Nothing funny about this year’s Press Gallery Dinner

OTTAWA—The annual Press Gallery Dinner, bringing together national media and Parliamentarians for a convivial evening, has always been a mixed bag. Some 30 or 40 years ago, it was the hottest ticket in town, prized as a chance for reporters and their guests to let their hair down and share a lot of laughs as the prime minister, opposition leaders, and the governor general entertained with sometimes priceless speeches. While entertaining, it was obvious to anyone who bothered to think about it that the exclusive gala exemplified how reporters in that era were often way too close to the MPs and ministers they covered. Today, it’s no longer off the record, it’s no longer primarily a male prerogative, it doesn’t go all night, and it’s most worthwhile as a venue for catching up with old friends and acquaintances, including MPs. The Conservatives have long disparaged the event and stayed away some years, and there have been questions about the value of holding it at all. But it got a boost in 2016 when Justin Trudeau attended not long after being installed as prime minister. Enlivened by his party’s surprise majority election victory the previous October, Trudeau was riding a national swell of optimism after a decade of Stephen Harper’s austerity. The new Liberal government was promising action to build the economy, address climate change, upgrade financial and tax support for non-rich Canadians, advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and pursue a national childcare program. The leadership of the Conservatives and NDP were wild cards after the 2015 election, and Trudeau’s relaxed aura—he looked on with amusement as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau sang and poked fun at him and the media—reflected the new, unified lease on power being enjoyed by the Liberals after many years of the sponsorship scandal and internal divisions. It was an evening of laughter and something approaching goodwill born out of an inclination to give Trudeau at least a sporting chance. Seven years later, you’d have to say there was nothing very funny about the dinner on June 10. Trudeau upstaged everyone by going to Kyiv on a surprise visit to renew Canada’s support for Ukraine. Russia's aggression there, the worst episode since the Second World War, has thrown a shroud over international relations and reminded us all daily of the horrors and risks of global conflict. In a five-minute video made for the Gallery Dinner, Trudeau, flanked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, thanked the media for their work and underscored the value of a free press. He also expressed gratitude for all the journalists who are shining a light on “Putin’s brutal war.” Zelenskyy thanked Canada for its support and said journalists shouldn’t hide behind neutrality in the face of evil. Although the trip to Kyiv was of course planned days before David Johnston gave up on his rapporteur assignment, Trudeau’s appearance alongside Zelenskyy had the effect of pointing out that there are matters of state more pressing than the nasty, pox-on-all-your houses skirmish in Parliament over foreign election interference. In any case, the PM skipped a situation where he would not have been able to avoid addressing the most immediate question on everyone’s mind: how can the government respond after its mismanagement of the failed investigative process now that Johnston has quit? Also, not going to the dinner allowed Trudeau to sidestep accusations from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre (who also didn’t attend) that the PM was cozying up to Ottawa’s elite for a fancy banquet while ordinary Canadians struggle to put food on the table. All in all, the PM’s situation is now a far cry from the heady days of early 2016. His unpopularity is pronounced despite the fact that he has managed to bring in many of the Liberals’ election promises, in particular reducing wealth inequality, and allocated some $500-billion in COVID relief. As it stands, some in the audience last Saturday night had written some time ago that Trudeau will have to step down before the next election, a conclusion that more recently has gathered momentum among gallery members as a result of the Chinese intervention muddle. On another matter, the personal attacks, anger-farming, and outright lying now undermining public discourse and democratic integrity have many in the media worried. There were also a lot of questions being asked Saturday about the media’s role in the Chinese influence scandal. And you won’t find much to laugh about in the post-COVID economic crisis. Consumers are up against the worst price increases in decades, rising mortgage costs, and an unprecedented housing price bubble. And beyond that, the dinner was taking place amid forest fire emergencies across the country. So, the backdrop of this year’s once-exuberant annual dinner was almost as gloomy as the smoke-filled skies Ottawa has seen lately. Les Whittington is a regular columnist for The Hill Times. The Hill Times

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Nothing funny about this year’s Press Gallery Dinner

The PM skipped a situation where he would not have been able to avoid addressing the most immediate question on everyone’s mind about David Johnston’s resignation.

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