Owens moves from Sajjan’s office to start new gig as communications director to Democratic Institutions Minister Gould
Jordan Owens has switched offices on the Hill, and has left her gig as press secretary to National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to take over as director of communications to Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould starting this week. Ms. Owens had been working as Mr. Sajjan’s press secretary since the beginning of 2016, and before […]
That’s a real knee-slapper: 22 Minutes spoofs The Hill Times for mistaking Bains for…Bains
PARLIAMENT HILL—Comedy is funny because it’s usually true, but when it’s wrong it’s not that funny. In a recent CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes sketch, comedian and actor Susan Kent poked fun at the fact that some people are mistaking NDP leader Jagmeet Singh for other Sikh or South Asian politicians. “First, a reporter mistakenly referred to Liberal minister Navdeep Bains as Jagmeet […]
One in, one out of Defence Minister Sajjan’s office
National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has seen a couple of changes to his political staff roster in recent weeks, including the departure of Ben Berman from his office. Mr. Berman had been working as a special assistant for the Western region to Mr. Sajjan, who’s also the Liberal MP for Vancouver South, B.C., since January […]
NDP continues court challenge against BOIE, but current, former MPs repaying money, Cleary says it ‘left a bad taste’
The NDP’s court challenge against the powerful House Board of Internal Economy’s 2014 order to repay almost $4-million in expenses continues and in the meantime current and former NDP MPs have paid the money back or are currently doing so by having their expense reimbursements docked. “Every time I ask for reimbursement [for expense claims], […]
Scapegoated, held to a higher standard, but proud: how visible-minority MPs feel about carrying the mantle of race
The face of Canada is changing, which has potential for the face of the country’s federal representatives to change as well. According to 2016 census data released last week by Statistics Canada, the percentage of Canadians who identify as a visible minority now sits at 22.3 per cent, up from 19.1 per cent in 2011. […]
Conservatives maintain fundraising lead in Q3, with Liberals gaining pace
The federal Conservatives edged out the governing Liberals in the battle to tap into Canadians’ wallets last quarter, drawing $3.6-million in donations over the past three months, in what the party is calling one of its best fundraising performances in a non-election year. The Liberals finished some $500,000 behind the Tories, racking up roughly $3.1-million […]
Liberals dethrone Tories in Lac-Saint-Jean; Conservatives hold Alberta stronghold
The governing Liberal Party surged to victory in a competitive northeastern Quebec riding Monday night, showcasing newfound strength in a rural stretch of the province it had arguably not seen there since the early 1980s. Liberal candidate Richard Hébert beat back a spirited push from the Bloc Québécois and Conservatives to take the riding of […]
Singh shuffles former rivals back into the fold
PARLIAMENT HILL—New NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has made more changes to his leadership team in the House of Commons, naming Peter Julian the new House leader for the party, and handing critic roles back to his other former rivals for the party leadership. Mr. Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, B.C.) will replace fellow B.C. MP Murray Rankin […]
‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression,’ Singh starts 14-city cross-country charm offensive tour
New NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who started a cross-country post-leadership four-month tour last week to visit at least 14 cities, will use it as a key opportunity to boost the NDP’s electoral fortunes in the next election. “As the old saying goes in executive search and recruiting, ‘You never get a second chance to make […]
Feds have to ‘tread carefully’ on cultural policy after Quebec blowback, say political players
Quebecers are more likely to be invested in the idea of Canada having a distinct cultural identity that needs protecting, which could possibly spell political trouble for Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly and the Trudeau Liberals if the implementation of the government’s recently announced cultural policy doesn’t find the right balance, say cultural and political players. […]
