In the time of the pandemic, Liberals holding national caucus meetings seven days a week
The federal Liberals have been holding daily national caucus meetings via teleconference, seven days a week, to discuss the devastating impact of the international COVID-19 pandemic on the economic security, health, and the livelihood of Canadians since the House adjourned on March 13. In an interview with The Hill Times, two-term Liberal MP Ken Hardie […]
A look at the Liberal research bureau team, led by Melissa Cotton
The Liberal caucus’ research office has seen its ranks depleted in recent months, as staff land new gigs in ministerial offices across cabinet, as chronicled in Hill Climbers, and in turn, there are a number of fresh faces on the team led by Melissa Cotton as managing director, with further hires expected. Ms. Cotton has […]
Who’s who in Economic Development Minister Joly’s 20-member office
AN APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT HILL—Now Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, Mélanie Joly has assembled a 20-member staff team to support her, led by chief of staff Daniel Lauzon. Caroline Séguin continues as director of policy to Ms. Joly. She’s been running the minister’s policy shop through her time in multiple cabinet portfolios, from […]
A few fresh faces on National Revenue Minister Lebouthillier’s busy team
AN APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT HILL—National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier held onto her portfolio from the last Parliament post-election, but has added some new staff to her office, including new press secretary Jeremy Bellefeuille. Mr. Bellefeuille is a former assistant to then-Ottawa Liberal MP Andrew Leslie and to new Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste. In […]
A dive into federal Heritage Minister Guilbeault’s 24-person team
AN APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT HILL—Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, a first-time Member of Parliament who represents Laurier-Sainte-Marie, Que., has a 24-member ministerial team supporting him in his new role, led by former PMO senior adviser Mathieu Bouchard. Running Mr. Guilbeault’s policy shop is director Rebecca Caldwell. Aside from a long list of experience in politics, […]
Former MP Bossio now working for Gender Equality Minister Monsef
Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef’s office includes her former caucus colleague, Mike Bossio, who’s been hired on as a senior adviser for rural affairs. Mr. Bossio was the MP for the riding neighbouring Ms. Monsef’s, Hastings-Lennox and Addington, Ont., from 2015 until last fall, when he was defeated by […]
Belisle-Leclerc now leads policy team in Defence Minister Sajjan’s 17-member office
National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has a new head of policy in this Parliament, after bumping his former policy adviser, Tania Belisle-Leclerc, up to director status. In all, Mr. Sajjan currently has 17 political staffers on board in his ministerial office. Ms. Belisle-Leclerc has been tackling policy in Mr. Sajjan’s office since April 2018, and […]
New session sees a few new staff in offices of ministers Bibeau, MacAulay
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s 12-member staff team includes a few new additions this Parliament, including operations manager Daniel Turner and social media manager Mona Sebbane. Mr. Turner was previously busy as a senior field organizer for the federal party in Montreal, at the same time serving as vice-president of communications for the Liberal […]
Health Minister Hajdu’s team includes four holdovers from her predecessor
With the outbreak of COVID-19, Canada’s federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu has had quite the trial by fire since being sworn-in to the post last November, and her office includes just four holdovers from the former health minister’s team, including director of policy Kathryn Nowers. A former policy analyst with Health Canada, Ms. Nowers first […]
‘Political chaos can be wrestled into submission’: veteran Liberal backroomer Pat Sorbara reflects on a life’s work in politics
Pat Sorbara is perhaps best known for her work behind the scenes with the Ontario Liberal Party, from working in the transition office following the election of former premier David Peterson in 1985, all the way up to heading the fourth straight election of the party under former premier Kathleen Wynne in 2014. But she […]
