Liberals still haven’t had a national caucus discussion about federal election outcome and they want one, say Grit MPs
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose Liberals were reduced from a majority to a minority Parliament three months ago, still hasn’t held a full-blown national caucus meeting to discuss the last federal election’s outcome, and some Grit MPs say they wonder if the leadership is trying to avoid it. The Liberals, who won 157 seats on […]
We need strategic leadership, not more opportunistic pandering
TORONTO—Politics has always been opportunistic. But it seems more so today. While politicians like, with some justification, to criticize business and financial markets for short-termism, nowhere is short-term thinking more apparent than in the political arena. The recent federal election campaign was no exception as political parties competed on tax cuts for votes. This was […]
Ministers Anand, Fortier make headway in firming up their staff teams
New Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand has her senior staff team in place, with new directors of operations, communications, and parliamentary affairs recently hired. Caitlin Mullan-Boudreau has been hired as operations director. She was previously working in the office of the minister of fisheries and oceans, starting under then-minister Hunter Tootoo in 2016 […]
All cabinet chiefs of staff now named, 12 of 36 are former Trudeau PMO aides
All 36 members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet now have chiefs of staff in place to run their ministerial offices, and one-third of them are former aides in Mr. Trudeau’s office as prime minister. But first, some prime minister’s office staffing news: executive director of communications and planning Kate Purchase will soon be leaving the […]
It is known: policy directors named for ministers Lebouthillier, Bibeau, Ng
Ministerial staffing on the Hill is coming along, with directors of policy now confirmed in the offices of International Trade and Small Business and Export Promotion Minister Mary Ng, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, and National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier. An avalanche of staffing news is expected soon, as ministers have until Dec. 20 to decide […]
Stand by me: a number of chiefs of staff stick with ministers
Step No. 1 in getting a ministerial office set up—at least when it comes to staffing, otherwise finding a desk and computer probably top the list—is settling on a chief of staff, who then typically takes point in filling out the rest of the team. And of the 26 chiefs of staff confirmed so far, […]
Nine of 26 cabinet ministers’ chiefs of staff confirmed so far are former PMO aides
It’s always noteworthy to see where those who have worked at “the centre” in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office land, and nine of the 26 confirmed cabinet chiefs of staff so far previously worked in the PMO. Much of politics comes down to who you know, and staffers who flow through the PMO’s doors have […]
In Speech from the Throne, a nod to Western alienation, promise to enshrine Indigenous rights
SENATE CHAMBER—In an effort to strike a conciliatory note after being reduced to a minority, the Liberal government is promising to “apply a spirit of collaboration” as it works to carry out its priorities, including introducing a middle-class tax cut as its “first act” and setting Canada on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050, […]
Diversity, inclusion minister should act as ‘catalyst’ with cross-ministerial power, say advocates
Renaming the multiculturalism ministry to diversity and inclusion has drawn mixed reactions from affected communities, as advocates await the release of the ministerial mandate letter to signal whether action is likely to come with the new title, or if it’s just “window dressing,” as some fear. Within Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) expanded 37-member […]
New minister, same chief in environment portfolio
New Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is getting his office in shape, and has confirmed Marlo Raynolds and Sabrina Kim will be staying on as his chief of staff and press secretary, respectively. It’s no doubt been busy days for Mr. Wilkinson since he was sworn in as the new face of the […]
