Trudeau PMO scoops up new policy aide from Minister Bains’ team
The policy team in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has a new member on board, with the recent addition of Javid Dharas who until recently was working for Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains. Mr. Dharas marked his first day as a special assistant for policy in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on […]
‘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 […]
Recent events have broken trust in Liberal government, say Indigenous leaders, and it could lead to punishment at the polls in October
Indigenous leaders from across Canada say their trust in the Liberal government’s promise of a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples has been broken and they’re looking for concrete action, soon, or it could mean punishment at the polls in October. “The prime minister may have meant what he said, and I don’t doubt that he […]
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 […]
Veterans Minister MacAulay Mann’s up
Veterans Affairs and Associate Defence Minister Lawrence MacAulay has brought his longtime aide, Matthew Mann, over from agriculture to his new office, where he’ll serve as the minister’s director of parliamentary affairs. Mr. Mann is a Prince Edward Island native like his boss, who has been the Liberal MP for Cardigan, P.E.I. since 1997. Mr. […]
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 […]
Defence minister hires new press secretary
National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has a new press secretary in his office following the recent exit of Byrne Furlong after almost a year and a half in the role. Former Queen’s Park Liberal staffer Todd Lane has been hired in the job. “We are very happy to have him on board,” Renée Filiatrault, the […]
Veterans Affairs Minister MacAulay down a parliamentary affairs director
After recently promoting a new chief of staff, Veterans Affairs and Associate Defence Minister Lawrence MacAulay is in need of a new director of parliamentary affairs following Philip Jansson’s recent exit. Mr. Jansson announced his departure from Parliament Hill in a tweet on March 15, noting the day prior marked both his last day with […]
‘We’re really getting important now’: in midst of ongoing SNC-Lavalin saga, Trudeau reaches out to caucus, sets up caucus relations office
After losing two cabinet ministers, his top adviser, and the country’s top bureaucrat over the SNC-Lavalin controversy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promising to be more accessible to his MPs, and has set up a caucus relations office amid griping from his backbenchers that he needs to do a better job of communicating with them. […]
Making an equal WAGE: Monsef talks new department
In a few short weeks, Maryam Monsef has gone from being a junior minister in charge of an oft-sidelined agency, to juggling managing one full-fledged department and part of another. On Dec. 13, Ms. Monsef’s (Peterborough-Kawartha, Ont.) portfolio was transformed from Status of Women, the agency, to Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), the full department, […]
