The incredible lightness of being a heavy, tips for bad GR types: Let’s talk about the types you ideally want to avoid: The Know It All and The Carpet-Bombing Namedropper
A reader writes: “How can you go on and on about what’s good and bad about government communications without talking about the use of consultants, especially the bad ones?” Uh … okay. But it’s probably best to commence with an admission: My name is Sean and I am a consultant. Yup, and, on occasion, I […]
‘We need all the help we can get’: Public Service Commission chief Scott Serson says he’s ‘pushing back’ attempts to dump the merit principle, cites need for fairness, equity
For anyone eagerly digesting all the bits of information that have been leaking out about the government’s big plans for human resources renewal, it was a meeting to watch. As the debate continues within the highest levels of the Canadian government over whether or not to gut the Public Service Commission (PSC), seated side by […]
Cash disclosure please
Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley is doing something important. He’s calling for full disclosure on federal political leadership races, nominations races and the bank accounts of riding associations which are not now covered by the Canada Elections Act. He’s been singing this tune for years, but we support Mr. Kingsley’s recommendations and we urge […]
Joe still broken-hearted over Dom getting the girl
The real reason why Joe is back… Okay so you’ve heard all there is to hear about Joe Peschisolido’s return to Gritdom after a decade toiling for Reform and the Canadian Alliance. Well, perhaps not quite all. The crack among his confreres from his days as a young Liberal at the University of Toronto is […]
Bureaucracy and ministerial staffers working better together since PM’s 1993 changes to minister’s offices, says Grit insider
It’s been nine years since Prime Minister Jean Chretien pared down minister’s offices and abolished chief of staff positions, all in an effort to save taxpayers $10-million a year. Although the jury is still out on whether the reforms have actually led to big savings or even if fewer staffers are kicking around ministers’ offices […]
Sorry, just can’t trust government [Bill C-5, the Species At Risk Act]
Bill C-5, the Species at Risk Act, didn’t have too many friends as it entered the House of Commons in 2001. While many of us wanted a bill that effectively protected species at risk, what Canadians got was a bill that was established not on science, not on cooperation, but on government discretion. It was […]
Jason Moscovitz gone to BDC, Debra Brown goes to EDC
And the new Defence Minister is Debra Brown… Okay not really, but now we have your attention. I reported last week that veteran CBC TV journalist Debra Brown had quit the Mother Corp. after 16 years (and a total of 20 in broadcasting), but was keeping mum about her plans. Ms. Brown has since confided […]
Don’t call me a Grit
When former Canadian Alliance MP Joe Peschisolido crossed over to the governing party last week, he left behind his executive assistant who resigned because he could not bring himself to work for the Liberals. Hamish Marshall, 23, quit Mr. Peschisolido’s Ottawa office after he learned his boss had become a Grit. The young man had […]
Parliamentary Calendar [Feb 4]
Ernest Preston Manning has left House of Commons ‘This is not a typical politician,’ says his long-time friend and caucus colleague Deb Gray MONDAY, FEB. 4 House Sitting — The House will begin sitting at 11 a.m today. It will sit until Feb. 8, will take a one- week break and will resume sitting again […]
Media plan shows Eggs not the only bozo in cabinet
Something doesn’t add up… Let’s see, Art Eggleton, claims he told the Prime Minister in cabinet last Tuesday morning that he knew about Canadian JTF2 troops handing over prisoners the week before. This admission came a day after Mr. Chretien told reporters any questions about the legalities and ethics of such actions were hypothetical because […]
