Staff shuffle in Natural Resources Minister Wilkinson’s office
There’s been some shuffling of the deck in the office of Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, with a number of staff taking on new roles, including James Hutchingame, who’s now covering Atlantic regional affairs. Hutchingame was previously covering the Ontario desk for Wilkinson while also serving as assistant to the minister’s parliamentary secretary—a role he […]
All federal parties need to improve their leadership and nomination processes or risk losing credibility
In almost every nomination or leadership election, political parties have faced allegations from their own candidates of playing favourites or of making unfair decisions behind closed doors. But transparency and fairness are the two key ingredients of any legitimate nomination or leadership contest. Thanks to Elections Canada, our general elections are held to the highest […]
Hill Climbers: PMO lands a new public opinion research head
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has found a new manager of research for his office, with former Earnscliffe consultant Hilary Martin recently taking on the role. Martin spent the last almost six years working for the Earnscliffe Strategy Group in Ottawa, starting as a public opinion research associate in the fall of 2016. She was promoted […]
Putin’s Ukraine gambit may not be as mondo bonkers as first thought
OTTAWA—Last week’s announcement that Canada would make an exemption to the sanctions imposed on Russia to allow for the export of specialized turbines had to have been one of the most difficult decisions made by the Trudeau Liberals to date. The Canadian-made turbines are an essential element required to keep the Nord Stream pipelines pumping […]
Labour Minister O’Regan hires a new operations head
Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has found a new director of operations for his office, with Sarah Magee having marked her first day on the job on June 27. For the past (almost) year and a half, Magee was campaign director for Bigger Than Our Borders, a public, government, and stakeholder relations firm based in Ottawa […]
Policy adviser among new hires for International Development Minister Sajjan
International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan has made a few changes to his team since Hill Climbers’ last rundown, including hiring Laura Gamez as a policy adviser at the end of May. Sajjan is responsible for both the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada and international development, with Gamez focused on the latter portfolio. Gamez previously […]
Liberal House leader accuses Conservatives of obstruction tactics ‘without purpose,’ Opposition House leader hits back
During a legislative session unfolding in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, the ‘Freedom Convoy’ making landfall just metres outside of West Block, and a particularly rancorous Conservative Party leadership race, 14 government bills ultimately received Royal Assent during the first session of the 44th Parliament, which sat from Nov. 22 to June 23. But […]
Ch-ch-changes in the PMO, including new correspondence, appointments aides
The only constant is change, and there are more changes to report in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, including the recent addition of Lola Dandybaeva as a special assistant for public appointments. Dandybaeva was hired to the top office in May after a little more than half a year as an aide to Ontario Liberal […]
Breaking down Defence Minister Anand’s 21-member team
Hill Climbers is overdue for a full dive into Defence Minister Anita Anand’s now 21-member ministerial office, where Jonathan Salna is the most recent addition as executive assistant to the minister’s chief of staff, Mike Power. Salna joined Anand’s team in April after a year as a legislative assistant to Ontario Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski. […]
New staffers on board for ministers Fraser, Petitpas Taylor
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser has some fresh faces on his team, including new policy adviser Michael Kurliak. Kurliak joined Fraser’s team earlier this month after a year working as an aide to B.C. Liberal MP Terry Beech, most recently overseeing both his Hill and constituency teams as chief of staff. He’d earlier […]
