Belliveau takes charge of comms for Fisheries Minister LeBlanc
Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard Minister Dominic LeBlanc recently hired a familiar face back to his ministerial staff fold, after his former aide when he was House leader, Sébastien Belliveau, followed him to his new office to serve as director of communications around mid-October. Government House Leader Bardish Chagger officially took over the role from Mr. LeBlanc on […]
Feds’ proposals on PBO, chief statistician roles ‘positive,’ but more details needed, say experts
The Liberal government’s proposed changes to make the parliamentary budget officer and chief statistician more independent are important, “positive” steps, say experts, but the “devil is in the details,” and timing for legislation remains unknown. “This is something that we have been advocating [for] since day one in fact,” said Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) […]
Kellie Leitch wants to be lightning rod, Raitt looking to future, says Nik Nanos
The only two women in a current field of 12 Conservative leadership candidates could emerge as the leading options for the Tory rank and file as voting day nears, says Nanos Research pollster Nik Nanos. The choice will likely be clear, Mr. Nanos told The Hill Times on the eve of the contest’s first all-candidates […]
Minister Mihychuk scoops up Minister Monsef’s press secretary
Jean-Bruno Villeneuve started his new job as press secretary to Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk earlier this week on Nov. 7, leaving Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef’s office to take on the role. Mr. Villeneuve announced his move in an email to the press gallery on Nov. 3, noting that Ms. Monsef’s […]
Social Development Minister Duclos hires assistant
Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos recently hired Jessie Pierre to serve as a new special assistant for operations in his ministerial office. A former public servant in British Columbia, Ms. Pierre also previously worked for the Energy Council of Canada in Ottawa as a co-ordinator for events and activities. She earned an event management […]
Hecklers aside, Trudeau remains popular with younger voters, say pollsters, strategist
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to attract strong support from large stretches of the Canadian electorate, including younger voters, despite encountering a boisterous protest during a youth workers forum last week in Ottawa, pollsters say. “Leaving the incidents aside, his current approval level is solid across the demographics and he actually does better with younger people […]
Innovation Minister Bains sees changes to staffing roster
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains has seen some changes to his ministerial staffing roster in recent weeks, including the departure of exempt aide Kelly Acton, who returned to work for the corresponding department in early October. A former director general with Industry Canada—now reworked and renamed as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada—Ms. […]
Should federal election laws be amended to disallow cash-for-access events with government ministers?
Braeden Caley, Liberal strategist “All Members of Parliament and all parties fundraise, and we all abide by the exact same rules. Federal politics is subject to some of the strictest political financing legislation and regulations in the country, and the Liberal Party fully complies with the Elections Act in all cases. “There are still jurisdictions […]
As many as 10 expected to vie for federal Liberal nomination in Ottawa-Vanier
With Catherine Bélanger, widow of late-Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger, deciding not to seek the Liberal nomination in the coveted federal riding of Ottawa-Vanier, Ont., as many as 10 people are expected to run there, with some already in campaign mode. The Liberal nomination campaign has not officially started and no nomination date has been set, but at least four candidates have already started […]
The Liberals screwed up, but let’s not overestimate the impact of pricey fundraisers
OTTAWA—To date, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals have done a reasonable job of not sounding smug or looking self-interested. But with political fundraising back in the news and focused squarely on current Liberal Party of Canada practices, the vanilla veneer is getting smudged. In different reports last week The Globe and Mail […]
