IMF warns Canada to rebalance, diversify economy

TORONTO—While the International Monetary Fund forecasts that Canada will have the fastest-growing economy in the G-7 this year, it would be a big mistake to become complacent. We face a challenging future. Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budgets, and indeed the overall messaging from the Trudeau government, are all about strengthening the middle class, the big […]
This just in: staff changes in the Liberal Research Bureau, Prime Minister’s Office as House prepares to resume sitting next month

There are some staffing changes happening in the Liberal Research Bureau in Ottawa. Nadia Khaiati, who had joined the LRB in April, recently returned to work in the appointments unit of the Prime Minister’s Office. Overseen by director Hilary Leftick, the PMO’s appointments unit also includes Natacha Engel, deputy director of appointments and people; special assistant Juniors […]
Trudeau’s atypical media exposure pushed by ‘most image-conscious PMO in Canadian history’

From Rolling Stone magazine to CBS Sports, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a point of engaging beyond the usual media suspects covering Canadian politics, and it’s all part of a media strategy of what is considered the most image-conscious, communications-driven Prime Minister’s Office ever, say strategists. “The Prime Minister’s Office has an innate understanding of […]
Brazeau has ‘no ill will’ over Trudeau’s Rolling Stone comments, but challenges him to live up to reconciliation ‘narrative’

PARLIAMENT HILL—Independent Quebec Senator Patrick Brazeau says he has “no ill will” towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over his “controversial” comments in the Rolling Stone magazine interview last month about why Sen. Brazeau was picked for their famed 2012 charity boxing match, but he is publicly challenging the prime minister to live up to his “narrative” about […]
Duplessis exits as chief of staff to Social Development Minister Duclos

Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is looking for a new chief of staff following the recent departure of Josée Duplessis from the role. Ms. Duplessis officially exited the minister’s office on July 21, opting to return to her former stomping grounds in Montreal for family reasons. She’d been at the helm of […]
Liberals to meet in Kelowna to discuss fall session, plot strategy to target close ridings in B.C. for 2019 run

The 183-member Liberal caucus is meeting in Kelowna, B.C., next month to discuss priorities for the House’s fall sitting and to plot strategy to win 22 close ridings in the next election. “We’re going to talk about strategy, we’re going to talk issues, we’re going to talk policy, we’re going to talk about what’s important […]
Tories outpace Grit fundraising, but Liberals tighten the gap

The Conservative Party outpaced the Liberals again in second-quarter donations even as Tory fundraising fell by $1.2-million, while the governing Grits tried to tighten the gap. Amid the tail end of their leadership race, the Tories raised $4,073,664 between April to June compared to $3,023,955 raised by Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, who fared slightly better this […]
Oil and gas development won’t be the big drivers of future Canadian prosperity

TORONTO—We can finally put an end to false hope that oil and gas development will be the big drivers of future Canadian prosperity. This means we have to rethink our future, building an economy based on new ideas and knowledge instead. The idea of Canada as an energy superpower, the cornerstone of the Harper government’s […]
Chagger’s government House leader’s team playing vital function now ‘more than ever’

PARLIAMENT HILL—The Government House Leader’s Office plays a “pivotal” role in keeping any government’s legislative agenda moving through Parliament, this one in particular, and while current Government House Leader Bardish Chagger is a rookie MP, a few of her key staffers are Hill veterans. “The staffers who specialize in the House Leader’s Office have distinguished […]
A few staffers leave PMO and Liberal Research Bureau

PARLIAMENT HILL—Prime Minister’s Justin Trudeau’s office is down one aide after Tim Krupa, special assistant for policy, left the PMO about three weeks ago. Mr. Krupa had been with the PMO since the Liberals won a majority government in 2015 and previously worked on operations and outreach work in Mr. Trudeau’s office when he was leader […]