AFN’s role, relationship with feds expected to be deciding factors in upcoming national chief race
The Assembly of First Nations will vote to decide on its national chief for the next three years in July, and with four names currently in the ring, debate over the AFN’s raison d’être and its relationship with the federal government are expected to once again help shape the race. “Two of [the candidates] are primarily […]
Little wonder Dion and Trudeau didn’t get along
It is little wonder that Stéphane Dion and Justin Trudeau did not see eye to eye, according to Quebec author Jocelyn Coulon’s recent book, Un selfie avec Justin Trudeau, given Mr. Dion’s past behaviour. According to a previous speechwriter for Mr. Dion, who reluctantly tweaked Mr. Dion’s address following delivery to an audience in the […]
Liberals to use two-pronged strategy in 2019 campaign: ‘demonize the right’ and ‘steal’ from the left, say NDP, Conservative MPs
The governing Liberals are already in the 2019 election campaign mode, but opposition MPs say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s strategy to “demonize” the right and “steal” policy ideas from the left won’t work and plan to focus on the Grits’ unkept promises in the next federal campaign. “That seems to be their strategy that they’re […]
Minister Bennett’s chief of staff heads to PMO, new press secretary in top office
A string of staff changes has taken place in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, including the recent addition of Rick Theis as a new policy adviser. Before his recent move to the PMO, Mr. Theis had been serving as chief of staff to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett since shortly after she […]
Status of Women Minister Monsef promotes Christopher Evelyn to operations director
Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef recently promoted her policy and Ontario regional affairs adviser, Christopher Evelyn, to serve as director of operations in her ministerial office. Mr. Evelyn has been working for Ms. Monsef in her capacity as a federal cabinet minister since the beginning, starting in December 2015 as a policy adviser to […]
Federal spending up two per cent, hits $276.6-billion in main estimates for 2018-19
Federal spending is up by roughly two per cent this fiscal year, reaching an estimated $276.6-billion for 2018-19, with funding for the House of Commons and the Senate up by 6.5 per cent and five per cent, respectively, as set out in this year’s main estimates. The 2018-19 main estimates were tabled on April 16 […]
“Jaspal Atwal wants to appear before the House Public Safety and National Security Committee as part of its study into PM Trudeau’s India trip. Should he be invited?”
Cory Hann Conservative strategist “Justin Trudeau has failed, repeatedly, to be honest with Canadians about why a convicted attempted murderer was invited to his official events in India. The prime minister’s own national security adviser even debunked the theory the Liberals were pushing that rogue elements of an ally’s government were responsible for the public […]
Rachel Doran exits PMO for top job with Indigenous Services Minister Philpott
Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott has a new chief of staff lined up to run her office, with Rachel Doran coming in from the Prime Minister’s Office on April 16 to begin transitioning into her new job. Until recently, Ms. Doran had been a policy adviser in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office since February 2017, […]
B.C. Liberal MPs tout environmental measures in Trans Mountain talks with constituents, but opposition MPs say Grits to ‘absolutely’ lose support in 2019
British Columbia Liberal MPs say they’re touting environmental investments and protections brought in by the Liberal government for the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project with constituents, with some suggesting their voters are split roughly 50-50 over the issue. But outspoken pipeline opponents NDP MP Kennedy Stewart (Burnaby South, B.C.) and Green Party Leader Elizabeth […]
New Liberal Party president says Grits have to fundraise hard to secure win in 2019
HALIFAX—New Liberal Party president Suzanne Cowan says her party will have to step up its fundraising game at the local level in order to return the Liberals to a second majority government, as the Conservatives have collected $5.8-million more in donations than the Grits since the end of 2015. “It is a fact, we are […]
