The longstanding Liberal hegemony in Canada, and the challenges to it
TORONTO—Since the federal election of 1896, when voters in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec switched their votes, en masse, from the Conservative to the Liberal Party, Canada has been characterized at the federal level by long periods of Liberal government with comparatively brief Conservative interludes. Indeed, the Conservative Party had re-designated itself as the […]
New press secretary, operations director on deck for Rural Economic Development Minister Hutchings
Federal Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings has seen a fair bit of movement in her office since Hill Climbers last checked in, with both a new press secretary and a new director of operations on deck, among other changes. Luka Vujic, who’d been press secretary to Hutchings since January, left the minister’s office in […]
Staff changes for Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu
There are a number of notable staffing changes to catch up on in Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu’s office, where, most recently, Kaitlyn Peters has been hired as the new assistant to the minister’s parliamentary secretary, Liberal MP Vance Badawey. Peters, who joined Hajdu’s team in September, has been working on the Hill as an […]
Liberals need to ‘get off their asses’ and take Poilievre seriously before it’s too late, say some Grits
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s growing support in public opinion polls is making some Liberals nervous, saying it should be a “wake-up call” to the party, while other Liberals say it’s a normal bump for any new leader. “The Liberals need to get off their asses,” said one former senior Liberal who spoke to The Hill […]
Director-level changes in Emergency Preparedness Minister Blair’s office
Emergency Preparedness Minister and Privy Council President Bill Blair, who’s been busy with the federal response to Hurricane Fiona, has seen a number of director-level staff changes in his office recently, with new hands at the till of his communications, policy, and operations shops. Christina Rettig—who’s been director of policy and a senior adviser to Blair […]
Kathy Kettler becomes first-ever Inuk chief of staff to a federal minister
Kathy Kettler has become the first-ever Inuk chief of staff on Parliament Hill, after recently being tapped to take charge of Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal’s office. Kettler was hired to the role earlier this month, with her predecessor, Jeff Valois, having marked his last day in Vandal’s office on Sept. 9. She was most […]
Tough policy issues, political opportunism, and lightning-speed social media behind divisive rhetoric on both sides of the House, say political insiders
Tough public policy issues with no easy solutions, lightning-speed social media interactions, political opportunism, and a minority incumbent government are some factors behind the nasty and divisive rhetoric taking place on both sides of the aisle, causing politicians to be perpetually pre-occupied with their next re-election campaign, say political insiders. “The issues that they’re struggling […]
Sports Minister St-Onge scores a new communications director
Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge, who’s also responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, has a new director running her communications shop this session, with Floriane Bonneville having recently returned to the Hill to take on the role. Elda André-Roy, a former manager of corporate communications for the Canada Infrastructure […]
Politics This Morning: Poilievre to address caucus and media
Good Monday morning, Conservative Leader and Leader of the Official Opposition PIERRE POILIEVRE will address his caucus for the first time at 10 a.m. Ottawa time on Parliament Hill today. A press release from the party says Poilievre will also deliver remarks to the media. Poilievre won 330 out of 338 ridings in the leadership […]
‘This is the time for getting things done,’ says former Liberal staffer after retreats wrapped up
The confidence-and-supply agreement between the Liberals and the NDP looks to be in good shape as Parliament returns for the fall, say strategists, even as both parties look to address growing frustrations with the rising cost of living, and prepare for the election of a new Conservative leader. Sheamus Murphy, a former senior staffer to […]
