By Nick Taylor-Vaisey and Mickey Djuric

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In today's edition:

→ DONALD TRUMP picks an ambassador to Canada.

→ RANDY BOISSONNAULT loses his seat at the Cabinet table.

→ An emerging parliamentary detente between the Liberals and New Democrats.

"In my Second Term, Pete [Hoekstra] will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST," President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday of his new ambassador to Canada. | Paul Sancya/AP

TRUMP'S CANADA MAN — Get used to the name PETE HOEKSTRA.

DONALD TRUMP unveiled Hoekstra, the chair of the Michigan Republican Party, as his pick for ambassador to Canada last night. The former congressman from Michigan also served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term.

“In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement.

“Honored for the opportunity to serve,” Hoekstra replied on X.

— More previous jobs: Adviser to Trump’s transition team in 2016; former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee; founding member of the Congressional House Tea Party Caucus; runner-up in 2010 Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary; runner-up in 2012 Michigan Senate race; visiting distinguished fellow at The Heritage Foundation; senior adviser at Dickstein Shapiro; lobbyist at Greenberg Traurig.

— Hoekstra headlines: "Hoekstra proposes federal 'birther' office" (2012); "Hoekstra Super Bowl ad hits a nerve" (2012); "Dutch journalist debunks U.S. ambassador's 'fake news' claim to his face" (2017); "U.S. ambassador under fire for hosting Dutch far-right bash" (2020).

— Early reaction: Former diplomat LOUISE BLAIS of the Business Council of Canada told Playbook Wednesday night that Hoekstra's appointment this early in the transition process is a "good sign" — as was Trump's indication in the announcement that he considered the USMCA a positive trade deal.

— Quick rewind: During his early days as JOE BIDEN’s envoy in Ottawa, Ambassador DAVID COHEN told POLITICO he was on a mission to address “almost the hurt” caused by the Trump administration.

“There’s a thirst for a restoration of the full friendship and full partnership and full ally-ship. … And I’ve sort of grafted that onto my job,” he said.

— Seatbelt time: Leading up to November, former Trump ambo KELLY CRAFT repeatedly cautioned Canada to "buckle up" for the former president's return to the White House.

Time to strap in.

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Randy Boissonnault on his way to Cabinet — earlier this fall. | Justin Tang, The Canadian Press

AWKWARD SHRINKAGE — JUSTIN TRUDEAU has managed to pull off a rare feat as prime minister. His Cabinet table is shrinking, not growing. For anybody in town who believes in smaller front benches, it's a dream come true in excruciating slow motion.

RANDY BOISSONNAULT's sacking as employment minister amid overlapping scandals just dropped a pile of work on the desk of GINETTE PETITPAS TAYLOR — the veterans affairs minister who will "temporarily assume responsibility" for Boissonnault's files.

Employment and Social Development Canada pumps out billions in benefits payments. GPT also takes on the official languages portfolio in addition to her existing gig as associate minister of national defense — call it quadruple duty.

— Group work: Boissonnault sat on three Cabinet committees: operations; economy, inclusion and climate “A”; and the sub-committee on intergovernmental coordination. He also joined the working group on the middle class, economy and housing.

— Two is almost a trend: When former Transport Minister PABLO RODRIGUEZ bailed on Cabinet earlier this fall to take a run at Quebec's Liberal leadership, Treasury Board President ANITA ANAND watched her workload bloom.

Anand manages two sets of political staff and two mammoth departments. Ask a lobbyist on the transport file — they can't wait for a solo minister to take the reins.

Anand isn't hiding the enormity of it all.

"I’m the president of the Treasury Board that oversees, in total, C$450 billion of expenditures every year, as well as the minister of transport, and there are large issues in both portfolios," the minister told Playbook on Tuesday. "They keep me occupied all day and almost all night."

Tick tock goes the clock.

— It always comes to this: Speculators in the fishbowl keep returning to four questions, some more existential than others:

→ When will Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND deliver a Fall Economic Statement?

→ How will the government engineer the approval of billions in spending estimates?

→ How long can this Parliament really last before Canadians go to the polls?

→ When will the prime minister shake up his front bench?

Boissonnault's exit ratchets up talk of a shuffle. And a major economic announcement today could offer answers to the others.

— Order the musical chairs already: Ottawa speculators had baked in the looming retirement of four ministers as prelude to a news-making day at Rideau Hall.

A revamped Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations dampened talk of a U.S.-focused reboot. But is that all the government's got ahead of the potential chaos of Trump 2.0?

— HR considerations: Eleven ministers now sit at that primetime committee focused squarely on the American relationship. They just got down to work — and might not love being reassigned from a table meant to meet a moment.

Meanwhile, Liberal backbenchers may still covet a seat in Cabinet. If the PM's team is holding out on a shuffle to keep aspirants at bay, they'd lose that leverage the moment Governor General MARY SIMON swears in a refurbished team.

— Autumn of George: Boissonnault was Alberta's rep on the front bench. The Liberals have precisely one other option in that province: GEORGE CHAHAL, chair of the House natural resources committee. A wrinkle: The Hill Times reported that Chahal called for the PM to step down last month.

— Seasonal Affective Disorder: Boissonnault, whose Edmonton seat could swing to the Conservatives, never intended to quit the front bench. The government faces a stalled House of Commons, political uncertainty at home and in Washington, and the same lackluster polls.

One more big question: What exactly do Liberals hope to accomplish before Christmas?

— Today's answer: Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU and Finance Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND are poised to unveil affordability relief measures worth billions, The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday evening.

"The policies will include some temporary relief from the GST and will not be income-tested, three sources with direct knowledge of the plan say," MARIEKE WALSH scooped.

Radio-Canada says the GST "holiday" will apply to beer, wine prepared hot meals, diapers, children's clothing and shoes, children's car seats and toys — and more.

The measures require legislation, as well as a dance partner to break up a protracted procedural stalemate in the House and help pass a bill.

— Kingmaker once again: NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH is already claiming victory — and offering his party's support.

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— Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is in the Greater Toronto Area to make "an announcement on affordability" alongside Deputy PM CHRYSTIA FREELAND. Trudeau also plans to visit a grocery store.

Later, Trudeau headlines a party fundraiser at the Grand Victorian Convention Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. A pair of Cabmins, RECHIE VALDEZ and AHMED HUSSEN, are also on the bill.

— Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE headlines a Bay Street fundraiser underway at 5:30 p.m.

— Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET has not yet released his itinerary for the day.

— NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH will participate in question period.

— Green Leader ELIZABETH MAY will meet with the co-organizers of Peace Train Canada. She'll also attend Parliament in-person.

Democracy is facing a multi-front attack on nearly every continent. At the Halifax International Security Forum, senior military officers and thought leaders will have to choose whether to stand together against these challenges or go down the path of division. Follow the proceedings here.

— Health Minister MARK HOLLAND is in Montreal at the Canada Healthcare Innovation Summit 2024 where at 8 a.m. he will deliver opening remarks and take part in a fireside chat with JOSS REIMER.

— International Trade Minister MARY NG is in Ottawa, where she is scheduled to hold a press conference at 9 a.m. with representatives from Canada’s nuclear energy community.

— Foreign Minister MÉLANIE JOLY is in Washington and will hold a media availability at the Canadian embassy at 2 p.m.

— The Future Borders Coalition's transportation summit is underway in Washington. Transport Minister ANITA ANAND headlines a dinner conversation via teleconference.

Want to know what's really happening with Congress's make-or-break spending fights? Get daily insider analysis of Hill negotiations, funding deadlines, and breaking developments—free in your inbox with Inside Congress. Subscribe now.

— “You should see my inbox,” Canada’s former health minister JANE PHILPOTT tells Maclean’s when asked if people write to her for health care help and advice. PAUL WELLS had Philpott on his pod with a provocative question: Can she fix Ontario's system?

— Radio-Canada’s CHRISTIAN NOËL reports Poilievre's office maintains tight control over what Conservative MPs say and do. (Sounds familiar to us.)

— DAVID REEVELY at The Logic reports on the AI threats that keep competition commissioner MATTHEW BOSWELL up at night.

— SEAN SPEER writes: PIERRE POILIEVRE should follow ELON MUSK’s lead and bring his own Department of Government Efficiency to Ottawa.

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For POLITICO Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter.

In other news for Pro readers: 

— Tesla, Trump and the China tariff clash.

— Trump allies want to resurrect ‘red teams’ to question climate science.

— Climate change boosted the wind speed of every 2024 hurricane.

— US climate officials race to ink a deal that Trump could spurn.

— US announces $11M in global funding for AI safety.

Birthdays: HBD to former NDP MP DENISE SAVOIE and NICK SIBBESTON, former senator and Northwest Territories premier.

Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way .

Spotted: PM TRUDEAU, attending the always-popular "shed party" at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building that celebrates Newfoundland and Labrador. Last year, he joined ALAN DOYLE for a duet. This year, no singing. MARY WALSH was a special quest.

TikTok Canada standing on business, by calling out the PM for collaborating on a milkshake video with New Brunswick creator LARRY CANAM, “one of many Canadian creators supported by @TikTokCanada's local creator team — a team that would be eliminated under the government's shutdown order.”

Meanwhile, the PM shared a blooper reel from the TikTok where he asked if he should cry over spilled milk.

Movers and shakers: Former Prime Minister STEPHEN HARPER has been appointed chair of Alberta Investment Management Corporation.

Noted: Amid widespread frustration among Swifties who can't afford a ticket during TAYLOR SWIFT's Canadian tour, Green MP MIKE MORRICE sponsored an e-petition that takes aim at ticket resellers — and calls on the government to do something about them.

Find the latest House meetings here. The Senate schedule is here.

8:15 a.m. The House committee on Indigenous and northern affairs will take Bill C-61 through clause-by-clause study.

8:15 a.m. Defense Minister BILL BLAIR and Deputy Minister STEFANIE BECK will be at the House defense committee to discuss supplementary estimates.

8:15 a.m. The House industry crew has “committee business” on its agenda.

8:15 a.m. The House agriculture committee will discuss fertilizer tariffs.

9 a.m. Wildfires are on the agenda at the Senate agriculture and forestry committee.

9 a.m. The Senate energy and the environment committee continues its exploration of climate change and the oil and gas industry.

9 a.m. The Senate fisheries and oceans committee continues its look at ocean carbon sequestration.

11 a.m. Chief Electoral Officer STÉPHANE PERRAULT will be at the House procedure committee to take questions on Bill C-65. 

11 a.m. RANDY BOISSONNAULT had a date with the House human resources committee to discuss supplementary estimates. That’s no longer true, of course. Instead, the committee will use the time to tackle a draft report on federal housing investments — and later hear from Conservative MP DOMINIQUE VIEN about Bill C-378, which would amend the Canada Labour Code's harassment complaints process.

11 a.m. The House official languages committee will look at the minority-language education continuum.

11 a.m. MICHAEL PETROU from the Canadian War Museum will be at the House veterans affairs committee as it considers the experiences of Indigenous and Black veterans.

11 a.m. The House citizenship and immigration committee will gather at the request of Conservatives on the panel.

11 a.m. Consul General TOM CLARK is on the witness roster at the House government operations committee. He’ll appear by video conference to take questions on his official residence.

11:30 a.m. The Senate banking committee will examine Canada’s monetary policy framework.

11:30 a.m. The Senate foreign affairs committee will receive a briefing on Sudan followed by one on Myanmar.

11:30 a.m. The Senate legal affairs committee will study Bill C-40.

11:30 a.m. The Senate social affairs committee has Bill C-252 on its agenda.

3:30 p.m. The House health committee will take Bill C-368 through clause-by-clause study.

3:30 p.m. National Revenue Minister MARIE-CLAUDE BIBEAU will be at the House ethics committee to discuss privacy breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency. Commissioner of Revenue Bob Hamilton is also on the roster.

3:30 p.m. The House foreign affairs committee will receive a briefing on the situation in Haiti.

3:30 p.m.