Liberals don’t need to change fundraising strategy, focus on ridings, says fundraising director at Halifax convention

HALIFAX—The federals Liberals are currently behind the Conservatives in fundraising, but Liberal Party fundraising director Christina Topp says the party’s fundraising game plan hasn’t changed as the 2019 federal election inches closer. “The strategy has never changed,” Ms. Topp told The Hill Times at the Liberal Party’s national policy convention in Halifax, where more than […]
Grits’ ‘self-inflicted wounds’ serious concern for rank and file delegates, MPs, former senior Liberals at Halifax convention

HALIFAX—It’s a three-day happy gathering of about 3,000 Liberal Party faithful, but one serious concern still being talked about in the hallways and backrooms is the propensity for self-inflicted wounds by top strategists and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s inability to do anything about it which could cost him the next election or could reduce the […]
Young Liberals look to improve influence on party’s progressive policies as numbers grow

HALIFAX—Outgoing Liberal Youth Party president Mira Ahmad and those running to replace her say the youth wing of the party has increased its share of influence on the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as youth delegates push for a bold resolution for decriminalizing sex work at this weekend’s convention. “The party does take […]
Families Minister Duclos promotes new policy director after Mathieu Laberge departs

Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has a new director of policy in his office following the recent departure of Mathieu Laberge from the role. Up until the beginning of this month, Mr. Laberge had been in charge of policy work in Mr. Duclos’ office since February 2016. He’s previously been a deputy […]
Indigenous Services Minister Philpott’s chief of staff poised to depart

Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott’s chief of staff, John Brodhead, is set to exit the minister’s team at the end of April. Mr. Brodhead addressed his impending departure in a Facebook post on April 11, noting it was “not an easy decision.” He’s set to move back to Toronto to do policy and strategy work […]
Liberals’ policy convention a ‘litmus test’ of Grit membership, a time for leadership to listen, say Libs

When more than 2,500 Liberals sweep into Halifax for their last national policy convention before the 2019 election, Grits say the party’s senior leadership should look to the gathering to gauge, engage, and mobilize the base for the next general campaign. They also say the party’s top brass has to listen. While not likely to prompt […]
Experts warn of ‘long-term political consequences’ for Liberals if Trans Mountain pipeline fails, but Trudeau says pipeline will happen

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who met with B.C. Premier John Horgan and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley for more than two hours on the Hill on Sunday, says the government will start negotiating with Kinder Morgan to “remove the uncertainty” over the fate of the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project and promised the pipeline will happen, […]
Perreault promoted to PMO lead speechwriter after Armstrong departs for Morneau’s office

Brittany Perreault has been promoted to be senior manager of speechwriting in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, taking charge of the team previously headed by Jeni Armstrong. Former lead speechwriter Ms. Armstrong left the Prime Minister’s Office on March 29 to join Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s team as a senior communications adviser as of April […]
Ageism in Liberal ranks? There’s no consensus
Re: “Put out to pasture, or not proactive? Some longtime Liberals are feeling left out,” (The Hill Times, April 4, p. 1). The following are excerpted responses from Twitter, edited for style. I don’t agree that it is “ageism.” It is elite accommodation and ill-informed belief that the leadership is the only reason for […]
Immigration, Refugees Minister Hussen names press secretary at last

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Ahmed Hussen recently tapped Mathieu Genest to serve as his press secretary, while promoting former communications manager Hursh Jaswal to the title of director of communications. Mr. Hussen hasn’t had a staffer working under the specific title of press secretary since taking over the immigration portfolio in January 2017. Previously, […]