As NAFTA dominates Canada's foreign policy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Chrystia Freeland, left, are No. 1 and 2 on The Hill Times' Top 40 Foreign Policy Influencer list. They're seen walking to the National Press Theatre on May 31 to announce retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
NAFTA players top Canada’s 40 most-influential foreign-policy minds
Insiders and observers weigh in on who impacts Canada’s decisions on diplomacy, trade, defence, development, and immigration.
From staffer to minister: the rise of Mary Ng
In 16 months, the ex-PMO manager went from rookie backbencher to cabinet, but while some might say her connections got her where she is, she says it's 20 years of experience in government and politics. Power to the people: Maxime Bernier turns to social networks to boost base
His People’s Party could go further than nascent political parties of the past, with social media as a means of stoking the grassroots fires, supporters suggest.Politics This Morning
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Senators, opposition MPs await Liberal response to ‘common sense’ changes to anti-harassment bill
The Senate passed Bill C-65 with seven amendments in the spring, and those along with the regulations put forward in the summer firm up the legislation, say critics.New business coalition makes late-stage play in NAFTA talks to keep trade free
The formation of the Coalition to Keep Trade Free comes as Canada is facing an Oct. 1 deadline to sign onto the agreement struck between Mexico and the U.S.After rocky summer, NDP should showcase star MPs Cullen, Brosseau, Boulerice, ‘win a narrative battle,’ says former party strategist
Their challenge is to differentiate themselves from the Liberals and say why they’re better, strategists say, to build a 'compelling narrative.'Conservatives ‘keen’ to make 2019 election about the economy, say observers
Political observers expect to start seeing policy trail balloons floating this fall, and the beginning of ‘persuasion advertising,’ with the next federal election almost a year out.Toronto-area Liberal MP leaves party to join Scheer’s Conservatives
Rookie MP Leona Alleslev's defection, which she said is supported by many of her constituents, is seen as a boost to the Conservatives who hope to scoop up seats in the Greater Toronto Area.From CPTPP to NAFTA, trade to top agenda in the House this fall
‘Coming up in the first few weeks and months it’s going to be a heavy trade-focused session,’ says NDP House Leader Ruth Ellen Brosseau. Conservatives, NDP dealing with internal feuds, upbeat Trudeau Liberals ‘excited’ for fall sitting
Liberals MPs were briefed by party officials and Liberal Research Bureau staffers about polling numbers, fundraising, strategy, and nominations in held and unheld ridings.
As NAFTA dominates Canada's foreign policy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Chrystia Freeland, left, are No. 1 and 2 on The Hill Times' Top 40 Foreign Policy Influencer list. They're seen walking to the National Press Theatre on May 31 to announce retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
NAFTA players top Canada’s 40 most-influential foreign-policy minds
Insiders and observers weigh in on who impacts Canada’s decisions on diplomacy, trade, defence, development, and immigration.
All aboard the omnibus: new Political Party to raise funds for journalism interns
Also, party shakeups make for some unusual House seat mates, and a billboard pushes Canada to help free a Canadian's imprisoned Honduran partner.Lessons from the notwithstanding clause debate
F.R. Scott, the man who schooled Pierre Trudeau on the Constitution, was frustrated by Section 33’s insertion in the Constitution. His words have come back to haunt us.Labour Minister Hajdu’s chief of staff now senior adviser to Defence Minister Sajjan
Plus, Daniel Pujdak is Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett’s new director of policy. 
Slow process leaves disabled vets in a lurch: ombudsman
The time it takes to get a disability benefit decision is the most common complaint my office gets.Every time Ford busts out the bazooka to get his way, he’s playing with fire
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s opponents won’t be weak forever; in fact, he could risk accelerating their rebirth if he comes across as the guy who must win every fight.Judge tosses defamation case against veterans minister
The veterans advocate who filed the lawsuit, Sean Bruyea, says he'll appeal the ruling.
Norway model the best choice for U.K. to avoid Brexit calamity
Gaining membership to the European Economic Area is just one of many possibilities being kicked around in the U.K. as the runaway train that is Brexit gathers momentum.Crash course: 2008 and the divided economy
The financial meltdown revealed the gap between numbers and reality, and between the tech masters who increasingly dominate the economy and the people whose lives they impact.PCO clerk Wernick celebrates the bureaucracy’s best at annual awards shindig
Among those recognized for their work was a group that created a reference document to help public servants support colleagues in the transgender community.
Party leaders rally around Liberal MPs accused of being more loyal to Israel than Canada
Also, Maxime Bernier may have found a new campaign song, and the husband of Canada's newest ambassador to Poland was a Hill reporter. Roma community campaigns for feds’ official recognition of genocide during Holocaust
When the House returns this month, the Roma community will be campaigning to convince Ottawa to formally recognize the genocide of the Roma who were targeted by the Nazis. Bureaucrats on the move: ESDC DM leaves, feds get new chief HR officer
Nancy Chahwan takes over as chief human resources officer, which one ex-PS manager said signals the government is 'bringing in some pretty big guns' to get Phoenix fixed.
Former Chrétien-era minister to host ‘last supper’ at Parliamentary Restaurant
New communications director among recent hires by Innovation Minister Bains
Plus, Hill Climbers takes a look at who’s who in the Liberal, Conservative, and NDP House Leaders and Whips offices.
Stepping back to look ahead: why this outspoken parliamentary secretary volunteered to be demoted
The normal trajectory for MPs is to want to work their way up to PS, then minister. But Celina Caesar-Chavannes says a barrage of social media abuse was one reason she decided to leave the plum role.
New advance hired in PMO, as policy adviser exits for Liberal Research Bureau
Plus, the fisheries minister has a new parliamentary affairs director, Stephanie Choeurng.Pay-related grievances at labour relations board triple post-Phoenix
Before Phoenix, pay-related grievances made up about 12 per cent of the complaints filed with the bureaucrats’ labour board. That jumped to 50 per cent and 41 per cent in the two fiscal years afterwards.Monique Bégin’s new memoir, Ladies, Upstairs, hits shelves in January
Also, a communications aide to the federal justice minister recently became a Canadian, and the Supreme Court has a new executive legal officer. 
Northern food security key to Canada’s future
For the sake of our global future, food security in the North is an issue requiring thoughtful investment now.
Rotten process, rotten product for veterans
New veterans' photo ID cards are not official government identification and they should be.
What youth are getting wrong in Canada
As polarization plagues the world around us, young Canadians are not immune. We must recommit to bursting our filter bubbles.
Feds tout ‘steady progress’ on closing data, service gaps exposed during Syrian refugee operation
Despite the government's review, NDP critic Jenny Kwan says ‘those gaps are still very much there.’Terrorists, freedom fighters, and the death of Jalaluddin Haqqani
The life of the founder of Afghanistan’s militant Haqqani network says a lot about the messy distinction between those perceived to be fighting for good and bad. 
Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet with Namibia’s president; McKenna to hold presser in Halifax; Garneau to take part in panel on space exploration
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is inviting party supporters to join him on a bike ride in Hamilton, Ont., where he'll also squeeze in some talking points about the NDP's plan to develop a national cycling strategy.
The intellectual-property provisions included in the final agreement could delay when cost-saving generic and biosimilar medicines can enter the Canadian market.
Without urgent attention, there will not be a health-care professional there to support a senior in need. 
The NDP seems to be taking a huge risk by asking its members how they think NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is doing. 
History has a way of turning on former leaders, often long after the fact. They might want to consider what is happening to Sir John A. Macdonald.
The situation got weird when Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly urged the two men to go on TV, and last Thursday, they appeared on RT, a Russian international news channel, to explain their brief trip. 
But the long-term implications of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s unilateral political heist cannot be ignored. The Hill Times in print
Politics This Morning
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Transport Minister Garneau scoops up Simard as new communications director
Emilie Simard, previously director of communications to the heritage minister, has joined Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s office. Minister Joly hires operations director as she staffs up new office
Plus, the natural resources, environment, and infrastructure ministers are all seeing staff changes. After MRIA’s demise, new polling industry group aims to set ‘high bar’
Plus, ex-PM Harper's book gets an early release, and Ottawa Citizen/Sun staff may strike.John McKay and Anju Dhillon join Navy in the Arctic for more than just iceberg watching
Also, PS Rudd does not want to continue as a parliamentary secretary, and the CBC apologizes to NDP MP Christine Moore.Shine your dancin’ shoes: here’s your guide to the fall’s hottest shindigs
On this fall's to-attend list: the Political Party, the NAC Gala, Canada's Great Kitchen Party, and the return of Harvest Noir.The week of France: hundreds of partygoers flock the embassy for Bastille Day, World Cup
The French Embassy opened its doors to hundreds over the course of the week for two Bastille Day events and a viewing of France's winning World Cup final match. New office in Ottawa to show Scotland is ‘open for business’ despite Brexit disquiet, says official
Based out of the British High Commission, the new three-person team will work to pursue deeper economic ties out of both the Ottawa and Toronto offices later this month.Royal visit ‘peak’ of Belgian envoy’s posting, despite elusive CETA stamp
Raoul Delcorde praised trade between Canada and Belgium, with both already benefitting from CETA despite its slow progress through Belgium’s regional parliaments for full ratification.Politicos to bid Globe reporter Laura Stone farewell Sept. 26
Globe and Mail reporter Laura Stone, pictured left with Bloomberg reporter Josh Wingrove, is headed to Toronto to report out of Queen's Park. Hillites will bid her farewell at Brixton's Pub on Sparks Street on Sept. 26 starting at 6 p.m. The Hill Times file photograph
Plus, Consumer Health Products of Canada is hosting its annual Self-Care BBQ with Olympian Patrick Chan on Sept. 19 in the East Block Courtyard. 
Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs, the party's natural resources critic, said the Liberals' announcement on Friday that instructs the National Energy Board to conduct another environmental review of the Trans Mountain pipeline's expansion impact on marine life does little to address the uncertainty around whether the project can ultimately move forward. The energy board has 22 weeks, or fewer than six months, to redo its review. Annual Features
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