Staff on the move in Prime Minister Trudeau’s office
With the summer recess drawing near, there’s been lots of staff movement on the Hill of late, including in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, where there have been four hires, four staff exits, and one title-change since Hill Climbers last checked in. That’s on top of the usual (for this time of year) slate of […]
New directors for policy, comms in Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth Minister Chagger’s office
Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth Minister Bardish Chagger has seen a number of senior staff changes of late, most recently naming two new directors in her office. Riyadh Nazerally started on the job as Ms. Chagger’s new director of communications and issues management on May 10. Until then, he’d spent the last almost three years working […]
Liberal MP Bratina says he’d reconsider not running again if McKenna reverses $3.4-billion Hamilton LRT announcement
Hamilton Liberal MP Bob Bratina says he may reconsider his decision not to run in the next election if Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna changes her mind about funding an LRT project in the city. Mr. Bratina (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, Ont.), who was the city’s mayor from 2010 to 2014 and served on city council since […]
Comms team changes for ministers Lametti, Tassi, and Champagne
Justice Minister David Lametti is in want of a new press secretary, following Rachel Rappaport’s recent exit to become director of communications to Labour Minister Filomena Tassi as of May 10. Ms. Rappaport had been tackling media queries for Mr. Lametti for the last two years, starting in April 2019, before which she was a […]
The promise and perils of political rebranding
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was extremely unhappy with the way some of his United Conservative Party supporters were openly and brazenly defying COVID lockdown restrictions. In fact, so exasperated was Kenney, it’s reported he actually said to his MLAs, “I want a new base.” Mind you, he denied ever making such a remark, calling […]
Budget investments not enough to replace need for new round of COVID student benefits, says Green leader Paul
Though the budget was generally well received by post-secondary student advocates, the lack of a returning Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) is a gap that needs to be filled to avoid students ending up in the same rough spot as last year, says Green Party Leader Annamie Paul. The benefit was introduced last spring, providing […]
Looking back: a decade since the 2011 election
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Time flies quickly as one ages. In that respect, while it seems like yesterday, this May 2 marked a decade since I was a candidate in the 2011 federal election. It was an historic election for many reasons: it gave the Conservative government of Stephen Harper its first majority; the famed “Orange Wave” in […]
David Hurl named policy director to Innovation Minister Champagne
Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne has scooped up veteran Hill staffer David Hurl to serve as his director of policy. Mr. Champagne had been in need of a new policy director in his office since promoting Sarah Hussaini to chief of staff shortly after taking over the innovation portfolio on Jan. 12. Plus, […]
John Brodhead, Cyndi Jenkins among recent PMO additions
The doors of the Prime Minister’s Office have been busy of late, with a slate of recent changes including the addition of John Brodhead as a senior adviser for intergovernmental affairs on April 26. It’s a return to the Hill for Mr. Brodhead, who had been a cabinet chief of staff up until April 2018, […]
Natural Resources Minister O’Regan adds policy adviser to team
Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan has a new policy adviser, with Blake Oliver recently joining his team fresh from Transport Minister Omar Alghabra’s office. Up until April 9, Ms. Oliver had been an Ontario regional affairs adviser and policy adviser, tackling transportation files on rail and road, in the transport minister’s office since March 2020, […]
