Alberta Premier Smith to speak at Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa on Feb. 5

SUNDAY, JAN. 21—TUESDAY, JAN. 23 Prime Minister to Hold Cabinet Retreat—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold a Cabinet retreat from Jan. 21 to 23 in Montreal, Que. Details online: pm.gc.ca. MONDAY, JAN. 22 House Not Sitting—The House is adjourned and is scheduled to return on Monday, Jan. 29. It’s scheduled to sit for a total of 125 days in 2024. […]
Sen. Brazeau still sober after four years, and pushing his Senate bill for health warnings on alcoholic beverages

Plus, Margaret Atwood receives a prestigious French award, Shari Graydon wants to boost gender parity in politics, Omayra Issa joins CPAC, Bruce Anderson is a painter, Don Martin is on a trip, Stephen Maher is sailing, and Charlie Angus writes another book.
House is back on Jan. 29

MONDAY, JAN. 15 House Not Sitting—The House is adjourned and is scheduled to return on Monday, Jan. 29. It’s scheduled to sit for a total of 121 days in 2024. It will sit Jan. 29-Feb. 17, and will break for two weeks (Feb. 20-March 3). It returns for one week (March 6-March 10) and breaks […]
Wilkinson hires new policy head, Hajdu recruits acting chief of staff

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu also recently hired a new press secretary and a social media manager, among other changes since Hill Climbers’ last check in.
Arseneault right to push on oath of office

Liberal MP René Arseneault’s private member’s bill has been criticized by monarchists and embraced by Canada’s republicans, but Arseneault is right to push, at the very least, for a conversation on this. Charles III’s ascension to the throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 merits reflecting on the role of the Crown in modern Canadian society.
Hutchings to take part in talk on energy, emissions, and the economy in Atlantic Canada on Jan. 18

MONDAY, JAN. 8 House Not Sitting—The House is adjourned for the year and is scheduled to return again on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. It’s scheduled to sit for a total of 121 days in 2024. It will sit Jan. 29-Feb. 17, and will break for two weeks (Feb. 20-March 3). It returns for one week […]
Electoral reform would help Parliament: Wilfred Day
Re: “Parliament’s in a pickle,” (The Hill Times, Dec. 26). In Chelsea Nash’s interview with Jonathan Malloy, a scholar of Canadian political institutions and author of The Paradox of Parliament, Malloy said, “what makes Canada relatively unique, even among Westminster model Parliaments, is the incredible importance of regionalism in this country. Amid all the other […]
Sport Minister Qualtrough’s team stacked with familiar faces

There are two new staff to the minister post-shuffle: press secretary John Fragos and senior communications adviser Renée LeBlanc Proctor.
Breaking down Northern Affairs Minister Vandal’s office

Along with a couple of promotions, changes to Minister Vandal’s office this fall include the addition of parliamentary affairs adviser Rachelle DuBois.
A look at FedDev Ontario Minister Tassi’s nine-member office

Some new hires are expected in Minister Tassi’s office in the near future following the recent exits of two staffers focused on parliamentary affairs and communications.