New environment, natural resources policy adviser joins PMO
The Prime Minister’s Office’s policy team is up by one, with new adviser Sarah Goodman having joined the office roughly three weeks ago to handle the environment and climate change, fisheries and oceans, transport, and natural resources policy files. Until recently, Ms. Goodman was busy as chief executive officer and founder of Treetop Strategy, an […]
Liberals can bet opposition will target them on electoral reform
Re: “Trudeau’s 14-seat majority could ‘easily’ be reduced to minority ‘or worse’ in 2019, say opponents, but Liberals still 12 points ahead,” (The Hill Times, July 24, p. 1). As your front-page story details, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is far from guaranteed electoral success. Opposition parties will be heavily targeting the 14 Liberal ridings where […]
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 […]
