 
WE ARE ANTICIPATING IN ABOUT AN 
HOUR AND A HALF THE PRIME 
MINISTER ALONG WITH THOSE 
MINISTERS WILL ADDRESS REPORTERS
AND WE'LL CARRY THAT FOR YOU 
LIVE AS WELL.
I WANT TO GO OVER FOR YOU WITH 
MY COLLEAGUES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.
TO DO THAT, I'M JOINED BY THE 
CBC'S DAVID COCHRANE, CHRIS 
HALL, AND ROB RUSSO.
DAVID, I'LL START WITH YOU.
YOU WERE THE ONE WHO CONFIRMED 
FOR US THAT CRIMINAL CODE 
BECOMES THE NEW FINANCE 
MINISTER.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?
>> David: AFTER A DAY OF 
CONTROVERSY WITH THE ABRUPT 
RESIGNATION OF BILL MORNEAU, 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND WILL MAKE 
HISTORY AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO 
HOLD THAT JOB AT THE FEDERAL 
LEVEL.
THERE HAVE BEEN PROVINCIAL 
MINISTERS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST
FEDERAL ONE.
SHE WILL KEEP HER TITLE AS 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, BUT WILL 
GIVE UP INTERGOVERNMENTAL 
MINISTER.
THAT WILL GO TO DOMINIC LeBLANC.
HE TOOK ON A REDUCED ROLE 
BECAUSE OF HIS HEALTH.
HE'S RECOVERING FROM TREATMENT 
FOR CANCER.
HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE ON 
EXPANDED DUTIES.
HIS HAIR HAS GROWN BACK.
HE PROBABLY WILL STILL BE 
WEARING A MASK.
LeBLANC WILL MOVE INTO THAT 
ROLE.
THE REAL STORY IS FREELAND.
WHENEVER THERE IS A CRISIS THAT 
THIS GOVERNMENT IS FACING, THE 
PRIME MINISTER TURNS TO HER.
WHEN NAFTA BECAME AN ISSUE 
BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP, HE SHUFFLED FREELAND 
THERE.
WHEN THERE WAS GOING TO BE 
UNREST DOMESTICALLY, HE MADE 
FREELAND THE MINISTER FOR THAT.
>> Vassy: CHRIS, LET ME BRING 
YOU IN ON THAT POINT ON CHRYSTIA
FREELAND AS THE PICK FOR FINANCE
MINISTER.
HOW SIGNIFICANT A SELECTION IS 
IT AND WHAT DO YOU READ INTO IT?
>> Chris: A COUPLE OF THINGS.
TO BACK UP WHAT DAVID SAYS, SHE 
IS THE PERSON JUSTIN TRUDEAU 
MOST TRUSTS.
WHETHER IT WAS NEGOTIATING A NEW
TRADE DEAL IN THE UNITED STATES 
AND DEALING WITH THE PROVINCES 
PRIOR TO COVID AND AS CHAIR OF 
THE COVID-19 COMMITTEE.
THE SIGNAL IS HE WILL GO TO 
SOMEONE WHO WILL THINK 
LIKE-MINDED WITH HIM.
SHE HAS PROVEN SHE CAN EXECUTE 
WHATEVER PORTFOLIO SHE'S BEEN 
HANDED.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HER IN 
CONJUNCTION WITH DOMINIC 
LeBLANC.
THE PRIME MINISTER IS 
INCREASINGLY RELYING ON A SMALL 
CIRCLE OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
PART OF THE ISSUE WITH BILL 
MORNEAU WHEN HE RESIGNED WAS 
CONCERN THAT HE DIDN'T AGREE 
WITH THE FOCUS OF THE GOVERNMENT
AND HOW THEY WOULD SPEND POST 
PANDEMIC.
I'M WATCHING FOR WHAT SHE WILL 
SAY AND THE PRIME MINISTER.
WE DO EXPECT THERE WILL BE A 
CABINET RETREAT IN THE MIDDLE OF
SEPTEMBER POTENTIALLY.
WE WILL HAVE PARLIAMENT RESET TO
PUT FORWARD A NEW AGENDA, 
RECOGNIZING THE MANDATE PLATFORM
AND LETTERS ARE NO LONGER VALID.
ALSO, WILL THERE BE A BUDGET 
THAT WILL SET OUT THE PLANS FOR 
THE NEXT TWO AND THREE YEARS. 
>> Vassy: WE ARE LOOKING AT 
SHOTS INSIDE RIDEAU HALL.
I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE IT LOOKS
COMPARED TO EVERY OTHER 
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY.
THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE 
SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE 
SEEN IN THAT ROOM BEFORE.
ON THE SUBJECT, ROB, BECAUSE YOU
AND CHRIS HAVE BEEN REPORTING 
WHAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE WHEN IT 
COMES TO HOW THE GOVERNMENT 
INTENDS TO USE TODAY AS AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE PAGE.
WHAT SHOULD OUR VIEWERS KNOW?
>> Rob: MINI SHUFFLE, MAXIMUM 
IMPACT.
AND THAT IMPACT THEY'RE HOPING 
WILL TRIGGER THE PANDEMIC PIVOT,
PIVOT AWAY FROM THE PANDEMIC 
SCANDAL AND TOWARDS THE 
BEGINNING OF LAYING OUT A 
PLATFORM FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY 
HEADING INTO AN ELECTION THAT 
COULD COME AS SOON AS NEXT 
SPRING.
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND HAVE 
BEEN DOING QUIETLY IS COMING UP 
WITH POTENTIAL ECONOMIC OPTIONS,
THINGS THEY COULD PUT IN FRONT 
OF CANADIANS AS A RESULT OF NEW 
PRIORITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED 
DURING THE PANDEMIC IS CANADA 
HAS DONE A BAD JOB LOOKING AFTER
ITS OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN 
LONG-TERM CARE CENTRES.
IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT TO PLAY THERE, THAT 
WOULD MAKE IT LESS LIKELY THAT 
SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN
AGAIN.
THE OTHER THING WE'VE LEARNED 
DURING THE PANDEMIC IS IF YOU 
WANT WOMEN TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE
AND INCREASE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, 
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A 
BETTER JOB OF LOOKING AFTER 
CHILDREN.
IS THERE A ROLE THERE FOR THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN AN AREA OF
PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS 
CLASSIC, OLD LIBERALISM, CLASSIC
COST-SHARING PROGRAMS.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO 
THAT WHEN YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY?
THAT WOULD TAKE A BUDGET, A 
BUDGET PERHAPS THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT COULD FALL ON, BUT 
THERE ARE LOTS OF LIBERALS WHO 
THINK THAT COULD BE A GOOD 
PLATFORM TO FALL ON.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND, FROM THE MOMENT SHE 
CAME IN, THE PEOPLE AROUND 
JUSTIN TRUDEAU THOUGHT SHE 
REINCARNATED THE NEO-LIBERALISM.
I WONDER IF WE'RE SEEING THE 
BEGINNING OF THE BEKNIGHTING OF 
HER AS THE UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE 
TO SUCCEED HIM.
>> Vassy: I KNOW A LOT OF 
LIBERALS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING 
FOR MONTHS OR AT LEAST IN A MORE
DETAILED WAY I WOULD SAY SINCE 
THE We CONTROVERSY BROKE, 
THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION AND
THIS ADDS TO IT ABOUT WHAT HER 
FUTURE LOOKS LIKE IN THE LIBERAL
PARTY.
JUST ON THE SUBJECT OF WHAT ROB 
AND CHRIS TOUCHED ON, DAVID, 
ABOUT PROROGATION AND WHAT WE 
CAN ANTICIPATE, THIS HAS BEEN A 
FIRECRACKER FOR OPPOSITION 
PARTIES IN THE PAST.
WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING THE 
REACTION IS LIKE TODAY?
>> David: THE BIG QUESTION IS 
HOW DO THEY PROROGUE.
THEY WANT TO DO A NEW THRONE 
SPEECH TO RESTART THEIR AGENDA.
DO YOU PROROGUE IT TODAY AND 
SHUT PARLIAMENT DOWN UNTIL 
OCTOBER?
THE NET OUTCOME OF THAT IS THE 
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES CEASE 
TO FUNCTION.
THERE'S FOUR OF THEM 
INVESTIGATING THE We 
CONTROVERSY.
SOMETHING WE ARE EXPECTING THIS 
WEEK, A MASSIVE DUMP OF 
DOCUMENTS TO THE FINANCE 
COMMITTEE, THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF
DOCUMENTS OF CORRESPONDENCE 
BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
FINANCE AND THE ORIGINS OF THE 
CANADA STUDENT GRANTS PROGRAM 
THAT WENT TO THE We CHARITY.
SO ARE THEY PROROGUING TODAY AND
SHUTTING DOWN THE COMMITTEES AND
STOPPING THE RELEASE OF THAT OR 
ARE THEY TAKING STEPS TO ALLOW 
THE COMMITTEES TO FUNCTION FOR 
THE DOCUMENTS TO COME OUT.
STEPHEN HARPER DID THIS 
PREVIOUSLY TO SAVE HIS 
GOVERNMENT.
THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT THEY DO 
TODAY WILL REALLY MATTER BECAUSE
IF IT SHUTS DOWN THE INQUIRY 
INTO We, IT WILL BE A MASSIVE 
SCANDAL.
IF IT ALLOWS IT TO CONTINUE, IT 
COULD BE THE TECHNICAL THING 
THEY NEED TO DO -- 
>> Vassy: IF YOU'RE JOINING US 
NOW -- I'LL GET TO YOU, CHRIS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ROOM INSIDE
RIDEAU HALL WHERE WE'RE 
ANTICIPATING A CABINET SHUFFLE, 
A SWEARING-IN CEREMONY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE 
AWARE.
>> Chris: JUST QUICKLY, YOU 
MENTIONED THE 2008 AND 2010 USE 
OF PROROGATION BY STEPHEN HARPER
TO AVOID DEFEAT BUT TO ALSO SHUT
DOWN A COMMITTEE THAT WAS 
LOOKING AT THE AFGHAN PRISONER 
SITUATION.
THEY DIDN'T PAY A RISK.
THERE IS A RISK IF THEY PROROGUE
TODAY OR THEY COULD WAIT UNTIL 
SEPTEMBER AND PROROGUE WHEN 
THERE'S NO COMMITTEES SCHEDULED.
>> Vassy: I SHOULD PROBABLY 
EXPLAIN, PROROGATION MEANS 
SHUTTING STUFF DOWN UNTIL YOU 
REOPEN IT AGAIN ON PARLIAMENT 
HILL.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S USED, AS 
DAVID AND CHRIS POINTED OUT.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE OR PERCEIVED 
THAT THIS IS BEING USED TO SHUT 
DOWN THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE
We CHARITY CONTROVERSY, THERE 
WILL BE A CERTAIN REACTION.
IF IT'S RESET, THERE WILL BE A 
DIFFERENT REACTION.
>> Rob: THAT'S RIGHT.
NOBODY SAID WHEN PROROGATION 
WOULD HAPPEN.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE HAS BEEN 
ASKED TO PREPARE FOR PROROGATION
AND BUDGET SCENARIOS.
THAT COULD HAPPEN IN ALL 
LIKELIHOOD WHEN THE CABINET 
MEETS.
WHEN THE CABINET MEETS, THERE IS
A CHANCE FOR THEM ALL TO MEET 
FACE-TO-FACE.
THEY HAVEN'T MET FACE-TO-FACE IN
A LONG TIME.
THERE IS A ROOM NEXT TO WHERE 
THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL RESIDE THAT 
WILL NOW THE CABINET TO MEET ALL
TOGETHER.
IF THEY ARE GOING TO MEET 
FACE-TO-FACE IN A LARGER FORM 
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY'RE 
GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A ROOM 
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT.
I'M LOOKING AT THE PICTURE OF 
RIDEAU HALL, I'M WONDERING IF 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL JULIE PAYETTE 
WILL BE THERE.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
A CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME 
COURT COULD DO THIS.
THERE IS CONTROVERSY SWIRLING 
AROUND THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, SO 
WE WILL BE WATCHING WHETHER SHE 
IS THERE AND WHAT THE BODY 
LANGUAGE IS LIKE BETWEEN HER AND
THE PRIME MINISTER.
>> Vassy: WE WILL ALL BE 
WATCHING.
THIS IS A SEPARATE ISSUE, BUT IT
AS TO THE DRAMA.
I LISTENED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME
OF THE OPPOSITION PRESS 
CONFERENCES TODAY AND THERE WERE
TONS OF QUESTIONS ON THE 
SHUFFLE, BUT ALSO QUESTIONS 
BASED ON ASHLEY'S REPORTING 
ABOUT HIS JUDGMENT OR THE 
PROCESS BY WHICH THIS HAS ALL 
GONE DOWN AND IF THE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL WAS SELECTED OR
IF THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGES.
I WONDER IF THAT'S A SEPARATE 
LEVEL OF DRAMA.
>> HE HAS TO ASK THE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO PROROGUE.
WE'RE ASKING SOMEONE WHO IS 
UNDER ATTACK WHETHER OR NOT HE 
CAN PROROGUE PARLIAMENT.
WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST A WOUNDED
PRIME MINISTER GO TO ASK FOR A 
PROROGATION, ONLY TO HAVE TO 
WAIT WHILE SHE DEBATED IT.
>> Vassy: I'LL GET OVER TO DAVID
IN A SECOND.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ROOM 
INSIDE.
I SAW IAN SHUGART, THE CLERK OF 
THE PRIVY COUNCIL.
HE IS A TOP BUREAUCRAT.
HE'S PRESENT THERE.
I HAVE YET TO SEE JULIE PAYETTE.
>> David: I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT
IF SHE IS THERE, BUT WHAT IS 
INTERESTING OF HER BEING THERE, 
SHE IS SYMBOLIC OF THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S JUDGMENT THAT HAVE 
INTERWOVEN THROUGH THE We 
CONTROVERSY, THE S.N.C.-LAVALIN 
CONTROVERSY, THE WAY THE 
GOVERNMENT KEEPS GETTING INTO 
TROUBLE, BY RUSHING THINGS AND 
BEING A BLIND SPOT.
NORMALLY WE'RE ALLOWED TO GET 
PICTURES OF ALL THE PEOPLE 
ARRIVING.
>> Vassy: THAT'S CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND AT THE FRONT AND I SEE 
DOMINIC LeBLANC EXPECTED TO TAKE
OVER THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL 
AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO.
THERE IS THE PRIME MINISTER 
WALKING IN AND I THINK THAT'S 
JULIE PAYETTE.
YEAH, THAT IS THE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL.
>> David: I SAW THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S WIFE.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH TINY 
MASKS.
>> Vassy: LET'S TAKE A LISTEN 
FOR A MOMENT.
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH] -- 
>> [Indiscernible] -- 
>> WITH THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S 
APPROVAL, WE WILL NOW PROCEED 
WITH THE CEREMONY.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
THE MINISTERS WHO ARE ASSUMING 
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, 
WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD TO
TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.
THE HONOURABLE CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND, MINISTER OF FINANCE, 
TO BE STYLED DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER AND MINISTER OF 
FINANCE.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]. 
>> Deputy Prime Minister 
Chrystia Freeland: I, CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND, WILL CARRY OUT THE -- 
SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY PROMISE 
AND SWEAR THAT I WILL TRULY AND 
FAITHFULLY AND TO THE BEST OF MY
SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE EXECUTE THE 
POWERS AND TRUST IMPOSED IN ME 
AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND 
MINISTER OF FINANCE.
SO HELP ME GOD.
[APPLAUSE]. 
>> Vassy: YOU'RE LOOKING INSIDE 
RIDEAU HALL RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS CHRYSTIA FREELAND 
SIGNING, MAKING IT OFFICIAL.
SHE IS NOW THE -- NOT ONLY THE 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF THIS 
COUNTRY, BUT THE MINISTER OF 
FINANCE AS WELL.
THERE SHE IS GETTING A ROUND OF 
APPLAUSE IN A SOCIALLY DISTANCED
ROOM.
THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT 
CEREMONY, IN THAT YOU SAW NO 
HUGS BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, 
BUT SOME ELBOW BUMPS.
LET'S LISTEN IN AS DOMINIC 
LeBLANC CHANGES HIS PORTFOLIO.
>> DOMINIC LeBLANC, PRESIDENT OF
THE QUEEN'S PRIVY COUNCIL FOR 
CANADA, TO BE ALLOW ALSO STYLED 
MINISTER FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL 
AFFAIRS.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] I, DOMINIC LeBLANC,
DO SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY 
PROMISE AND SWEAR THAT I WILL 
TRULY AND FAITHFULLY AND TO THE 
BEST OF MY STILL AND KNOWLEDGE 
EXECUTE THE POWERS AND TRUST 
IMPOSED IN ME AS PRESIDENT OF 
THE QUEEN'S PRIVY COUNCIL FOR 
CANADA AND THE MINISTER OF 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, SO 
HELP ME GOD.
[end of translation] I, DOMINIC 
LeBLANC, SINCERELY SWEAR THAT I 
WILL TRUTHFULLY AND FAITHFULLY 
AND TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND 
KNOWLEDGE EXECUTE THE TRUSTS 
IMPOSED IN ME AS PRESIDENT OF 
THE QUEEN'S PRIVY COUNCIL OF 
CANADA AND MINISTER OF 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, SO 
HELP ME GOD.
[APPLAUSE]. 
>> Vassy: THAT IS THE NEWLY 
MINTED MINISTER OF 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, 
DOMINIC LeBLANC, GIVING AN ELBOW
BUMP TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND 
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.
HE WILL SIGN THE BOOK AND MAKE 
IT OFFICIAL JUST LIKE CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND DID BEFORE HIM.
YOU'RE LOOKING INSIDE RIDEAU 
HALL FOR THE SWEARING-IN 
CEREMONY, FOR TWO MINISTERS WHO 
TAKE ON ADDITIONAL AND/OR 
DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND AS TO HER 
POSITION AS DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER THE FINANCE MINISTER OF
FINANCE.
>> [SPEAKING FRENCH]. 
>> Vassy: HERE WE SEE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL, JULIE PAYETTE,
PLAYING HER ROLE IN THIS 
CEREMONY.
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL HAS BEEN 
UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY FOLLOWING
A SERIES OF REPORTS FROM MY 
COLLEAGUES ASHLEY BURKE AROUND 
HER SECURITY DETAIL AND COSTS 
THAT HER OFFICE HAS INCURRED FOR
PRIVACY MEASURES AND A WHOLE 
HOST OF OTHER BEHAVIOURS TO 
EMPLOYEES.
AN INTERESTING SETTING AT RIDEAU
HALL.
SHE PLAYS A BIG PART IN THIS 
CEREMONY.
>> THE PRIME MINISTER WILL NOW 
SIGN THE OATH BOOK.
>> Vassy: HERE IS THE PRIME 
MINISTER, DOING HIS START TO 
MAKE THIS TRANSITION OFFICIAL.
OF COURSE, IT COMES ON THE HEELS
OF A CONTROVERSIAL NUMBER OF 
WEEKS INVOLVING NOW OFFICIALLY 
FORMER FINANCE MINISTER BILL 
MORNEAU.
YESTERDAY MR. MORNEAU TOLD THE 
PRIME MINISTER, ACCORDING TO 
MR. MORNEAU, THAT HE WAS 
RESIGNING TO PURSUE ANOTHER 
OPPORTUNITY, THAT HE DIDN'T FEEL
THAT HE WAS THE APPROPRIATE 
PERSON FOR THE JOB ANYMORE AND 
VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER -- 
>> THE CLERK OF THE PRIVY 
COUNCIL WILL NOW SIGN THE OATH 
BOOK.
>> Vassy: AS THE CEREMONY 
CONTINUES, I WANT TO LET YOU 
KNOW, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT 
THE PRIME MINISTER, ALONG WITH 
MINISTER FREELIED AND MINISTER 
LeBLANC WILL MAKE COMMENTS TO 
THE MEDIA, TAKING QUESTIONS FROM
REPORTERS.
LOTS OF QUESTIONS AROUND THIS 
CABINET SHUFFLE AND WHAT 
PRECEDED IT.
A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT 
LED TO MR. MORNEAU'S 
RESIGNATION.
MR. MORNEAU PRESENTED HIS 
REASONS TO REPORTERS LAST 
EVENING.
>> TO CONCLUDE THE CEREMONY, 
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING
THE MEMBERS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH] 
[APPLAUSE]. 
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT 
RIDEAU HALL TODAY.
MAY I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RISE 
FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL, THE PRIME 
MINISTER, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
MINISTRY.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]. 
>> Vassy: AND THAT CONCLUDES A 
BRIEF BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT 
CABINET SHUFFLE HERE IN THE 
NATION'S CAPITAL, LEAVING THE 
BUILDING THERE BEHIND THE 
GOVERNOR-GENERAL, JULIE PAYETTE,
IS THE PRIME MINISTER, ALONGSIDE
HIS WIFE, SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE 
TRUDEAU, AND THEN DOMINIC 
LeBLANC, THE NEW MINISTER OF 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, 
FOLLOWED BY SOME MEMBERS OF 
THEIR FAMILIES.
IT WAS SPARSELY ATTENDED.
THIS WAS A CABINET SHUFFLE IN 
THE ERA OF A PANDEMIC.
YOU COULD SEE THE VISUAL 
REPRESENTATION OF THAT.
STANDING BESIDE ME WATCHING THAT
UNHOLD ARE MY COLLEAGUES DAVID 
COCHRANE, CHRIS HALL, AND ROB 
RUSSO.
DAVID, NO SURPRISE THERE.
YOU CONFIRMED THIS FOR A NUMBER 
OF HOURS.
CERTAINLY A SIGHT TO SEE.
>> David: IT WAS A STERILE 
CEREMONY.
NORMALLY THERE ARE BIG HUGS AND 
HANDSHAKES.
THERE WERE NO REAL OBVIOUS SIGNS
OF JOY, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE 
CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES 
UNDER WHICH THIS IS HAPPENING.
THE ABRUPT DEPARTURE OF BILL 
MORNEAU AND NOW THE SCRAMBLE TO 
REVAMP THE CABINET AND REBUILD 
IT.
WE KNOW WHO THE FINANCE MINISTER
IS AND WHO'S TAKEN THE 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL JOB.
WHAT DOES PROROGATION MEAN FOR 
THE We CHARITY INVESTIGATION.
WE KEEP ASKING.
WE KEEP GETTING TOLD THAT THE 
PRIME MINISTER WILL MAKE ALL OF 
THIS CLEAR AT 3:30 WHEN HE 
SPEAKS AT WEST BLOCK AND NO ONE 
WANTS TO SCOOP OR PRE-EMPT HIM 
ON WHAT HE WILL SEE.
THE DETAILS OF THE PROROGATION 
PLAN AND WHAT THAT DOES TO THE 
ETHICS INVESTIGATION, WE'LL HAVE
THAT IN AN HOUR.
>> Vassy: OUR AUDIENCE WILL HAVE
THAT IN AN HOUR.
CHRIS, YOU'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF 
SWEARING-INS THROUGH YOUR 
CAREER.
WHAT STUCK OUT FOR YOU IN THIS 
ONE IN. 
>> Chris: WELL, A COUPLE OF 
THINGS.
OBVIOUSLY THE SIZE OF IT.
I SAW THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND IN THE 
BACKGROUND.
THAT'S THE LIMIT FOR WHAT THEY 
PUT ON IN TERMS OF INVITATIONS 
TO THIS.
LOOKING AHEAD, A COUPLE OF 
THINGS THAT I THINK ARE 
IMPORTANT TO WEIGH.
WILL CHRYSTIA FREELAND PROVE TO 
BE SOMEONE WHO IS IN LOCK STEP 
COMPLETELY WITH THE PRIME 
MINISTER WHEN IT COMES TO LAYING
OUT A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 
RECOVERY AND PRIORITIES IN 
SEEING THIS TRANSFORMATIVE 
CHANGE, INVESTING IN CHILD CARE 
AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND WAS POPULAR 
AND RESPECTED.
DOUG FORD, THE PREMIER OF 
ONTARIO, TALKED ABOUT HIS REAL 
JOY IN WORKING WITH HER AND THE 
FAIRNESS SHE BROUGHT TO THE 
TABLE.
DOMINIC LeBLANC HAS BEEN IN THIS
POSITION BEFORE.
HE'S A LONG-TIME FRIEND OF THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE 
WHAT TYPE OF ROLE HE ADOPTS FOR 
HIMSELF, AS THEY ADDRESS 
PARTICULARLY THE HEALTH CARE 
ISSUES FROM THE PANDEMIC.
>> Vassy: THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL 
AFFAIRS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE 
DOUG FORD WAS ASKED ABOUT 
FREELAND'S APPOINTMENT TO THIS 
ROLE.
YOU WOULD THINK THERE'S NO 
BIGGER FAN OF CHRYSTIA FREELAND 
THAN DOUG FORD.
HE HAD NOTHING BAD TO SAY.
HE SAID THERE'S NO BETTER PERSON
FOR THE ROLE.
HE WANTS MONEY FOR TRANSIT.
SHE HAD SMOOTHED OVER SOME 
PARTICULARLY TOUGH BRIDGES TO 
SMOOTH OVER, WITH JASON KENNEY 
IN ALBERTA AND DOUG FORD IN 
ONTARIO FOLLOWING A TUMULTUOUS 
ELECTION.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE 
HOW DOMINIC LeBLANC HANDLES ALL 
OF THIS.
ROB, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST 
TWO PEOPLE THAT THE PRIME 
MINISTER SELECTED TO TRY AND 
TURN THE PAGE ON WHAT HAPPENED 
WITH THE FINANCE MINISTER AND 
EVERYTHING THAT PRECEDED IT, 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOMINIC LeBLANC
AND CHRYSTIA FREELAND, WHAT 
STICKS OUT TO YOU, WHAT SHOULD 
WE KNOW ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP
TO THIS PRIME MINISTER?
>> Rob: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT 
THEY WILL BE CALLED UPON TO BE 
THE CHALLENGE FUNCTION THAT'S 
BEEN MISSING DURING THE We 
SCANDAL.
PEOPLE THE PRIME MINISTER CAN 
TURN TO AND SAY, OKAY, PAY ME 
THE COMPLIMENT OF BEING BLUNT.
WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG, TELL ME,
I'M LISTENING.
THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT 
FUNCTIONS TO EXERCISE.
VERY IMPORTANT IN A CABINET 
SYSTEM.
HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THERE IN THE 
LAST CABINET.
I'M STRUCK ABOUT ONE OTHER 
THING.
WE TALKED ABOUT DOMINIC 
LeBLANC'S CHALLENGE, IT'S TRUE.
EVEN PUBLIC SERVANTS AROUND THE 
PREMIERS ARE SURPRISED AND 
DELIGHTED BY THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO 
PROVINCIAL NEEDS IN THE FORM OF 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND.
THAT WILL BE A TOUGH ACT TO 
FOLLOW.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND ALSO HAS A 
CHALLENGE, NOT JUST A FISCAL AND
ECONOMIC CHALLENGE, WE'LL GET TO
THAT IN A SECOND, BUT SHE HAS A 
CHALLENGE IN HER GOVERNMENT.
PART OF THE CRITICISM LEVELLED 
AT MORNEAU WAS HE WAS NOT A 
BRIDGE BUILDER WHEN IT CAME TO 
CAUCUS.
I'M NOT SURE THE SAME ACCUSATION
CAN'T BE LEVELLED AGAINST MADAM 
FREELAND.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANTED MORE
ACCESS TO HER AND FELT THEY 
DIDN'T GET ENOUGH.
THAT WILL BE A SCENARIO WE WILL 
BE WATCHING.
IF SHE HAS AMBITIONS BEYOND 
BEING THE MINISTER OF 
EVERYTHING, SHE WILL HAVE TO 
WORK ON THAT.
THE LAST THING I WAS STRUCK BY 
TODAY, THIS IS NOT THE WAY THESE
PEOPLE ANTICIPATED COMING BACK.
THE PRIME MINISTER WAS ON 
VACATION.
HE CAME BACK AND HIS FINANCE 
MINISTER RESIGNED.
WE SHOULDN'T FORGET THAT THIS 
MOMENT WAS BORN OUT OF A 
POLITICAL CRISIS, AN ECONOMIC 
CRISIS, A HEALTH CRISIS.
THIS IS NOT OVER.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF VERY, VERY 
DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD OF THEM. 
>> Vassy: I THINK IT'S GOOD TO 
UNDERSCORE, DAVID, THAT THIS WAS
CEREMONIAL AND INTERESTING TO 
LOOK AT, GIVEN THAT IT'S IN THE 
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEING 
STERILE AND A LITTLE BIT 
DIFFERENT IN ITS FEEL, IT 
REMINDED ME THE CABINET SHUFFLES
THAT OCCURRED IN S.N.C. AND 
OTHER ONES.
THESE ARE NOT BY CHOICE, BUT 
FORCED IN A WAY BY HIS OWN DOING
OR OTHERWISE THE PRIME MINISTER 
AND THERE IS THAT FEELING TO 
THEM.
THERE WAS ALSO STUFF AT PLAY 
CLEARLY THAT LED TO THIS EVENT. 
>> David: HE CAME BACK.
HIS FIRST DAY BACK AT SCHOOL AND
THE FINANCE MINISTER SAID HE'S 
LEAVING, HE QUIT.
AND FORCED THESE CHANGES.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE DOMINIC LeBLANC
BACK AND LOOKING HEALTHY.
THE INTERESTING THING, YOU 
TALKED ABOUT DOUG FORD WHO 
APPEARS TO HAVE A PICTURE OF 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND IN HIS LOCKER.
THERE'S THAT AFFECTION AND 
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING THERE.
SHE HAS BEEN AT THE WEEKLY CALLS
WITH THE PREMIERS.
SHE'S GOING TO MOVE TO THE 
FINANCE TABLE.
THAT WILL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE
SHE'LL BE A BIG PART OF 
REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP 
WHICH SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF
THAT.
NOW SHE HAS THE PURSE STRINGS.
ALSO, DOMINIC LeBLANC IS SOMEONE
WHO WORKS WELL WITH -- ON A 
BASIC POLITICAL LEVEL.
HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST 
HANDSHAKING OR ELBOW BUMPING AS 
IT IS NOW NETWORKING POLITICAL 
OPERATIVES IN THE CABINET.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO 
HAVE IN TERMS OF SMOOTHING OVER 
RELATIONS.
ONE OF THE SUCCESSES OF THE 
PANDEMIC RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE 
LACK OF FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL 
PARTISANSHIP.
IT'S BEEN SET ASIDE TO ENABLE 
THEM TO MOVE TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT BEEN PERFECT, BUT THE 
INFIGHTING THAT COULD HAVE 
DERAILED IT WAS NOT THERE.
BACK TO THE POINT OF FREELAND 
NOT BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE 
CAUCUS IS TRUE, BUT SHE'S ALSO 
NOT BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE 
GOVERNMENT.
>> Vassy: NO INVESTIGATION.
>> David: SHE HANDLED TRUMP, 
FORD, KENNEY, AND MOE.
SHE MAY NOT BE TOUCHY-FEELY AND 
ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE, BUT SHE 
CARRIES A VENEER OF CONFIDENCE 
WITH A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS.
>> Vassy: IT'S INTERESTING THAT 
THE MIGHT OR INCREASED MIGHT OF 
CAUCUS THROUGHOUT -- AS COMPARED
TO I GUESS IN THE LAST MANDATE, 
WHERE THEY STILL DID EXERCISE 
SOME MIGHT, BUT IN A MINORITY 
SITUATION, AS THE GOVERNMENT 
FINDS ITSELF IN NOW OR THE 
LIBERALS FIND THEMSELVES IN NOW,
THAT THERE IS THAT PRESSURE THAT
BILL MORNEAU FACED AND PERHAPS 
MINISTER FREELAND WILL FACE TO 
SMOOTH THINGS OVER AND MAKE THAT
EXTRA EFFORT WITH CAUCUS.
>> Chris: JUST REMEMBER, THE 
FINANCE MINISTER ONLY AN HOUR 
BEFORE HE APPEARED IN FRONT OF 
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE INFORMED 
THE PRIME MINISTER THAT HE HAD 
TO CUT A CHEQUE FOR $41,000 FOR 
TRAVEL EXPENSES.
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE 
FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS IN HIS 
STATEMENT.
THAT CEMENTED THE IDEA THAT HE 
WAS NOT A REGULAR ATTENDEE AT 
CAUCUS.
THE FLIP SIDE FOR CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND IS SHE'S AN EFFECTIVE 
COMMUNICATOR.
THE OTHER KNOCK AGAINST BILL 
MORNEAU IS HE WASN'T POLITICAL 
AND GOOD AT GIVING NON-SCRIPTED 
ANSWERS IN INTERVIEWS.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND HAS POLITICAL 
CAPITAL AND MONEY TO SPEND.
SHE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE 
DECISIONS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T 
REQUIRE THE RUNNING IT PAST THE 
PRIME MINISTER AND HIS STAFF AND
THE CONTROL THAT HE'S EXECUTED 
OVER THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES.
>> Vassy: ROB, A FINAL QUESTION 
TO YOU.
IF A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT 
TURNING THE PAGE OR ATTEMPTING 
TO TURN THE PAGE ON THE 
CONTROVERSY THAT ULTIMATELY LED 
TO WHAT HAPPENED LESS THAN 24 
HOURS AGO WITH THE RESIGNATION 
OF THE FINANCE MINISTER, HOW FAR
DO YOU THINK THIS GOES?
>> Rob: NOT VERY FAR.
WE HAVE A DOCUMENT DUMP COMING 
THIS WEEK.
UNLESS THERE'S PROROGATION, 
THOSE DOCUMENTS WILL BE COMING.
THE ETHICS COMMISSIONER WILL 
CONTINUE TO WORK AND SUBMIT HIS 
REPORT.
THE FINANCE MINISTER AND THE 
PRIME MINISTER ESSENTIALLY 
ADMITTED THEY BROKE THE ETHICS 
LAW.
THIS WON'T GO AWAY.
WHETHER OR NOT THE STENCH OF 
THAT FILLS THE NOSTRILS OF 
VOTERS ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO 
GET RID OF THE LIBERAL PARTY.
>> Vassy: YOU HAVE A WAY WITH 
WORDS.
I MISSPOKE AND SAID THE 
RESIGNATION OF THE PRIME 
MINISTER AND NOT THE FINANCE 
MINISTER.
I AM GOING TO TAKE A QUICK 
BREAK.
WE ARE STANDING BY TO TAKE YOU 
LIVE TO A PRESS CONFERENCE FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER IN LESS THAN 
AN HOUR'S TIME HERE ON 
PARLIAMENT HILL.
I'M
[♪♪♪] 
>> I, CHRYSTIA FREELAND, DO 
SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY PROMISE 
AND SWEAR THAT I WILL TRULY AND 
FAITHFULLY AND TO THE BEST OF MY
SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE EXECUTE THE 
POWERS AND TRUST REPOSED IN ME 
AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND 
MINISTER OF FINANCE SO HELP ME 
GOD.
[APPLAUSE]. 
>> I DOMINIC LeBLANC DO SOLEMNLY
AND SINCERELY PROMISE AND SWEAR 
THAT I WILL TRULY AND FAITHFULLY
AND TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND 
KNOWLEDGE EXECUTE THE POWERS AND
TRUST REPOSED IN ME AS PRESIDENT
OF THE QUEEN'S PRIVY COUNCIL OF 
CANADA AND MINISTER OF 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, SO 
HELP ME GOD.
[APPLAUSE]. 
>> Vassy: WELCOME BACK TO "POWER
& POLITICS".
I'M VASSY KAPELOS.
DON'T ADJUST YOUR CLOCK.
YOU'RE WATCHING A SPECIAL 
EDITION OF OUR SHOW BECAUSE IT'S
A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DAY IN 
OTTAWA AND ON PARLIAMENT HILL.
IN THAT BUILDING, RIDEAU HALL, 
JUST MOMENTS AGO AS YOU'RE 
LOOKING AT ON YOUR SCREEN, 
DOMINIC LeBLANC AND CHRYSTIA 
FREELAND BOTH TOOK ON NEW 
PORTFOLIOS.
THAT WAS THE SWEARING-IN 
CEREMONY.
ALL OF THIS ON THE HEELS OF THE 
RESIGNATION OF BILL MORNEAU LAST
EVENING.
LOTS OF REACTION TRICKLING IN 
AND MANY CONSEQUENCES.
WE'RE STANDING BY TO BRING YOU 
LIVE AS WELL IN LESS THAN AN 
HOUR TO A PRESS CONFERENCE THE 
PRIME MINISTER IS HOLDING ON 
PARLIAMENT HILL AS WELL.
WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU AS IT 
HAPPENS.
LET'S GET MORE REACTION TO THE 
CABINET SHUFFLE AS WELL AS BILL 
MORNEAU'S RESIGNATION.
SHAKIR CHAMBERS IS JOINING US 
FROM TORONTO.
A FORMER M.P. FRANCOIS DUBE IS 
ALSO JOINING US.
HIGH, EVERYONE.
GREAT TO SEE YOU.
ELLIOT, I'M GOING TO START WITH 
YOU BECAUSE YOU SPENT TIME 
WORKING WITH THE MAN AT THE 
CENTRE OF ALL THIS, BILL 
MORNEAU.
HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU OR WERE 
YOU AT ALL SURPRISED BY THE 
RESIGNATION YESTERDAY?
>> LOOK, THE NEWS TRICKLING OUT 
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS 
WASN'T GREAT FOR BILL.
I SUPPOSE IT WASN'T TOO GREAT A 
SURPRISE.
HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED AND WHAT 
HAPPENED AND TRANSPIRED SINCE 
THEN I SUPPOSE YOU CAN SAY HAS 
BEEN SOMETHING.
I DID WORK WITH HIM FOR A COUPLE
OF YEARS.
BILL WAS A GREAT GUY, GREAT TO 
WORK FOR, STRATEGIC THINKER.
HIS FAMILY GAVE UP A LOT FOR HIM
TO WORK IN GOVERNMENT AND IN 
POLITICS.
IT'S NOT AN EASY GAME, BUT HE 
GOT INTO THIS TO HELP CANADIANS.
HE DID THAT WITH SOME BIG PIECES
AND WAS SUCCESSFUL THAT WAY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN ALL 
AGREE THAT BILL WASN'T REALLY 
ONE WHO LOVED POLITICS THAT MUCH
AND SORT OF PUT UP WITH IT IN A 
WAY TO GET SOME OF THE BIG STUFF
DONE THAT HE DID.
OBVIOUSLY A BIG COUPLE OF DAYS 
WITH CHRYSTIA FREELAND COMING IN
AS WELL, A HISTORIC DAY REALLY 
WITH THE FIRST FEMALE FINANCE 
MINISTER IN THE POST.
AN INTERESTING COUPLE OF DAYS, 
AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE 
AT 3:30 FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> Vassy: I JUST WANTED TO 
QUICKLY ASK YOU A FOLLOW UP 
AROUND THE REPORTING OVER THE 
LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
WHEN YOU WERE THERE WORKING FOR 
MINISTER MORNEAU, DID YOU HAVE A
SENSE THAT THERE WERE THESE BIG 
POLICY RISKS OR GAPS ON ISSUES 
LIKE THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT?
>> RIFTS IS MAYBE OVERSTATING 
IT.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A 
FINANCE MINISTER AND A PRIME 
MINISTER CAN ALWAYS INVOLVE 
HEALTHY TENSION AND A BACK AND 
FORTH AND DISAGREEMENTS.
BILL CAME FROM A BUSINESS 
BACKGROUND, WAS OBVIOUSLY A 
LITTLE BIT MORE FISCALLY 
CONSERVATIVE THAN PERHAPS THE 
PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE CABINET THAT CAME IN, IN 
2015.
THERE WAS NATURALLY GOING TO BE 
SOME BACK AND FORTH ON THE 
DEFICIT SPENDING AND SO ON.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK BACK AND SEE
WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHES AND WHAT HE
WAS WILLING TO DO.
THE C.C.B., THE C.P.P., ALL BIG 
PROJECTS.
I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING THEY 
ENDED UP IN THE SAME PLACE.
>> Vassy: SHAKIR, YOUR THOUGHTS 
ON WHAT WE SHOWED AT THE TOP OF 
THE SEGMENT.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND IS NOT ONLY 
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, BUT 
ALSO THE FINANCE MINISTER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE 
SELECTION AND THE CHANGES?
>> I THINK IN TERMS OF MINISTER 
FREELAND HAS BEEN THE MOST 
EFFECTIVE IF NOT THE ONLY 
EFFECTIVE MINISTER IN TRUDEAU'S 
GOVERNMENT.
I CAN PLAY POLITICS, BUT IT'S A 
GOOD CHOICE.
SHE'S HAD SOME TOUGH FILES, 
WHETHER DEALING WITH TRUMP IN 
THE U.S. OR THE PROVINCES.
IF YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME SHE 
WOULD HAVE BEEN 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PORTFOLIO, I 
WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT THAT WOULD
HAPPEN.
NOW SHE HAS THE TOOLS TO PROVIDE
THEM WITH THE SPENDING AND THE 
SUPPORT THEY NEED.
ULTIMATELY, I THINK THIS BODES 
WELL FOR TRUDEAU.
AS FAR AS TRYING TO RESET, WE'LL
SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
PRIME MINISTER IS BETTING THAT 
SHE WILL KICK THIS PROBLEM, AS 
FAR AS THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY 
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> Vassy: ON A RESET, I'M 
WONDERING WHAT YOUR TAKE OR 
PERSPECTIVE IS ON IT.
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY THAT THESE
SHIFTS OR CHANGES MIGHT INFORM 
OR AFFECT A POTENTIAL RESET?
>> Interview: I'M NOT SO SURE IF
I WOULD QUALIFY THIS AS A RESET.
I HAD TWO WORDS THAT CAME TO 
MIND WHEN I HEARD ABOUT CHRYSTIA
FREELAND AND DOMINIC LeBLANC, 
WHICH WAS LOYALTY AND 
CONGENIALITY.
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU WENT TO 
HIS TWO MOST LOYAL PEOPLE ON HIS
FRONT BENCH.
AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE TO 
WONDER WHAT TYPE OF DEPTH THAT 
FRONT BENCH HAS.
FOR ANY JOB YOU HAVE TO GO TO 
DOMINIC LeBLANC, WHO JUST 
BATTLED THE BIGGEST THING IN HIS
LIFE.
I'M SO GLAD -- ONE OF MY BEST 
MOMENTS WAS TO SEE DOMINIC 
LeBLANC AT THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 
TODAY.
ALTHOUGH I'M HAPPY THAT A WOMAN 
BECOMES THE FIRST MINISTER OF 
FINANCE FOR THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS IS SUCH A 
GOOD GUY AND A TRUSTWORTHY 
PERSON TO THE PRIME MINISTER.
I THINK FOR PRIME MINISTER 
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, I'M NOT SURE 
IT'S ABOUT RESET.
BUT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN 
UNFOLDING IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS,
LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES, OUTSIDE
THE AIR I WOULD ASK HIM, DID YOU
BELIEVE EVERY WORD THE 
EX-MINISTER OF FINANCE WAS 
GIVING FOR STEPPING DOWN.
I'M SURE IF THE We SITUATION 
HADN'T HAPPENED, WE WOULD NOT BE
THERE.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN THOSE RIFTS.
I THINK THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO 
WERE PLAYING GAMES IN THAT 
ASPECT.
THAT'S WHY I THINK PRIME 
MINISTER TRUDEAU NEEDED TWO SAFE
PEOPLE TO GO TO TO CONTINUE IN 
THIS SHIFT.
FOR THE RESET, I THINK THEY'RE 
NOT YET THERE.
I THINK THEY WILL HAVE TO THINK 
ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY
OPTIONS OPEN IN DIFFERENT 
DIRECTIONS, SECOND WAVE, 
DEFICIT.
GOOD LUCK TO CHRYSTIA FREELAND 
BECAUSE ALL HER OTHER FILES ARE 
CHUMP CHANGE COMPARED TO WHAT 
LIES AHEAD AND I DO HOPE SHE'S 
UP TO THE TASK.
>> Vassy: MY GUESS IS THERE WILL
BE QUESTIONS ON WHAT YOU TOUCHED
ON, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE 
REASONING OF THE RESIGNATION OF 
BILL MORNEAU IS CONCERNED FROM 
THE PRIME MINISTER.
WE HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER ON HOW THAT WENT 
DOWN.
BILL MORNEAU WAS SPECIFIC THAT 
HE WAS NOT TOLD TO RESIGN, BUT 
THAT HE TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER.
ALL OF THESE POLICY CLEAVAGES 
LEADS PEOPLE TO THE CONCLUSION 
THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE WHOLE
STORY.
I GUESS THE WHOLE STORY IS THE 
RIGHT WAY TO PUT IT.
ELLIOT, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT
OF EXPERIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT 
ITSELF.
WHEN YOU SEE THE SELECTION OF 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND, WHAT ARE YOU 
THINKING OF?
>> I THINK SHE'S WELL SET UP TO 
DO A GREAT JOB AS FINANCE 
MINISTER.
WE'VE SEEN HER RISE TO THE 
OCCASION, WHETHER DEALING WITH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, DEALING WITH 
CONSERVATIVE PREMIERS, EVEN SOME
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS 
BEFORE SHE HAD TO DEAL WITH 
NAFTA.
SHE HAS SUCCEEDED EVERY TIME.
THOSE SKILLS AND THAT EXPERIENCE
SHE HAS PICKED UP ARE GOING TO 
SERVE HER EXTREMELY WELL.
YOU BECOME THE 
NEGOTIATOR-IN-CHIEF WHEN YOU'RE 
THE FINANCE MINISTER.
YOU'RE THE POINT PERSON WITH THE
PURSE STRINGS.
YOU DECIDE WHO GETS THE MONEY.
THERE IS A BIG NEED FOR MONEY 
RIGHT NOW.
SHE IS VERY ALIGNED WITH THE 
PRIME MINISTER.
THEY'RE SYMPATICO IN HER 
THINKING.
IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH TO
SEE HOW SHE DIFFERENTIATES 
HERSELF FROM THE PRIME MINISTER 
IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.
SHE IS WELL POSITIONED TO 
SUCCEED IN THAT ROLE.
WHILE IT IS A TALL TASK AT ANY 
TIME, PARTICULARLY IN A 
PANDEMIC, SHE HAS ALL THE SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO 
SUCCEED.
>> Vassy: IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES' 
TIME WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO HEAR
FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A PODIUM SET 
UP.
WE ANTICIPATE THE PRIME MINISTER
ALONGSIDE MINISTER FREELAND AND 
LeBLANC, THEY WILL TAKE 
QUESTIONS FROM ROTTERS ABOUT THE
RESIGNATION OF BILL MORNEAU AND 
THE SUBSEQUENT CABINET SHUFFLE.
SHAKIR, I WANTED TO ASK YOU 
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF 
PROROGATION AND OFFICIAL RESET.
LOTS OF QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW 
ABOUT HOW LONG THAT WOULD BE AND
THAT WILL DETERMINE HOW THE 
OPPOSITION WILL REACT TO THIS.
WILL IT BE A SHUTDOWN UNTIL 
OCTOBER OR A COUPLE OF DAYS 
ALLOWING A RESET.
WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE 
OPPOSITION'S REACTION WILL BE 
LIKE?
>> I'M NOT SURE ON THE REACTION.
I KNOW TRUDEAU, BEFORE HE BECAME
PRIME MINISTER, HE CRITICIZED 
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE USE OF 
PROROGATION.
HE HAD A STATEMENT THAT HE 
WOULDN'T USE PROROGATION TO GET 
OUT OF POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES 
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT HERE.
AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THIS 
PROVIDES THEM WITH A CHANCE TO 
CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.
PROROGATION COMES WITH A LOT OF 
LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS, SUCH AS 
ENDING COMMITTEES, CUTTING OFF 
BILLS GOING FORWARD AT THE TIME.
SO I THINK ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO SEE HAPPENING IS 
THEY'RE GOING TO PROROGUE, COME 
BACK, SET AN AGENDA AND STATE 
WHAT THEIR VIEWS ARE.
ULTIMATELY YOU WILL SEE THE 
N.D.P. SIDING WITH THEM.
THE CONSERVATIVES AND AS THE 
BLOC HAS SAID, THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPENS, THE 
LIBERALS WILL SET THEMSELVES ON 
THE AGENDA.
THAT WILL CONTRAST WITH THE 
OTHER PARTIES.
THAT SETS YOU UP FOR A SPRING 
ELECTION IF THAT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN.
WE HAVE CLEAR VIEWPOINTS ON 
WHERE WE STAND AND WE HAVE THE 
LIBERALS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO 
MOVE FORWARD WITH ON THEIR 
AGENDA.
>> Vassy: WOULD THE N.D.P. HAVE 
AN OBJECTION TO THE PROROGATION.
FRANCOISE, I'LL GET YOU TO WEIGH
IN.
COMMITTEES THAT ARE STUDYING THE
RESIGNATION.
>> Interview: I REMEMBER THE 
PROROGATION BECAUSE I WAS A 
CANDIDATE FOR THE N.D.P. IN THE 
2008 ELECTION.
I REMEMBER THE SIGNS AND 
EVERYBODY BEING THERE.
THAT WAS THE WORST DAY, WORST 
THING IN DEMOCRACY AND SO ON AND
SO FORTH.
MANY LIBERALS PRESENT.
WE NEVER SHARED SO MANY IDEAS AS
THOSE DAYS.
ALL THIS SEEMS TO BE FORGOTTEN.
ONE OF YOUR PREVIOUS GUESTS WAS 
SAYING THEY DIDN'T PAY A BIG 
POLITICAL PRICE, THE 
CONSERVATIVES, FOR USING THAT 
STRATEGY BECAUSE THEY GOT 
RE-ELECTED.
MIND YOU, I THINK IT WAS A 
MINORITY GOVERNMENT, BUT STILL 
THEY GOT RE-ELECTED.
AS FOR THE LIBERALS DOING 
SOMETHING THAT THEY DESPISED 
BEFORE, THEY DESPISED TIME 
ALLOCATIONS.
I REMEMBER GETTING UP ON MY FEET
CONSTANTLY AGAINST THE 
CONSERVATIVES SAYING TIME 
ALLOCATION ON BILLS IS 
ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND MY 
COLLEAGUES SAYING THE SAME THING
AND WHO USED IT DURING THIS 
LEGISLATURE AND THE PREVIOUS 
ONE, MOSTLY THE PREVIOUS ONE, 
WAS THE LIBERALS.
THAT'S ONE THING SADLY I LEARNED
IN POLITICS IS THAT THERE ARE 
POLITICIANS WHO SAY THINGS AND 
THEN THEY DO AN AU CONTRAIR IF 
IT SERVES THEIR PURPOSE.
YOU WILL SEE MANY OF THE 
OPPOSITION PARTIES SAYING IT'S 
ANTI-DEMOCRATIC.
IF ANYBODY BUYS THE IDEA THAT IT
IS FOR RESETTING THE AGENDA AND 
THAT THEY HAVE NOT YET STARTED 
THINKING ABOUT IT WITH ALL THE 
COMMITTEES THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
HAS ON PRIORITIES AND THIS AND 
THAT, I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, IT 
WOULD BE TO REALLY MAKE SURE 
THAT THE COMMITTEE STOPS.
WILL THEY PAY A PRICE FOR IT?
I BET YOU NOT.
WHY?
PARENTS ARE THINKING BACK TO 
SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER.
WHATEVER.
IF THEY PROROGUE IN SEPTEMBER 
AND COME BACK LATER.
THIS WILL MAKE US HAVING LOTS 
MORE TO SAY ON NEXT SHOWS, BUT 
I'M NOT SURE AT THAT POINT IN 
TIME THE PUBLIC WILL LISTEN. 
>> Vassy: OF COURSE THEY'LL 
LISTEN.
YOU'LL BE TALKING ON THIS SHOW.
I SHOULD SAY THAT WE DON'T KNOW 
EXACTLY WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER 
WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN IT COMES TO 
PROROGATION.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS.
IT COULD HAPPEN NOW AND LAST 
UNTIL THEY DECIDE TO DELIVER THE
THRONE SPEECH.
WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE 
PRIME MINISTER AT ABOUT 3:30 
EASTERN.
I'M SURE WE WILL GET THE DETAILS
THERE AND THERE WILL BE 
QUESTIONS THERE.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK 
ON "POWER & POLITICS".
THE POWER PANEL WILL STAND BY.
WE ARE AWAITING THE PRIME 
MINISTER AND THE NEW FINANCE 
MINISTER CHRYSTIA FREELAND AND 
MINISTER OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL 
AFFAIRS,
[♪♪♪] 
>> Vassy: WELCOME BACK TO 
SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S 
CABINET SHUFFLE HERE ON CBC NEWS
NETWORK.
I'M VASSY KAPELOS.
I'M COMING TO YOU FROM OTTAWA, 
OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
THE CABINET SHUFFLE TOOK PLACE 
JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING REMARKS FROM
BOTH NEW MINISTERS.
THEY TAKE ON NEW PORTFOLIOS, 
CHRYSTIA FREELAND AND DOMINIC 
LeBLANC, ALONGSIDE THE PRIME 
MINISTER AT ABOUT 3:30 EASTERN.
THIS ALL OF COURSE FOLLOWS THE 
RESIGNATION OF BILL MORNEAU LAST
EVENING.
AT 7:00 HE CAME OUT TO REPORTERS
AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS 
STEPPING AWAY FROM THE ROLE OF 
FINANCE MINISTER FOLLOWING A 
MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.
HE TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER AT 
THAT MEETING THAT HE WOULD BE 
RESIGNING AND LOOKING TO RUN FOR
A POSITION WITH THE 
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE OECD.
I WANT TO PLAY YOU SOME REACTION
TO BOTH BILL MORNEAU'S DECISION 
TO RESIGN.
FIRST UP A CLIP FROM PIERRE 
POILIÈVRE, THE CONSERVATIVE 
PARTY'S FINANCE CRITIC.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> NOW, THE PRIME MINISTER IS 
WEAVING THIS MALARKEY ABOUT A 
POLICY DIFFERENCE.
THERE IS NO POLICY DIFFERENCE.
BOTH MEN HAVE AGREED IN FAVOUR 
OF HIGHER TAXES AND MONSTROUS 
DEFICITS THEIR ENTIRE TIME IN 
OFFICE.
THIS RECENTLY INVENTED REASON 
WAS MADE TO DETRACT FOR THE REAL
REASON.
MORNEAU WILL BE FOUND GUILTY FOR
A THIRD TIME OF VIOLATING THE 
ETHICS ACT.
TRUDEAU DIDN'T WANT SUCH A 
SCANDALOUS STORY.
THE REASON TRUDEAU HAS TO INVENT
THIS PHONY LINE ABOUT A POLICY 
DIFFERENCE IS HE KNOWS IF HE 
FIRES MORNEAU FOR BREAKING THE 
ETHICS ACT FOR A THIRD TIME, 
FROM ACCEPTING FREE GIFTS, THEN 
TRUDEAU HIMSELF WOULD HAVE TO 
RESIGN FOR EXACTLY THE SAME 
OFFENCES.
YOU SEE, IF TRUDEAU PUBLICLY 
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE'S SUCH A
THING AS THREE STRIKES AND 
YOU'RE OUT, THEN HE WOULD HAVE 
TO APPLY THE SAME THREE STRIKES 
TO HIMSELF WHICH WOULD BRING AN 
END TO HIS SCANDALOUS AND 
LAW-BREAKING CAREER.
SO WE HEAR THIS FICTION ABOUT 
POLICY DIFFERENCES AND WE ALL 
KNOW THAT IT WAS SCANDAL THAT 
BROUGHT MINISTER MORNEAU DOWN.
IN FACT, WE NOW HAVE A 
GOVERNMENT OF CORRUPTION, 
COVER-UP, AND CHAOS AT A TIME OF
A DEADLY PANDEMIC AND THE 
BIGGEST ECONOMIC COLLAPSE SINCE 
THE GREAT DEPRESSION. 
>> Vassy: THAT WAS PIERRE 
POILIÈVRE SPEAKING EARLIER TODAY
HERE IN OTTAWA.
HE'S THE FINANCE CRITIC FOR THE 
CONSERVATIVES.
A COUPLE OF POINTS TO DRAW OUT 
FROM WHAT HE SAID.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S CLEAR THAT 
THE OPPOSITION, OR THE 
CONSERVATIVES IN PARTICULAR, 
PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR CRITICISM
OF THE GOVERNMENT AROUND THE We 
CHARITY SCANDAL.
YOU HEARD MR. POILIÈVRE ABOUT 
ASSOCIATING THE ACTIONS OF BILL 
MORNEAU THROUGHOUT THE 
CONTROVERSY WITH THE PRIME 
MINISTER.
MR. POILIÈVRE DURING THAT PRESS 
CONFERENCE WAS ASKED A NUMBER OF
TIMES IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT
THE CONSERVATIVES WOULD TRY TO 
FORCE AN ELECTION OVER.
HE DIDN'T OFFER A DIRECT 
RESPONSE, BUT DIDN'T SAY THAT 
WAS IN THE WORKS.
THE PARTY CHOOSES A NEW LEADER 
THIS SUNDAY.
LIKELY THAT DECISION WILL BE 
LEFT UP TO HIM OR HER.
NO SHORTAGE OF CRITICISM THERE 
FOR THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE 
OPPOSITION.
THEY STILL HAVE YET TO REACTION 
TO THE NEWS AROUND PROROGATION, 
BUT WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO 
MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION A 
LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SHOW 
WHEN WE HEAR FROM THE PRIME 
MINISTER ON THAT ISSUE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER CLIP FROM THE 
LEADER OF THE N.D.P., JAGMEET 
SINGH, ALSO REACTING TO THE NEWS
OF BILL MORNEAU'S RESIGNATION.
LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT.
>> The Hon. Jagmeet Singh: I 
WANT TO CONGRATULATE 
MS. FREELAND AS BEING THE FIRST 
FEMALE FINANCE MINISTER.
THAT'S A BIG ACHIEVEMENT.
BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON HOW WE 
CAN GET HELP TO CANADIANS.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN AS A PATTERN OF 
BEHAVIOUR WITH THE LIBERAL 
GOVERNMENT, WHEN GIVEN THE 
CHANCE, THEY HELP THEMSELVES, 
CLOSE FRIENDS, GET CAUGHT UP IN 
SCANDALS AND THEY WASTE THAT 
TIME THAT COULD BE SPENT HELPING
CANADIANS AND CANADIANS PAY THE 
PRICE.
THAT'S MY FOCUS.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THE 
RESIGNATION OF THE FINANCE 
MINISTER CHANGES NOTHING.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN 
TERMS OF THE WAY THIS LIBERAL 
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WORKING.
I DON'T BUY THEIR EXPLANATION 
THAT NOW THE PRIME MINISTER IS 
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT HE 
WANTED TO DO.
HE HAD FIVE YEARS OF A MAJORITY 
GOVERNMENT.
IF HE WANTED TO GET SOMETHING 
DONE, HE COULD HAVE.
HE WAS AT THE CABINET TABLE.
THIS CHANGES NOTHING.
[PLEASE STAND BY]
-- SO THE MANDATE LETTERS AND
THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE,
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.
WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
GAME AND WE NEED TO -- AND THE
PRIME MINISTER NEEDS TO PUT IN
THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE RIGHT,
YOU KNOW, PLAYERS AND CABINET
MINISTERS IN THE RIGHT ROLES FOR
THE STRATEGY THAT HE WANTS TO
TAKE FORWARD.
HE'S DONE THAT TODAY WITH
APPOINTING FREELAND, MINISTER
FREELAND TO THE ROLE OF FINANCE
MINISTER AND THAT'S GOING TO BE
THE START.
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF
THERE'S POTENTIALLY ANOTHER MOVE
CLOSER TO -- IN SEPTEMBER,
CLOSER TO THE RESUMPTION OF
PARLIAMENT.
WHERE YOU GET OTHER CABINET
MINISTERS MOVING AROUND.
BECAUSE THIS IS THE GREAT RESET,
YOU KNOW, COVID HAS CHANGED
EVERYTHING AND, THEREFORE, IT
MAKES SENSE FOR THE GOVERNMENT
TO REFLECT THE CHANGES THAT ARE
TAKING PLACE AROUND THE COUNTRY,
TO PREPARE FOR THE ROAD AHEAD.
>> Vassy: AS FAR AS THE
POLITICS GO, SHAKIRA, WE
LISTENED TO WHAT PIERRE
POILIEVRE SAID AND THERE WAS NO
LESSENING OR DEFLATING OF THE
CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT
AROUND THE "WE" CHARITY
CONTROVERSY.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THE
CONSERVATIVES HAMMER IT AS MUCH
AS THEY HAVE, IS THAT A
POLITICALLY SOUND STRATEGY FROM
WHERE THEY SIT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO I WOULD SAY A FEW THINGS.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
TRUTH TO WHAT PIERRE POILIEVRE
SAID.
AND THIS NOTION THAT THERE WERE
POLICY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRIME
MINISTER TRUDEAU AND MINISTER OF
FINANCE MORNEAU.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I
WOULD CHALLENGE YOU TO SHOW ME
THESE DIFFERENCES OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING OF
THAT SORT.
TO SAY THAT'S A TRUE ARGUMENT TO
ME, IT'S A JOKE.
AND IF IT WAS ACTUALLY TRUE, WE
HAD AN ELECTION 10 MONTHS AGO.
IF THEY HAD ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENCES IN THE FIRST MANDATE
WITH THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT, WHY
DO WE APPOINT MINISTER MORNEAU
AS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND
WHY NOT GET RID OF HIM THEN?
WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU A FALSE
STORY TO HAVE THE TRUE REASON
WHY MR. MORNEAU IS STEPPING
DOWN.
AND FOR MR. MORNEAU TO SAY THAT
I'M STEPPING DOWN AS A FINANCE
MINISTER OF A G7 ECONOMY TO GO
RUN FOR THE CHAIR OF THE OECD?
THAT'S NOT BELIEVABLE, RIGHT?
SO THEY'RE PUTTING ALL OF THESE
STORIES FRONT AND CENTRE TO TRY
TO DISTRACT OUR ATTENTION FROM
THE REAL REASON.
AS PIERRE POILIEVRE SAID, IF
MORNEAU IS STEPPING DOWN BECAUSE
OF THE "WE" CHARITY IT ALSO
IMPLICATES JUSTIN TRUDEAU IN THE
SAME SITUATION AND YOU HAVE AND
YOURSELF WHY DOESN'T HE RESIGN,
RIGHT?
SO I THINK THAT WHEN YOU GET
THESE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS
THAT WILL GO TO THE "WE"
COMMITTEE, THE PROBLEM THAT THE
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT HAD IN THE
BEGINNING FROM THIS IS THEY
ALLOWED THIS STORY TO KIND OF
DRAG ON, DRAG ON, NEW
INFORMATION TRICKLING OUT AS THE
WEEKS PASS BY.
I THINK THAT AS YOU GET THESE
DOCUMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE IT'S
GOING TO BE THE SAME THING WITH
INFORMATION TRICKLING OUT VERY
SLOWLY.
AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE
REVEALED.
IF YOU HAD TOLD ME FOUR WEEKS
AGO THAT MR. MORNEAU WOULD BE
IMPLICATED IN THIS OR BE IN A
POSITION WHERE HE DIDN'T PAY
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A TRIP
PAID BY "WE", I WOULD NOT HAVE
BELIEVED THAT, RIGHT?
IT'S A GOOD SITUATION FOR THE
CONSERVATIVES TO HAMMER THIS
HOME.
THEY HAVE ONE WIN IN GETTING RID
OF MR. MORNEAU AND IF YOU
CONTINUE TO DIG DEEPER, WHO
KNOWS WHAT YOU WILL FIND NEXT --
BETWEEN WHAT IS HAPPENING
BETWEEN THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT
AND HANDING OUT THIS GRANT TO
THE "WE" CHARITY.
>> Vassy: FRANÇOIS, WHAT IS
YOUR TAKE ON THIS, FROM A
STRATEGIC POINT OF VIEW, AND WE
CAN GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE
MERITS OF WHAT HAPPENED, IS
THERE A RISK TO PURSUING THAT
STRATEGY IF THERE ISN'T MORE
INFORMATION THAT COMES OUT?
OR IS THE REWARD VERY GREAT IF
THERE IS, IN FACT, THIS TRICKLE
THAT SHAKIR POINTED TO, THIS
TRICKLE OF INFORMATION?
>> IF THE COMMITTEES CONTINUE
AND THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES ARE
REVIEWING ALL OF THE SITUATION,
THERE'S DOCUMENTS TO COME.
THERE'S MORE WITNESSES TO COME.
THAT IS WHY I SUSPECT THAT MY --
MY INSTINCT -- AND NOBODY WOULD
EVER CONFIRM WHAT I THINK, BUT I
SUSPECT THAT IS WHY THEY WILL
PROROGUE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU
SHUT DOWN COMMITTEES.
AND WHAT I READ IN A FEW MINUTES
AGO ON TWITTER FROM MONTRÉAL
"GAZETTE" THEY CLAIM THAT IT'S A
PROROGATION TO THE FALL SO
THAT'S MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE
DAYS TO RE-SET AND SO ON.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO MUZZLE THE
OPPOSITION.
SO LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THEY'LL
PROBABLY BE MAD ABOUT THE THING,
BUT TO BE MAD WHEN YOU'RE NOT
SITTING OFFICIALLY IN
COMMITTEE -- EVEN IF THEY MAKE
MOCK COMMITTEE, NOBODY PAYS
ATTENTION, DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME
VISIBILITY.
SO I THINK THAT THE WHOLE ORDEAL
WILL BE DEBATED IN A FUTURE
ELECTION AFTER THEY PROROGUE AND
THEY COME BACK AND THEY SHOW A
PLAN, AND IF THEY HAVE ONE, THEY
BETTER HAVE ONE, WHAT THEY'LL
WANT TO DO WITH THE FINANCE.
AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE SITUATION
IN SEPTEMBER, WITH
BACK-TO-SCHOOL, IF IT WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT ON THE SECOND WAVE AND
HOW WILL THE COUNTRY REACT TO
DIFFERENT PROVINCES AND THE
DIFFERENT PLANS, AND THE OPENING
AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO IT GIVES TIME TO THE
GOVERNMENT TO THEN TO HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO BREATHE DURING THIS
SUMMER.
NOBODY ASKED ANYBODY HERE AROUND
THIS AREA TO BREATHE THIS
SUMMER.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SUMMER SO
CRAZY WITH DIFFERENT THINGS
HAPPENING HERE AND THERE.
SO A PROROGATION IN A SENSE,
EVEN THOUGH DEMOCRATICALLY I'M
TOTALLY AGAINST IT, IT MIGHT BE
THE BREATHER THAT THIS
GOVERNMENT NEED, BECAUSE IT'S
NOT THE STEPPING DOWN OF THE
MINISTER OF FINANCE.
IMAGINE ON THE BIGGES PANDEMIC
GLOBALLY ON THE PLANET YOU LOSE
A MINISTER OF FINANCE, YOU PRO
YOUPROROGUE GOVERNMENT, AND THIS
THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT
WAS POSSIBLE IF YOU ASKED ME TWO
YEARS AGO, NEVER IN THE MIDDLE
OF AUGUST.
I WOULD SAY WHAT THE HELL ARE
YOU TALKING ABOUT.
[laughter]
>> Vassy: ELLIOTT, ON THE SAME
SUBJECT, LOOK, IF THE PRIME
MINISTER GETS UP AND WE HAVE THE
BOX ON THE CORNER OF EVERYONE'S
SCREEN SHOWING WHERE HE'S
EXPECTED TO SPEAK SHORTLY WITH
CHRYSTIA FREELAND AND DOMINIC
LeBLANC AROUND 3:30 EASTERN.
IF THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THAT
HE'S PROROGUING UNTIL THE FALL
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A
TECHNICAL ASPECT TO IT, BUT IF
THAT, IN FACT, HAPPENS AND THE
COMMITTEES ARE SHUT DOWN, MY BET
IS THAT FURTHER INFLAMES OR
PROVIDES OXYGEN TO WHAT WE
ALREADY SAW WAS A VERY AMPED UP
OPPOSITION.
>> PERHAPS.
I THINK THAT THE POINT HAS BEEN
MADE A COUPLE TIMES ON YOUR
PROGRAMME, YOU KNOW, BY VARIOUS
FOLKS.
FOR MOST CANADIANS WHAT THEY'RE
WORRIED ABOUT IS THE RETURN TO
SCHOOL.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
JOBS.
AND BUSINESSES ARE WORRIED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KEEPING OPEN.
SURE, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A DARK CLOUD MAYBE OVER
THIS "WE" SCANDAL IN OTTAWA, BUT
BY AND LARGE THEY'RE REALLY
WORRIED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST
MAKING IT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC
AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAD.
AND SO WHILE THE CAN APPRECIATE
THE OPPOSITION WANTING TO TURN
THIS INTO A MAJOR SCANDAL, SO
FAR IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT'S
A MAJOR SCANDAL IN TERMS OF
ANYTHING NEFARIOUS.
THERE WERE MISTAKES MADE, POOR
DECISIONS, CERTAINLY.
ANYTHING SORT OF ILLEGAL OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT IT DOESN'T
APPEAR TO BE THAT WHATSOEVER.
BUT THERE'S MORE DOCUMENTS TO
COME BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT
WAY SO FAR.
SO AS THE SUMMER UNFOLDS, PEOPLE
ARE GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FALL AND THE RETURN TO SCHOOL,
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT, AND THOSE
ARE THE THINGS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT
AND THEY NEED TO ADDRESS AND
MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY DID
IN THE BEGINNING EVER THE
PANDEMIC THAT -- OF THIS
PANDEMIC, THAT THEY'VE GOT THEIR
BACK AND THEY'LL BE THERE FOR
THEM NEXT MONTH AND NEXT YEAR
AND IN A COUPLE YEARS WITH THE
PROGRAMMES THEY PUT IN PLACE.
IF THEY FOCUS ON THAT
POLITICALLY, THEY'LL BE FINE.
EVENTUALLY THE ELECTION WILL
COME DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO
A GOOD JOB AND DO YOU WANT US TO
CONTINUE TO DOING THE JOB GOING
FORWARD.
OR DO YOU WANT TO HAVE, YOU
KNOW, PIERRE POILIEVRE AS YOUR
FINANCE MINISTER AND, YOU KNOW,
WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT
LEADER OF THE LIBERAL PARTY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
QUESTION THAT VOTERS ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.
SO POLITICALLY WHETHER THERE'S
PROROGATION OR NOT, I THINK THAT
IT IS LESS A CONCERN TO ME, IT'S
MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING
TO BE PROJECTING AND WHAT'S
THEIR PLAN GOING FORWARD TO SHOW
CANADIANS THEY SHOULD CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THE LIBERAL PARTY
GOING FORWARD.
>> Vassy: YEAH, A COUPLE
THINGS ON THAT END AND I WILL
BRING IN SHAKIR, I THINK THAT
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT
CANADIANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE PANDEMIC AND THEIR
BUSINESSES AND THEIR KIDS AND
HOW AWE WILL OF THAT WILL WORK
OUT.
AND THEY'LL BE WORRIED ABOUT A
LOT OF THINGS IN THE NEXT
ELECTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NOT
EXCLUSIVE, THAT THEY CAN BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERCEIVED
ISSUES AND THERE'S VARIOUS
CAMPS, BUT CLEARLY IT WASN'T A
COMPLETE NOTHING BURGER BECAUSE
THE FINANCE MINISTER RESIGNED
YESTERDAY.
IT WILL BE A BALANCING ACT, I
AGREE, PROROGATION, AND I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE REACTION AMONG
CANADIANS WILL BE.
SHAKIR, I DO KNOW THAT THEY'LL
HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE THAT
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT AND WE'LL
HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE DETAILS ARE
WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER STEPS UP
TO THAT MICROPHONE IN ABOUT 19
MINUTES.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE.
AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC PLAN,
LOOK, THE CONSERVATIVES WERE
CALLING FOR THIS.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT RELEASED AN
ECONOMIC UPDATE WE ASKED WHAT IS
YOUR PLAN FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY,
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO GO BACK TO
WORK AND GET BUSINESSES THRIVING
AGAIN?
SO IT'S NOT A SITUATION WHERE
THE OPPOSITION IS ABSENT IN
ASKING FOR THOSE MATTERS.
THE ONE THING ON THE "WE"
CHARITY ISSUE -- I THINK THAT
IT'S NOT A MATTER JUST THAT IT'S
IN ISOLATION.
IT'S A NARRATIVE, RIGHT, A
NARRATIVE OF MULTIPLE SCANDALS
AND YOUR FINANCE MINISTER
STEPPING DOWN BECAUSE OF A
PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST,
OR A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THAT'S WHEN THE PUBLIC IS
INTERESTED.
AND THEY THINK THAT THERE'S
RULES FOR THE TRUDEAU LIBERALS
AND RULES FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS.
AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE BUILDING
THAT NARRATIVE THAT'S GOING TO
BECOME PROBLEMATIC FOR THE
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND NOT JUST A MATTER OF "WE"
ITSELF.
>> Vassy: AND THAT'S AN
INTERESTING POINT AND IT'S
ELLIOTT'S POINT AS WELL, MOVE
THE NEEDLE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE
IN THIS PERIOD AND WHETHER THAT
NARRATIVE BUILDS TO THE POINT
THAT IT AFFECTS THE VOTERS'
DECISION IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
GOVERNMENT HAS SURVIVED THAT
NARRATIVE THUS FAR, BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T
CHANGE WHEN THE ELECTION IS
HELD.
FRANÇOIS, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND WHO IS THE OPPOSITION?
BECAUSE YOU'RE AS STRONG AS YOUR
OPPONENTS.
ONE OF THE UNKNOWN FACTOR RIGHT
NOW IS WHO THE CONSERVATIVES ARE
GOING TO ELECT NEXT WEEKEND.
THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING
FACTOR AND HOW THE CONSERVATIVES
ACT AFTER THIS.
AND WHAT TYPE OF OFFER THE OTHER
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE GOING TO
PUT ON THE TABLE ON DIFFERENT
ISSUES AFTER PROROGATION WHEN
THE GOVERNMENT COMES WITH A
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE AND LAYS
DOWN THEIR PROGRAMME.
IF IT'S IN THE SAME WAYS AS
BEFORE, IT WILL LACK IMAGINATION
IN A DAY AND AGE WHERE WE'RE
LIVING SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY
HORRIFIC AND WE HAVE TO SHAPE UP
AND TO COME UP WITH A LOT OF THE
IMAGINATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR A
WORLD THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR
THE FEW YEARS TO COME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE
THESE THINGS.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE
NOT KNOWN.
I DO THINK THAT IT RESONATED
WITH CANADIANS -- THE "WE"
SITUATION.
I MEAN, I WAS AT A BOARD MEETING
TODAY AND WE WERE DISCUSSING,
GIVING A COURSE TO ALL OF OUR
EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH
HEALTH, WE DEAL WITH FAMILIES
AND DEATH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO JUST TO MAKE SURE.
SO WE WANT TO OFFER OUR
EMPLOYEES A NICE ETHIC COURSE.
AND GENERALLY AROUND THE TABLE
AS A JOKE -- AND I DIDN'T MAKE
THE JOKE, I SWEAR TO GOD --
SOMEBODY SAID, HEY, WHY DON'T WE
ASK JUSTIN TRUDEAU TO GIVE THE
COURSE TO ME, I DIDN'T REACT TO
THE COMMENT -- EVERYBODY
LAUGHED.
BUT IT TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT
AN UNSYMPATHETIC CROWD TO THE
PRIME MINISTER, TO BE QUITE
FRANK.
AND -- AND -- AND TO HEAR THAT
TYPE OF COMMENT, IT TELLS ME
SOMETHING.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE
HEAR DIFFERENT PLACES.
WILL THIS BE ENOUGH?
AGAIN, I SAY THAT IT'S MORE
GOING TO BE ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
AND WHAT THEY PUT ON THE TABLE.
ANDREW SCHEER LOST THE ELECTION
THE LAST TIME.
THERE WAS A PAGE FULL OF THINGS
TO -- TO MAKE THIS GOVERNMENT
FALL.
AND TO NOT WIN IN THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES WAS ABSOLUTELY
INCREDIBLE.
SO WITH WHAT IS ON THE TABLE
RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC,
THE MEASURES, THE DEFICIT AND
THE "WE" SITUATION AND SO ON AND
SO FORTH, WHAT DO THE OPPOSITION
HAVE TO OFFER?
I STILL DON'T KNOW.
>> Vassy: WELL, ON THAT NOTE
YOU HAVE REMINDED ME, A
PROGRAMMING NOTE, WE WILL COVER
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW
LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY
HERE ON CBC NEWS NETWORK, AS
WELL AS CBC NEWS.
SO THAT'S COMING VERY SHORTLY.
AND ALSO COMING VERY SHORTLY IN
ABOUT 15 MINUTES' TIME WE
ANTICIPATE THERE ON PARLIAMENT
HILL -- THAT IS NOT THE PRIME
MINISTER, THAT'S SOMEONE SETTING
UP FOR THE PRIME MINISTER -- AND
HE'LL BE SPEAKING ALONG THE NEW
MINISTER OF FINANCE, CHRYSTIA
FREELAND, AND THE NEW MINISTER
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
DOMINIC LeBLANC.
THE POWER PANEL ARE STANDING BY
AS REPORTERS ARE IN THIS BUREAU
AND THEY'LL JOIN ME ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THIS QUICK COMMERCIAL
BREAK.
SPECIAL COVERAGE OF TODAY'S
CABINET SHUFFLE.
>> Vassy: WELCOME BACK TO AN
EXTENDED COVERAGE OF "POWER &
POLITICS."
A CABINET SHUFFLE HERE IN
OTTAWA, JUST THIS AFTERNOON,
JUST OVER AN HOUR AGO.
WE'RE STANDING LIVE TO GO TO
PARLIAMENT HILL A FEW BLOCKS
AWAY FROM HERE WHERE WE EXPECT
TO HEAR FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
ALONGSIDE HIS NEW MINISTER OF
FINANCE, CHRYSTIA FREELAND, AND
HIS NEW MINISTER OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.
SO THAT IS DOMINIC LeBLANC.
HE HELD THAT PORTFOLIO
PREVIOUSLY AND TOOK A BIT OF A
BREAK BECAUSE HE WAS FIGHTING
CANCER.
HE LOOKED GREAT TODAY THOUGH.
AND HE IS BACK AND TAKES OVER
THE PORTFOLIO FROM CHRYSTIA
FREELAND BECAUSE SHE DOES MOVE
OVER TO FINANCE AND RETAINS HER
POSITION AS DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER.
HERE TO DISCUSS WITH ME A BIT OF
WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT FROM THE
PRIME MINISTER AND SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT HE MIGHT BE
FIELDING ARE MY COLLEAGUES,
DAVID COCHRANE AND CHRIS HALL
AND ROB RUSSO.
DAVID, WHAT IS THE BIG QUESTION
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY?
>> I WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF
THE PROROGATION THAT WE ASSUME
THAT HE'LL ANNOUNCE.
ALL DAY I HAVE REACHED OUT TO
SOURCES IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S
OFFICE AND OTHER LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT AND SAYING WHAT IS
GOING ON DOWN HERE.
WILL IT STOP THE COMMITTEES,
WHAT WILL THIS DO TO THE
DOCUMENT DUMP?
CAN'T GET AN ANSWER.
AND THEY ARE ALL SAYING THEY
DON'T WANT TO PREEMPT THE PRIME
MINISTER AND MAYBE THE REACTION
IS A BIT OVERBLOWN.
BUT IT REMINDS ME OF YESTERDAY
THAT NO ONE WAS FORTHCOMING
BECAUSE BIG NEWS WAS COMING.
SO I THINK THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER WILL HAVE A BIT OF A
SURPRISE FOR US, JUST BASED ON
THIS, THIS PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR.
YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT THINGS
GET LOCKED DOWN AND NOT EVEN A
HEADS UP OF WHAT IS COMING AND
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS SOMETHING
TO SAY AND WE WANT TO LEAVE IT
TO HIM.
THAT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WE SAW THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER IS CHANGING HIS CABINET
AND THE OPPOSITION VERY CLEARLY
DOESN'T WANT HIM TO CHANGE THE
CONVERSATION AND THEY REALLY
WANT TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THE
"WE" CONTROVERSY FORWARD.
LIKE, BILL MOW NO IS GONE BUT
THE PRIME MINISTER IS STILL
THERE SO THE PROBLEM IN THEIR
VIEW HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED.
SO HOW HE HANDLES THIS IN TERMS
OF ALLOWING FOR DISCLOSURE AND
ALLOWING FOR WITNESSES AND
ALLOWING FOR TESTIMONY AND
INQUIRY, THE ETHICS COMMISSIONER
WILL CONTINUE HIS WORK AND
THAT'S UNIMPEDED BY ANYTHING
THAT HAPPENSES HERE TODAY BUT
THE ABILITY FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS
TO DIG FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS COULD BE, DEPENDING
HOW JUSTIN TRUDEAU APPROACHES
PROROGATION TODAY.
>> Vassy: THAT IS TO WHAT THE
"POWER PANEL" WAS DISCUSSING.
DOES THIS SIGNIFY A TURN AWAY
FROM THE CONTROVERSY THAT THE
GOVERNMENT FOUND ITSELF FACING?
OR DOES PROROGATION, IN FACT,
PROVIDE OXYGEN TO THE OPPOSITION
TO KEEP CRITICISING THE
GOVERNMENT FOR ITS ACTIONS
DURING ALL OF THIS?
>> WELL, AS WE SAW FROM PIERRE
POILIEVRE IN THE CLIP THAT YOU
JUST PLAYED, HE NEVER BRINGS A
SCALPEL WHERE A SLEDGEHAMMER
WILL DO.
AND I'M SURE THEY WON'T LIGHTEN
UP ANYWAY ON THE "WE" SCANDAL
BEHIND THE DECISION THAT BILL
MORNEAU MADE YESTERDAY.
AND SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT BILL
MORNEAU AND JUSTIN TRUDEAU
DISCUSSED.
WHERE DOES THIS OECD IDEA COME
AND WHAT POINT DID THE PRIME
MINISTER REALIZE THAT BILL
MORNEAU DIDN'T WANT TO RUN AGAIN
AND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM FOR HIM IF HE HAD TO
STAY FOR LONGER THAN TWO OR
THREE YEARS?
REMEMBER, THAT WE'RE 10 MONTHS
INTO THIS MANDATE AND THERE'S
STILL THREE YEARS LEFT, BUT I
UNDERSTAND THAT AS A MINORITY
GOVERNMENT IT DIDN'T HAVE THAT
RING OF SINCERITY WHEN WE HEARD
IT YESTERDAY.
SO WHAT DIFFERENCES WERE THERE?
AND, LASTLY, VASSY, YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T SEE RUMOURS AND
SPECULATIVE STORIES IN THE
FINANCIAL MEDIA IN PARTICULAR
THAT ARE LEAKED DAY AFTER DAY
AFTER DAY, UNLESS SOMEONE IS
AWARE THAT SOMEONE IN THE CAMP
IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT A RIFT OR
BEING OFF PAGE ON HOW TO DEFEND
ON GREEN PROGRAMMES OR SOMETHING
ELSE.
SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT
DYNAMIC WAS AND HOW HE REACTED
TO WHAT BILL MORNEAU HAD TO SAY
TO HIM YESTERDAY?
>> Vassy: IT WOULD BE GOOD TO
HEAR WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER
REPORTED, WHETHER THIS RIFT DID
EXIST AND OVER WHAT POLICIES.
BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE HEARD FROM
THE PRIME MINISTER SO FAR IS A
STATEMENT LAST WEEK EXPRESSING
CONFIDENCE IN THE FINANCE
MINISTER AND THEN A STATEMENT
YESTERDAY HERALDING ALL OF BILL
BILLMORNEAU'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT
WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT
IF THE PRIME MINISTER WILL
CORROBORATE IT.
>> I GUARANTEE YOU, VASSY, THAT
HE WILL NOT BE LOOKING IN A
REARVIEW MIRROR.
HE'LL TRY TO GET US TO LOOK
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.
SO IF I WERE GOING TO ASK HIM A
QUESTION OR TWO, I WOULD WANT TO
KNOW HOW IS HE ENVISIONING THAT
CANADIANS' LIVES WILL CHANGE AS
A RESULT OF WHAT HIS GOVERNMENT
IS PLANNING?
ARE THEY GOING TO BRING IN
SOMETHING FOR THE ELDERLY?
ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING
TO HELP PEOPLE WITH CHILD CARE?
I WOULD ASK HIM DAVID'S
QUESTION, DEPENDING WHAT HE SAYS
ABOUT PROROGATION -- IF IT'S AN
IMMEDIATE PROROGATION, YOU WILL
SEE THE KIND OF MUSHROOM CLOUD
OF "WE" CONTINUE TO BILLOW OUT A
LITTLE BIT.
AND HE WILL BE ACCUSED OF
HYPOCRISY, BECAUSE HE'S ON THE
RECORD OF CONDEMNING STEPHEN
HARPER FOR HIS HYPOCRISY OF
PROROGATION.
BUT I'M REMINDED OF AN OLD
SAYING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE
OLDSTER WAS WHO CAME UP WITH
THIS SAYING, IT MAY HAVE BEEN
THE OLD ROB RUSSO, THAT SAYS
THAT HYPOCRISY IS A MERE WAY
STATION FOR SOME POLITICIANS
TRYING TO CLING TO POWER.
>> Vassy: DAVID, WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I THINK THAT LOOKING FORWARD
AS THE PRIME MINISTER IS GOING
TO WANT TO DO, I THINK THAT
PUTTING CHRYSTIA FREELAND IN
FINANCE IS TO PREPARE FOR THIS
SEISMIC RECONSTRUCTION THEY WANT
TO DO OF A LOT OF THINGS.
I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION
THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO
KICKSTART WITH A LOT OF US TODAY
IS WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY DO WE
WANT CANADA TO BE.
BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS COVID-19
HAS SHOWN US WHAT WE HAVE IS NOT
IT.
WE DO NOT WANT SENIORS' HOMES
THAT BECOME, YOU KNOW, MORGUES.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT AN
ECONOMY WHERE WOMEN ARE
COMPLETELY VULNERABLE AND DON'T
HAVE THE CHILD CARE THEY NEED TO
BE ABLE TO WORK.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
FIXED.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE
POOREST AND THE NEWEST CANADIANS
TO BE THE ONES MOST EXPOSED AND
VULNERABLE TO THE RAVAGES OF A
PANDEMIC.
THESE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS
THAT CHRYSTIA FREELAND IS GOING
TO BE ASKED TO DEAL WITH IN THE
FINANCIAL PLAN THAT SHE
EVENTUALLY ROLLS OUT AS FINANCE
MINISTER.
IT'S NOT THAT WE RAMP UP THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BY THIS MONTH AND
THE DEBT-TO-G.D.P. IS GOING HERE
AND HERE'S OUR PLANS TO BALANCE
THE BOOKS, IT'S FAR MORE OF A
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THEY WANT
TO HAVE.
THEY HAVE PROMISED IN THEIR
ELECTION PLATFORM TO NOT USE
PROCEDURAL TRICKS TO AVOID
TRANSPARENCY.
IF THEY HAVE A WIFT OF THAT
TODAY THEY'LL STEP IN A MESS OF
THEIR OWN MAKING.
IT'S TO BE A DIRECTION AND A
CONVERSATION CHANGE.
IF IT'S A CONVERSATION ABOUT A
COVER-UP, THEN ALL OF THAT GETS
BLOWN AWAY.
THIS IS A DAY OF HISTORY, WITH A
WOMAN GETTING THE FINANCIAL JOB
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE
HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY, IT COULD
BECOME A DAY OF CONTROVERSY,
DEPENDING ON HOW THE PRIME
MINISTER CHOOSES TO HANDLE IT.
>> Vassy: IT DEPENDS, OF
COURSE, ON THE DETAILS OF
PROROGATION BUT IF IT ENDS UP
BEING, FOR EXAMPLE, AS SOME
OUTLETS ARE REPORTING RIGHT FROM
NOW TO OCTOBER, THAT HAS GOT TO
PROVIDE SOME OXYGEN TO THE
OPPOSITION, JUST GIVEN WHAT THE
OPPOSITION SAID.
AND THEY ARE SENDING ME TWEETS
FROM JUSTIN TRUDEAU FROM YEARS
AGO TALKING ABOUT HOW
UNDEMOCRATIC STEPHEN HARPER'S
PROROGATION WAS.
AND YET IT DEPENDS ON THE WAY
THAT IT'S PERCEIVED BUT THEY'RE
ALREADY ON IT.
>> WELL, LET ME BRING IT BACK TO
ROB'S POINT.
YES, IT MAY BE THE FODDER FOR
TWO OR THREE DAYS AND THE
LIBERALS WILL SURELY RESPOND
WHILE THE CONSERVATIVES DID THE
SAME THING.
THE QUESTION THEN IS WHAT YOU
ARE TELLING CANADIANS ABOUT WHAT
THIS PROROGATION WILL MEAN FOR
THEM AND HOW WILL THEIR LIVES BE
BETTER AND HOW WILL THE
GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THE ISSUES
THAT DAVID WAS JUST RAISING.
EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID ABOUT
CHILD CARE, ABOUT HEALTH CARE,
AND THOSE ALL REQUIRE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT COOPERATION.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY PLAYING INTO
CHRYSTIA FREELAND'S STRENGTH.
SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE
PREMIERS FOR LAST 10 MONTHS AND
DONE SO VERY EFFECTIVELY.
SO THE FRAMING -- OF COURSE THE
FRAMING IS TO LOOK AHEAD AND
DON'T LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
THAT HE'LL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
SAY WHAT IT IS ABOUT THIS CHANGE
TODAY AND ABOUT PROROGATION,
WHENEVER IT COMES, THAT IS GOING
TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF ORDINARY
CANADIANS WHO FELT THE BRUNT OF
WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FOUR
MONTHS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
>> Vassy: AS FAR AS THE
STRATEGY GOES, ROB, AND I TAKE
ALL OF YOUR POINTS ON WHAT KIND
OF INFORMATION THAT HAS TO COME
OUT TODAY, BUT IF THE GOAL IS,
IN FACT, IN PART TO MOVE AWAY
FROM THE QUESTIONS THAT JUSTIN
TRUDEAU HAS FACED AT EVERY OTHER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY THAT HE'S HAD
OVER THE LAST MONTH, AFTER THE
CONTROVERSY DIES DOWN -- IF IT
DOES, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT
WOULD -- BUT IF IT DOES, DOES
THIS HELP THEM IN THAT RESPECT?
>> TO BE DETERMINED.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THE
OPPOSITION WOULD LEAD UP.
LOOK  -- LET UP.
LOOK, THE ATTACK LINES ALMOST
WRITE THEMSELVES.
PARLIAMENT HAS BEEN BARELY
SITTING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
CRISIS.
IF HE SHUTS DOWN PARLIAMENT,
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S ANOTHER
STRIKE, DOES HE RECALL
PARLIAMENT IN A HURRY?
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF A
DISASTER AND FOR A PARLIAMENT
IS, IN FACT, SHUT DOWN FOR
ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO, IN THE
MIDDLE OF A CRISIS, HE IS GOING
TO HAVE SOME VERY, VERY POINTED
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT I CAN
IMAGINE WHAT THEY WOULD SAY IN
"POST," IT'S PURELY POLITICAL
AND NOT ALWAYS LOGICAL BUT
POLITICAL.
THE ODDS ARE THAT THE NEXT
LEADER OF THE CONSERVATIVE
PARTY, IF YOU BELIEVE POLLS, IS
GOING TO BE PETER MacKAY.
AND THE LAST TIME THAT
PARLIAMENT WAS PROROGUED UNDER
THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, PETER
MacKAY WAS A MINISTER IN THE
CABINET THAT PUSHED FOR THAT
PROROGATION, IT WAS 2008, AND HE
WAS THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE.
>> Vassy: MY PRODUCER -- OUR
PRODUCER, EMILY FLAGGED THAT
PIERRE POILIEVRE TWEETED --
DAVID, I'LL GET YOU IN ON THIS
-- THREE OPPOSITION PARTIES
DEMAND THE RELEASE OF 5,000
PAGES OF THE "WE" SCANDAL
DOCUMENTS BEFORE TRUDEAU LOCKS
UP THE EVIDENCE.
SO THE OPPOSITION IS ALREADY
POSITIONING ITSELF ON THIS ISSUE
OF PROROGATION AND FIRMLY
ESTABLISHING THEY WANT ALL OF
THE STUFF THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
GO TO COMMITTEE BEFORE
ANYTHING -- COMMITTEES ARE SHUT
DOWN.
>> RIGHT.
AND I'M SURE THAT THE ISSUES
MANAGEMENT PEOPLE IN THE PRIME
MINISTER'S OFFICE HAVE BEEN
LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE
AS THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY'D
DO AND HOW TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
BECAUSE THIS IS A POTENTIAL, YOU
KNOW, STINK BOMB THAT COULD GO
OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK.
AND, YOU KNOW, PARLIAMENTARIANS
AND CANADIANS ARE INTERESTED IN
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN "WE",
EITHER AS MAYBE EXONERATING
DOCUMENTS AND IF THOSE DOCUMENT
GOES AWAY UNTIL OCTOBER OR
NOVEMBER, THAT IS GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM.
PIERRE POILIEVRE, WHO IS AS
SUBTLE AS A PUNCH, YOU KNOW, WE
ALL SAW HIM TODAY CALLING THIS A
GOVERNMENT OF ELITES AND SNOBS,
WILL HAVE ENORMOUS AMMUNITION TO
CRITICISE THEM ON THIS.
NOW IF THEY DO FIND A WAY TO
RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS, SIGNAL
PROROGATION WILL COME AT A
CERTAIN DATE IN THE FUTURE AND
ALLOW THE COMMITTEES TO DO THEIR
WORK, THAT IS A COMPROMISE OF
SORTS THAT THEY CAN SELL MAYBE
TO THE OPPOSITION, BUT I THINK
THAT IT'S LIKE THIS IS TAKEN ON
THE TONE OF A TRIAL AND
DISCLOSURE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN
A TRIAL.
SO DISCLOSING THESE DOCUMENTS IN
SOME FORM IS IMPORTANT, NO
MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH
PARLIAMENT RIGHT NOW.
>> Vassy: IF PROROGATION DOES
HAPPEN, AND WHETHER THAT TEMPERS
THE OPPOSITION'S FURY.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
>> WELL, TWO THINGS.
IF THEY DO RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS
IN ADVANCE OF PROROGATION, THERE
IS NOW REALLY NOTHING OUT THERE
THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD THEM
TO ACCOUNT.
THE PARLIAMENT WILL BE
SUSPENDED, FOR EXAMPLE, AND
THERE'S NO AUGUST 26th SITTING
AND NO MORE COMMITTEE HEARINGS
AND IT DISAPPEARS INTO THE ETHER
OF SUMMER, THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF
SUMMER, AND ALL OF THE OTHER
THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS
THE PUBLIC TO FOCUS ON IN
RESPONSE TO COVID-19.
THERE'S AN ADVANTAGE TO
RELEASING THEM NOW, NO MATTER
WHEN YOU SET FORTH THIS NEW
AGENDA.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT I
WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY
COME OUT SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER.
>> Vassy: WE ARE NOW STANDING
BY AT ANY MOMENT TO TAKE YOU TO
PARLIAMENT HILL, AS SOON AS THE
PRIME MINISTER STEPS UP TO THE
MICROPHONE.
HE'LL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE NEW
MINISTER OF FINANCE, CHRYSTIA
FREELAND, AND ALSO THE DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER.
AND THE NEW MINISTER OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIR,
DOMINIC LeBLANC.
AND THEY'LL DELIVER REMARKS TO
REPORTERS, TO START ANY MINUTE
NOW, AND TO TAKE QUESTIONS FOR
ABOUT 20 MINUTES WE'RE TOLD.
ROB, ON THE QUESTION OF
PROROGATION AND SPECIFICALLY
AROUND THIS POTENTIAL DOCUMENT
DUMP -- AND I SHOULD EXPLAIN TO
OUR VIEWERS THAT HE'S ARE
DOCUMENTS THAT VARIOUS WITNESSES
THROUGHOUT THE TESTIMONY BEFORE
VARIOUS COMMITTEES HAVE AGREED
TO PROVIDE.
SO COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN
OFFICIALS AND THE PRIME
MINISTER'S OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE,
AND THOSE WHO WORK FOR "WE"
CHARITY, ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO
FIND OUT WHETHER THERE WAS SOME
KIND OF NEFARIOUS ACTION ON THE
PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO TRY
AND TO SECURE THIS SO-CALLED
CONTRACT OR CONTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT WITH "WE" CHARITY AND
WHETHER IT WAS ABOVE BOARD AS
CLAIMED.
SO THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
THOUSANDS OF PAGES FOR COMMITTEE
TO EXAMINE, AND NOW IT LOOKS
LIKE THE OPPOSITION IS DEMANDING
THAT THEY GET THOSE DOCUMENTS
PRIOR TO ANY SORT OF SHUTDOWN OF
COMMITTEE?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE
LOOKING FOR?
WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR
SOME SORT OF EVIDENCE TO BOLSTER
THE PRIME MINISTER'S SUGGESTION
THAT HE PUT A PAUSE ON THINGS.
AND DESPITE HIS PAUSE, PUBLIC
SERVANTS AND POLITICAL STAFF,
DESPITE THE PRIME MINISTER
SAYING WHOA THERE, BIG FELLAS --
THEY WENT AHEAD AND THEY KEPT
GOING.
THEY KEPT FOLLOWING THROUGH.
AND NOBODY THAT WILL LOOK FOR
SOME SORT OF EVIDENCE THAT
ANYBODY SAID SOMETHING TO THE
PRIME MINISTER ALONG THE LINES
MUCH, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
IT'S ALMOST GUARANTEED TO KEEP
THE ISSUE ALIVE.
THERE WILL BE SOMETHING IN THERE
I'M SURE FOR THE POLITICIANS TO
FEAST ON ON THE OPPOSITION SIDE
OF THE AISLE.
AND THERE WILL BE SOMETHING --
PERHAPS, PERHAPS SOMETHING THAT
IS EXCULPATORY THAT MAY
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER DID SORT OF PUT A PAUSE
ON THIS.
BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE ANYTHING
THAT EXPLAINS WHY, DESPITE THE
PRIME MINISTER SAYING NO, PEOPLE
KEPT WORKING ON THE PROJECT.
I FOUND THAT VERY UNUSUAL AND
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THERE
ALONG THOSE LINES.
>> Vassy: AS I MENTIONED --
SORRY, DAVID, DO YOU WANT TO
JUMP IN?
>> WHAT DOES THE PAPER TRAIL
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
SHOW?
HE'S THE ONE WITH BIG FAMILY
CONNECTIONS TO "WE", IN ADDITION
TO THE PRIME MINISTER, AND THE
FINANCE DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED
IN THIS PROCESS EARLY.
MORNEAU IS NOT THERE TO TAKE
THOSE QUESTIONS AND ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS AFTER LAST NIGHT AT
7:00 p.m. OR WHATEVER IT WAS
THAT WE WERE HERE AND HE
ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS LEAVING,
YOU KNOW, CONFIRMED TO THE WORLD
THAT HE WAS LEAVING.
WHAT KIND OF A PAPER TRAIL DID
HE LEAVE BEHIND ON HIS WAY TO
THE OECD PERHAPS?
>> Vassy: THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT YOU ONLY HAVE ABOUT 5,000
PAGES TO LOOK THROUGH TO FIND
OUT THE ANSWER TO THAT.
TO REMIND VIEWERS THAT WE'RE
STANDING BY TO GO TO PARLIAMENT
HILL WHERE THE PRIME MINISTER IS
SCHEDULED AT ANY MINUTE TO
DELIVER REMARKS.
WE'LL HAVE THE REMARKS FROM "THE
POWER PANEL."
SHAKIR CHAMBERS FROM "NAVIGATOR,
I'LL START WITH YOU.
WHAT IS THE BIG QUESTION THAT
YOU WOULD ASK OF THE PRIME
MINISTER?
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH
PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.
THIS IS A BIG QUESTION HERE AND
AS I SAID EARLIER IT'S ALMOST
HYPOCRITICAL FOR PRIME MINISTER
TRUDEAU TO USE PROROGATION TO
KIND OF ESCAPE FROM HIS
POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES, GIVEN
THAT HE QUESTIONED FORMER PRIME
MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER OVER THE
SAME TACTICS.
SO I WANT TO SEE WHAT IS
HAPPENING THERE.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING ANNOUNCED
WITH THE FINANCIAL OR THE
ECONOMIC WAY FORWARD, ANY OF
THEIR IDEAS OR PROGRESSIVE IDEAS
THAT THEY ARE TOUTING IN ALL OF
THESE ARTICLES, WHAT WILL THEY
PUT OUT THERE AS FAR AS THEIR
POSITIONING MOVING FORWARD?
>> Vassy: FRANÇOIS, WHAT IS
YOUR BIG QUESTION FOR THE PRIME
MINISTER?
>> I DO HOPE THAT IT'S NOT
TODAY, BUT IF IT WAS, LET'S SAY
THAT HE ANNOUNCED SOME
PROROGATION TODAY -- THAT HE
INTENDS TO DO SO.
I WOULD BE IN A SENSE A BIT
DISAPPOINTED FOR ONE MAIN POINT.
ACTUALLY, IT'S REMOVING SOME
LIMELIGHT FROM THE FINANCE
MINISTER.
OUR FIRST WOMAN FINANCE
MINISTER.
AND I WOULD FIND IT SO SAD THAT
IT WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE THE
WHOLE CONVERSATION SHIFTS TO
THAT -- TO THAT CONCEPT OF
PROROGATION.
AND IF I WAS A JOURNALIST, WHICH
I'M NOT, BUT I WOULD KEEP
HAMMERING THE QUESTIONS ON WHY
NOW, WHAT WAS THE NEED?
AND DOES HE KNOW WHERE HE'S
GOING.
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT WAY
BECAUSE OF THE TIMING.
WE'LL SEE.
>> Vassy: ELLIOTT, WHAT ARE
YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU MIGHT
EXPECT TO HEAR FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER OR MY COLLEAGUES WERE
TALKING ABOUT HOW CANADIANS WILL
NEED TO HEAR SOMETHING TODAY
ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN ANTICIPATE
THIS NEW AGENDA TO LOOK LIKE.
OR WHAT THE REASON FOR A RE-SET,
BE IT EXTENDED OR NOT, MIGHT BE.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL
HEAR MORE ON THAT?
>> I DO.
I ANTICIPATE THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER WILL ANNOUNCE
PROROGATION TODAY.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW IS
THE TIME TO RESET FOR
GOVERNMENT.
THEY STARTED THAT AGAIN WITH THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FINANCE
MINISTER.
PEOPLE -- PEOPLE ARE SORT OF
FORGETTING HERE THAT WE ARE IN
THE MIDST OF WHAT IS A
ONCE-IN-A-100-YEAR EVENT.
I CAN'T SORT OF OVERSTATE THAT.
SO FOR A GOVERNMENT TO SIMPLY TO
JUST GO ALONG AS IT NORMALLY
WOULD, YOU KNOW, ALL BETS ARE
OFF AT THE MOMENT.
WE'VE GOT A DEFICIT THAT IS
APPROACHING $400 BILLION, IF NOT
TILTING INTO $500 BILLION
TERRITORY BY THE TIME THAT THE
ECONOMIC BUDGET IN THE FALL
WOULD BE ANNOUNCED.
WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
DEAD IN CANADA.
WE'VE GOT AN ECONOMY THAT HAS
BEEN, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY URPX,
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
WE HAVE A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE.
SO ALL OF THE RULES FROM BEFORE
DO NOT APPLY ANYMORE.
IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE PRIME
MINISTER TO SAY WE NEED TO
RE-SET THE AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TIME OVER
THE COMING WEEKS AND THE WORK
HAS ALREADY BEGUN.
WE'LL TAKE MORE TIME OVER THE
COMING WEEKS AND WE'LL HAVE A
CABINET MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'LL COME BACK TO PARLIAMENT IN
OCTOBER WITH OUR PLAN.
AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT TO THE
GOVERNMENT AND TO THE OPPOSITION
PARTIES TO SEE WHETHER THEY
AGREE WITH THAT PLAN OR IF
THEY'VE GOT A BETTER ONE TO PUT
FORWARD.
YOU WILL HAVE A NEW CONSERVATIVE
LEADER IN BY THAT POINT.
YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE UP FOR THE
PARTIES TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY
WANT TO TAKE THAT TO -- TO
CANADIANS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT
REALLY MAKES SENSE TODAY FOR THE
PRIME MINISTER TO CONTINUE ON
WITH THE BIG NEWS, THE
RESIGNATION OF THE FORMER
FINANCE MINISTER BILL MORNEAU
YESTERDAY AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF CANADA'S FIRST FEMALE FINANCE
MINISTER TODAY AND SAYING, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD
HERE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S GOING
TO DO.
I THINK THAT IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> Vassy: IF I COULD PROVIDE
SOME RATIONALE FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER WHEN AND IF HE
ANNOUNCES PROROGATION MY
QUESTION, I GUESS, WHETHER OR
NOT -- I THINK THAT EVERYONE
AGREES THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED.
IT IS A BIG DEAL RIGHT NOW.
I WONDER IF THAT'S ENOUGH THOUGH
TO CONVINCE THE OPPOSITION THAT
THIS IS OKAY TO DO.
MY GUESS IS THAT TODAY PROBABLY
NOT?
>> YEAH, LOOK, THIS IS A VERY
DIFFICULT, LONG AND STRANGE
YEAR.
AND EVERYONE IS SORT OF FOUND A
RHYTHM NOW AS THE CURVE HAS
LARGELY FLATTENED AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND THE ANXIETY THAT WE
HAD IN MARCH AND APRIL HAS
SUBSIDED A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S BEEN REPLACED BY THE
BACK-TO-SCHOOL ANXIETY THAT I
CAN TELL THAT YOU ME AND A LOT
OF OTHER PARENTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE FEELING.
SO THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE
MADE THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ARE READY TO DEAL WITH
THIS.
AND ALSO HOW TO GET OUT OF THIS.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE
MANDATE LETTERS THAT ALL OF THE
MINISTERS HAVE AND YOU LOOK AT
THE THRONE SPEECH DONE LAST
YEAR, THAT'S WOEFULLY OUT OF
DATE, RIGHT?
>> Vassy: A DIFFERENT
LIFETIME.
>> COVID-19 WAS NOT IN THE
HEADLINES AT ALL.
IT WAS DONE AT A TIME WHEN WE
FELT THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN
CANADA WAS WESTERN ALIENATION
AND A BREAKDOWN OF
FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL RELATIONS,
LARGELY ALONG THE LIBERAL AND
CONSERVATIVE LINES.
SINCE THEN WE HAD A PLANE SHUT
DOWN IN IRAN AND RAIL BLOCKADES
WITH FIRST NATIONS AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, AND, YOU
KNOW, A PANDEMIC THAT HAS FORCED
ESSENTIALLY THE ECONOMY TO BE
PUT INTO A MEDICALLY INDUCED
COMA.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GRADUALLY
RE-START THE ECONOMY IN A SAFE
WAY.
SO THERE'S A NEED TO COME BACK
WITH A COHERENT PLAN TO DO THAT.
AND IT'S BEEN DONE PIECEMEAL AND
URGENTLY UP TO THIS POINT, AND
IT'S BEEN EMERGENCY ROOM
MEDICINE AND NOW WE NEED THE
WELLNESS PLAN FOR CANADA GOING
FORWARD.
THAT'S A BIG JOB THAT IS GOING
TO REQUIRE A LOT OF FOCUS AND A
LOT OF ENERGY AND A LOT OF
COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL AND
PROVINCIAL LINES, BUT BECAUSE OF
THE PERSISTENT QUESTIONS ABOUT
ETHICS AND SCANDAL IT'S
DIFFICULT TO DO ALONG THE
PARTISAN LINES AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL.
I THINK THAT WHAT YOU WILL SEE
FROM THIS GOVERNMENT GOING INTO
THE FALL AND GOING INTO
PARLIAMENT IS THIS MORE
AGGRESSIVELY PROGRESSIVE AGENDA
AS THE LIBERALS DEFINE IT,
BANKING ON A DISTIEWT NEW
DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO LIKE THE
PROGRESSIVE IDEAS THAT THEY'LL
PUT IN THE WINDOW TO KEEP
PARLIAMENT MOVING AND TO KEEP
THE AGENDA GOING.
MR. BLANCHET SAID THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER HAS TO QUIT AND BILL BL
MORNEAU HAS TO QUIT AND I DON'T
THINK THAT EITHER ERIN O'TOOLE
OR PETER MacKAY ARE GOING TO
PROP UP A JUSTIN TRUDEAU
GOVERNMENT UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> Vassy: SO IT'S A SAFE BET?
>> I THINK THAT IT DEPENDS ON
THEM COMING UP WITH AN AGENDA
THAT APPEALS TO CANADIANS,
PROGRESSIVE CANADIANS IN
PARTICULAR, AND APPEALS TO
JAGMEET SINGH.
>> Vassy: SOMEBODY WAS JUST
TELLING ME -- IS THE PRIME
MINISTER COMING?
OH, I'M SO SORRY, MY APOLOGIES.
I THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE WAS
TELLING ME THAT THE PRIME
MINISTER WAS COMING UP TO THE
MICROPHONE.
HE IS A BIT LATE AS SOMETIMES
HAPPENS.
IT WAS SCHEDULED TO START AT
3:30 BUT WE'LL TAKE YOU THERE AS
SOON AS IT DOES.
CHRIS, YOU WANTED TO JUMP IN?
I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU, SO
JUST GO FOR IT.
>> JUST QUICKLY, AS THEY WANT TO
KICKSTART THE ECONOMY THEY ALSO
WANT TO MASSAGE THE N.D.P. AND
THAT'S WHO THEY NEED TO DO A
CONTINUED PLAN TO HAVE THE
ECONOMY TO RECOVER AND REDUCING
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
SO THERE'S A POLITICAL ELEMENT
TO PROROGUING NOW AND COMING
BACK WITH A SPEECH FROM THE
THRONE.
>> Vassy: IS THIS IDEA THAT
THEY COME OUT WITH A MORE
PROGRESSIVE AGENDA -- DO THEY
NEED TO PUT SOME WINDOW DRESSING
OUT THERE TODAY TO SIGNAL TO
CANADIANS WHAT THAT MIGHT BE?
>> YEAH, I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO
SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED A
NEW SESSION, WE'RE GOING TO COME
WITH A SPEECH TO THE THRONE AND
A NEW MANDATE LETTERS TO THE
MINISTERS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THE WORLD IS COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN THE
SPRING.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT COULD
IT BE, I THINK THAT THE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND
TRYING TO MEET THE PARIS ACCORD
EMISSION TARGETS WOULD BE ONE
THAT THEY COULD PUT FORWARD.
THE NEW DEMOCRATS WANT
PHARMACARE AND THEY WANT
UNIVERSAL DENTAL CARE AND
THERE'S MANY THINGS THEY WANT
THAT WERE NOT PRIORITIES ON THE
PROGRESSIVE AGENDA THAT JUSTIN
TRUDEAU OUTLINED IN THE LAST
CAMPAIGN.
DO THEY HAVE ROOM FOR THAT NOW
WHEN THEY HAVE SPENT AS MUCH AS
THEY HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE WORKING
AND IN THEIR HOMES DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
>> Vassy: ROB, WHAT'S YOUR
TAKE ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
N.D.P. IN ALL OF THAT?
>> LOOK, THEY ARE IN MANY WAYS
LIKE-MINDED AND THERE'S MUTUAL
ADVANTAGE.
I AM WONDERED ABOUT ANOTHER
WOUNDED GOVERNMENT PLAGUED BY
SCANDAL IN 2003-2004, THAT WAS
THE PAUL MARTIN GOVERNMENT THAT
TURNED TO JACK LAYTON AND THE
N.D.P.
MR. LAYTON WAS ABLE TO GET
MR. MARTIN TO DO SOME THINGS,
PARTICULARLY ON SOCIAL HOUSING,
CLAIM A SIGNIFICANT WIN, A
SIGNIFICANT TROPHY FOR
MR. LAYTON.
HE WAS ABLE TO USE THAT IN A
SUBSEQUENT MANDATE FOR -- FOR A
GREAT BENEFIT TO THE N.D.P.
LET'S NOT FORGET THAT IN 2011,
THEY WERE SURGING BECAUSE THEY
LOOKED AT THAT MOMENT -- THEY
WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE
THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE EVEN
THOUGH THEY WERE WORKING WITH A
SCANDAL-PLAGUED GOVERNMENT,
RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE
SOMETHING, SOMETHING
SIGNIFICANT.
AND TO DELIVER THE GOODS.
SO THERE CAN BE BENEFITS TO NEW
DEMOCRATS TO WORKING WITH A
GOVERNMENT THAT IS WOUNDED.
>> Vassy: FRANÇOIS, I HEARD
YOU SAYING "I WAS THERE."
YOU WERE THERE, YEAH.
>> I'M SORRY.
MY MICROPHONE IS ON.
YEAH, REMEMBER, I WAS A LIBERAL
IN 2003-2004 -- ACTUALLY,
2004-2005, PAUL MARTIN'S
GOVERNMENT.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE STRUCK A
DEAL WITH THE N.D.P. AT THE
TIME.
HOW WE WERE ALL TOLD TO BE VERY
NICE TO OUR N.D.P. COLLEAGUES
WHEN WE DO PANELS, NOT TO BE TOO
AGGRESSIVE.
SO WE HAD TO TONE IT DOWN A BIT.
BUT, YES, THEY PLAYED ALONG.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WILL
REMIND YOU THAT IT'S ALSO THE
N.D.P. WITH THE CONSERVATIVE AND
THE BLOC WHO SAID AFTER THE
GOMERY COMMISSION, MIND YOU THAT
THE N.D.P. WILL NOT MAKE A DEAL
WITH THE LIBERAL IF THEY THINK
THAT IT'S A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL.
IF THEY CAN MOVE THE AGENDA,
FINE.
BUT IF AT ANY GIVEN POINT -- AND
I THINK THAT IS WHY WE HAVE
HEARD CHARLIE ANGUS AND I HAVE
LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THE WORDS
THEY HAVE USED -- ALWAYS SAY,
LET THE ETHIC COMMISSIONER --
LET'S GO OUTSIDE THE PARTISAN
COMMITTEES WHERE WE KNOW WHERE
EVERYBODY STAND.
BUT WHEN WE'LL HAVE THOSE TWO
DIFFERENT OFFICES, THE RCMP,
WHAT WILL BE THEIR CONCLUSION IF
THEY DO ANYTHING OR WHAEVER --
AT SOME POINT IN TIME THEY KEEP
THEIR DOOR A BIT OPEN THAT IF IT
BECOMES ABSOLUTELY UNPRINCIPLED
TO SUPPORT THE LIBERAL, THEY CAN
REMOVE THEIR SUPPORT LIKE THEY
DID WITH STEPHEN HARPER IN 2011.
I HAD HOST ON DIFFERENT RADIO
AND TV SHOW SAYING TO ME AS A
CANDIDATE FOR THE N.D.P. -- YOU
WILL NOT MAKE THIS GOVERNMENT
FALL.
I MEAN, YOU ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO
GO INTO AN ELECTION.
AND I SAID, DON'T EVER DARE THE
N.D.P. ON QUESTIONS OF
PRINCIPLE.
MONEY IN THE COFFERS OR
WHATEVER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE WON SO MANY SEATS IN 2011
WITH BARELY ANYTHING IN THE
CHEST FOR ANYBODY.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK THAT
IT WILL BE MORE PRINCIPLED FOR
THE N.D.P.
BUT IF THEY CAN GET SOMETHING
BECAUSE THEY'RE A BIT WEAK, THEY
HAVE BEEN HURT IN THE LAST FEW
ELECTIONS, WHY NOT?
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT -- WHAT COMES
WITH THAT.
BUT THEY WILL NOT WANT TO WEAR
THE -- EXCUSE THE EXPRESSION --
BUT SOME OF THE STINK FROM THE
LIBERAL THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY
WOULD PLAY ALONG.
>> Vassy: YOU HAD ELLIOTT, I
COULD SEE HIS REACTION FOR MOST
OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING TO THE
VERY END.
ELLIOTT, YOUR THOUGHTS ON -- YOU
KNOW, THE IMPACT OF THE N.D.P.
POTENTIALLY AND HOW THAT MIGHT
INFORM WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE
GOVERNMENT MOVING FORWARD IF, IN
FACT, THEIR AGENDA BECOMES MORE
PROGRESSIVE?
>> YEAH, A COUPLE POINTS.
ONE, I HATE TO SAY IT BUT
JAGMEET SINGH IS NOT JACK
LAYTON.
SO THAT WAS ONE BIG DIFFERENCE
THAT THE N.D.P. HAD DURING THAT
ELECTION.
AND WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO, YOU
KNOW, WIN OVER PARTS OF QUEÉBEC.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT I THINK
THAT THE LIBERALS AND THE N.D.P.
HAVE, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF AREAS IN WHICH
THEY AGREE ON.
TWO STICK OUT FOR ME AND MAYBE
THREE.
ONE IS CHILD CARE, EVEN THOUGH
IT'S A PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION,
YOU KNOW, PROVINCIAL MATTER.
I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE
SOMETHING FROM THE LIBERALS ON
CHILD CARE ISSUES.
IT IS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO HAVE
MORE WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE
RIGHT NOW WHO ARE, YOU KNOW,
TAKING THE BRUNT OF THIS
ECONOMIC CALAMITY THAT WE'RE
FACING.
AND IT'S SETTING, YOU KNOW, THE
PROGRESS THAT THE WOMEN IN THE
WORKFORCE HAVE MADE BACK YEARS
AND YEARS AND YEARS.
I SAW A STUDY IT'S UP TO 30
YEARS IT'S PUT THEM BACK.
SO THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
FOR -- TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN
ARE PLAYING A FULL PART IN THE
ECONOMY.
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING
TO HELP US LONGER TERM TO GET
THE ECONOMY GOING.
I THINK THAT SENIORS' CARE AS
WELL, ANOTHER ONE -- THAT WAS
RAISED EARLIER.
I THINK THAT THOSE TWO ISSUES
ARE THE ONES THAT THE TWO
PARTIES CAN AGREE ON.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF TIME TO
NEGOTIATE BETWEEN NOW AND THE
ELECTION AND THE BACK OF A FALL
ECONOMIC STATEMENT OR A FALL
BUDGET, WHERE THOSE DISCUSSIONS
ARE GOING TO BE HAD.
THE N.D.P., LET'S BE HONEST, IS
NOT READY TO GO TO AN ELECTION.
THEY HAVE NO MONEY.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO
KEEP THE GOVERNMENT GOING FOR AS
LONG AS POSSIBLE, AS LONG AS
THEY CAN SHOW SOME WINS AND SOME
VICTORIES OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT
ON SOME KEY ISSUES, POTENTIALLY
ON CHILD CARE AND SENIOR CARE.
>> Vassy: I JUST SAW THE PRIME
MINISTER'S REMARKS BEING PUT ON
THE PODIUM SO WE CAN ANTICIPATE
HIM TO STEP UP TO THAT PODIUM
VERY SHORTLY I THINK AND TO
ADDRESS REPORTERS.
SHAKIR, I WANT TO GET YOU IN
BEFORE WE HEAD THERE ON THE
QUESTION OF THE N.D.P. AND THE
LIBERALS AND WHERE THAT LEAVES
THE CONSERVATIVES.
>> SO I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES
TO THE CONCERN, I THINK THAT
THERE'S A NOTION THAT THEY'LL
JUST SAY NO TO EVERYTHING.
IT'S A MATTER THAT THE
CONSERVATIVES WILL SUPPORT GOOD
LEGISLATION.
WHEN ANDREW SCHEER WAS CALLING
FOR PARLIAMENT TO BE RECONVENED
DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS MORE
TO WORK WITH THE LIBERAL
GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE
LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT WAS THE
C.R.B. OR THE WAGE SUBSIDY.
THERE WASN'T A WILLING PART ON
THE LIBERAL SIDE TO WORK WITH
THE CONSERVATIVES TO IMPROVE
THAT LEGISLATION MOVING FORWARD.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I DON'T
THINK THAT IT'S A NOTION THAT
JUST BECAUSE THE LIBERAL
GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT THIS IS THE
WAY THAT THINGS SHOULD GO, THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD FALL IN LINE AND
SAY, YES, THIS IS HOW THINGS
SHOULD GO.
WE HAVE PARLIAMENT FOR A REASON.
WE HAVE TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT
TO ACCOUNT.
AS THE LIBERALS PUT FORWARD
THEIR POLICY PROPOSALS IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO WORK WITH
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES TO ENSURE
THAT THIS IS GOOD LEGISLATION
THAT REFLECTS THE VIEWS AND THE
PRIORITIES OF ALL CANADIANS, AND
NOT JUST THE LIBERAL PARTY AND
THEIR PREFERENCES.
SO THEY'LL FIND A WILLING
PARTNER WITH THE N.D.P. BUT
THEY'LL HAVE TO COMPROMISE WITH
THE CONSERVATIVES AND THE BLOC
TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD
PUBLIC POLICY MOVING FORWARD.
>> Vassy: THAT'S AN
INTERESTING QUESTION, DAVID, AND
I'M NOT SURE THAT NECESSARILY
WILL HAVE TO BE THE CASE.
IF THEY DO FIND A WILLING
PARTNER IN THE N.D.P., THEY
DON'T NECESSARILY NEED WILLING
PARTNERS ELSEWHERE.
AND FROM A LOGISTICS POINT OF
VIEW OR A POLITICAL TACTICAL
POINT OF VIEW, THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED ANOTHER ALLY?
>> BUT THE BIGGEST THREAT TO
THEM IN THE NEXT ELECTION, LET'S
FACE IT, AND NO DISRESPECT TO
THE OTHER PARTIES, SO MY
APOLOGIES TO THE NEW
DEMOCRATS -- THE BIGGEST THREAT
TO THEM ARE THE CONSERVATIVES.
COMING THROUGH THIS RENEWAL
PERIOD, THAT IS THE PARTY THAT
IS THE THREAT TO FORM
GOVERNMENT, TO WIN THE MOST
SEATS AND IT GOT THE MOST VOTES
LAST TIME.
THEY WANT THAT CONTRAST VERY
CLEARLY THERE THAT THEY ARE A
PROGRESSIVE PARTY TO LEAD WHAT
THEY VIEW AS A PROGRESSIVE
COUNTRY WHERE IT'S 66% OF THE
VOTES CAST IN THE ELECTION LAST
TIME THAT WENT TO PARTIES THAT
WOULD DEFINE THEMSELVES AS
PROGRESSIVE ON ISSUES LIKE
SOCIAL ISSUES, CLIMATE AND
INCOME INEQUALITY AND
REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.
THAT IS THE LINE THEY'RE TRYING
TO DIVIDE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND
THE CONSERVATIVES.
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS THEY
RELIED ON THE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS IN
THE MINORITY PARLIAMENT, LIKE
RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE IT WAS
MR. BLANCHET SAYING THAT HE
WOULD SUPPORT THEM ON THIS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO TRY TO
BRING THEM DOWN.
BUT NOW --
>> Vassy: I'M GOING TO
INTERRUPT YOU BECAUSE THERE IS
THE PRIME MINISTER.
LET'S LISTEN IN LIVE ON
PARLIAMENT HILL.
>> Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau: GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
YESTERDAY I ACCEPTED BILL
MORNEAU'S RESIGNATION AS
MINISTER OF FINANCE.
FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS BILL HAS
WORKED TIRELESSLY ON BEHALF OF
ALL CANADIANS TO BUILD A STRONG,
RESILIENT ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR
EVERYONE.
I WANT TO THANK BILL FOR HIS
OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS MINISTER
OF FINANCE AND AS THE MEMBER OF
PARLIAMENT FOR TORONTO CENTRE.
NO MATTER HIS NEXT STEPS, I KNOW
THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR
COUNTRY IN THE YEARS TO COME.
EARLIER TODAY I WAS AT RIDEAU
HALL TO MAKE A FEW CHANGES TO
OUR CABINET.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND IS NOW
CANADA'S MINISTER OF FINANCE.
AND WILL REMAIN DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER.
DOMINIC LeBLANC IS THE
MINISTER OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS, AND CONTINUES TO SERVE
AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE QUEEN'S
PRIVY COUNCIL FOR CANADA.
[Speaking French]
[Speaking French]
(Voice of Translator): AND
ALSO AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
WHATEVER THE NEXT STEPS IN HIS
LIFE, I KNOW THAT HE WILL
CONTINUE TO MAKE A HUGE
CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTRY IN
THE COMING YEARS.
EARLIER TODAY, I WAS AT RIDEAU
HALL TO -- CHRYSTIA FREELAND IS
NOW THE MINISTER OF FINANCE FOR
CANADA.
AND SHE ALSO REMAINS THE DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER.
DOMINIC LeBLANC IS THE NEW
MINISTER OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS, AND CONTINUES AS
PRESIDENT OF THE QUEEN'S PRIVY
COUNCIL FOR CANADA.
IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS,
THEIR WORK WILL BE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE
BECAUSE WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS.
CANADA IS AT A CROSSROADS, LIKE
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
NOW AS ECONOMIES ARE RECOVERING,
WE SEE COVID-19 REAPPEARING IN
PLACES LIKE AUSTRALIA AND NEW
ZEALAND.
IT IS THEIR WINTER NOW.
OURS IS YET TO COME.
SO WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT AT
HOME BECAUSE WE HAVE WORKED TOO
HARD AND MADE TOO MANY
SACRIFICES TO SEE THINGS GO
BACKWARDS.
AND CANADA HAS CERTAINLY NOT
COME OUT OF THIS YET.
[end of translation]
RIGHT NOW THE WORLD IS AT A
CROSSROADS.
CANADA IS AT A CROSSROADS.
AS ECONOMIES RELAUNCH, WE'RE
SEEING COVID-19 REAPPEAR IN
PLACES LIKE AUSTRALIA AND NEW
ZEALAND.
IT'S THEIR WINTER RIGHT NOW BUT
OURS IS STILL AHEAD.
WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT BECAUSE
WE'VE WORKED TOO HARD AND
SACRIFICED TOO MUCH TO GO
BACKWARDS.
THE FIGHT IS STILL FAR FROM
OVER.
JUST TAKE THE FACT THAT SOME
PROVINCES ARE SEEING NEW CASES
AFTER WEEKS OF DECLINING
NUMBERS.
FOR PARENTS ESPECIALLY, THIS IS
A BIG WORRY IN TERMS OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR.
I HEAR THAT AND AS A DAD I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TOO.
PROVINCIAL LEADERS HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR KIDS ARE SAFE IN THEIR
CLASSROOMS.
AS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE'LL DO
WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP,
INCLUDING THROUGH OUR
$19 BILLION SAFE RESTART
AGREEMENT.
THAT, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT JUST
SCHOOLS THAT ARE ON PEOPLE'S
MINDS.
WHILE MANY CANADIANS ARE BACK AT
WORK, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS
STILL IN DOUBLE DIGITS.
IT'S TOUGH FOR ALL CANADIANS,
BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IT
IS THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING WHO ARE HARDEST HIT.
WOMEN ARE FACING IMPOSSIBLE
CHOICES BETWEEN KIDS AND CAREER.
RACIALIZED CANADIANS AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE
CONFRONTING EXTRA BARRIERS.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH
UNEXPECTED BURDENS AS THEY WORRY
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.
IT WILL TAKE TIME TO MAKE UP THE
ECONOMIC GROUND WE'VE LOST TO
THIS PANDEMIC.
IT WILL TAKE HARD WORK TO FIX
THESE GAPS.
[Speaking French]
(Voice of Translator): THIS
PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US A LOT.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS
STILL -- THERE'S STILL
INEQUALITY AND VULNERABILITIES
WITHIN OUR SOCIETY.
AND CANADA IS NOT ALONE.
RIGHT ACROSS THE WORLD, THERE IS
A CONSENSUS EMERGING ON THE FACT
THAT TIME -- THE TIME IS NOW TO
BE ENGAGED IN BOLD THINKING.
ADVANCED ECONOMIES UNDERSTAND
THAT WITH VERY LOW INTEREST
RATES, THE COSTS OF BORROWING
ARE ALSO VERY LOW TO STIMULATE
THE RECOVERY.
GOVERNMENTS SUCH AS CANADA,
WHICH HAVE A VERY SOLID FISCAL
POSITION, HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
INVEST TO HELP CANADIANS AND
THEIR CITIZENS TO COME THROUGH
THIS CRISIS.
OUR G7 ALLIES, WHETHER IT'S
GERMANY OR BRITAIN, LIKE EUROPE,
ALSO ARE TAKING THIS TIME TO
ACT.
WE MUST DO THE SAME.
[end of translation]
WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.
WE CAN DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD
INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO THE
STATUS QUO.
WE CAN CHOOSE TO EMBRACE BOLD
NEW SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE FACE AND REFUSE TO BE
HELD BACK BY OLD WAYS OF
THINKING.
AS MUCH AS THIS PANDEMIC IS AN
UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE, IT IS ALSO
AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO BUILD A
MORE RESILIENT CANADA, A CANADA
THAT IS HEALTHIER AND SAFER,
GREENER, AND MORE COMPETITIVE.
A CANADA THAT IS MORE WELCOMING
AND MORE FAIR.
THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO CHANGE THE
FUTURE FOR THE BETTER.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS IT
BECAUSE THIS WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY WON'T BE OPEN FOR
LONG.
WE'VE SUPPORTED CANADIANS WITH A
HUGE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN COPE
DURING THIS TIME.
WE'VE CAREFULLY AND SUCCESSFULLY
REOPENED MANY PARTS OF THE
ECONOMY.
AND NOW WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK TO
THE FUTURE.
WE NEED LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT
ADDRESS THE SHORTFALLS IN HEALTH
CARE THAT MEANT SOLDIERS WERE
CARING FOR SENIORS.
WE NEED GOOD MIDDLE-CLASS JOBS
THAT CAN WITHSTAND THE
CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.
WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS
PANDEMIC IN A WAY THAT GIVES
EVERYONE A REAL AND FAIR CHANCE
AT SUCCESS, NOT JUST THE
WEALTHIEST 1%.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE NEED A
LONG-TERM PLAN FOR RECOVERY.
A PLAN THAT ADDRESSES HEAD ON
THE FUNDAMENTAL GAPS THAT THIS
PANDEMIC HAS UNMASKED.
IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE WILL
PRESENT OUR PLAN TO REBUILD A
STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT CANADA.
THIS WILL BE OUR ROADMAP OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC TOWARDS A SOCIETY
THAT IS FAIRER AND MORE
WELCOMING, TOWARDS COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR
FUTURE CRISES.
AND TOWARDS A COUNTRY WHERE
EVERYONE IS SAFER AND HEALTHIER.
AS OUR FIRST STEP TO MAKE THIS
PLAN A REALITY, WE WILL PRESENT
A SPEECH FROM THE THRONE ON
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd.
THIS IS THE SAME WEEK THAT THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS WAS ALREADY
SCHEDULED TO RETURN.
THE THRONE SPEECH WILL GIVE US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LAY OUT IN
DETAIL OUR APPROACH GOING
FORWARD.
IT WILL ALSO ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO
HOLD A CONFIDENCE VOTE ON THIS
NEW PLAN.
TODAY I HAVE ASKED THE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO PROROGUE
GOVERNMENT, WHICH MUST HAPPEN
BEFORE ANY GOVERNMENT CAN
PRESENT A THRONE SPEECH.
[Speaking French]
(Voice of Translator): WE WILL
BE PRESENTING A SPEECH FROM THE
THRONE ON WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 23rd, THE SAME WEEK
THAT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WAS
SCHEDULED TO RETURN.
THIS WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LAY OUT IN DETAIL OUR
APPROACH FOR THE FUTURE.
IT WILL ALSO ALLOW PARLIAMENT TO
HOLD A CONFIDENCE VOTE ON THAT
NEW PLAN.
I HAVE ALREADY ASKED THE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO PROROGUE
PARLIAMENT WHICH MUST TAKE PLACE
BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT CAN
PRESENT A SPEECH FROM THE
THRONE.
[end of translation]
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHETHER YOU
ARE COUNTING ON THE CERB OR E.I.
WHILE YOU WORK FOR WORK, OR ON
THE WAGE SUBSIDY TO KEEP
EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB, THESE
PROGRAMMES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED
BY THE PROROGATION.
IN FACT, STARTING A NEW SESSION
OF PARLIAMENT IS ABOUT CREATING
SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO SUPPORT YOU
MOVING FORWARD.
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR NUMBER
ONE FOCUS AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.
[Speaking French]
(Voice of Translator): EIGHT
MONTHS AGO OUR GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCED A PLAN TO ADDRESS
ISSUES THAT COUNT MOST FOR
CANADIANS.
THAT PLAN WAS DESIGNED FOR A
DIFFERENT CANADA, PRE-COVID
CANADA.
SINCE OUR REALITY HAS CHANGED.
JUST AS OUR APPROACH HAS.
PARLIAMENT MUST SUPPORT A NEW
AGENDA THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEW
WORLD WE LIVE IN.
[please stand by]
 -- TO SUPPORT AND INVEST IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND IN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT WE'VE
SEEN IS TREMENDOUS GROWTH OVER
THESE PAST FIVE YEARS.
SIMILARLY, IN THIS COVID CRISIS,
WE MADE A DECISION, WE MADE A
PLEDGE TO CANADIANS THAT WE WILL
BE THERE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
AS SO MANY MILLIONS OF CANADIANS
ARE.
WE WERE THERE WITH THE CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT.
WE WERE THERE WITH THE WAGE
SUBSIDY.
WE'RE THERE WITH PROGRAMS TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, TO
SUPPORT SENIORS, TO SUPPORT
YOUTH, TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED ON.
WE BELIEVE IN FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AS A GOVERNMENT,
AS LIBERALS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE
RESPONSIBLE IN BUILDING A BETTER
FUTURE.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
BE THERE FOR CANADIANS, AND AS I
DID WITH BILL, I'M VERY MUCH
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
CHRISTIA TO MAKE SURE FOR
SUPPORT RIGHT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM...
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: YES, GOOD
AFTERNOON, PRIME MINISTER.
MINISTER FREELAND HAS BEEN VERY
ELOQUENT ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE
INCREASING EQUALITY IN SOCIETY
INCLUDING MAKING RICH PEOPLE PAY
MORE IN TAXES.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU EXPECT TO
ADOPT THAT APPROACH AS FINANCE
MINISTER?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD
WITH CHRYSTIA OVER THE PAST 6, 7
YEARS AS SHE MADE THE DECISION
TO STEP INTO POLITICS AND JOIN
THE LIBERAL PARTY AND THESE
CONVERSATIONS OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE
AND ARE MORE ACUTE IN A TIME OF
A PANDEMIC WHEN THE MOST
VULNERABLE ARE EVEN MORE
VULNERABLE AS UNFORTUNATELY
HAPPENS IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
CHRYSTIA WAS PART OF THE TEAM IN
2015 WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION
THAT THE FIRST THING WE WOULD DO
AS A GOVERNMENT WAS RAISE TAXES
ON THE WEALTHIEST 1% SO WE COULD
LOWER THEM FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR
WAYS TO ENSURE THAT CANADA IS
FAIRER AND MORE JUST FOR
EVERYONE, AS WE MAKE THE
RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS TO GET
THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT
TIME, BY BEING THERE FOR EACH
OTHER IN TIMES OF NEED, BUT ALSO
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL
CANADIANS, RECOGNIZING THE GAPS
HIGHLIGHTED IN INCOME
DISPARITIES BUT ALSO IN
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SO MANY
CANADIANS FOR WHOM THE SAME
CHANCES AREN'T THERE.
COVID HAS EXPOSED AN AWFUL LOT
OF WORK WE NEED TO DO AS A
COUNTRY TO BUILD A BETTER
FUTURE.
THINGS THAT WE WILL DO THAT WE
PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE EVEN
WITHOUT HAVING A PANDEMIC, BUT
NOW GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY AND
THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IT
URGENTLY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
ON WITH CHRYSTIA, WITH DOMINIC,
AND WITH THE ENTIRE
EXTRAORDINARY TEAM OF MINISTERS
WE HAVE IN THIS GOVERNMENT.
>> FOLLOWING UP?
>> Question: SO WILL TAXES BE
GOING UP, THEN?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
NO, THE LAST THING CANADIANS
NEED IS TO SEE A RAISE IN TAXES
RIGHT NOW.
MILLIONS OF CANADIANS ARE OUT OF
WORK AND LOOKING FOR WORK.
THE ECONOMY IS STILL NOWHERE
NEAR WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.
WE HAVE WORK TO DO, AND WE ARE
NOT GOING TO BE SADDLING
CANADIANS WITH EXTRA COSTS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING IN
THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE
GOING TO GROW OUR ECONOMY AND
THAT'S THE KIND OF THINKING THAT
I LOOK FORWARD TO LAYING OUT IN
THE THRONE SPEECH.
AND OF COURSE THERE WILL BE
OTHER PARTIES THAT HAVE A
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
THAT THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE
INVESTING IN CANADIANS RIGHT
NOW, THAT THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE
THERE TO HELP THE MOST
VULNERABLE, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THOSE DEBATES.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN
IMPORTANT TIME OF CHOICE FOR
CANADIANS.
BUT I KNOW THAT, AS A
GOVERNMENT, WE ARE GOING TO
REMAIN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE
THAT EVERY SINGLE CANADIAN HAS A
REAL AND FAIR CHANCE TO SUCCEED
EVEN DURING THIS, AND ESPECIALLY
DURING THIS
PARTICULARLY-DIFFICULT TIME.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER,
NATIONAL POST.
THE LIBERAL PARTY PLATFORM IN
2015 SAID IT WOULDN'T USE
PROROGUATION AS A POLITICAL
TACTIC.
THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMITTEES
INVESTIGATING YOU RIGHT NOW AND
THOSE EFFORTS WILL BE SHUT DOWN
AS A RESULT OF YOUR MOVE TODAY.
HOW COULD YOU HAVE SAID THAT IN
2015 AND DO THIS NOW?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
STEPHEN HARPER AND THE
CONSERVATIVES PROROGUED
PARLIAMENT IN ORDER TO SHUT IT
DOWN AND AVOID A CONFIDENCE
VOTE.
WE ARE PROROGUING PARLIAMENT TO
BRING IT BACK ON EXACTLY THE
SAME WEEK IT WAS SUPPOSED TO
COME BACK ANYWAY AND FORCE A
CONFIDENCE VOTE.
WE ARE TAKING A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE THRONE SPEECH
WE DELIVERED EIGHT MONTHS AGO
HAD NO MENTION OF COVID-19, HAD
NO CONCEPTION OF THE REALITY WE
FIND OURSELVES IN RIGHT NOW.
WE NEED TO RESET THE APPROACH OF
THIS GOVERNMENT FOR A RECOVERY,
TO BUILD BACK BETTER, AND THOSE
ARE BIG, IMPORTANT DECISIONS,
AND WE NEED TO PRESENT THAT TO
PARLIAMENT AND GAIN THE
CONFIDENCE OF PARLIAMENT TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THIS AMBITIOUS PLAN.
THE PROROGUATION WE ARE DOING
RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT GAINING OR
TESTING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE
HOUSE WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT THE CONSERVATIVES DID THAT
WE RIGHTLY RAILED AGAINST BACK
IN 2015.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER,
YESTERDAY, BILL MORNEAU SAID HE
WAS RESIGNING IN PART BECAUSE HE
WOULDN'T BE RUNNING AGAIN, HE
DIDN'T WANT TO BE PART OF A
FUTURE THAT HE WOULDN'T BE PART
OF.
WILL YOU BE ON THE BALLOT THE
NEXT TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
ABSOLUTELY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES
CANADA IS FACING RIGHT NOW, AND
I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLY-DIFFICULT
TIME FOR SO MANY FAMILIES WHO
HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, WHO ARE
LOOKING WITH ANXIETY INTO A
FUTURE, AND THIS IS A MOMENT
WHERE GOVERNMENT CAN AND MUST
STEP UP TO BE THERE FOR
CANADIANS.
WE'VE BEEN THERE TO RESPOND TO
THE CRISIS THAT WE'VE FACED OVER
THESE PAST MONTHS, BUT WE NEED
TO BE THERE TO BUILD A MORE
AMBITIOUS, A MORE FAIR CANADA
THAT WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE
COMING YEARS, AND THAT WORK IS
WHAT THIS TEAM OF MINISTERS IS
SO EXCITED ABOUT AND SO AM I.
>> PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU,
MERCEDES STEPHENSON, GLOBAL
NEWS.
YOU'VE SAID THAT YOU'RE
PROROGUING PARLIAMENT AS A
CHANCE TO INTRODUCE A NEW,
AMBITIOUS AGENDA FOR CANADA, A
VISION THAT YOU'LL PUT TO A TEST
IN A CONFIDENCE VOTE.
IF THIS ISN'T ABOUT SHUTTING
DOWN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
'WE' SCANDAL, WOULD YOU ALLOW
COMMITTEES TO CONTINUE THEIR
WORK?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau: I
WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE WAS A
NUMBER OF DOCUMENTATION THAT
PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT NOT
GETTING FROM THE LAW CLERK OF
THE COMMITTEES.
I CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE RELEASED
ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS TO THE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES SO
THAT THEY CAN SPEND THEIR TIME
GOING THROUGH THOSE MOUNTAINS OF
DOCUMENTS OVER THE COMING WEEKS
SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO ASK
ANY QUESTIONS THEY LIKE ON THIS
ISSUE.
I HAVE ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES,
MY STAFF HAS ADDRESSED THESE,
THE MINISTERS HAVE ADDRESSED
THESE ISSUES IN COMMITTEES, AND
WHEN PARLIAMENT RESUMES IN THE
FALL, THEY WILL BE AMPLE
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO ASK
WHATEVER QUESTIONS COMMITTEES OR
MEMBERS WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO.
RIGHT NOW, AS A GOVERNMENT, I
THINK CANADIANS WANT US TO BE
FOCUSED ON THE NEXT STEPS OF THE
RECOVERY, ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO
BUILD BACK OUR COUNTRY BETTER
THAN BEFORE.
AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING
OVER THE COMING WEEKS, UNTIL
PARLIAMENT RETURNS AT ITS
REGULARLY-SCHEDULED WEEK, IS
GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND
WILL BE THE ENTIRE FOCUS OF THIS
GOVERNMENT.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT WE WERE
THERE TO ANSWER ALL THE
QUESTIONS PUT FORWARD AT THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE SHARED ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT
THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO HAVE.
WE DID THAT JUST A FEW MOMENTS
AGO, BEFORE PROROGUING
PARLIAMENT, SO THAT PEOPLE COULD
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT
DOCUMENTATION AND ASK QUESTIONS.
AS A GOVERNMENT, CANADIANS
EXPECT US TO FOCUS ON THE BIG
ISSUES FOR THE COMING MONTHS AND
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE MUST DO
NOW.
THAT MEANS THE SPEECH FROM THE
THRONE THAT PRESENTS AN
AMBITIOUS PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF
OUR COUNTRY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN
PARLIAMENT COMES BACK, IN THE
SAME WEEK THAT IT WAS SCHEDULED
TO RETURN, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE
TO ASK WHATEVER QUESTION THEY
WISH ABOUT THAT OR ANY OTHER
ISSUE.
NOW, WITH OUR NEW MINISTER OF
FINANCE AND OUR OTHER MINISTERS,
WE WILL BE FOCUSED ON HOW WE
WILL HELP CANADIANS GET THROUGH
THIS CRISIS AND COME OUT EVEN
STRONGER.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Question: SIR, YOU'VE
CHOSEN CHRYSTIA FREELAND TO BE
NOT ONLY YOUR DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER BUT YOUR FINANCE
MINISTER.
IT'S A MODEL USED BY PREVIOUS
GOVERNMENTS.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY YOU
DECIDED TO GIVE THIS PORTFOLIO
TO MINISTER FREELAND IN
PARTICULAR AND DOES THAT SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CONFIDENCE
IN THE FRONT BENCH AND CABINET?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
CHRYSTIA FREELAND AND I HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST
ALMOST DECADE NOW ABOUT HOW WE
NEED TO CREATE A FAIRER COUNTRY
FOR CANADIANS, HOW WE NEED TO
GROW THE ECONOMY IN WAYS THAT
HELPS EVERYONE.
SHE WROTE A BOOK ON THE SUBJECT,
AND HAS BEEN A KEY PLAYER IN MY
GOVERNMENT SINCE DAY ONE.
AS WE LOOK TO BUILDING A BETTER,
MORE FAIR CANADA THAT IS
PROSPEROUS AND CREATING REAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE, I CAN
THINK OF NO ONE WHO IS BETTER
SUITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE ME AND
THE REST OF THIS AMAZING TEAM AS
OUR FINANCE MINISTER TO BUILD
THAT BETTER FUTURE FOR
CANADIANS.
I AM DEEPLY, DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR
HER SERVICE AND THE SERVICE OF
ALL THOSE WHO STAND WITH ME, AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON
WHAT CANADIANS NEED IN THE
COMING MONTHS AND YEARS.
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT QUESTION...
>> (Speaking French).
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. TRUDEAU.
YOU SAY THAT THE DOCUMENTS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN HANDED OVER TO THE
COMMITTEE AND THEREFORE THEY
WILL BE ABLE TO REVIEW ALL THOSE
DOCUMENTS BUT WITH PROROGUATION,
THE COMMITTEES CANNOT SIT, SO
WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE ARE YOU
SENDING TO THEM WITH THIS
DECISION?
IN TERMS OF THE WORK THEY WERE
ENGAGED IN.
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
WELL, I THINK DURING THIS COVID
CRISIS, CANADIANS UNDERSTAND
THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, WE HAVE
TO PRESENT AN AMBITIOUS PLAN
THAT WILL BE DEBATED IN
PARLIAMENT AND THAT WILL BE
VOTED ON IN PARLIAMENT IN ORDER
TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.
OF COURSE OPPOSITION MEMBERS
WILL HAVE EVERY POSSIBLE
OPPORTUNITY WHEN PARLIAMENT
RETURNS IN ITS
REGULARLY-SCHEDULED WEEK TO ASK
QUESTIONS ON WHATEVER TOPIC THEY
DESIRE.
WE'VE BEEN COMPLETELY OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT, AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY.
BUT AS A GOVERNMENT, WE MUST
FOCUS NOW ON CANADIANS AND ON
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE
CONFRONTED WITH.
WHEN THERE MAY BE A POTENTIAL
NEW SECOND WAVE OF THE VIRUS AND
THE CHALLENGES THAT THAT MEANS
FOR CANADIANS, SO WE WILL
CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT.
>> (Voice of Interpreter): A
FOLLOW-UP, EMILIE?
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
YES.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF THE 'WE' CHARITY
PROBLEM IS BEHIND YOU, THE
ETHICS COMMITTEE WORK IS
CONTINUING AND THE ETHICS
COMMISSIONER WILL CONTINUE HIS
WORK, THAT'S NOT AFFECTED BY THE
PROROGUATION?
THERE'S ALSO THE QUESTION OF THE
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, ALL
THESE ISSUES COULD COME BACK.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S BEHIND YOU
NOW?
>> (Voice of Interpreter): NO,
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT OPPOSITION
MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO ASK
THEIR QUESTIONS, THE JOURNALISTS
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THEIR WORK,
THE ETHICS COMMISSIONER WILL
CONTINUE TO DO HIS WORK, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE EXPECTED.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
BUT AS A GOVERNMENT, WE WILL
CONTINUE, AS WE DID ALL
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WITH THE
AGREEMENT, THE SAFE RESTART OF
THE ECONOMY AGREEMENT, AND
HELPING PEOPLE WITH THEIR RENT
AND TO PAY THEIR GROCERIES.
IN THE SAME MANNER, WE WILL BE
FOCUSED ON CANADIANS AND IN THE
REMAINING WEEKS BEFORE
PARLIAMENT RESUMES, WE WILL BE
FOCUSED ON THE PLAN THAT WE WILL
BE INTRODUCING INTO PARLIAMENT,
AND OPPOSITION MEMBERS, BECAUSE
THIS IS A MINORITY PARLIAMENT,
WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO APPROVE
THE PLAN THAT WE INTRODUCE TO
RELAUNCH OUR ECONOMY, FAIR
ECONOMY, OR NOT APPROVE IT.
THAT'S THE VERY HEART OF OUR
DEMOCRACY, AND THEY WILL HAVE
EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THAT IMPORTANT WORK.
>> (Speaking French).
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. TRUDEAU.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WELL,
WHETHER YOU FORCED THE
RESIGNATION OF BILL MORNEAU OR
WHETHER HE ABANDONED YOU?
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
WELL, WE ARRIVED AT AN
AGREEMENT, JUST AS WE HAVE MANY
TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
THAT I WAS WORKING WITH BILL.
WE ARRIVED AT THE SAME
CONCLUSIONS AT ABOUT THE SAME
TIME.
IN OTHER WORDS, FOR THE RELAUNCH
OF THE ECONOMY AND IN THE NEXT
STEPS, HE DID NOT WISH TO RUN IN
THE NEXT ELECTION, AND THEREFORE
IT WAS BETTER TO HAVE SOMEONE
WHO COULD CARRY US THROUGH FOR
THE LONGER TERM.
I WAS REALLY PRIVILEGED TO BE
ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM OVER THESE
LAST FIVE YEARS, AND I WISH HIM
THE BEST OF SUCCESS, AND I'M
VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO WORK
WITH CHRYSTIA AS MINISTER OF
FINANCE AND WITH THE ENTIRE TEAM
AS WE SHAPE AN AMBITIOUS PLAN
FOR THE FUTURE OF CANADA.
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
FOLLOW-UP?
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
NOW, IN RECENT WEEKS, THE
OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE SAID
THEY WANTED TO DEFEAT THE
GOVERNMENT.
DO YOU WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE
DEFEATED AS A RESULT OF YOUR
THRONE SPEECH?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I THINK CANADIANS EXPECT THE
OPPOSITION PARTIES TO WORK
TOGETHER AND THAT PARLIAMENT
WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE
REAL CHALLENGES FACING
CANADIANS, WHETHER IT IS THE
PROBLEM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND
STUDENTS OR SENIORS IN CANADA,
THERE ARE MANY, MANY CHALLENGES
FACING US, AND WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS THEM AS A COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL
BE DOING IN THE THRONE SPEECH.
I THINK CANADIANS EXPECT US TO
ALL WORK TOGETHER TO DELIVER ON
THOSE AMBITIOUS PLANS.
BUT IT IS A MINORITY PARLIAMENT
AND THE OPPOSITION PARTIES WILL
DECIDE WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO
BE AN ELECTION IN THE FALL OR
NOT.
BUT AS A GOVERNMENT, WE WOULD
PREFER TO BE ABLE TO WORK TO
DELIVER CONCRETE RESULTS FOR
CANADIANS IN THIS CRISIS.
>> (Voice of Interpreter):
MR. TRUDEAU, WE ARE IN A VERY
NARROW CORRIDOR HERE BECAUSE
WHEN YOU WERE MANAGING THE
PANDEMIC, THERE WERE A LOT OF
THINGS YOU COULDN'T AVOID BUT
WITH 'WE' CHARITY, THERE WERE
THINGS YOU COULD HAVE AVOIDED.
SO IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO SUGGEST TO CANADIANS, YOUR
PLAN, WILL THIS BE SOMETHING
THAT WILL BE EASY NOT TO RUIN?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
WELL, I THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT
WE'VE DELIVERED ON IN RECENT
MONTHS, WHETHER IT'S THE CERB OR
HELP FOR FOOD BANKS OR HELP FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES, THE FACT IS WE
WORKED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PARTNERS, WHETHER IT WAS THE
UNITED WAY OR OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RED
CROSS, AND WE WERE THEREFORE
BEING ABLE TO QUICKLY DEVELOP
TOOLS TO HELP MILLIONS OF
CANADIANS.
AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE
WERE BOUND TO MAKE MISTAKES.
WE DID MAKE MISTAKES, AND WE
CORRECTED THEM AS WE WENT ALONG,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS
PROGRAM, THE STUDENT GRANT
PROGRAM, FOR STUDENTS WISHING TO
VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,
THERE WAS AN ISSUE THERE THAT
MEANT THAT THE PROGRAM COULD NOT
GO FORWARD.
AND IT RAISED A LOT OF
QUESTIONS.
BUT WE ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS,
AND AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WE
WERE THERE TO DELIVER ON WHAT
CANADIANS NEEDED.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO.
THIS FALL, WE WILL BE FACING
OTHER CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT'S A
SECOND WAVE OF COVID, WHETHER IT
IS A WORSE SITUATION SOMEWHERE
IN THE WORLD, WE WILL NEED A
PLAN TO HELP FAMILIES AND TO
HELP BUSINESSES.
AND HELP THE CANADIAN ECONOMY TO
REOPEN KNOWING THAT OUR
FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND OUR
HEALTH CARE WORKERS NEED CERTAIN
SUPPORTS.
SO THAT REQUIRES A GOVERNMENT
THAT IS FOCUSED ON THAT, AND
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PANDEMIC, THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE ALONG THOSE
LINES.
>> (Voice of Interpreter): YOU
SAID THAT YOU WANT TO REBUILD
THE ECONOMY BASED ON BOLD IDEAS.
NOW I'D LIKE PERHAPS TO HEAR
FROM YOU ON WHAT YOUR IDEAS ARE
IN THAT REGARD AND PERHAPS
MS. FREELAND AS WELL.
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
WELL, WE KNOW THAT OUR WORLD IS
CHANGING.
IT WAS ALREADY CHANGING EVEN
BEFORE THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
THE MAJOR CRISIS THAT WE WERE
FACING A YEAR AGO OR THREE YEARS
AGO WAS THE CRISIS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE, AND WE MUST ADDRESS
THAT, NOT JUST FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT BUT FOR OUR ECONOMY,
FOR JOBS, AND FOR THE WELFARE OF
CANADIANS, AND ALL CANADIANS.
SO THIS REMAINS A CRISIS THAT WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE
DEALING WITH THE COVID-19
CRISIS, AN IMMEDIATE AND
EXTREMELY-DIFFICULT CRISIS.
AND WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT
AS WELL.
SO THERE ARE MANY, MANY
CHALLENGES CONFRONTING US BUT,
AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW THAT
CANADIANS ARE READY TO BE PART
OF THAT CHANGE.
TO LOOK FOR A BETTER WORLD, TO
PARTICIPATE IN A GREENER
ECONOMY, AND TO ENSURE WE CAN
MAKE THAT GREEN SHIFT TO A
SAFER, BETTER WORLD.
AND OF COURSE THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING VERY DIFFICULT
CONDITIONS IN OUR LONG-TERM CARE
HOMES AND SO FORTH, THERE AGAIN,
WE WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE
PROVINCES AND WITH OTHER
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ON MAJOR
TRADE ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE,
AND WE KNOW THAT THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY MEANS BOLDLY
REIMAGINING WHAT CANADA CAN BE.
AND THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE, THE
FAIRNESS SIDE, STRONG GROWTH FOR
EVERYONE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I'D LIKE TO
TURN IT OVER TO THE NEW MINISTER
OF FINANCE.
[ End of Interpretation ]
I'M GOING TO ALLOW HER TO ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS AND THEN I WILL
COME BACK FOR MORE QUESTIONS.
>> PLEASE DON'T WORRY.
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE BACK
TO TAKE MORE QUESTIONS.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
LENA.
BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST
QUESTION, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY
SAYING THAT IT WAS A TREMENDOUS
PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO
WORK WITH BILL MORNEAU.
HE WAS A FANTASTIC COLLEAGUE, AN
EXCELLENT MINISTER OF FINANCE,
AND WE DID MANY THINGS TOGETHER,
INCLUDING THE NEGOTIATIONS ON
THE NEW NAFTA, AND INCLUDING
TARIFFS, AND OUR WORK TO AVOID
THOSE SECTION 232 TARIFFS AND,
OF COURSE, THE RECOVERY WITH THE
PROVINCES.
AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT
WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO
COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH BILL WHO
DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AS MINISTER
OF FINANCE.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
NANCY AND BILL'S ENTIRE FAMILY.
POLITICAL LIFE CAN BE DIFFICULT
FOR OUR FAMILIES, AND I REALLY
WANT TO SAY TO NANCY AND TO
BILL'S CHILDREN THAT I AM
CONSCIOUS OF THE CONTRIBUTION
THAT THEY MADE AS WELL.
NOW, IN TERMS OF LENA'S QUESTION
NOW, THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD HOUR
SINCE I BECAME FINANCE MINISTER,
SO I DON'T INTEND TO PROVIDE A
LONG EXPLANATION OF MY
PHILOSOPHY OR OUR PHILOSOPHY OR
ECONOMIC APPROACH, BUT OF
COURSE, AS THE PRIME MINISTER
HAS ALREADY SAID, A GREEN
RECOVERY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID,
CANADA TODAY IS FACING MANY
MAJOR CHALLENGES AT THE SAME
TIME.
ALONG WITH THE COVID CHALLENGE,
WHICH IS STILL WITH US.
AND WE, OUR GOVERNMENT MUST NOW
WORK TOWARDS HELPING CANADIANS
AND SUPPORTING CANADIANS AS WE
FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS AND ALSO
ENSURE THAT THERE CAN BE A
STRONG ECONOMIC RECOVERY, A
ROBUST ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ End of Interpretation ]
THANK YOU.
SO SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST
QUESTION, I'D LIKE TO START BY
SAYING HOW MUCH I HAVE BEEN
GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH BILL
MORNEAU AND WHAT A WONDERFUL
FINANCE MINISTER HE HAS BEEN FOR
CANADA.
I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH BILL
ON ISSUES LIKE THE NAFTA
NEGOTIATION, LIKE THE 232
TARIFFS, MOST RECENTLY ON THE
SAFE RESTART THAT WE NEGOTIATED
WITH THE PROVINCES.
AND BILL TRULY HAS BEEN A
TERRIFIC COLLEAGUE, AND I'D LIKE
TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND THANK HIM
FOR THAT.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A
MOMENT TO THANK NANCY AND BILL'S
FAMILY.
POLITICAL LIFE CAN BE HARD FOR
OUR FAMILIES, AND I'D LIKE TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR
CONTRIBUTION.
TO LENA'S QUESTION ABOUT
DECARBONIZATION AS PART OF OUR
ECONOMIC PLAN GOING FORWARD, OF
COURSE IT HAS TO BE PART OF IT.
I THINK ALL CANADIANS UNDERSTAND
THAT THE RESTART OF OUR ECONOMY
NEEDS TO BE GREEN.
IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE EQUITABLE.
IT NEEDS TO BE INCLUSIVE.
AND WE NEED TO FOCUS VERY MUCH
ON JOBS AND GROWTH.
AS THE PRIME MINISTER SAID IN
HIS REMARKS, AND THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, THE CORONAVIRUS IS
STILL WITH US.
THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME
CHALLENGE FOR OUR WHOLE COUNTRY.
AND OUR COMMITMENT AS A
GOVERNMENT IS TO DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES TO SUPPORT CANADIANS AS WE
GET THROUGH THAT CHALLENGE AND
AS WE GET THROUGH IT, TO REALLY
BUILD BACK BETTER AND TO TURN
THIS TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE INTO A
FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
CANADIANS HAVE DONE SUCH A
TERRIFIC JOB IN FIGHTING THE
CORONAVIRUS SO FAR.
I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF OUR
COUNTRY, AND I AM ABSOLUTELY
CONFIDENT THAT WORKING TOGETHER,
WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS, AND WE
CAN BUILD BACK A COUNTRY EVEN
BETTER THAN THE ONE WE HAD
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT US.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION IN
THE FOYER HERE.
>> Question: PRIME MINISTER,
CANADIAN PRESS.
IN PUTTING FORWARD A SPEECH FROM
THE THRONE IN THE FALL, IT'S
LIKE YOU'RE DARING THE
OPPOSITION TO FORCE AN ELECTION.
DO YOU WANT AN ELECTION?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau:
NO, WE DO NOT WANT AN ELECTION
BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE
THRONE SPEECH WE GAVE EIGHT
MONTHS AGO IS NO LONGER RELEVANT
FOR THE REALITY CANADIANS ARE
LIVING AND OUR GOVERNMENT IS
FACING.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE
COMMITTED TO CANADIANS IN THAT
THRONE SPEECH WE WILL BE
CONTINUING TO WORK ON BUT MANY
THAT AREN'T THE PRIORITY THEY
ONCE WERE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
CANADIANS HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF
THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE FOR
BUILDING A STRONGER ECONOMY,
THAT IS MORE INCLUSIVE, THAT IS
GASOLINER, THAT
GREENER AND FAIRER FOR ALL
CANADIANS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
FOCUSING ON IN THE COMING WEEKS
AS WE RETURN WITH THE THRONE
SPEECH, BUT WE NEED A MANDATE
FROM THIS PARLIAMENT TO MOVE
FORWARD ON IMPLEMENTING THESE
AMBITIOUS IDEALS, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE IT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
THRONE SPEECH AND THE DEBATE
THAT WILL FOLLOW AND THE VOTE
WHERE CANADIANS AND THROUGH
THEIR PARLIAMENT CONTAINS WILL
BE
 E
FACING A CHOICE ON THE KIND OF
RESPONSE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO
THIS CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
 -- PARLIAMENTARIANS.
DO WE TRY TO GET BACK TO THE
STATUS QUO AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE OR DO WE REALIZE THAT
THIS CRISIS HAS EXPOSED FLAWS
AND WEAKNESSES IN OUR COUNTRY
THAT WE NEED TO FIX, THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
FIX?
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE LAYING
OUT IN OUR AMBITIOUS VISION FOR
THIS COUNTRY IN THE THRONE
SPEECH, AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT PARLIAMENT GETS A
CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON IT.
BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT, AS
CANADIANS EXPECT, WE ARE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO
DELIVER ON THE KIND OF PRESENT
AND FUTURE THAT CANADIANS HAVE
WORKED SO HARD FOR.
[ Voice of Interpreter ]
NO, I DON'T WANT AN ELECTION.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER
CONCRETE ASSISTANCE TO
CANADIANS, THE ASSISTANCE THEY
SO DEARLY NEED.
BUT THE THRONE SPEECH THAT WE
BROUGHT IN EIGHT MONTHS AGO IS
NOT ALIGNED WITH TODAY'S
REALITY, SO I THINK IT'S
PERFECTLY NORMAL THAT WE SHOULD
PRESENT A NEW VISION WITH
RESPECT TO THE WORK THIS
GOVERNMENT WILL BE DOING TO
BUILD A BETTER CANADA FOR ALL
CANADIANS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
AND PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ITS
COMMENTS ON THAT AND SINCE IT'S
A MINORITY PARLIAMENT, THEY WILL
BE ABLE TO VOTE NON-CONFIDENCE
OR VOTE CONFIDENCE IN THAT PLAN.
AND I DO HOPE THAT MEMBERS OF
PARLIAMENT WILL UNDERSTAND THAT
WHAT CANADIANS WANT NOW AND WHAT
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WANT IS
THAT WE WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER
TO ADDRESS THIS HISTORIC CRISIS.
THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION, THERE WILL BE ROBUST
DEBATE, BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN
BE THERE FOR CANADIANS IF WE
WORK TOGETHER.
[ End of Interpretation ]
>> Question: GOOD AFTERNOON,
TONDA McCHARLES, "TORONTO
STAR."
MINISTER FREELAND, CAN I ASK YOU
A QUESTION?
GIVEN THAT YOU'RE THE FIRST
FEMALE FINANCE MINISTER IN
CANADIAN HISTORY, I'D LIKE YOU
TO ADDRESS THAT.
MAY I ASK HER, PRIME MINISTER?
>> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau: OF
COURSE.
>> Question: GIVEN THAT YOU'RE
THE FIRST FEMALE FINANCE
MINISTER IN CANADIAN HISTORY,
I'D LIKE YOU TO REFLECT ON THAT
AND ALSO IF YOU COULD TELL US
ONE OR TWO KEY MOMENTS OR MAJOR
POINTS WHEN YOU TOLD THE PRIME
MINISTER "NO" TO SOMETHING HE
WANTED.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION.
AND I AM CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT
THAT I AM CANADA'S FIRST WOMAN
FINANCE MINISTER.
IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE BROKE
THAT GLASS CEILING.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THE
CANADIAN WOMEN ACROSS OUR
AMAZING COUNTRY WHO ARE OUT
THERE BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS,
KEEP GOING.
WE ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH
YOU.
ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF OUR
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN AN
EXPLICITLY AND PROUDLY FEMINIST
AGENDA THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
PART OF OUR WORK.
I HAVE TAKEN PARTICULAR PRIDE
IN, AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THAT
WORK IS CONTINUING.
I THINK WE ALSO KNOW THAT TODAY,
THIS PARTICULAR ECONOMIC
CHALLENGE OUR COUNTRY IS FACING,
THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGE CREATED
BY THE CORONAVIRUS IS HITTING
WOMEN PARTICULARLY HARD.
IT'S HITTING MOTHERS
PARTICULARLY HARD.
WE ARE SEEING WOMEN'S
PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKFORCE
FALL VERY SHARPLY.
AND CERTAINLY I'M GLAD THAT I'LL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MY
EXPERIENCE AS A WOMAN, AS A
MOTHER TO THIS REALLY-IMPORTANT
CHALLENGE OUR COUNTRY IS FACING.
NOW, IN TERMS OF THE TIMES THAT
THE PRIME MINISTER AND I HAVE
DISAGREED, IT'S ACTUALLY
SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT
YESTERDAY.
AND WE REFLECTED, I THINK WITH
GOOD HUMOUR, ON A FEW OF THE
ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE DISAGREED.
I'M ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO
CATALOGUE THOSE BECAUSE FOR ME
ALWAYS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE
MINISTER, MY MOTTO HAS BEEN TO
HAVE OPEN, CANDID CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER IN
PRIVATE, BUT ALSO TO HAVE A
UNITED FRONT WHEN WE COME OUT IN
PUBLIC, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE PRIME MINISTER WHO HAS
TREATED ME THAT WAY TOO.
THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT PART OF ANY WORKING
RELATIONSHIP, PARTICULARLY IN
GOVERNMENT.
BUT I WILL SAY THIS, AS THE
PRIME MINISTER AND I YESTERDAY
REFLECTED ON SOME OF THE ISSUES
WHERE WE'VE HAD A DIFFERENT
POINT OF VIEW, I THINK BOTH OF
US DID FEEL, AND IT WILL BE UP
TO THE PRIME MINISTER TO CONFIRM
THIS OR NOT, BUT I THINK BOTH OF
US FELT THAT HAVING THOSE
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND
HAVING AN ABILITY TO HAVE AN
OPEN, RESPECTFUL, CANDID
CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW
ACTUALLY COLLECTIVELY BROUGHT
OUR GOVERNMENT TO A BETTER
DECISION.
THANK YOU.
>> (Speaking French).
>> OKAY, THAT BRINGS TO AN END A
PRESS CONFERENCE ON PARLIAMENT
HILL.
YOU SAW THERE THE PRIME MINISTER
ALONGSIDE HIS NEW MINISTER OF
FINANCE CHRYSTIA FREELAND AND
HIS NEW MINISTER OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
DOMINIC LeBLANC.
I'M VASSY KAPELOS AND I'M COMING
TO YOU FROM OTTAWA.
I'M STANDING BY WITH MY
COLLEAGUE DAVID COCHRANE AND ROB
ROUSSEAU.
WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO WHAT
THE PRIME MINISTER TALKED ABOUT
AS WELL AS MINISTER FREELAND.
A COUPLE OF I THOUGHT
SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF NEWS TO
PARSE OUT FOR VIEWERS.
FIRST OF ALL, ROB, PARLIAMENT
WILL BE PROROGUED.
THINGS WILL BE SHUT DOWN BUT
THEY WILL BE COMING BACK ON
SEPTEMBER 23rd AT WHICH POINT
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE'S
GOING TO PRESENT AN AMBITIOUS
VISION FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
MINISTER FREELAND SAYS IT WILL
BE A GREEN ECONOMIC RECOVERY BUT
BEYOND THAT, NOT A HUGE AMOUNT
OF DETAIL WHAT THAT VISION MIGHT
ENTAIL, JUST THAT IT WILL BE
ACCORDING TO THE PRIME MINISTER
AMBITIOUS.
>> I WAS REMINDED, I'M SURE AS
MANY IN THE AUDIENCE WERE, OF
THAT VERY, VERY BAD '70s MOVIE
THE GUMBALL RALLY WHERE THE
FERRARI DRIVER COMES ALONG INTO
THE RACE, TAKES A LOOK AT HIS
NEW CAR, GOES INTO THE CAR, RIPS
OUT THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND
SAYS, WHAT'S BEHIND ME IS NOT
IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE
PRIME MINISTER WAS TRYING TO
SAY.
LOOK, TO GOVERN IS TO CHOOSE.
TO BE PRIME MINISTER IS TO
CHOOSE THE DATE OF PROROGUATION.
I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER ONE
DAY PROROGUATION, TWO DAYS
PROROGUATIONS, 1991, BRIAN
MULRONEY PROROGUED ONE DAY,
BROUGHT IN A SPEECH FROM THE
THRONE.
THE PRIME MINISTER CHOSE TO
PROROGUE IN ABOUT A MONTH OR SIX
WEEKS' TIME.
HE COULD HAVE WAITED TO PROROGUE
THE DAY BEFORE THE 23rd, THE
22nd.
IT'S HARD TO CONCLUDE THAT HE
DIDN'T MAKE THAT CHOICE IN ORDER
TO SHUT DOWN WHAT IS A RATHER
SQUALID INVESTIGATION INTO THE
HANDLING OF THE 'WE' SCANDAL.
SO VERY MUCH FIXED ON THE
FUTURE.
THE FUTURE DOESN'T INCLUDE, FOR
NOW, THE SQUALOR OF THE 'WE'
SCANDAL, AND BY THE WAY, PETER
MacKAY, ERIN O'TOOLE, WHOEVER
BECOMES LEADER, ONE OF YOUR
FIRST ORDERS OF BUSINESS IN
PARLIAMENT IS TO DECIDE WHETHER
OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO TRIGGER
AN ELECTION CALL IN THE MIDDLE
OF A PANDEMIC.
>> I THOUGHT, DAVID, THAT WAS
VERY INTERESTING.
A COUPLE OF THINGS, FIRST OF
ALL, THE PRIME MINISTER WAS
PRETTY UNEQUIVOCAL AT SETTING
THIS UP WHEN HE COMES BACK AND
THE GOVERNMENT COMES BACK AS A
CONFIDENCE VOTE AND OBVIOUSLY
THERE'S GOING TO BE A THRONE
SPEECH BUT THAT THIS IS ABOUT
PRESENTING A VISION AND THEN
PARLIAMENT DECIDING IF THEY'RE
ON-BOARD OR NOT.
AND THEN ALSO THAT HE DOESN'T
WANT AN ELECTION, THAT WAS ONE
OF THE VERY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THE FEW I WOULD SAY VERY DIRECT
ANSWERS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER
GAVE.
HE WAS ASKED DO YOU WANT TO
FORCE AN ELECTION WITH THAT
VOTE, HE SAID NO, WE DON'T WANT
AN ELECTION.
>> YEAH, HIS LINE WAS BASICALLY
HE DOESN'T NEED A MANDATE FROM
THE PEOPLE, HE NEEDS A MANDATE
FROM PARLIAMENT AND THAT'S SORT
OF THE SITUATION.
ON ROB'S POINT, THEY MAY HAVE
RIPPED OUT THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR
BUT THERE'S A LOT IN THE TRUNK
INCLUDING THOSE 5,000 PAGES OF
DOCUMENTS THAT GO TO THE 'WE'
INVESTIGATION OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
PIERRE POILIEVRE SAYING ON
TWITTER THOSE WILL BE RELEASED,
I THINK THE PRIME MINISTER SAID
THOSE IN HIS REMARKS AS WELL.
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING,
'WE' WILL CONTINUE TO UNFOLD,
THE 5,000 PAGE DOCUMENT DUMP,
MPs WILL BE ALL OVER THAT,
JOURNALISTS WILL BE ALL OVER
THAT, THE QUESTIONS WILL
CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT
IN PARLIAMENT OR ACTIVITY.
THAT PROCESS WILL CONTINUE TO
UNFOLD BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO
CHRYSTIA FREELAND AND THE PRIME
MINISTER TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
COMING BACK TO ON
SEPTEMBER 23rd, HE SAYS HE
DOESN'T WANT AN ELECTION BUT IT
FEELS LIKE THE ELECTION WILL
START WITH THAT THRONE SPEECH
BECAUSE HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE
NEED FOR VERY PROGRESSIVE
CHANGES.
THAT THIS WILL BE A BLUEPRINT
AND A ROAD MAP FOR A POST-COVID
CANADA, THAT'S IMMEDIATELY GOING
TO GO TO A CONFIDENCE VOTE THAT
WILL DETERMINE WHETHER A
GOVERNMENT THAT JUST LOST A
SENIOR MINISTER WILL BE ABLE TO
HOLD ON TO POWER OR POSSIBLY
FACE AN ELECTION.
AND IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT
CHRYSTIA FREELAND SAID,
REFLECTING ON THE FACT SHE IS
THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THIS JOB
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN THE
HISTORY OF CANADA, SHE THINKS
HER EXPERIENCE AS A WOMAN AND AS
A MOTHER WILL INFORM HOW SHE
APPROACHES THIS.
AND SHE TALKS ABOUT THE NEED FOR
THE REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY,
THE RESTART OF THE ECONOMY TO BE
GREEN, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE.
SO THERE ARE SOARING AMBITIONS
IN THOSE WORDS AND SOARING
RHETORIC AT A TIME OF SOARING SG
DEFICITS AND SOARING LOW
INTEREST RATES.
CERB FOLDS INTO EI, THAT WILL
FREE UP ROOM FOR STIMULUS AND
TRANSFORMATION, THAT'S WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT TO
PARALYMPIAN ON THE 23rd OF
SEPTEMBER AND RIDE INTO THE NEXT
ELECTION WHENEVER THAT MAY BE.
>> YEAH, YOU MAY.
>> VERY QUICKLY.
I WANT TO SAY YOU WHO
SUCCESSFULLY SETS THE BALLOT
QUESTION OFF AND WINS.
WHAT WE SAW TODAY WAS THE
SETTING OF THE BALLOT BOX
QUESTION, DO YOU WANT THIS, WE
DON'T WANT IT TO BE ABOUT 'WE',
WE WANT IT TO BE ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND THAT FUTURE IS GOING
TO BE CLASH OF VISIONS BETWEEN
US THE LIBERALS, YES WE'RE GOING
TO SPEND MORE MONEY BUT WE'RE
GOING TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF
CANADIAN SOCIETY TO HELP WOMEN,
TO HELP OUR ELDERLY, OR WHATEVER
IT IS THAT THE CONSERVATIVES ARE
GOING TO PUT IN THE WINDOW.
THEY PUT THEIR VERSION OF THE
BALLOT BOX QUESTION FORWARD.
I SUSPECT THAT THE CONSERVATIVES
AND THE OTHER PARTIES ARE GOING
TO PUT A VERY DIFFERENT VERSION
OF THAT BALLOT BOX QUESTION
FORWARD.
>> YOU ALMOST HEARD A CHANGE IN
TONE IN THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN
HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCES, YOU KNOW.
THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO
GET, A CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO.
WE WANT TO HELP, THEY DON'T.
THAT CHOICE IS GOING TO BE VERY
CLEAR TO CANADIANS MOVING
FORWARD.
I HAD DÉJÀ VU WHEN HE WAS SAYING
THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDED EXACTLY
LIKE THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
IT WAS A PRE-PANDEMIC MESSAGE
THEN BUT A SIMILAR ONE DELIVERED
TODAY.
BEFORE I LET YOU BOTH GO, I WANT
TO GET YOU ON BILL MORNEAU.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN LEAVE
WITHOUT DISCUSSING THE QUESTIONS
TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON BILL
MORNEAU.
DAVID, THE MOST INTERESTING ONE
I THOUGHT WAS OBVIOUSLY THE
PRIME MINISTER VERY EFFUSIVE IN
HIS AFFECTION FOR THE FORMER
FINANCE MINISTER, LAUDING HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
BUT THEN HE WAS ASKED BY I THINK
IT WAS OUR COLLEAGUE AT CTV,
WELL, DID YOU ASK HIM TO STAY.
>> MOLLY THOMAS ASKED HIM THAT.
>> AND THE ANSWER WAS NOT A
"YES."
>> NO, IT WASN'T, AND YOU SEE
THERE THE CHANNEL CHANGING
ATTEMPT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.
HE'S VERY HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT
BILL MORNEAU'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND HIS TRACK RECORD BUT NOT
ABOUT THE REASONS, THE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE DETAILS
SURROUNDING HIS DEPARTURE.
HE DOES NOT WANT THAT TO BE THE
STORY TODAY.
HE WANTS IT TO BE WHAT IS COMING
ON SEPTEMBER 23rd AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING TODAY WITH CHRYSTIA
FREELAND ASCENDING TO THAT ROLE.
DOMINIC LeBLANC SAT IN THE
BACK, ALTHOUGH HE'S COME BACK
FROM FIGHTING CANCER --
>> HE'S GOING TO BE ON THE SHOW
A LITTLE LATER.
>> THAT WILL MAKE UP FOR IT.
HE DOES NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT
BILL MORNEAU.
IF YOU REALLY HAD A LEVEL OF
CONFIDENCE IN HIM THAT MATCHES
THE STATEMENT HIS OFFICE
RELEASED LAST WEEK, YOU WOULD
HAVE ASKED HIM TO RECONSIDER.
CLEARLY, THIS GOVERNMENT WANTED
TO MAKE A CHANGE IN DIRECTION
AND A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL, AND
ALL OF THAT HAS NOW HAPPENED
PUBLICLY IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
>> ROB, QUICK FINAL THOUGHT FROM
YOU ON WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER
SAID ON BILL MORNEAU.
>> A TOTAL DODGE, ELEGANT
DEFLECTION.
I WAS STRUCK BY THE WORDS, NO
MATTER WHAT HIS NEXT STEPS,
WELL, I THOUGHT WE KNEW WHAT HIS
NEXT STEPS WERE, IT'S GOING TO
BE A VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF
OF BILL MORNEAU TO GET THE JOB
AT THE OECD.
NO MATTER WHAT HIS NEXT STEPS
TELLS YOU THAT THAT CAMPAIGN
MIGHT NOT BE AS VIGOROUS OR
SUCCESSFUL AS MR. MORNEAU
THINKS.
>> THE OECD AND THOSE LOOKING TO
JOIN IT.
>> GENTLEMEN, I LEAVE IT THERE.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE CHECKING IN
THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM THIS
EVENING.
MY COLLEAGUES ROB ROUSSEAU AND
DAVID COCHRANE.
I WANT TO GET ADDITIONAL
PERSPECTIVE, DAVID MENTIONED
CHRYSTIA FREELAND, SHE IS THE
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND HAS
BEEN NOW SINCE THE ELECTION BUT
SHE'S ALSO NOW THE FINANCE
MINISTER.
ONE PERSON WHO KNOWS WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO OCCUPY BOTH ROLES AT THE
SAME TIME IS JOHN MANLEY, HE
JOINS US NOW.
I THINK YOU'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE
PROVINCE, ARE YOU NOT?
>> I'M IN THE BEAUTIFUL TOWNSHIP
OF RIDEAU LAKES.
>> OH, EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING
TIME, CARVING SOME TIME OUT OF
YOUR DAY TO JOIN US, MR. MANLEY,
PLEASURE AS ALWAYS TO SEE YOU.
LET ME START OFF AND ASK YOU
ABOUT THE RESIGNATION OF BILL
MORNEAU.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT
WITH MY COLLEAGUES ROB AND
DAVID.
I KNOW YOU WERE LISTENING TO THE
PRIME MINISTER'S COMMENTS.
WERE YOU SURPRISED BY MINISTER
MORNEAU OR MR. MORNEAU'S I
SHOULD SAY RESIGNATION?
>> WELL, SURPRISED THAT IT CAME
TO THIS, AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF
A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD IN THE
CANADIAN AND GLOBAL ECONOMY.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THE
END OF THIS WILL BE.
WE KNOW ROUGHLY THAT WE'VE GOT
TO GET SOME CONTROL OVER THE
PANDEMIC BEFORE THE ECONOMY CAN
RECOVER.
WE'VE GOT SKY-HIGH DEFICITS.
ALL COMMITTED ON THE WATCH OF
THIS FINANCE MINISTER.
IT'S A VERY ODD TIME FOR HIM TO
BAIL.
>> DO YOU THINK IT WAS ABOUT
THOSE POLICY DIFFERENCES AS
REPORTED OVER THE LAST
WEEK-AND-A-HALF OR SOMETHING
MORE?
>> WELL, I CAN ONLY BELIEVE --
THIS HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN A LOT
OF THE COMMENTARY INCLUDING SOME
THAT WE JUST HEARD.
ONE OF THE KEY JOBS OF THE
FINANCE MINISTER IS TO SAY "NO,"
AND SAY "NO" TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,
TO CAUCUS, TO INTEREST GROUPS,
TO THE OPPOSITION, BUT
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, YOU HAVE
TO SAY "NO" TO THE PRIME
MINISTER FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU
HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT
MR. MORNEAU'S "NO" WAS NOT
ACCEPTED.
AND THAT THAT LEFT HIM WITH NO
CHOICE BUT TO EITHER GO OR GO
ALONG.
AND I THINK HE MUST HAVE DECIDED
NOT TO GO ALONG.
>> LET ME ASK YOU, MR. MANLEY,
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE
WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE
FINANCE MINISTER IS LIKE OR CAN
BE LIKE.
>> WELL, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE HEAD OF
THE GOVERNMENT ON-SIDE WITH YOUR
FINANCIAL PLAN.
I MEAN, THE PREPARATION OF A
BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKES MANY,
MANY MONTHS OF VERY HARD WORK,
CONSULTATION, ALL AROUND BY THE
FINANCE MINISTER BUT THERE ISN'T
A BUDGET UNTIL THE MAGIC WORDS
COME OUT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S
MOUTH "WE HAVE A BUDGET."
BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T BE ON
DIFFERENT PAGES.
AND I WAS THERE, OF COURSE, I
INHERITED THE FINANCE PORTFOLIO
FROM PAUL MARTIN, BUT EVEN WHEN
THEY WERE REALLY AT ODDS, THEY
WERE AT ODDS OVER WHO SHOULD BE
PRIME MINISTER.
BUT WHEN IT CAME TO FINANCIAL
DECISIONS, THE FISCAL FRAMEWORK,
PROGRAMING DECISIONS, THERE
WASN'T A CRACK OF LIGHT TO BE
SEEN BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER
AND THE MINISTER OF FINANCE.
IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
OTHERWISE, YOUR GOVERNMENT IS
CHAOTIC.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU
ASSUME THE ROLE OF DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER, YOU'RE IN THE UNIQUE
POSITION THAT YOU CAN OFFER US
SOME PERSPECTIVE THAT FEW OTHERS
COULD ABOUT WHAT CHRYSTIA
FREELAND IS UP AGAINST RIGHT
NOW.
>> OH, IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO
BE.
BECAUSE AS MINISTER OF FINANCE,
YOU'RE BEING BRIEFED AND
PROVIDED INFORMATION BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, YOU'RE
IN THE PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE, AND
YOU'RE BEING BRIEFED AS WELL BY
THE PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE.
AND WHEN IT WAS ME, BOTH SIDES
IN TERMS OF THE BUREAUCRACY WERE
A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH
THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER
QUITE SURE -- THERE'S ALWAYS
TENSION THERE.
THEY'RE NEVER QUITE SURE WHICH
SIDE YOU'RE GOING TO LAND ON.
SO IT'S A GREAT ADVANTAGE
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE CHALLENGE
FUNCTION FROM PRIVY COUNCIL
OFFICE AGAINST FINANCE ALL
COMING AT YOU DIRECTLY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WONDER WHERE
SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO COME
FROM, YOU KNOW THE PRIVY COUNCIL
OFFICE BRIEFS THE PRIME
MINISTER.
SO IT'S A VERY DESIRABLE
POSITION.
NOW, THE CHALLENGES THAT I HAD,
I ALSO CHAIRED ALL OF THE
CABINET COMMITTEES
SIMULTANEOUSLY AND HELD ON TO A
FEW OTHER DISCONNECTED ROLES
THAT WERE PRETTY TRICKY TO
UNLOAD INCLUDING RESPONSIBILITY
FOR A NUMBER OF CROWN
CORPORATIONS.
I THINK MISS FREELAND IS NOT
BURDENED WITH SOME OF THOSE
THINGS, SO SHE CAN FOCUS ON THE
FINANCE RESPONSIBILITY.
>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
SELECTION OF MISS FREELAND FOR
THOSE ROLES?
>> WELL, I THINK SHE HAS EMERGED
IN THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT AS
BEING THE STRONGEST MINISTER,
THE ONE WHO HAS AN IDENTITY OF
HER OWN.
PARTLY THAT CAME THROUGH HER
PERFORMANCE AROUND THE NAFTA
NEGOTIATION.
BEFORE THAT ON THE CETA
NEGOTIATION, THE EUROPEAN TRADE
AGREEMENT, WHICH SHE ALMOST
SINGLEDHANDEDLY DELIVERED TO THE
PRIME MINISTER.
SO I THINK SHE'S SHOWN STRENGTH.
SHE'S SHOWN POLITICAL SAVVY.
MAYBE TO A DEGREE THAT BILL
MORNEAU HAD -- NEVER WAS ABLE TO
DO.
BUT SHE HAS NOT BEEN IN A
LARGELY-ECONOMIC PORTFOLIO.
NOR HAS SHE BEEN KNOWN TO BE
SOMEBODY THAT SPOKE ON ECONOMIC
THEMES.
SO SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO --
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WORK
HARD.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO EARN HER
CHOPS ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER
AREAS.
>> IT'S CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLY
SO THAT THE ECONOMY WILL BE AT
THE FOREFRONT OF WHATEVER AGENDA
END UP BEING PRESENTED WHEN
PARLIAMENT RESUMES TOWARDS THE
END OF SEPTEMBER.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU
MIGHT ANTICIPATE FROM THAT
VISION IN A SECOND BUT FIRST, ON
THE SUBJECT OF PROROGUATION, DO
YOU THINK -- WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF THAT MOVE?
WE HAVE THE OPPOSITION STANDING
BY, I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO BE THRILLED WITH THE IDEA OF
SHUTTING EVERYTHING DOWN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
>> UNION WHAT, THE OPPOSITION,
OF COURSE -- YOU KNOW WHAT, THE
OPPOSITION, THIS IS A TARGET AND
THEY REMEMBER WELL HOW IT
ACTUALLY BECAME SOMETHING
CANADIANS TALKED ABOUT WHEN
STEPHEN HARPER USED IT BACK
DURING THE LAST MAJOR GLOBAL
ECONOMIC CRISIS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, VASSY, YOU AND I
CAN TALK ABOUT IT BUT OUTSIDE
THE BUBBLE IN OTTAWA,
PROROGUATION, THAT'S SOMETHING
THEY DO IN BASEBALL?
I DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT
SALIENT TO CANADIANS.
I MEAN, IF HE SUSPENDED
PARLIAMENT TILL 2021, THAT COULD
BE A PROBLEM, BUT COMING BACK
NEXT MONTH, CANADIANS ARE GOING
TO GRASP THE LAST VESTIGES OF
SUMMER BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
THEY MAY CLEAN THEIR BARBECUES.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE WORRYING
ABOUT POLITICS.
THEY'RE NOT
 WORRIED ABOUT CD
WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE, WHETHER
THEIR KIDS CAN GO BACK TO
SCHOOL, THEY'RE NOT WATCHING
PARLIAMENT, I HAVE TO SAY.
>> WE SHALL SEE.
WE'LL GET THE TAKE FROM THE
OPPOSITION IN A MOMENT.
BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU FINALLY
BEFORE I LET YOU GO, MR. MANLEY,
WHAT YOU MIGHT ANTICIPATE FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY DID PROVIDE SOME
INDICATIONS OF WHAT KIND OF AN
AGENDA, AN ECONOMIC AGENDA, WE
WILL SEE WHEN PARLIAMENT
RESUMES.
THEY DID SAY THEY PUT IT TO
ESSENTIALLY A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
THROUGH THE THRONE SPEECH.
BASED ON WHAT YOU HEARD, WHAT DO
YOU ANTICIPATE AND WHAT WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THAT AGENDA?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I PUT
A LOT OF STOCK INTO JUST THE
WORDS AND PHRASES.
I MEAN, THEY -- LET'S FACE IT,
WHEN THEY GO TO PARLIAMENT, THEY
HAVE TO MAINTAIN THEIR
GOVERNMENT BY APPEALING TO THE
NDP AND THE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS.
SO THIS IS AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN
WHERE YOU REALLY NEED THE
CENTRE, THIS IS A PARLIAMENTARY
SITUATION WHERE YOU NEED THE
SUPPORT OF PARTIES THAT ARE MORE
TO THE LEFT.
AND SO THE RHETORIC AND EVEN THE
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY REFLECT THAT.
THE PROBLEM THAT THEY WILL FACE
IS THAT THE BASIC RULES OF HOW
YOUR ECONOMY FUNCTIONS HAVEN'T
CHANGED.
YOU NEED PRIVATE INVESTMENT, AND
YOU NEED TO GIVE CONFIDENCE TO
INVESTORS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO
HAVE A FIRM HAND ON THE LABOURS
OF PHYSICAL POLICY, THAT YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO LET THINGS RUN OUT
OF CONTROL, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
PROTECT THE CURRENCY, AND
THEY'RE GOING TO -- THE RECOVERY
THAT THE GOVERNING PARTY NEEDS
IN ORDER TO BE RE-ELECTED WHEN
THE TIME COMES AND WHEN THAT
CENTRE ACTUALLY OPENS UP TO
OTHERS.
>> OKAY, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE,
I'M OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME AS ALWAYS, MR. MANLEY,
PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE
PROGRAM.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
JOHN MANLEY.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US NOW,
YOU'RE WATCHING AN EXTREMELY
EXTENDED EDITION OF "POWER &
POLITICS," WE'RE FOLLOWING THE
RESIGNATION OF FINANCE MINISTER
BILL MORNEAU.
CHRYSTIA FREELAND NOW ASSUMES
THE DUTIES OF MR. MORNEAU, SHE
BECOMES FINANCE MINISTER IN
ADDITION TO DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER.
DOM ANY
DOMINIC LeBLANC TR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS FROM
MINISTER FREELAND.
I MENTIONED IN MY INTERVIEW WITH
MR. MANLEY, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF
THE OPPOSITION PARTY STANDING BY
TO REACT TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM
THE PRIME MINISTER JUST MOMENTS
AGO.
JOHN BROSSARD IS THE
CONSERVATIVES' DEPUTY WHIP IN
BARRIE, ONTARIO, AND IN
VANCOUVER, PETER JULIAN, NDP
HOUSE LEADER AND FINANCE CRITIC.
HI, GENTLEMEN.
GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.
>> VASSY, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> AND YOU.
>> MR. BROSSARD, I START WITH
YOU ON THE SUBJECT OF
PROROGUATION ESPECIALLY, YOU
HEARD ME I THINK THERE TALKING
TO MR. MANLEY ABOUT IT.
HE CONTENDS, AND OTHER LIBERALS
HAVE SAID TODAY ON THE PROGRAM
THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
CANADIANS ULTIMATELY ARE GOING
TO CARE ALL THAT MUCH ABOUT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE
MR. MANLEY AND THE LIBERALS
WOULD SAY THAT, BUT THERE IS A
MAJOR CHALLENGE HERE AND THAT IS
THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PRIME
MINISTER ANNOUNCED TODAY, AND IT
WAS QUITE A PERFORMANCE, HE
EFFECTIVELY HAS LOCKED OUT
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT NOT JUST
FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS BUT
FROM COMMITTEES AS WELL, AND SO
THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT'S
MIRED IN CORRUPTION, CHAOS, AND
A COVERUP, AND THE COVERUP IS
CONTINUING.
YOU KNOW, IF HE HAD A CHANCE,
THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY, TO PUT
THE PROROGUATION OFF AT LEAST A
COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE PARLIAMENT
IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME, BUT HE
DIDN'T DO THAT.
AND SO IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHY
NOT.
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS THAT
ON THE DRIP, DRIP, DRIP OF THE
'WE' SCANDAL AND OTHER SCANDALS
THAT ARE HAPPENING TO THIS
GOVERNMENT, HE EFFECTIVELY HAS
PUT A STOP TO THAT BECAUSE THE
COMMITTEES WERE DOING GREAT WORK
GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF NOT
JUST THE 'WE' SCANDALS BUT OTHER
THINGS AS WELL, AND THEY WON'T
BE ABLE TO DO THAT, VASSY, SO
WHY NOT HOLD OFF?
IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A SPEECH
FROM THE THRONE AND YOU WANTED
TO DO IT ON THE 23rd, HE COULD
HAVE PROROGUED PARLIAMENT ON THE
21st IF HE CHOSE TO BUT HE
DIDN'T AND THERE WAS A SPECIFIC
REASON FOR IT.
>> SO THE PRIME MINISTER'S
ARGUMENT, MR. JULIAN, TO THAT OR
HIS RESPONSE TO THAT, BECAUSE HE
GOT SOME QUESTIONS FROM
REPORTERS ABOUT IT, WAS THAT
THEY'RE COMING BACK WHEN THE
FALL SITTING WAS SUPPOSED TO
RESUME, AND THAT THEY HAVE
PROVIDED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION
OR THEY WOULD BE PROVIDING THE
DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMMITTEES
WERE SET TO EXAMINE IN ADVANCE
OF PARLIAMENT SHUTTING DOWN SO
THOSE WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE
AND THEN ONCE PARLIAMENT
RESUMES, THOSE COMMITTEES CAN
RESUME AS WELL.
YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT.
>> WELL, NO DOUBT THIS IS AS BAD
AS ANYTHING THAT STEPHEN HARPER
DID, AND IT SHOWS THAT THE
LIBERAL TENDENCY IS VERY SIMILAR
TO THE WAY MR. HARPER GOVERNED
AND THE CONSERVATIVES.
BUT THE WORST PART IS THE IMPACT
ON REGULAR CANADIANS.
WE HAVE A CERB CLIFF THAT
HAPPENS IN TWO WEEKS' TIME, AND
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES TO
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THAT WOULD
ACTUALLY PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS.
WE HAVE CONCERNS AROUND CHILD
CARE.
WE HAVE CONCERNS AROUND KIDS
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND NOT
HAVING THE SPORTS IN PLACE FOR
FAMILIES.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OVER A
MILLION OF THEM, HAVE RECEIVED
NO SUPPORTS AT ALL.
AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS
SIGNALLING IS THAT THEY ARE NOT
GOING TO DO ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE
FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR MORE.
AND THAT IS THE TRAGEDY.
CANADIANS WHO HAVE BEEN FALLING
THROUGH THE CRACKS OR CANADIANS
COMING TO THE END OF THEIR
EMERGENCY BENEFIT NOW KNOW THAT
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO
DO ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE AT ALL.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMING
BACK TO WORK AND ADOPTING
LEGISLATION TO PUT IN PLACE
SUPPORTS FOR THOSE CANADIANS AND
WHAT MR. TRUDEAU HAS DONE IS
SIMPLY CAST THAT ASIDE.
OF COURSE CANADIANS ARE
CONCERNED WHEN THEY SEE THEIR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND
NEIGHBOURS SUFFERING AND NOT
HAVING THE WHEREWITHAL TO PUT
FOOD ON THE TABLE, KEEP A ROOF
OVER THEIR HEAD AND WHAT
MR. TRUDEAU HAS DONE IS SIMPLY
SAID, HEY, THERE'S NOT ANY
SUPPORTS FOR THE NEXT
MONTH-AND-A-HALF SO YOU HAVE TO
SUCK IT UP.
>> LET ME FOLLOW THROUGH WITH
YOU.
I DIDN'T HEAR HIM SAY THERE WILL
BE NO SUPPORTS AND I KNOW THE
GOVERNMENT ALREADY SAID, FOR
EXAMPLE, WE INTERVIEWED MINISTER
QUALTROUGH A FEW WEEKS AGO
TALKING ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO
THE EI SYSTEM, THE EI SYSTEM IS
EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ABOUT
4 MILLION APPLICANTS, LET'S JUST
SAY.
IS THERE NOT THAT KIND OF A
SYSTEM IN PLACE?
I MEAN, DOES THIS REALLY MEAN --
DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT PEOPLE
WHO ARE ON CERB WHO MIGHT NEED
TO TRANSITION WON'T HAVE
ANYTHING?
>> WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING
IS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IN
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WOULD
ACTUALLY SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE
AND RE-ESTABLISH AN EMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE SAFETY NET.
SO THEY CAN TINKER WITH IT, WITH
REGULATIONS, BUT WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT'S DONE, WHAT
MR. TRUDEAU HAS DONE IS SIMPLY
ANNOUNCED TO THE COUNTRY THAT
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING
SUBSTANTIVE IN THE MIDST OF THE
WORST PANDEMIC WE'VE FACED IN
OVER A CENTURY.
[ Please Stand By ]
 NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS TO 
COVER UP THE SCANDAL HE'S IN 
RIGHT NOW.
>> Vassy: YOU HEARD Mr. JULIAN 
BRING UP WHEN UNDER THE FORMER 
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER'S 
GOVERNMENT, PARLIAMENT WAS 
PROROGUED, THE ACCUSATION THEN 
WAS SHUTTING DOWN OR PREVENTING 
OR TRYING TO AVOID A CONFIDENCE 
VOTE.
IS YOUR PARTY REALLY IN A 
POSITION TO BE ABLE TO CRITICIZE
THIS ONE FOR DOING SOMETHING 
SIMILAR?
>> THAT'S THE ISSUE, VASSY, IS 
THAT IT DIDN'T AVOID A 
CONFIDENCE VOTE.
IT PUT IT OFF FOR SIX WEEKS.
THE HARPER GOVERNMENT AT THE 
TIME, WHICH I WASN'T PART OF, 
DID NOT AVOID A CONFIDENCE VOTE.
THE PRIME MINISTER WILL NOT 
AVOID A CONFIDENCE VOTE IN THIS 
ONE AS WELL.
WHAT HE IS AVOIDING IS THE 
ABILITY FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS TO 
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE 
INFORMATION OF ALL OF THE 
SCANDALS HE IS MIRED ON.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE
BY THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY.
DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE FACT THAT
THIS IS ABOUT SETTING A NEW 
AGENDA.
THIS IS ABOUT COVERING HIS 
POLITICAL BUTT AND THAT'S WHAT 
THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT 
FIRING BILL MORNEAU IS ABOUT.
>> Vassy: RESPECTFULLY, I'M NOT 
FOOLED BY ANYTHING, TO BE FAIR, 
BUT I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION
TO YOUR PARTY REGARDLESS WHETHER
YOU ULTIMATELY AVOIDED A 
CONFIDENCE VOTE OR NOT, IT WAS A
POLITICAL CALCULATION, THAT WAS 
THE ACCUSATION, TO SHUT DOWN 
PARLIAMENT AND THAT IS EXACTLY 
WHAT YOU'RE ACCUSING THIS 
GOVERNMENT OF DOING.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
>> SURE, WE CAN ARGUE WHAT 
ABOUTISM ALL THE TIME, BUT THIS 
WAS A PRIME MINISTER IN 2015 WHO
SAID HE WAS NOT GOING TO USE THE
TOOL OF PROROGATION TO AVOID ANY
CONFLICT.
HE SAID IT AGAIN IN 2017 WHEN HE
WAS QUESTIONED AND I BELIEVE HE 
SAID IT EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SO THIS IS A PRIME MINISTER THAT
SAYS ONE THING AND DOES ANOTHER.
IN FACT, WE'VE SEEN A PATTERN OF
THIS HAPPEN OVER HIS TENURE.
>> Vassy: Mr. JULIAN, THERE'S 
BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION TODAY
AND THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON 
ABOUT THE NDP's ROLE IN THIS 
SO-CALLED AS THE PRIME MINISTER 
DESCRIBED IT AMBITIOUS VISION 
THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL PUT 
FORWARD AND WHETHER OR NOT 
THEY'LL BE LEANING ON YOUR 
PARTY'S SUPPORT TO TRY AND PUT 
FORWARD A MORE PROGRESSIVE -- 
SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.
I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHAT
WILL BE IN THAT.
WE HEARD SOME SIGNALS FROM 
MINISTER FREELAND AROUND, FOR 
EXAMPLE, A GREEN ECONOMY, CHILD 
CARE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS WOULD THE 
NDP NEED TO SEE OR HEAR IN A 
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE IN ORDER 
TO SUPPORT THIS GOVERNMENT?
>> WELL, JAGMEET SINGH HAS BEEN 
VERY CLEAR SINCE THE BEGINNING 
AND SO HAS THE NDP CAUCUS.
WE PUSHED FOR EMERGENCY BENEFITS
FOR EVERYBODY INCLUDING EVERY 
PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.
WE PRESSED FOR A WAGE SUBSIDY 
THAT ACTUALLY COVERED BUSINESSES
ADEQUATELY.
WE'RE PRESSING FOR CHILD CARE 
BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO BE 
CRUCIAL FOR GETTING THROUGH THIS
PANDEMIC AND COMING OUT THE 
OTHER SIDE.
WE'VE BEEN PRESSING FOR A NUMBER
OF THINGS AND WE'VE BEEN 
SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE 
LIBERALS BECAUSE OF THE MINORITY
PARLIAMENT SITUATION IN TO 
PUTTING IN PLACE MANY, IF EVEN 
THOUGH THERE'S BEEN GAPS, OF THE
NDP PROPOSALS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE
PUSHING.
JAGMEET SINGH IS GOING TO 
CONTINUE TO BE PUSHING.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IT IS 
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WHEN THE 
GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN 
PARLIAMENT, AS THEY HAVE NOW FOR
THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS, AND MY 
CONCERN AND OUR CONCERN IS THE 
MANY CANADIANS THAT ARE JUST 
GOING TO FALL OFF THE CLIFF 
LITERALLY IN THE COMING WEEKS 
BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S 
TURMOIL AND ITS REFUSAL TO 
ACTUALLY WORK WITH OPPOSITION 
PARTIES TO PUT IN PLACE A PLAN 
THAT MAKES SENSE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> Vassy: Mr. JULIAN, THE 
CRITICISM OF THE NDP FROM OTHERS
AND MAYBE OTHER OPPOSITION 
PARTIES I'VE HEARD OR IN THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN THAT WHILE, 
YOU KNOW, YOU SAY YOU PUSHED THE
GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT CERTAIN 
POLICIES, THAT THEY DID IN THE 
SHORT TERM, LET'S TAKE SICK 
LEAVE FOR EXAMPLE FOR A NUMBER 
OF MONTHS, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO AS
FAR AS THE NDP HAD HOPED THAT 
THEY WOULD AND IN RESPONSE, THE 
NDP BASICALLY COMPROMISED TO THE
POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, 
PARLIAMENT DIDN'T MEET AS MANY 
TIMES OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND DIDN'T ACTUALLY END UP 
GETTING WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU 
WOULD.
WHAT WOULD YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT
CRITICISM BE?
>> MY RESPONSE TO THOSE COMMENTS
IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 
DIFFERENCE THAT THE 24 MPs HAVE 
MADE, IT'S DEMONSTRABLE AND 
CONSTANT OVER THE COURSE OF THE 
LAST FEW MONTHS.
I WOULD SUGGEST NO OPPOSITION 
PARTY HAS HAD A BETTER IMPACT IN
ACTUALLY PUTTING IN PLACE MANY 
OF THE POLICIES THAT HELP PEOPLE
AND AS FAR AS PARLIAMENT IS 
CONCERNED, WE HAD A SCHEDULED 
MEETING NEXT WEEK BECAUSE OF THE
NDP.
THE CONSERVATIVES BASICALLY 
WANTED TO TAKE THE SUMMER OFF.
WE SAID NO, WE WANT TO CONTINUE 
TO MEET THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
AND Mr. TRUDEAU, UNFORTUNATELY, 
HAS ENDED THAT PRACTICE.
WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAVING A 
QUESTION PERIOD NEXT WEEK, AND 
THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT MINISTERS 
HAVING TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS 
THAT CANADIANS ARE ASKING RIGHT 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH.
WE HAVE 24 MEMBERS, BUT THE WAIT
THAT WE HAVE IS BEYOND WHAT OUR 
REGULAR CAUCUS MEMBERSHIP WOULD 
NORMALLY IMPLY, AND THERE IS NO 
DOUBT WE'VE HAD AN IMPACT 
THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.
>> Vassy: Mr. BRASSARD, I'M 
GUESSING YOU WOULD DISAGREE WITH
YOUR COLLEAGUE'S ASSESSMENT OF 
WHETHER OR NOT THE CONSERVATIVES
WANT TO SIT IN PARLIAMENT OVER 
THE SUMMER, AND ALSO BEFORE WE 
GO, YOU HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER
TODAY SAY THAT IT WILL BE A VOTE
OF CONFIDENCE.
IS YOUR PARTY PREPARED TO FORCE 
AN ELECTION?
>> WELL, VASSY, TO BE FAIR, 
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE 
GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING IN THEIR
THRONE SPEECH, AND IT WILL BE UP
TO THE NEW LEADER AND I'LL 
REMIND YOU THE LEADER IS GOING 
TO BE SELECTED ON SUNDAY.
THERE IS ONE THING WE WILL SEE.
WE WILL SEE A BIG GOVERNMENT, 
INTERVENTIONIST GOVERNMENT 
GETTING INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT
OF CANADIANS' LIVES AND I THINK 
Mr. MANLEY SAID IT BEST.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS 
CONFIDENCE, NOT JUST IN OUR 
ECONOMY FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
BUT INVESTMENT GOING FORWARD, 
AND THAT MEANS FOR THE MOST 
PART, A LOT LESS REGULATION AND 
LEGISLATION THAT THIS GOVERNMENT
HAS PROPOSED OVER THE COURSE OF 
THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S THE KEY TO ECONOMIC 
RECOVERY.
THE FREE MARKET WILL BE THE 
POWER OF CANADIAN BUSINESS AND 
THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE EMPLOYED
AND THE PRODUCTIVITY THAT'S 
CREATED WILL BE THE POWER TO THE
ECONOMY THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO
PROPEL US OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC 
CRISIS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE 
LOOKING FOR PERSONALLY AND 
SPEAKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
I REPRESENT WHO ARE GOING TO BE 
LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL.
>> Vassy: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
BOTH OF YOU, FOR YOUR TIME THIS 
EVENING.
APPRECIATE IT AS ALWAYS.
THANKS TO THE CONSERVATIVES JOHN
BRASSARD AND THE NDP's PET
