Politics This Morning: Environment Minister Wilkinson holds pre-COP26 presser from Italy

It’s Friday, but more importantly, it’s already October. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has jetted off to Milan, Italy for a host of pre-COP26 in Italy. At 2 p.m., Mr. Wilkinson has a media availability to discuss “next steps” amid the gatherings ahead of the 26th Conference of the Parties, which launches later this month. COP26 is in Glasgow, Scotland this year and will run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 and is being co-hosted by Italy and the United Kingdom. This week, Milan is hosting several gatherings on the topic, including a ministers meeting along with a summit of activists and youth leaders. Mr. Wilkinson told CBC News he doesn’t know if he’ll keep the environment portfolio; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week he’d name his cabinet sometime in October. "We're working right now to corral commitments from all countries so that we're making progress toward that $100 billion," said Mr. Wilkinson in an interview before his flight to Italy. Mr. Trudeau’s itinerary wasn’t out for Friday as of late Thursday evening, but as Global News reported, he’ll still be in Tofino, B.C., where he spent Canada’s first National Truth and Reconciliation Day on vacation. Oddly, his official itinerary for Thursday initially listed him as having private meetings in Ottawa, but after the outlet queried the PMO on Mr. Trudeau’s western whereabouts, the location was updated on the link. The Prime Minister’s Office said Mr. Trudeau was spending time with family “for a few days.” In response to the news, Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation, which announced the first grisly discovery of the remains of 215 children buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School earlier this year, said it sent two “heartfelt” invitations for Mr. Trudeau to join survivors in their community on Sept. 30. On the eve of the inaugural national day, Mr. Trudeau attended and spoke at a Parliament Hill commemoration. "Do not tell me, or try to explain, that the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is a day for Indigenous Canadians, it is a day for all Canadians," Mr. Trudeau said in an address on Sept. 29, per CBC News. "Take a moment to listen to the stories of a survivor, to an Indigenous elder who shares their perspective and their experiences in this country. And know that that story, their story, is your story as well." On Sept. 29, 2021, the eve of the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and residential school survivors spoke at a commemoration on Parliament Hill, and Centre Block was lit in orange. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia Hill Times photographer Sam Garcia captured the moment, including Centre Block emblazoned orange ahead of the national day of commemoration. You can view that photo gallery here. In case you missed it, this week The Hill Times devoted a full issue in recognition of Canada's first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. You can get a free PDF of that paper, here. The Hill Times spoke with eight of the 50 newly elected Parliamentarians who represent ridings with former residential schools in their boundaries. All agreed on the need to rapidly fulfill the 94 calls to action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but they had different ideas on what calls should be a priority for the federal government. One suggested a national monument be created in Ottawa, while two others called for an independent commission to aid searches of former residential schools, and another said the Indian Act needed to be abolished. And, this week a Federal Court judge has directed that a proposed multi-billion-dollar class-action lawsuit against the federal government, launched on the part of now more than 1,000 current and former Black federal public servants, be moved forward with a certification hearing scheduled for three days, beginning Sept. 21, 2022. The number of proposed class members has nearly doubled from the more than 500 identified earlier this year, all of whom are now seeking $2.5-billion in damages following a May amendment to the claim, The Hill Times reported. In other events today, ISG Senator Peter Boehm will take part in a 1 p.m. webinar called, "On the Day of German Unity: A Look at Angela Merkel’s Legacy." The talk on the outgoing German chancellor is hosted by the German Embassy in Canada and the University of Toronto. Other speakers include Sabine Sparwasser, German ambassador to Canada; Peter Mansbridge, distinguished fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy; and Janice Stein, founding director and professor, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. The Famous 5 Foundation will host a virtual Pink Tea event, featuring Barbara Paterson, the Canadian sculptor who developed the bronze statues known as the Woman are Persons! Famous 5 Monument. And if you’re already looking to the weekend, on Saturday, Reform Party founder and former MP Preston Manning will take part in the Canada Strong and Free Network's regional networking conference. He’ll be joined by former leader of the Alberta Wild Rose party Danielle Smith and journalist Jonathan Kay, among others. The five-hour event in Red Deer, Alta., will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, and will be available both in-person and online. The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Environment Minister Wilkinson holds pre-COP26 presser from Italy

Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is vacationing in Tofino, B.C., and ISG Senator Peter Boehm is speaking at a webinar discussing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's legacy.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Environment Minister Wilkinson holds pre-COP26 presser from Italy

Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is vacationing in Tofino, B.C., and ISG Senator Peter Boehm is speaking at a webinar discussing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's legacy.

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