First Nations, first steps and first impressions for Trudeau

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POLITICS BRIEFING

By Chris Hannay (@channay)

> This morning, Justin Trudeau will speak at a special chiefs meeting of the Assembly of First Nations in Gatineau, Que., across the Ottawa River from Parliament.

> One of the first things Mr. Trudeau did when he appointed his cabinet was to change the name of the federal department Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to Indigenous and Northern Affairs. It reflects a growing preference for the term "indigenous" over "aboriginal" in the communities.

> In the mandate letters he gave his ministers, Mr. Trudeau made mention of the government's relationship with the indigenous communities in two prominent spots. After pledging he would bring a new tone to Ottawa, Mr. Trudeau writes: "No relationship is more important to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous Peoples. It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership." He also said: "You are expected to do your part to fulfill our government's commitment to transparent, merit-based appointments, to help ensure gender parity and that Indigenous Canadians and minority groups are better reflected in positions of leadership." These passages appear in the mandate letters for every member of cabinet.

> Today the Liberals are announcing the consultation process that will begin shaping a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women. The Globe recently profiled five indigenous women whose lives had been taken by serial killers.

> "You know, I think right now we're at the very beginning stages and we have no preconceived ideas about what this is going to look like," Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu told reporters on Monday. The Liberals say the consultation process is a very necessary first step before the inquiry itself can get underway, as it reflects the new nation-to-nation dialogue Mr. Trudeau pledged in the election.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS MORNING

> The Liberal tax reform – a cut in the middle-income bracket and a higher rate on the wealthiest – will not be revenue-neutral, but will instead cost the federal treasury $1.2-billion per year. It comes to a vote on Wednesday.

> Lisa Raitt, current Conservative finance critic and former transport minister, says she routinely recommended appointments well ahead of time, partly to ensure more women were in those roles.

> Stephen Harper's Conservative government spent $554,000 in the last fiscal year on polling the public, including questions on whether women should remove their niqab before a citizenship ceremony and Canada's role in the fight against the Islamic State.

> Ottawa has approved the first commercial medical marijuana producer to send cannabis oils through the mail.

> More detail on the changes to tax-free savings accounts.

> And since The Globe broke the story weeks ago about $3.74-million in secret payments that Ontario's Liberal government gave teacher and support staff unions, readers have wondered if those payments were legal. Adrian Morrow investigates. (for subscribers)

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WHAT EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT

"If you get the impression that the 47-year-old Acadian is a major power in this government, you may be right. The big, cigar-smoking Liberal with the fittingly rouge complexion will be Justin Trudeau's fixer."

– Lawrence Martin on Liberal House Leader Dominic LeBlanc.

John Ibbitson (Globe and Mail): "For political junkies, there is no greater fun than watching a rookie prime minister handling the first Question Period of a new Parliament. Bottom line: Justin Trudeau performed reasonably well, though there is plenty of room for improvement."

Brian Mulroney (Globe and Mail): "Twenty three years after the Commonwealth conference, I became prime minister, having retained the deep interest in South Africa sparked originally by Mr. Diefenbaker's leadership. I had thought that over the years Canada's support of this issue was sometimes less enthusiastic than it deserved to be."

Chantal Hébert (Globe and Mail): "Judging from the failure of the [Bloc Québécois]'s first appeal to the kindness of its rivals, charity in the new House of Commons will continue to begin at home. And even then it might be in short supply."

Aaron Wherry (Maclean's): "A different kind of politics is still politics, of course. The different kind of politician is still competing with other politicians and still answering to the body politic, still existing in a world which does not necessarily punish cynicism."

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