Owens moves from Sajjan’s office to start new gig as communications director to Democratic Institutions Minister Gould
Jordan Owens has switched offices on the Hill, and has left her gig as press secretary to National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to take over as director of communications to Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould starting this week. Ms. Owens had been working as Mr. Sajjan’s press secretary since the beginning of 2016, and before […]
One in, one out of Defence Minister Sajjan’s office
National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has seen a couple of changes to his political staff roster in recent weeks, including the departure of Ben Berman from his office. Mr. Berman had been working as a special assistant for the Western region to Mr. Sajjan, who’s also the Liberal MP for Vancouver South, B.C., since January […]
PMO hires two new staffers, and Social Development Minister Duclos makes more senior staff changes
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office recently added two more names to its team, including new English correspondence writer Joshua Clarke. Mr. Clarke’s arrival comes on the heels of correspondence writer Jonathan Barry’s departure from the Prime Minister’s Office a few weeks ago. Jean-Luc Marion is the manager of the correspondence in the PMO and oversees […]
Scapegoated, held to a higher standard, but proud: how visible-minority MPs feel about carrying the mantle of race
The face of Canada is changing, which has potential for the face of the country’s federal representatives to change as well. According to 2016 census data released last week by Statistics Canada, the percentage of Canadians who identify as a visible minority now sits at 22.3 per cent, up from 19.1 per cent in 2011. […]
New chiefs of staff for Minister Chagger and Minister Duclos
Small Business and Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger has a new chief of staff in her office, with Olivier Duchesneau now serving as chief of staff to Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. Ms. Chagger, who is also the government House leader, recently welcomed Caitlin Workman to her ministerial office as the new chief […]
Conservatives maintain fundraising lead in Q3, with Liberals gaining pace
The federal Conservatives edged out the governing Liberals in the battle to tap into Canadians’ wallets last quarter, drawing $3.6-million in donations over the past three months, in what the party is calling one of its best fundraising performances in a non-election year. The Liberals finished some $500,000 behind the Tories, racking up roughly $3.1-million […]
It’s ‘too inflammatory,’ federal Liberals tread carefully on Quebec’s niqab law, eyes on 2019 election
Quebec’s federal Liberal MPs are mostly sticking to the prime minister’s script when it comes to that province’s new law on religious face-coverings, signalling opposition to Bill 62 but holding off on criticism of the provincial Liberals that put it in place, or on any calls to walk back the legislation. Liberal MPs from that […]
“Do you think Bill Morneau’s a political liability for the Liberals? And why shouldn’t the rich be taxed?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “Our government was elected on a promise to create jobs and opportunities for our country’s middle class and for Canadians who work hard every day to join it. We have followed through on that promise since the very beginning of our mandate, when we cut taxes for millions of Canadians by […]
O’Regan hires comms director, Freeland bolsters political staff team, Scheer hires almost a dozen new staffers
Veterans Affairs and Associate Defence Minister Seamus O’Regan has hired a number of new political aides, including John Embury as his director of communications. Mr. Embury started on the job in early October, and before then was director of communications and marketing client services for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Mr. Embury started at […]
Too much of a good thing: Canada’s consultation crisis
After years of often feeling excluded from the policy-making and legislative process, many civil society groups were excited by the prospect of a new government committed to public consultations and feedback. The Liberal government moved quickly to consult on all manner of issues, providing hope that an emphasis on participatory democracy would lead to better […]
