Deputy director Sommer exits the Prime Minister’s Office
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has seen a number of staffing changes of late, including the high-profile exit of now-former principal secretary Gerald Butts, and as of last week, there was another senior staff departure to add to the list, Dave Sommer, deputy director of digital and creative. Mr. Sommer had been working in the […]
Reeling from Wilson-Raybould’s explosive testimony, Liberal MPs brace for more damaging fallout on SNC-Lavalin controversy
Reeling from former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould’s damning testimony, which accuses 11 top Liberal government officials, including the prime minister, of political interference in the SNC-Lavalin scandal, Liberal MPs say they can fight their political opponents, but not one of their own “who continues to fire at us.” “Nobody can save us when one of […]
PMO staffers involved in the SNC-Lavalin case
Conservatives have been pushing for a list of nine individuals to be called to appear before the House Justice Committee, including Liberal MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, Justice Minister David Lametti, Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick, director of public prosecutions Kathleen Roussel, and five political staffers. Mr. Wernick testified last Thursday. Gerald Butts, now-former principal secretary to […]
Prime Minister’s Office adds to communications, correspondence team
Aside from the recent high-profile exit of now-former PMO principal secretary Gerald Butts, a few other, unrelated, staffing changes have taken place in the Prime Minister’s Office of late. Bernadeth Betchi Nnomo has joined the communications and planning unit in the PMO as a new special assistant. She marked her first day at work in […]
Wilson-Raybould story could pose election hurdle for Trudeau’s feminist brand: strategists
The SNC-Lavalin scandal has been a direct hit to the Liberal brand of feminism and reconciliation, according to strategists, with some saying it has the potential to hurt Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s support amongst women in the October election. Since the 2015 election, Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) has had strong support from women, peaking at […]
Finance Minister Morneau hires former Wynne speechwriter
A growing number of former Ontario Liberal staffers have found new jobs on Parliament Hill since the June 2018 provincial election that saw Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives take power. One of the latest, Kevin Hurren, recently joined Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s office. Mr. Hurren started on the job as a new special assistant for communications to […]
Justice minister hires experienced issues management director
Justice Minister David Lametti recently hired veteran Quebec Liberal staffer Nathalie Roberge to serve as director of issues management in his office—a hiring the office says was planned well before the recent controversy erupted over reports the Prime Minister’s Office pressured the former justice minister, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to intervene in the SNC-Lavalin court case. Ms. […]
Court challenges of Trans Mountain redo expected, ahead of NEB’s final report
The National Energy Board will complete its reconsideration of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project this week, but critics say the redo has been a narrow and rushed rubber-stamp, destined to fuel further court challenges. “I would be very surprised if the groups that have participated and the individuals who participated in this process will […]
SNC-Lavalin controversy and Wilson-Raybould’s cabinet resignation ‘serious concern’ for Liberal MPs, Hill staffers, and Liberal insiders
The unfolding SNC-Lavalin affair is causing “serious concerns” among Liberals worried about the perception that the governing party has one set of rules for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s inner circle and his home province Quebec, and another for the rest of the county, with some Liberals raising questions about the unity of the Liberal caucus. […]
Minister LeBlanc nabs policy aide from Minister Duclos’s team
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc recently added a new senior policy adviser to his political staff team, plucking Shannon Zimmerman from Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos’s office. She marked her first day working for Mr. LeBlanc on Jan. 28, and in the minister’s office joins fellow senior policy adviser Samuel Yorke and […]
