Hill reporters will cut a rug this weekend at press gallery dinner
Saturday brings the annual Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner. Members who have bought tickets (the event is sold out) are encouraged to invite their favourite Parliamentarian.
A reception starts at 5:30 p.m. in the River View Salon, with dinner at 7 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Canadian Museum of History.
It's sure to be a newsworthy event, as party leaders poke fun at themselves and the journalists who cover them.
Here are more upcoming political happenings:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23
The House Is Sitting—The House is scheduled to sit every weekday until adjourning for the summer break in late June. The Senate will largely follow the same schedule, though the Senate traditionally only sits Tuesday to Thursday, and is scheduled to break a week later in the spring, on June 29.
Liberal Caucus Meeting—The Liberals will meet in Room 237-C Centre Block on Parliament Hill. For more information, please call Liberal Party media relations at media@liberal.ca or 613-627-2384.
Conservative Caucus Meeting—The Conservatives will meet for their national caucus meeting. For more information, contact Cory Hann, director of communications with the Conservative Party of Canada at coryhann@conservative.ca.
NDP Caucus Meeting—The NDP caucus will meet from 9:15-11 a.m. in the Wellington Building. For more information, please call the NDP Media Centre at 613-222-2351 or media@ndp.ca.
Groupe Parlementaire Québécois Caucus Meeting—The Groupe Parlementaire Québécois caucus will meet from 9:30 a.m. in La Francophonie room (263-S) in Centre Bock, on Wednesday. For more information, call press attaché Julie Groleau, 514-792-2529.
DetermiNATION: An Indigenous-led Summit Building Solutions for Moving past the Indian Act—From May 23-24 at the Delta Ottawa City Centre, DetermiNATION will bring together thinkers and leaders to create a framework for decolonization. Starting with an understanding of the principles and mechanisms that underlie the Indigenous-government relationship, participants will develop a concrete, actionable solution for overcoming those barriers and achieving nation-to-nation progress. This event is to be held on unceded Algonquin territory. Speakers and facilitators will be announced as they are confirmed. For more information and to register, visit determinationsummit.ca.
Forest Day on the Hill Reception—The Forest Products Association is hosting a Forest Day on the Hill with an evening reception titled Our People, Our Forests, Our Canada on May 23 at the Chateau Laurier. The day will recognize the women, men, Indigenous, and youth leaders in the forestry sector and celebrate the industry's success. The reception takes place 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is by invitation only. For more information, please email rsvp@fpac.ca.
The Hill Times' Party on the Hill—Everyone who works on the Hill is invited to The Hill Times' Party on the Hill. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Sir John A. Macdonald Building, 144 Wellington St., Ottawa. RSVP to events@hilltimes.com.
Latin American Film Festival—Cinema from across Latin America will be showcased at the new Ottawa Art Gallery, May 2-31. The Latin American Film Festival, now in its 22nd year, is being organized by the Canadian Film Institute with the collaboration of GRULA, a group of Latin American embassies in Canada. Admission $13 for the general public and $9 for CFI and OAG members, students, and seniors. Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge. For tickets see: cfi-icf.ca/laff.
THURSDAY, MAY 24
Bacon and Eggheads: Food Safety for the 21st Century—Lawrence Goodridge of McGill University will give this talk presented by the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE). Parliamentary Restaurant, Centre Block. Free for Parliamentarians and media. Others $25. 7:30-8:45 a.m. Breakfast included. Pre-registration is required by May 21 by contacting Donna Boag at pagse@rsc-src.ca or 613-991-6369.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM to Host Change of Command Ceremony—U.S. Air Force General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy will assume command of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command during a ceremony at 9 a.m. MDT on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo. Guests of honour at the change of command ceremony include: Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan; U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff; and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., U.S. chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Gen. Vance and Secretary Mattis will preside over the ceremony. Journalists may contact NORAD and USNORTHCOM public affairs office, 719-554-6889.
Community Liaison Officers' Group Ottawa—The CLO Group is hosting a 2017/2018 series of information sessions for foreign diplomatic missions' personnel responsible for welcoming new embassy staff members and their families. The group involves networking and sharing information essential for a smooth transition and settlement of new families to Ottawa/the National Capital Region. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers. May's topic is OC Transpo. 2:30 p.m. To join the group or participate in the meeting, please contact andjelka.vidovic@embassyservices.org.
Book Launch: Richard Zussman and Rob Shaw's A Matter of Confidence—Join co-author Richard Zussman and Public Policy Forum president and CEO Edward Greenspon for a glass of wine and discussion on Mr. Zussman's new book, A Matter of Confidence, a behind-the-scenes look at the momentous 2017 B.C. provincial election that brought John Horgan, the NDP premier at the centre of the current pipeline crisis, to power. 5-7 p.m. Public Policy Forum, 1400-130 Albert St., Ottawa. eventbrite.ca/e/a-matter-of-confidence-book-launch-tickets-45554767536.
CPAC Announces New Francophone Anchor—CPAC president Catherine Cano, is pleased to invite you to meet the new francophone anchor who will be joining the network in the fall. She will take over from Pierre Donais who is leaving Revue politique at the end of the parliamentary session. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Métropolitain Brasserie, 700 Sussex Dr. Invitation only.
SATURDAY, MAY 26
Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner—Members are encouraged to invite their favourite Parliamentarian to this annual event. Reception, 5:30 p.m., River View Salon; dinner, 7 p.m., Grand Hall, Canadian Museum of History. $113 per person, limit: four per active member.
MONDAY, MAY 28
ITK’s A Taste of the Arctic—Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami presents a night of Arctic food, Inuit culture, and northern networking. 6-10 p.m. National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St., Ottawa. For tickets and more information, itk.ca/atota/#tickets.
TUESDAY, MAY 29
Canadian Research Software Conference—CANARIE is pleased to host the first annual Canadian Research Software Conference from May 29-30. Join colleagues to learn, collaborate, exchange ideas, and discuss common issues affecting software development for academic research. For more, contact software@canarie.ca.
The Group of 78—Canada and world leaders committed to reducing violence against women and street violence when they endorsed the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Scientific evidence has identified how violence prevention can be both effective and cost effective. Irvin Waller, founding executive director of the UN-affiliated International Centre for Prevention of Crime, will speak on this. Palais Imperial Restaurant, 311-313 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, $30 for luncheon and presentation (12 p.m.), $5 for presentation only (arrive 12:45 p.m. Coffee and tea will be available). Reservations: Group78@group78.org or 613-565-9449 ext. 22.
Chicken Farmers Lobby Day—Chicken Farmers of Canada is hosting its annual Lobby Day Reception, 6-9 p.m. in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, 144 Wellington St., Ottawa. Parliamentarians, their staff, and industry friends are invited to join in celebrating Canadian chicken, and toast the farmers who raise it. Please RSVP to lkennedy@chicken.ca.
CIGI Global Policy Forum with Canada’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organization—The Centre for International Governance Innovation's regular Global Policy Forum talks will resume with Canadian Ambassador to the WTO Stephen de Boer, who will speak on advancing Canada's interests in the WTO. 5:30 p.m., Rideau Club, 15th floor, 99 Bank St. As seating is limited, you should RSVP to
https://de-boer-gpf-lecture.eventbrite.ca.
Economic Club Panel on Artificial Intelligence—Element AI founder and CEO Jean-François Gagné will speak about artificial intelligence and its accompanying public policy implications. There will then be a moderated discussion between him and Cyrus Hodes, co-founder of the AI Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School and adviser to the minister of state for artificial intelligence at the UAE prime minister’s office, on the global AI landscape. For information about accessibility, please email peters@economicclub.ca. Dietary restriction notes and meal requests must be submitted to peters@economicclub.ca by May 22. 7:30-9:30 a.m. Chateau Laurier hotel, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa. $89-$100, per individual seat. economicclub.ca.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30
Bank Of Canada Interest Rate Announcement—The Bank of Canada today is set to announce its overnight rate target today. The next full update of the bank’s outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, will be published on July 11.
Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Address Spirit of Hope 2018—Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper is one of the prominent names that will appear on a panel of speakers at the 2018 edition of the Spirit of Hope, the annual fundraising dinner for the Toronto-based Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. The panel of speakers will also feature former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar. Lara Logan, the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News, will be the moderator. The event is to be hosted at Metro Toronto Convention Centre's South Building.
CANSEC: Canada’s Global Defence and Security Trade Show—This annual defence-industry trade show runs May 30-31 and is organized by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries. EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr. Keynote speakers include Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, and chair of the finance minister’s economic growth advisory council Dominic Barton. defenceandsecurity.ca/CANSEC/.
Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala—The Ottawa Riverkeeper hosts its annual fundraising gala featuring food, drinks, live music, and dance. Juno-nominated artist Tanika Charles will be performing. 50 Sussex Dr. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets via riverkeepergala.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 31
Margo McDiarmid Farewell—After more than 30 years reporting from every nook and cranny in Canada, Margo McDiarmid is doing the ultimate mike drop May 31 when she retires from the CBC. Toast her long career at the CBC. South Block Whiskey Bar, 148 Sparks St. 5:30 p.m. To help get a sense of numbers, RSVP to Susan.lunn@cbc.ca.
In Conversation: Chrystia Freeland and Ambassadors Deborah Lyons and Marc-André Blanchard—Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Canada’s ambassadors to Israel (Deborah Lyons) and the United Nations in New York (Marc-André Blanchard) will speak on: My Canada, Our Israel, and the Global Community. 7:30-9 p.m. Michael & Mary Ellen Herman Banquet Hall, Beth Tzedec Congregation, 1700 Bathurst St., Toronto. Tickets are $10 and available through Eventbrite or call 416-781-3511. Presented by: the Sam & Sarah Kerzner and Joseph Kerzner Holocaust Memorial Lectures, Beth Tzedec Congregation, and Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue.
FOI Friday with Greg Quinn of Bloomberg News—Join the Canadian Association of Journalists' Ottawa chapter to learn how to improve your use of the federal Access to Information Act. This session will focus on financial journalism, from making better requests and writing better stories. Greg Quinn came to Ottawa with Bloomberg News in 2002, and has been using ATIPs to generate story leads and find scoops on the business of government, such as the CMHC and the Bank of Canada. This free session is open to the public. Bring a tidy lunch. The event will be live-streamed on the CAJ's Facebook page. 12-1 p.m., National Press Building, 150 Wellington St., first floor.
Taiwan Film Screening: Bear It— A group of people, who are bound together because of teddy bears, step out on an unexpected journey. Presented by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada in collaboration with Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society and the Ottawa Public Library. 2 p.m., complimentary reception; film starts at 2:30 p.m. Chamber at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Dr., Nepean, Ottawa. In Mandarin with English subtitles. Free admission.
Annual March for Humanity and Against Genocide—12:30 p.m. Cabot Square, Montreal. facebook.com/events/1992309077752048/.
MONDAY, JUNE 4
Rights City Event—The Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University, along with Amnistie internationale Canada francophone, the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, and the Comité unifié des organisations arméniennes du Québec, is hosting the two-day 2018 #RightsCity event in Montreal on June 4. Speakers include: Thomas Mulcair, former leader of the New Democratic Party; Marie-Eve Bordeleau, Montreal’s commissioner of Indigenous affairs; professor Homa Hoodfar who was jailed in Iran for 112 days; Irwin Cotler, founder and chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights; Marty Castro, former chair of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under the Obama administration; and more. De Seve Cinema, Concordia University, 1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. To register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rightscity-2018-montreal-droits-humains-2018-tickets-44271937557.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5
Fifth Annual Canada 2020 Conference—The Canada 2020 think-tank hosts its annual gathering of Canada’s progressive policy community. Keynote speakers will include former FBI director James Comey and 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner Ronan Farrow, a contributing writer with The New Yorker. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa. Register to attend via canada2020conference.com.
McKenna at CIC National Branch—Join the Canadian International Council's National Capital Branch for an evening with Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, who plans to deliver a significant speech to mark World Environment Day. 5 p.m. (registration and cash bar); 6 p.m. (presentation, discussion); 7:30 p.m. (optional dinner). The Sheraton Hotel, Rideau Room, 150 Albert St., Ottawa. ottawa@thecic.org or 613-903-4011. More information: https://cicncbjun052018.eventbrite.ca.
Propane on the Hill Reception—The Canadian Propane Association is hosting a reception, 6-8 p.m., East Block Courtyard. RSVP by May 30: Kristina Proulx at kproulx@tsa.ca or 613-241-6000, ext. 265.
THURSDAY, JUNE 7
Ontario Votes—Voters in Canada's largest province go to the polls today to elect members of the Ontario legislature.
Community Liaison Officers' Group Ottawa—The CLO Group is hosting a 2017/2018 series of information sessions for foreign diplomatic missions' personnel responsible for welcoming new embassy staff members and their families. The group involves networking and sharing information essential for a smooth transition and settlement of new families to Ottawa/the National Capital Region. This month the meeting will be a social event. 3:30 p.m. To join the group or participate in the meeting, please contact andjelka.vidovic@embassyservices.org.
One Year of Strong, Secure, Engaged: A Status Report—The Canadian Global Affairs Institute will be a hosting a one-day conference in Ottawa to provide a status report on the implementation Canada’s new defence policy. Speakers include: deputy minister Jody Thomas and senior associate deputy minister Bill Matthews. Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau St., Ottawa. cgai.ca.
FRIDAY, JUNE 8
G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Que.—The 2018 G7 Summit will be held at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Que., located in the province's scenic Charlevoix region. The summit will take place from June 8-9. Canada holds the presidency of the G7 in 2018. It rotates annually.
SUNDAY, JUNE 10
Conference of Montreal—The International Economic Forum of the Americas hosts this annual event featuring speakers typically including heads of state, central bank governors, ministers, and global economic decision-makers. June 10-14. This year's line-up includes: former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, chair of E.L. Rothschild, and OECD secretary general Ángel Gurría.
MONDAY, JUNE 11
Documentary Screening and Q&A with Helen Clark—Catch the Ottawa premiere of the documentary film My Year with Helen, presented by the New Zealand High Commission, the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, Famous 5 Ottawa, One World Arts, and Carleton University. Don't miss this unique opportunity to meet Helen Clark, New Zealand's first elected female prime minister at the new Ottawa Art Gallery. 7 p.m. documentary screening, 8:30 p.m., Q&A with Helen Clark. Free. Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge. Tickets available via Eventbrite.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13
Fifty Years and Counting: Is the Israeli Occupation Sustainable?—The Group of 78 presents this discussion. Moderator: Michael Atallah, senior Middle East analyst at the Privy Council Office. Speakers: Michael Lynk, associate professor at the Faculty of Law, Western University, Nadia Abu-Zahra, associate professor at the University of Ottawa. 7-9 p.m., Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St., Ottawa. Tickets: $5-$15 at the door, or online through Eventbrite.
MONDAY, JUNE 18
Byelection in Quebec—A byelection will be held on June 18 in the electoral district of Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Que.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 11
NATO Summit—Leaders of NATO countries will gather July 11-12 in Brussels, Belgium. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to attend.
THURSDAY, AUG. 23
Conservative Party National Convention—To be held in Halifax, N.S., until Aug. 25.
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
New Brunswick Votes—Voters go to the polls today to elect members of the New Brunswick legislature.
MONDAY, OCT. 1
Quebec Votes—Voters in Canada's second most populous province go to the polls today to elect members of the Quebec National Assembly.
THURSDAY, OCT. 11
2018 International Organization of La Francophonie Summit—Leaders of Francophonie member states will convene in Yerevan, Armenia. Canada is a member of La Francophonie. Until Oct. 12.
MONDAY, NOV. 12
APEC Leaders' Summit—Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member states will meet in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, for APEC's Economic Leaders' Summit from Nov. 12 to 18. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to attend.
FRIDAY, NOV. 30
G20 Leaders' Summit—Argentina will host G20 leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Buenos Aires. Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
The Parliamentary Calendar is a free events listing. Send in your political, cultural, diplomatic, or governmental event in a paragraph with all the relevant details under the subject line ‘Parliamentary Calendar’ to news@hilltimes.com by Wednesday at noon before the Monday paper or by Friday at noon for the Wednesday paper. We can’t guarantee inclusion of every event, but we will definitely do our best. Events can be updated daily online too.
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