Stories by Laura Ryckewaert
Increasing tally of early voters adding new dimension to campaign calculus
Advance voting jumped as much as 19.5 per cent this election, and use of special ballots, the majority of which are filled out ahead of election day, increased by roughly 59.4 per cent.
The NDP’s roster of campaign returnees includes well-known organizer Tania Cameron, who has once again been contracted to mobilize the Indigenous vote for the NDP.
While the Conservative team includes many of the experienced hands behind Erin O’Toole’s successful leadership run, it’s largely a new roster from the party’s 2019 national campaign.
Tania Monaghan is Justice Minister David Lametti’s new director of rights implementation.
Plus, Economic Development and Official Languages Minister Mélanie Joly has hired Alan Ning to serve as her new director of operations. 
Expat voting increased 206 per cent between the 2015 and 2019 federal elections. But as a new conservative group works to get more expats registered, there’s no sign of a liberal equivalent.
Plus, Abed Harb has left Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s office to run for Calgary city council, and Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan has seen a list of staffing changes. 
Plus, former finance policy adviser Amitpal Singh has a new job off the Hill as a senior associate with Deloitte Canada. Author
Fundraising across the board was down last year, and while it still out-fundraised its competitors, the Conservative Party saw the steepest drop in donors and dollars over 2019. 
Plus, Government House Leader and Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez has a new communications assistant, while Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has a new Ontario adviser.
Plus, Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth Minister Bardish Chagger has scooped up Aidan Strickland as her new press secretary. 
Members of the House of Commons first elected in 2019 reflect on their time in Parliament, an experience dominated by COVID-19, which kept many MPs out of Ottawa. 
Plus, Jesse McCormick recently left Justice Minister David Lametti’s office, where he’d been director of rights implementation since January 2020.
Plus, International Development Minister Karina Gould has a new senior policy adviser following Mathew Hall’s exit for the deputy prime minister’s team, and Trade Minister Mary Ng has seen some staff movement.
Ontario Senator Jim Munson's time in the Red Chamber officially ends on July 14, and while it was a job he’d never anticipated, he says he’s ‘enjoyed every moment.’
Bill C-19, which would have extended the voting period to three days, among other things, was left at report stage in the House of Commons by the time Parliament rose for the summer.
Plus, Bernard Boutin has left Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s office to work for the CRA, among a string of other recent staffing moves. 
Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef also has a new executive assistant, Catherine Auger, and a new policy adviser, Emmaleigh Munro.
Among the newly unveiled plans is a permanent display of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to be located in the underground Parliament Welcome Centre complex.
Plus, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s director of strategic communications, Melanie Paradis, recently went on maternity leave.
Plus, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland all have new policy advisers on board.
While PSPC anticipates construction work will be complete by 2030 or 2031, assistant deputy minister Rob Wright on June 17 noted it will be another year after that before the building is ready to be reoccupied.
The Assembly of First Nations will elect a new national chief on July 7. Four men and three women are in the running, coming from First Nations communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. 
Health Minister Patty Hajdu recently lost her press secretary, Cole Davidson, to the Liberal research office, where he’s now busy as director of communications.
Danick LaFrance and Matthew Trnkus are new committees advisers to the Chief Government Whip.
What’s currently covered in the Senate’s environmental policy is unclear, but Sen. Deacon says the group will work to recommend short-, medium-, and long-term steps the Senate can take. 
Overall, budgetary spending so far this year totals $383.4-billion, a two per cent drop compared to the $391.5-billion laid out in the main and first supplementary estimates of 2020-21.
Plus, International Trade Minister Mary Ng has a new press secretary following Youmy Han’s recent exit for the Prime Minister’s Office.
Plus, Families Minister Ahmed Hussen has two new staffers on his team, and Jamee St-Hilaire is now—temporarily—splitting his time between two cabinet offices.
Plus, International Trade Minister Mary Ng has a new senior policy adviser and a new special assistant for the West and North, among other recent moves. 
Senators are still mulling over PSPC’s pitch to renovate the Victoria Building sooner than originally planned, alongside construction of the new Block 2 complex.
Plus, Health Minister Patty Hajdu has a new Ontario regional affairs adviser in her office, while Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has hired an executive assistant for his chief of staff.