Staffing moves in Families Minister Hussen’s team include two new advisers
Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen has made a number of staffing changes in his office of late, including adding two new advisers to his team. Daniel Saad joined Mr. Hussen’s office as a senior policy adviser, moving to Ottawa from Toronto to do so. Mr. Saad spent the last roughly two years […]
Given the givens, it’s no wonder Trudeau Liberals would eye election call
OTTAWA—Maybe it is the pandemic prison we have been in for a while that has limited travel out of Ottawa. Maybe we are all really starting to drink the same bathwater. But it certainly seems the federal Liberals are more inclined to push for an election sooner rather than later. Of course, they publicly say […]
Innovation Minister Bains adds new senior adviser, executive assistant
Innovation, Science, and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains has a new senior adviser in his office, with Tisha Ashton making her return to the ministerial staff ranks on Parliament Hill. A former longtime staffer to then-Liberal MP and cabinet minister Scott Brison, Ms. Ashton was director of policy to Mr. Brison in his capacity as president […]
Trudeau’s precedent-setting move on test of confidence suggests he’s willing ‘to take things to the brink’ of a snap election, say politicos
The decision to hold a confidence vote over the creation of a committee with powerful investigative authority raises questions about the precedent the Liberals may have set, inadvertently or not, says one strategist. Conservative strategist Marisa Maslink, a principal with McMillan Vantage, said the defeat of the Conservative motion to strike an “anti-corruption” committee focused […]
Hall exits PMO for director role with Labour Minister Tassi
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has seen a few staff departures and promotions of late, including that of deputy director of scheduling and co-ordination Geoff Hall, who has taken over as director of operations to Labour Minister Filomena Tassi. Mr. Hall has spent the last almost five years working in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), […]
Immigration Minister Mendicino scoops up new press secretary
Immigration, Citizenship, and Refugees Minister Marco Mendicino has a new press secretary in his office, having recently scooped up a replacement to relieve Mathieu Genest, who returned to the Hill temporarily to lend his old boss a hand. Mr. Genest was brought back in August to act as press secretary to the minister after Kevin […]
Trudeau Liberals failing to stand up to MBS and Saudi Arabia
TORONTO—The Trudeau Liberals’ weak stance towards Saudi Arabia undermines any promise to assert Canada as a principled democracy in an increasingly illiberal world. Canada is dithering on core values of human rights and freedom by not responding to the antics of Saudi Arabia’s infamous Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS. Ottawa just suspended export […]
‘Much more gets accomplished when hyper-partisanship is taken out of politics’: MPs, experts, politicos weigh in on leadership during global pandemic’s second wave
With the ‘second wave’ of the COVID-19 pandemic confronting the highest levels of leadership in both politics and in the health community, as confirmed cases continue to increase in jurisdictions across Canada, both MPs and experts say that “this is the time when we need to work for the health and safety of every Canadian,” […]
O’Toole’s OLO hires new regional advisers, speechwriter
Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole is continuing to build his team, recently promoting Katie Hillman to serve as a new caucus press secretary, and naming a slate of new regional affairs advisers, among other moves. Mr. O’Toole also recently tapped veteran staffer Steve Outhouse to serve as his deputy chief of staff. In this role, […]
NDP’s openness to backing Liberals for full mandate likely won’t be reciprocated, say politicos
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s openness to supporting the Liberal government over the course of its mandate will likely not be reciprocated in the long term, say strategists, arguing that, when certain conditions are in alignment, the Liberals may be the ones to orchestrate the demise of the minority Parliament. The government has survived two tests […]
