Monsef names new policy director, plus staffing changes for Health Minister Hajdu
Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef recently named a new director of policy in her office, with Diana Mendes moving over from National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office to take up the post. Yanique Williams was last to hold the title in Ms. Monsef’s office. As previously reported by Hill Climbers, she left the […]
Liberals held a virtual election readiness ‘2021 kick-off call’ with caucus, ridings, and campaign managers last week
In the midst of ongoing spring election speculation, the federal Liberal Party held a virtual election readiness meeting last week with caucus members, riding association presidents, and campaign managers, which some saw as an “unofficial kick off” of the next federal election campaign, while others called it a regular preparatory meeting in case a snap […]
Parties ramping up candidate nominations across Canada as election threat looms
Speculation of a spring election is running rife, and federal parties are ramping up candidate nominations across the country, with at least 170 candidates nominated so far between the five major parties. “If parties were expecting the fixed election date [in 2023] to be respected I don’t think they would be ramping it [nominations] up […]
New adviser joins Intergovernmental Affairs Minister LeBlanc’s team
Queen’s Privy Council President and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc recently welcomed a new addition to his team, Jill Swenson, who’s been brought on board as a senior policy adviser. It’s a return to the Hill for Ms. Swenson, who previously worked for the federal trade minister, up until early in 2020. A former field organizer […]
Staff exits for PMO and ministers O’Regan, Wilkinson, and Fortier
Like sand through the hour glass, so go staff movements on Parliament Hill, and there are a few recent political staff departures to note, including in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office. Catherine Robitaille exited her job as a communications assistant in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) last month. She’d been in the role for the […]
Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle yet another indication Liberals ‘clearing the decks’ for a spring election, say political watchers
The Liberals deny it, but political insiders say last week’s cabinet shuffle is yet another indication Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is setting the stage for a spring election, and that the new cabinet is the governing party’s election cabinet. Last week’s shuffle was triggered after Navdeep Bains (Mississauga-Malton, Ont.) informed Mr. Trudeau (Papineau,Que.) that he […]
When is a cabinet shuffle more than a shuffle? When it means an election is coming soon
Just before starting a four-day virtual cabinet retreat, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet Jan. 12, probably for the last time before a federal election. This shuffle was triggered by Navdeep Bains, the minister of innovation, science, and industry, telling the prime minister that he would not be running in the next election as […]
New press secretaries in place for ministers Bennett, Vandal
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal are both starting the new year with new press secretaries on the job. Ms. Bennett hired Ani Dergalstanian to serve as press secretary and communications adviser in her office last month. Prior to joining the minister’s team, Ms. Dergalstanian was a communications and policy […]
Only, but not lonely: former broadcaster and political rookie Marci Ien brings community to solitary House role
Marci Ien is used to going it alone. She was the first Black woman to co-host a morning show in Canada and now, as a recently elected Member of Parliament, she is the only Black woman in the House of Commons. “I’ve been an ‘only’ my whole life,” she said. “I’ve been an ‘only’ most […]
New research highlights anxiety, stress on MP, Senate staff during COVID-19
Work as a political staffer is never easy, and recent research by Carleton University professor Paul Wilson exploring the experience of staff during COVID-19 found that, despite much parliamentary work slowing down, the pandemic exacerbated the usual stresses, with a majority of staff working longer hours, fielding increased calls and requests from constituents, all while […]
