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After weeks of dramatic testimony from police, protesters and senior politicians, the public inquiry reviewing Ottawa’s use of the Emergencies Act earlier this year in response to nationwide blockades enters a more subdued policy phase.

Over the course of several panels this week, the Public Order Emergency Commission will hear from nearly 50 experts on how Parliament could improve the Emergencies Act, which received Royal Assent in 1988 and was used for the first time this year. The law requires the holding of a public inquiry each time its powers are invoked.

“I look forward to hearing the thoughts and views of the experts and the discussion and analysis of these key policy issues. This will assist the Commission in considering what recommendations to make on the use of and potential modernization of the Emergencies Act and on any areas where we consider further study or research should be undertaken,” said Commissioner Paul Rouleau said in a statement.

This week’s policy phase is divided into specific topics. Monday will focus on “fundamental rights and freedoms at stake in public protests and their limits,” followed by a panel on “financial governance, policing and intelligence.” Tuesday’s agenda is “misinformation, disinformation and the role of social media” as well as “the protection of flows of essential goods and services, critical infrastructure and trade corridors.” On Wednesday, panel participants will discuss “national security and public order emergencies” and “policing of public protests.” Thursday’s schedule includes a morning panel on “police-government relations” followed by an afternoon session on “interjurisdictional responses to protests in emergencies.” The final panel on Friday morning is titled “thresholds, powers and accountability under the Emergencies Act.”

More information on the panels, as well as related policy papers, can be found on the Commission website here.

This is the daily Politics Briefing newsletter, written by Ian Bailey. Today’s newsletter is co-written by Bill Curry. 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.

TODAY'S HEADLINES

RCMP PRIVACY UNIT FACES RESOURCE CRUNCH - An RCMP initiative to ensure that the force uses intrusive technological tools in accordance with Canada’s privacy laws is dealing with a lack of funding and staff, says an internal report obtained by The Globe and Mail. Story here.

INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY UNVEILED - Canada has unveiled its Indo-Pacific strategy that will commit $2.3-billion over five years to expand military, security, trade and diplomatic ties with other nations in the region, in a new approach to China that sees Beijing as more adversary than friend. Story here.

Sales of Ontario Greenbelt land, including a substantial piece sold for $80-million, weeks before the government publicly revealed its plans are raising questions for Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Story here.

PRIMARY CARE ACCESS GETTING WORSE - Access to primary care is getting worse in many parts of the country, according to statistics collected by The Globe and Mail and interviews with dozens of medical experts and patients. The mismatch between the numbers on paper and what is actually happening on the ground reflects a broader problem plaguing Canada’s health care system. Story here.

CANADA’S MOST EXPENSIVE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP - With a cost estimate of $4.38-billion, remediation of the Giant Mine, one of the most contaminated sites in Canada, is also expected to be the most expensive federal environmental cleanup in the country’s history. Story here.

CRTC CHAIR EXITING - Ian Scott says he never really considers the legacy he will leave after departing as leader of Canada’s telecom regulator. Soon, the industry will do it for him. Story here.

NEW B.C. PREMIER ON FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL PRIORITIES - British Columbia’s new Premier says he’s optimistic about a productive relationship with the federal government, but David Eby says he plans to be aggressive in pushing Ottawa to increase health care funding for provinces and territories. Story here.

CHALLENGE TO LAUNCH FUTURE LARGE-SCALE MILITARY OPERATION: DEFENCE STAFF CHIEF - Canada’s military forces are “ready” to meet their commitments should Russia’s war in Ukraine spread to NATO countries, but it would be a “challenge” to launch a larger scale operation in the long term, with ongoing personnel and equipment shortages, according to Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre. Story here from CTV.

BLOC LEADER RETURNS FROM PARIS: Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet released a statement Monday saying he and Bloc MP René Villemure “have returned from a diplomatic mission to Paris that took place from Nov. 18 to 26.” The statement said they met with over 20 individuals, including former French President François Hollande.

THIS AND THAT

TODAY IN THE COMMONS – Projected Order of Business at the House of Commons, Nov. 28 accessible here.

DAYS SINCE CONSERVATIVE LEADER PIERRE POILIEVRE TOOK MEDIA QUESTIONS IN OTTAWA: 76

FREELAND IN OTTAWA - In Ottawa, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland attended Question Period, and was scheduled, at 3:30 p.m. ET, to appear at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to discuss Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act. You can watch the hearing here.

SUPREME COURT WELCOME CEREMONY - Michelle O’Bonsawin was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada on Sept. 1, but the court will, as is traditional, be holding a welcome ceremony for its newest member on Monday. Chief Justice Richard Wagner will preside and members of the Court, the family and friends of Justice O’Bonsawin, are among those expected. The ceremony was scheduled to be held at 10:30, with webcast footage here.

OLIPHANT IN LONDON - Robert Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to the foreign-affairs minister is in Britain to attend the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative conference in London, which, according to a statement from Global Affairs Canada, includes a plenary session on strengthening the global response to conflict-related sexual violence

MINISTERS ON THE ROAD - Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett, in Toronto, made a funding announcement to support integrated youth service hubs across Canada. Families Minister Karina Gould, in Auburn, N.S., joined Nova Scotia Education Minister Becky Druhan to announce a reduction in the province’s licensed child care fees. Women’s Minister Marci Ien, in Toronto, made an announcement on preventing gender-based violence.

PRIME MINISTER'S DAY

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, held private meetings, paid his respects to the victims of the events of September, 2022 in James Smith Cree Nation. He was also scheduled to meet with a group that included James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns, participate in a grand entry ceremony with members of James Smith Cree Nation, make an announcement and hold a media availability.

LEADERS

No schedules released for party leaders.

THE DECIBEL

On Monday’s edition of The Globe and Mail podcast, guest host Sherrill Sutherland and parliamentary reporter Marieke Walsh break down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s five hours of testimony to the Emergencies Act inquiry and other top moments from the inquiry. The Decibel is here.

TRIBUTE

The late Jim Flaherty, finance minister in the Conservative government of Stephen Harper, once introduced his brother David, the speaker at a formal dinner in Toronto, as “the one with the real brains in the family.” Without benefit of a law degree, David Flaherty cut a path through the newly planted field of privacy law, taught at some of the top universities in the U.S. and Canada, wrote or edited a dozen scholarly books, was selected from 300 applicants to be the first Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia in 1993, and went on to have a deep impact on the cultural life of his adopted city of Victoria. Obituary here.

OPINION

Campbell Clark (The Globe and Mail) on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making a confident case at inquiry that leaves the legal standards unclear: “His frustration with police inaction eight months ago was still palpable. Police forces kept saying they’d get it under control, he said several times, but it didn’t happen. The Emergencies Act can only be used when no other law will do, but Mr. Trudeau argued that authorities were unable to use existing laws, so the legal test was met. That’s an answer that still leaves open the question of whether Mr. Trudeau invoked the law because it was absolutely necessary or because nothing satisfactory had yet been done. The law makes a distinction between those two things, but despite the Prime Minister’s confidence, it still isn’t clear that Mr. Trudeau did. Now it’s up to Justice Rouleau to judge the decider.”

Kelly Cryderman (The Globe and Mail) on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith making a clean break with Jason Kenney era, at cost of Heritage Savings Trust Fund infusion: “But here’s the downside, if you’re a fan of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund. The fund is not getting all of the near-$3-billion boost promised just three months ago. At that time, the government said it would make the largest-ever single-year investment in the Heritage Fund, retaining the fund’s remaining 2021-22 net investment income of $1.2-billion but also allocating $1.7-billion, for a total investment of $2.9-billion. At the time, then-finance minister Jason Nixon – an ally of former premier Mr. Kenney who now appears to be in the UCP political wilderness – surely portrayed it as a done deal. Apparently, we’re told now, this plan wasn’t set in stone.”

Konrad Yakabuski (The Globe and Mail) on history getting short shrift as another John A. Macdonald statue heads to the gallows: “There are good reasons for contemporary Canadians to have mixed feelings about Macdonald’s legacy, which includes what are now clearly understood as deeply harmful attitudes and policies toward Indigenous peoples. But to put Canada’s first prime minister in the same category as one of history’s greatest monsters does seem extreme. Whatever his sins, Macdonald deserves much better from a country that likely would not have come into existence without his determination and vision. Instead, he has been reduced to a stain on our collective conscience.”

Sheema Khan (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how the downfall of Quebec’s Bill 21 could come thanks to women:At a recent Institut event, I met talented Muslim women in STEM fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and data science – talent that Quebec needs to remain economically competitive. Yet, many of those women expressed doubts about thriving in a society that overtly discriminates against religious minorities. Something may have to give on this front, too. The labour shortage is so acute in Quebec that the town of Hérouxville – infamous for issuing a code of conduct for immigrants warning them not to stone or burn women alive – is now actively courting newcomers. Today, neighbouring towns are helping migrants find halal food. Economic reality will force the realization that attracting workers means making all feel welcome – not just a select few.”

Peter Menzies (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how Canada’s news strategy is a mess: “The federal government must develop and implement a national media strategy focused on ensuring that citizens have access to information vital to being accurately informed on current events and assist them with the organization of their lives. Such a strategy should emphasize the need for pluralism of ownership and sustain journalism that provides information to the public in a manner that halts and reverses declines in their trust. Moreover, Ottawa must recognize that public confidence in both it and news media can only be sustained and flourish if the journalism industry becomes independent from government funding or approval of content.”

Robert Libman (The Montreal Gazette) on how Quebec Premier Premier Francois Legault, with a dominant hold on the National Assembly, risks becoming his own biggest adversary as the legislature reconvenes this week: “With such a dominant hold on the National Assembly, his biggest adversary could be himself, if he falls prey to overconfidence and arrogance. Legault in the past has been testy, defensive and condescending at times in facing criticism in the Assembly. Now, he’ll have 75 per cent of the MNAs cheering him on. But the Blue Room is not the real world, where he garnered only 41 per cent of the popular vote. With difficult economic times ahead and a failing health-care system, Legault will be expected to deliver.”

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