantined, yet was still able to show up for work.

NDP House Leader PETER JULIAN described his 5,000-km commute from his riding of New Westminster—Burnaby as one that can sometimes take as long as 24 hours.

— Accountability, please: A fellow B.C. MP, the Green Party’s ELIZABETH MAY, tells Playbook she’s “overwhelmingly in favor” of MPs being able to participate remotely, but thinks it should be used sparingly and they should have to explain each instance they’re not appearing in person.

“There should be some necessity of a reason you can’t be in Ottawa,” she said. “Even if it’s, ‘I have small children and I need to spend time with them,’ but there should be some sense that it’s not the automatic default that people can move to virtual.”

She is one of several MPs who point to the case of MAURIL BÉLANGER, who was suffering from ALS yet was forced to appear in person to advance his private members’ bill to change the national anthem.

“I never again, as long as I live, want to see something as tragic,” May said. “I’ve seen far too many members of Parliament literally at death’s door having to show up in person to protect their work, and that’s dreadful.”

— Nothing beats in-person: “The conversations you can have with ministers on the floors of the House are very, very different than the conversations that you get to have on Zoom, which are by their very definition restricted,” May said. “As much as I don’t like flying for carbon reasons, as much as I don’t like flying for being away from my family and all kinds of other reasons, I know I do my job better when I’m physically here.”

That’s helped with pitches like, “Look, someone in my riding is about to be deported and I swear to God, they should not be deported.”

— Collateral damage: Parliament’s interpreters are increasingly becoming political footballs in the summer home-stretch debate, despite that fixable problems continue to cause them lifelong health harms.

Conservative MP DAVE EPP told the House the “skyrocketing injury rate among staff interpreters” went from “a single disabling injury before the pandemic to 90 incidents.”

Like Ottawa Playbook? Maybe you know others who’d like to start the day with a free rush of intel. Point them to this link where sign up is free.

— Deputy Prime Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND will attend a morning caucus meeting. She otherwise has private meetings on her schedule.

8:30 a.m. Parliamentary Budget Officer YVES GIROUX will publish a fiscal analysis of the government’s support for Volkswagen’s EV manufacturing plant.

2 p.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will hold a media availability in West Block before question period.

4:30 p.m. Immigration Minister SEAN FRASER headlines the House citizenship and immigration committee to take questions about exploitation scams targeting certain international students.

THE CIRCLE GAME — Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director DAVID VIGNEAULT wanted it known off the top Tuesday night that leaked information on foreign interference has created misunderstanding, confusion and fear.

“It also makes it more difficult for CSIS and our partners to do our jobs,” he said in French, “which is exactly what our adversaries want.”

During two hours of testimony at the all-party House committee on procedure (PROC), Vigneault shut down multiple attempts to get at details — repeating again and again that he was not at liberty to provide specifics.

He did say CSIS wanted BILL BLAIR to read the memo on Conservative MP MICHAEL CHONG — why else would they have written it, he noted at one point. The Globe has more on those details.

Vigneault used many opportunities to remind MPs that foreign interference reports are nothing new. “CSIS has produced thousands of intelligence reports on foreign interference and brief extensively on this threat,” he said.

At one point, Vigneault agreed the CSIS Act is showing its age.

— Neither here nor there: In the middle of last night’s testimony, PROC chair BARDISH CHAGGER stopped to confess that she was multi-tasking on a statement about JAMAL MURRAY of the Denver Nuggets.

“I am in the process of drafting an SO31,” she confided to her colleagues. “I would appreciate if members could keep their comments tight, so that I can do some of my other work while also paying attention to this work.”

— Yesterday’s news: Earlier Tuesday, RCMP told a morning session of the committee that it is investigating allegations of foreign interference against Chong, ERIN O’TOOLE and JENNY KWAN.

Acting RCMP Commissioner MICHAEL DUHEME advised MPs that Canada’s federal police service learned the details of the cases the same way everyone else did.

Deputy Commissioner MARK FLYNN told MPs that based exclusively on “the public disclosure of specific individuals,” the RCMP reached out to the commissioner of Canada elections with an offer to help with any investigation.

— Nothing to see here: During his turn in front of the committee, former national security adviser DAVID MORRISON told MPs the system is working just fine, thank you.

The whole who-didn’t-get-the-memo bit of the foreign interference controversy? A big nothing burger.

He said he never advised Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU on the matter because he didn’t believe the intel required action.

The memo that former public safety minister BILL BLAIR never got? Not an “action note seeking a decision from the minister.”

“The focus on the 2021 CSIS report — who was the [national security and intelligence adviser] at the time, who else read it, whether it went into a black hole — has been misplaced.”

— About the black hole: Vigneault said last night that CSIS needs to upgrade its processes. “The world has changed,” he said in French. “Threats to Canadians have changed, and we need to do better.”

— Court of public opinion: Most Canadians now say the PM has done a bad job at responding to allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian democracy, according to a Nanos poll done for Bloomberg.

SHE’S RUNNING — BONNIE CROMBIE was still playing coy when she sat down with Playbook on Tuesday at the Bridgehead across the street from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Crombie, the Mississauga mayor who has for weeks explored an Ontario Liberal leadership bid, headlines a special event today in the sprawling city she governs. She wouldn’t confirm she’s formally entering the leadership race, but we know she will. As we left the interview, Playbook spotted her name on the official list of candidates.

Crombie was wrapping up a few days in Ottawa. She sat with the CTV crew at Saturday’s Press Gallery Dinner, and convened a tech roundtable on Tuesday afternoon. Our conversation started with the Parliament Buildings just up the street.

— Life in Ottawa: Crombie was here between 2006 and 2008. Some MPs don’t actually enjoy the Ottawa part of the job. Did she?

“I loved my time in Parliament. I thought I made a major contribution, and I was always in awe of the majesty of it all. And the fact that a second-generation Polish immigrant would have the opportunity to represent the great riding of Mississauga-Streetsville in Parliament.

“On the last day, when we rose in a motion of non-confidence, I tried to look around and absorb it. KIRSTY DUNCAN, SIOBHAN COADY and myself said, ‘Let’s drink it all in because there’s always the chance we wouldn’t come back.’ Only Duncan came back — Crombie and Coady were defeated in 2011.

— When she knew she was in: Crombie said her “turning point” was a chance meeting with a Mississauga resident on a May weekend in Ottawa.

The mayor was attending the federal Liberal convention — read: building support for her potential campaign — when she met a woman who wanted her to stay put at city hall.

Crombie rhymed off traits about herself that she hopes to sell on the campaign trail — “transparent,” “accountable,” “fiscally responsible” and “practical” — and pitched them as a boon to the rest of the province. When the constituent agreed, Crombie said her mind was made up.

— That other job: Crombie plans to stay on as mayor, just as fellow contenders YASIR NAQVI, NATE ERSKINE-SMITH and TED HSU have kept their current gigs.

“If there comes a time where it becomes too busy, and I need to commit to the race more fully, I will step aside and take a leave of absence,"she says.

— The political spectrum: Crombie has said in some media interviews that she’d govern from the center-right, a position pounced on by left-leaning Erskine-Smith. Crombie allies claimed she misspoke. She was concise with Playbook.

“I’m a strong centrist, a PAUL MARTIN Liberal. Mayors tend to be very pragmatic. We’re very practical. I believe you can’t be all things to all people,” she says, acknowledging the party’s vote bled to the left and right in 2018 and 2022.

She directs much of her rhetoric at Red Tories: “I manage a $4-billion corporation. I can’t run a deficit. I have to balance my books. And I have to make tough decisions every day on what matters most to my residents, and allocate money according to those priorities.”

PHOENIX’S BURNS — Documents tabled in the House of Commons in response to an order paper question by Conservative MP GERALD SOROKA show roughly 389,500 employees have been overpaid by the Phoenix pay system as of April 24. The amounts range from petty cash to six-digits.

“Overpayments are a normal part of the pay administration process and they occur in all pay systems,” the response read. They’re also subject to recovery.

Value of overpayments: C$3.08 billion.

Amount recovered: C$2.53 billion.

Funds yet to be recovered: C$533 million.

— Statute of limitations: Under the law, Ottawa has six years from the date of overpayment to recover extra cash paid to employees. After that point, any funds the government fails to collect is debt that is considered a write-off.

February 2022 marked the six-year anniversary of Phoenix’s glitchy rollout.

Soroka asked the government for an update on overpayments. He wanted to know how much debt the government has written off as a result of its own failures.

Number of MPs who received overpayments: 256.

House of Commons employees: 5,114.

Senate employees: 832.

— One write-off case study: A response from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada acknowledged the department had to write off a C$45,482 overpayment “related to a deceased employee.”

ISED tried to get the funds from the employee’s estate, but was told it was insolvent. Collection efforts were exhausted, the department said, leading them to ask Treasury Board to write it off.

— ASHLEY BURKE of CBC News scoops news that staff in MARCO MENDICINO’s office knew about Bernardo transfer months before minister did.

— The Star’s RAISA PATEL reports: Singh says the Liberals must pass pharmacare legislation this year — but health minister makes no promises

— Question from AMANDA CLARKE: “Who’s going to finally fix federal public service management?”

— From our D.C. newsroom: A definitive guide to the key players and legal risks in the four criminal probes of Donald Trump.

— The Hub asked legal experts for their take on Justice RUSSELL BROWN’s decision to stand down from the Supreme Court.

— Information Commissioner CAROLINE MAYNARD shared with the House on Tuesday the 2022-2023 report from her office. It opens with a warning.

Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers: The RCMP joins meddling probe.

In other news for Pros:

— Brussels’ mission impossible: Greening agriculture.

— Yellen warns about EU climate rule.

— House panel unanimously advances Taiwan trade authority bill.

— Recycling bills are hitting walls in statehouses across the country.

— Biden admin urges court to uphold first U.S. city gas ban.

Birthdays: HBD to DAVID HERLE, Montreal Mayor VALÉRIE PLANTE, Ontario MPP JOHN YAKABUSKI, New Brunswick MLA FRANCINE LANDRY, former MPP DARYL KRAMP, former MPs HOANG MAI and MARK ASSAD, and St. Thomas Mayor and former MP JOE PRESTON.

Spotted: MPs GARNETT GENUIS, JAMES MALONEY, JOHN MCKAY, ARIF VIRANI and MATT JENEROUX wearing white khata scarves to mark Tibet Day on the Hill.

Liberal MP YVONNE JONES back in the House. “I encourage women to get regular mammography testing and wellness screening,” she told MPs in the House on Tuesday afternoon. “I am proof that early detection can save lives but we must all do our part.”

RUTH THORKELSON, with her MA from the University of Calgary. Her thesis: “The Evolution of Candidate Vetting in the Liberal Party of Canada 1993–2015.”

International Development Minister HARJIT SAJJAN shaking hands with India’s External Affairs Minister SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR at the G-20 development minister’s meeting in Varanasi, India … STÉPHANE DION, presenting his credentials to PRINCE ALBERT II of Monaco.

At the prime minister’s media garden party at Rideau Cottage, the National Post’s JOHN IVISON, CATHERINE LÉVESQUE and pretty well their whole Ottawa bureau, the Globe’s CAMPBELL CLARK, Hill Time’s LAURA RYCKEWAERT and CHELSEA NASH, CBC’s ELIZABETH THOMPSON, freelancer DALE SMITH.

Media moves: STEPHANIE HUGHES is leaving the Financial Post after two years.

Send Playbookers tips to [email protected].

→ Find upcoming House committees here

→ Keep track of Senate committees here

— It’s caucus day on the Hill.

2 p.m. NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will hold a media availability in West Block before question period.

4:30 p.m. Immigration Minister SEAN FRASER headlines the House citizenship and immigration committee to take questions about exploitation scams targeting certain international students.

4:30 p.m. The Parliamentary Budget Officer will be at the House government operations committee to discuss supplementary estimates.

4:30 p.m. The House Indigenous and northern affairs committee meets to continue its study of restitution of land to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

4:30 p.m. The House justice committee meets to take Bill C-295 through clause-by-clause consideration.

6:45 p.m. Native Women’s Association of Canada President CAROL MCBRIDE and Warshield CEO MAX FINEDAY are among the witnesses at the Senate Indigenous peoples committee’s meeting to study Bill C-29.

Behind closed doors: The House liaison committee’s subcommittee on budgets meets to review budget submissions; the House agriculture committee will review its report on the environmental contribution of agriculture.

FOR YOUR RADAR — Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders will gather in Winnipeg July 10 through 12, the Council of the Federation announced Tuesday.

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON — Calling all Canada-U.S. geeks in D.C.

Join us to play Ottawa Playbook Trivia on June 26 at Penn Social’s Little Pen Coffeehouse.

Doors open at 7 p.m. First question at 7:30. We’ll have a special guest quizmaster: Ambassador KIRSTEN HILLMAN.

Registration is open. Space is limited. RSVP via this Google Form.

Tuesday’s answer: Canada Post has issued a stamp to honor N.W.T.'s NELLIE COURNOYEA.

Props to and LORETTA O’CONNOR, WILLIAM SPORTEL, GERMAINE MALABRE, MARCUS MATTINSON, JOHN ECKER, ROSS LECLAIR, GEORGE SCHOENHOFER, NANCI WAUGH, JOHN DILLON, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, JEFFREY VALOIS, CHRISTOPHER LALANDE, ALLAN FABRYKANT, GORDON RANDALL, GARY ALLEN, ROBERT MCDOUGALL and J.D.M. STEWART.

Think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best.

Wednesday’s question: What happened at the Kingston Hospital Building on this date in history?

Answers to [email protected]

Playbook wouldn’t happen: Without Luiza Ch. Savage and Sue Allan.