Former Quebec Liberal staffer now press secretary to National Revenue Minister
National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier welcomed two new Quebecers to her ministerial staff team last month, with press secretary Chloé Luciani-Girouard and assistant to the parliamentary secretary and special assistant Jean-Sébastien Bock-Nadeau having each marked March 14 as their first day officially on the job. Both recently moved to Ottawa from la belle province to work for […]
Conservatives face perilous path back to power
OTTAWA—If you thought a 78-day federal election was an unbearably long time, how about a 400-day Conservative leadership race? Two contenders for the crown registered last week and began a 414-day marathon to coronation day scheduled for May 27, 2017. The announcements that Conservative MPs Kellie Leitch and Maxime Bernier have both registered to run […]
Justin Trudeau, party brass set to gain more power over campaigns, policy under new proposed Liberal constitution
A ground-breaking new Liberal party constitution that would eliminate traditional party memberships and open the party’s doors to any person who signs up as a “Registered Liberal” also contains clauses that would give Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and successive leaders unilateral power to appoint a new national election campaign committee, as well as additional powers […]
A look at Chief Government Whip Leslie’s office
Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie has an 11-member staff team in his office as a Liberal House officer, led by chief of staff Mathieu Dupont. As whip, Mr. Leslie is responsible for keeping tabs on all members of the Liberal caucus on the Hill, 184 MPs in all (including Mr. Leslie and the PM). He helps […]
House more cordial, but so far Liberals have thin legislative agenda: Scheer
Despite a “very cordial” relationship among House leaders, the government’s legislative agenda has been thin and unproductive, says Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer as MPs return for a spring sitting after a two-week break. “I’d say it’s cordial but it’s not productive,” Mr. Scheer told The Hill Times. “There’s really nothing that’s been introduced that […]
Small Business Minister Chagger hires Vidah as senior adviser, press secretary
Small Business and Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger has hired former MAtv producer and host Vahid Vidah as a senior policy adviser and press secretary for her ministerial office. Until recently, Mr. Vidah was working for MAtv as host of its English-language show, Living 2 Gether, a public access show exploring the “social fabric” of Montreal […]
Budget adds to immediate NDP woes but potential for rebound remains
VANCOUVER—The first Liberal federal budget has twisted the Trudeau knife further in the wounded New Democratic Party. The first budget of the new government is a big hit with elite centre left voters, a moderate success with populist or struggling groups, and leaves conservative groups infuriated. As a result, the Liberals are up, the NDP […]
Majority of Canadians support physician-assisted death: Forum Research poll
Canadian electors have overwhelmingly lined up in support of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the right to assisted dying as the Liberal government prepares to table legislation next week implementing the landmark decision, a Forum Research poll has found. Canadian Press this week reported this week that the cabinet has decided to keep […]
Minister of transport missing in action
The world is becoming increasingly competitive and Canada needs responsive transportation policies in order to compete. Yet, since taking office, this Liberal government and minister of Transport have yet to take a single policy decision that will improve the transportation of people, goods, and services across Canada and abroad. In June 2014, then minister of […]
Wernick planning to stick around PCO for a while, push on for ‘nimbleness and agility’ in PS
Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick says he’s in no rush to help establish a process for picking his successor since he doesn’t expect to be leaving the job any time soon. In January, Mr. Wernick was announced as the new clerk in a press release from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), which highlighted, as […]
