Indigenous Services Minister O’Regan needs a new comms team after two recent exits
Further staffing changes are in the works in Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan’s office after the recent departure of two staffers, press secretary Rachel Rappaport and director of issues management and media relations Andrew MacKendrick. Both marked their last day in the minister’s office on April 5. Ms. Rappaport and Mr. MacKendrick both began working […]
Trudeau lawsuit threat ‘gasoline to the Conservative match,’ say strategists
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s choice to threaten legal action against official opposition leader Andrew Scheer was meant to make him look like a strong and decisive leader, the plan has backfired, say political strategists of all stripes. Instead, it’s made him come off as petty, some strategists suggested, with Andrew MacDougall, a former director […]
Conservative ad gives impression men are preferred candidates
Re: “‘Want to run for office?’: Conservatives using Facebook ads to recruit candidates,” (The Hill Times, April 1, p. 1). The image accompanying this article shows a Conservative Party ad with a woman, Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt, in between the party’s leader, Andrew Scheer, and white male silhouette. The negative impression given is that ideal […]
‘We don’t know why it’s taken so long’: critics question the wait on federal-provincial housing agreements
Housing critics are questioning why the government is taking so long to finalize the cost-sharing housing agreements with provinces, since it’s been more than a year since the unveiling of the Liberals’ National Housing Strategy. But many of the accords are on the cusp of an announcement, says Liberal MP Adam Vaughan (Spadina–Fort York, Ont.), […]
‘Criminally irresponsible’ for Tories not to release climate plan, says activist, but Conservative strategists and pollsters say it’s unwise to push out plan as SNC-Lavalin scandal dominates
It’s “criminally irresponsible” for the Conservatives to attack the Liberals’ carbon tax without offering an alternative plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says an environmental activist, but Conservative strategists and pollsters say there’s no sense in the opposition releasing a key policy platform in the midst of the SNC-Lavalin scandal. Catherine Abreu, executive director of […]
Ministers LeBlanc, Bibeau change comms staff
Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is on the hunt for a new director of communications following the recent exit of Laura Gareau from the post. Ms. Gareau first began working for Mr. LeBlanc in November 2016, starting out as a press secretary to him as the then-minister for fisheries and […]
‘Want to run for office?’: Conservatives using Facebook ads to recruit candidates
The Conservative Party has taken an unusual step to bolster its slate of candidates for this October’s election: it’s running Facebook ads asking people to run for office. “Canada needs your help now, more than ever. Want to run for office? Help your country—become a Conservative candidate,” reads one of the ads the party has […]
Like sands through the hourglass, the SNC saga is leaving everyone restless
OTTAWA—It really does feel like a soap opera. The “it,” of course, is the ongoing SNC-Lavalin saga and its numerous plot twists. A little more than a week ago, the Liberals brought down their last budget prior to the election. It was meant to be a scene-changer and a launch pad for new storytelling. To […]
Former Ontario Conservative MP Chisu to run as a People’s Party candidate in upcoming election
A former one-term Conservative MP has left his party and has joined the People’s Party of Canada, saying his former party had been delaying holding the nomination contest and “shopping around” for another candidate. “I’m disappointed, absolutely disappointed by the party,” said Corneliu Chisu who turned 70 years old last month, adding he has a […]
NDP ‘under the gun’ to name candidates, say politicos, as they trail Grits, Tories on campaign slate
The NDP has 12 per cent of its candidates confirmed for the 2019 election, far behind the 61.5 per cent nominated under the Conservative banner and 50 per cent for the Liberals. It puts the New Democrats in a tough spot, say some analysts, but the party’s ex-national director said isn’t yet a problem. The […]
