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WELCOME TO OTTAWA PLAYBOOK. We’re your hosts ZI-ANN LUM and SUE ALLAN. Let’s catch you up on emergency debates and the temporary injunction. The PM is out of isolation. And the Conservative leadership race is about to get interesting.

NOW WHAT — After days of wondering when Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU was going to show, he surfaced in the House last night to join an emergency debate on the occupation in Ottawa.

The PM arrived bearing soundbites, an appearance to sate Liberals, but minus a solution to satisfy Conservatives.

— The PM’s speech: “We’re all tired of this pandemic. Frustrated. We’re worn down. None more worn down than our frontline health workers who’ve been going flat out for two years,” said Trudeau who has been in self-isolation with Covid.

“Families like mine just last week that test positive have to follow public health rules, have to isolate themselves — nobody wants to do that,” he said. “This pandemic has sucked for all Canadians,” the PM added. Emphasis on sucked.

The way through this pandemic, he said, is to listen to science — and each other. “This is a time to put national interests ahead of partisan interests,” he said. “This is the time for responsible leadership.”

— ISO “responsible leadership.” Conservative interim leader CANDICE BERGEN was up next and set the tone for the hours of debate that followed.

“Look at our country,” she said. “I’ve never seen it as divided as it is now under this prime minister.”

Conservatives want Trudeau to walk his talk. They’ve been coaxing him to find common ground with the convoyers squatting in the capital under the watchful eyes of police.

The other argument, of course, is that the PM shouldn’t negotiate with organizers whose goals, which NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH described as “legal gibberish,” include a wish to overthrow the government.

MAKE IT STOP: The emergency House debate overlapped with a marathon meeting of Ottawa’s city council.

— ANDY BLATCHFORD reports: Mayor JIM WATSON sent letters to Trudeau and Ontario Premier DOUG FORD asking for 1,800 police officers to help “quell the insurrection that the Ottawa Police Service is not able to contain.”

“We’re going to need a lot more to really get on top of this situation,” embattled police chief PETER SLOLY said.

In other news Monday, a judge granted an interim injunction to temporarily quiet the truck horns — some reprieve brought to residents by the effort of a class-action lawsuit filed by Ottawa lawyer PAUL CHAMP on behalf of his client, a 21-year-old public servant named ZEXI LI.

— In related reading: MARK CARNEY writes: It’s time to end the sedition in Ottawa by enforcing the law and following the money.

LINKED BY VALUES AND ‘SINS’ — Former Republican strategist STEVE SCHMIDT says the occupation is symptomatic of a larger problem. “The autocratic metastasis is spreading and extremists are rising,” the Lincoln Project co-founder tweeted. “People of goodwill and good faith who believe in pluralism and democracy better wake up on both sides of the border.”

— More related reading: The CBC reported last night that traffic entering and leaving Canada along the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor, Ont., to Detroit was being blocked by protesters. And from ALEX McKEEN and GRANT LAFLECHE: How Bitcoin bigwigs’ ‘HonkHonk’ came to fundraise for Canada’s ‘Freedom convoy.’

WORKING ON IT — International Trade Minister MARY NG was at the House Standing Committee on International Trade Monday to address some of the biggest gripes with Canada-U.S. trade relations.

MPs grilled the minister on everything from President JOE BIDEN‘s proposed electric vehicle tax provision to the softwood lumber trade dispute — but Ng stayed vague on where negotiations with the U.S. stand.

The highlights via POLITICO’S KELLY HOOPER:

On heading off U.S. attacks to Canadian industry: “This is work that we take very seriously and that we continue to work on.”

On the EV tax credit provision: “We will continue to do the work to advocate on this issue, and we hope that this will not come to be, and so we’re going to keep working on a solution with the Americans.”

On the softwood lumber dispute: “This is an issue that we will continue to work on.”

On critical minerals: “We are very much working on a whole of government approach and certainly with partners like the United States.”

On the dairy dispute: “We are very much working with the industry, as well as with the Americans, to find a way to implement the panel report. So that’s what’s going on right now. The work is underway.”

URGENT INVITATION — The status of women committee wants Canadians to contribute to its study of intimate partner and domestic violence.

“In the last year alone, over 225,000 women experienced intimate partner violence,” ALIA BUTT, assistant deputy minister in the Department for Women and Gender Equality, said during FEWO’s Friday meeting. “That means that 618 women in Canada every day lived in fear, experiencing violence by a partner.”

The committee wants specific recommendations. “Let’s not forget that for every woman impacted there is a family — and often children — impacted, too,” Butt told MPs.

TASHA KHEIRIDDIN — TBA: The Navigator principal and National Post columnist reports that she’s “seriously” pondering a leadership run.

Just a day or so ago, she announced that she’s writing a book: The Right Path: How Conservatives can Unite, Inspire and Take Canada Forward.

— Working thesis: Conservatives are at a crossroads, she said Monday. “The party needs to decide what it is, and what it is not.”

She name-dropped PMs and permutations of the party — calling it out repeatedly, unlike MP PIERRE POILIEVRE who made zero mention of Conservatives during his weekend launch.

“It is the party of JOHN A MACDONALD, JOHN DIEFENBAKER, BRIAN MULRONEY and STEPHEN HARPER,” Kheiriddin said in a seven tweet thread. “It must offer solutions to Canada’s challenges: energy and resource development, the environment, Indigenous reconciliation and national unity.”

She said it’s on the Conservatives to bring it all together, adding: “You can be sure that the lady’s not for turning.”

— What’s next: A decision — soon, she said.

— Related reading: Strategists divided over whether to hand Poilievre the Conservative leadership.

What are you hearing that you need Playbook to know? Send it all our way.

10 a.m. The prime minister will chair Cabinet.

11 a.m. Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner JERRY DEMARCO will be at the House public accounts committee to discuss the “lessons learned” report that he tabled last fall. DeMarco has called the report a summary of “30 years of missed opportunities.”

Asked what more departments might do to expedite climate action, DeMarco told POLITICO: “They could also focus on actually achieving targets and not just making them.”

2 p.m. The PM will attend QP.

BUDGET BRIEF — The House finance committee published a new batch of pre-budget briefs last week including one from the Toronto Star recommending bumping the digital news subscription tax credit to 50 percent from 15 percent — and to make it permanent.

The brief, one of 477 so far published by the committee in its pre-budget consultations, is signed by TorStar President and CEO JOHN BOYNTON. It pointed to success in the newspapers’ Black Friday and boxing day campaigns during the past two years, promoting 50 percent off annual subscriptions.

Boynton said the campaigns led to an eightfold increase in daily subscription sales.

“While it is unsustainable for journalism organizations to lower our digital subscription prices, increased uptake from the promotion shows that Canadians are incentivized by price and that the demand for unlimited access to reliable news exists,” Boynton’s brief read.

— Read all about it: There are 156 “qualifying digital news subscriptions” the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) deems eligible for the tax credit. The Star has four subscriptions eligible for the tax credit.

— Qualifying subscriptions: Other news outlets considered qualified Canadian journalism organizations by the journalism division of the CRA include Postmedia with 65 eligible subscriptions representing its cross-country footprint. Saltwire has 18; Metroland, 12. Smaller publishers such as The Logic and The Hill Times also have offer packages eligible for the tax credit.

— One more thing: Boynton’s brief also recommended legislation to compel digital platforms (largely based in the U.S.) to pay local news organizations for content, a Liberal election promise Heritage Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ has been tasked to deliver vis-à-vis his mandate letter by “early 2022.”

Birthdays: HBD to MP JOËL LIGHTBOUND, chair of the House industry and technology committee. Very random fact: Back in his rookie days — he was first elected in 2015 — he told Maclean’s that before every QP, he’d stop to listen to Can’t Hold Us by MACKLEMORE and RYAN LEWIS.

Former P.E.I. premier KEITH MILLIGAN and former Alberta PC government cabinet minister LINDSAY BLACKETT also celebrate today.

Spotted: JILL VARDY, out at the Skateway … Sen. PETER BOEHM spotting an early sign of spring on the Rideau River: The annual “cutting of the keys” … Liberal MP BRYAN MAY out for a rink rip … JAGMEET SINGH’s month-old daughter ANHAD KAUR napping on dad.

Movers and shakers: Interim Conservative Leader CANDICE BERGEN‘s latest leadership change? Membership on the House of Commons’ powerful internal Board of Internal Economy committee. Out is Quebec MP GÉRALD DELTELL, replaced with Conservative House Leader JOHN BRASSARD. Also gone is BLAKE RICHARDS, replaced with BLAINE CALKINS, Bergen’s new chief opposition whip.

UofO prof THOMAS JUNEAU is stepping down as co-chair of the National Security Transparency Advisory Group.

In memoriam: WANDA ROBSON, sister of VIOLA DESMOND and a “powerful force for human rights” has died at the age of 95.

Media mentions: IRELYNE LAVERY shared her first day as a Global News national reporter … NTV Evening Newshour co-host GLEN CARTER celebrated his last.

Farewells: ALISON UNCLES has left Maclean’s — a development SJC’s president and publisher KEN HUNT shared last week in a newsroom memo that made zero attempt to do her justice. Tributes on Twitter recognized her innate talent and unfaltering kindness. In our favorite thread so far, CHRISTINA GONZALES offered up a few of the many extraordinary things about Uncles, including her devotion to detail and her willingness to fight for journalism.

— Oh, and this: “She sent a thank you email every time you wrote or edited a story. Everyone who made the magazine got one. Every damn issue.”

If you are a subscriber, check out our Pro Canada PM newsletter: Watchdog to air Canada’s climate failures.

In other news for subscribers:
— Oil and gas emissions cap could increase reduction targets for others, expert says.
— Ottawa truckers’ convoy galvanizes far-right worldwide.
— Blinken calls out Russia for cutting natural gas supply to Europe.
— Kerry taps Richard Duke as No. 2 climate negotiator.
— Biden’s top science adviser bullied and demeaned subordinates.

— Top story on POLITICO: Biden’s top science adviser, Eric Lander, resigns amid reports of bullying.

— “Is this a huge group of friendly people? Is this a mob of unruly, dangerous types? The answer is yes,” MATT GURNEY writes in a Dispatch from the Ottawa Front. 

— STEPHEN POLOZ talks to MARIE-DANIELLE SMITH about pointing fingers and the politics of inflation.

— The Star’s HEATHER SCOFFIELD asks why the PM is so quiet.

Today’s highlights:

11 a.m. The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs meets in camera for a timely briefing on security risks for MPs.

11 a.m. The House public safety committee will hear from Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police, Edmonton and Toronto police services as it studies gangs and gun control.

11 a.m. The House committee on citizenship and immigration is looking at recruitment and acceptance rates of foreign students.

11 a.m.The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be at committee to discuss flood control and mitigation systems in British Columbia.

11 a.m. The Office of the Auditor General is scheduled at public accounts to discuss Report 5: Lessons Learned from Canada’s Record on Climate Change.

11 a.m. The House committee on environment and sustainable development will meet in camera to discuss its upcoming report on single-use plastics.

3:30 p.m. When INDU gathers, the CRTC’s IAN SCOTT will be in the hot seat with an update on the “ongoing work of the Canadian Radio-television Commission” — and other questions.

3:30 p.m. Indigenous and northern affairs will study barriers to economic development.

3:30 p.m. Procurement Ombudsman ALEXANDER JEGLIC will be at the House committee on government operations and estimates.

5 p.m. The Senate Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators will meet in camera.

Here’s a complete list of House committees.

Monday’s answer: When he was named an honorary citizen of Canada, NELSON MANDELA said, “Your respect for diversity within your own society and your tolerant and civilized manner of dealing with the challenges of difference and diversity had always been our inspiration.”

Lots of readers guessed the Queen.

Props to LEIGH LAMPERT and ROBERT McDOUGALL. 

Tuesday’s question: From Playbook reader BOB ERNEST: Name the provincial cabinet minister whose child won a medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Send your answers to [email protected]