Minister Monsef down D. Comms as new sitting starts
Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef recently bid farewell to her director of communications, meaning remaining communications staff will have to fill in in the interim, with much buzz around ongoing electoral reform efforts and a busy fall sitting ahead. Jennifer Austin marked her last official day as communications director in Ms. Monsef’s ministerial office on Sept. […]
‘So far so good’ for 73-person PMO nearly a year in: observers
As the top office of any government, how a Prime Minister’s Office and the people working in it function is key, with the less heard about it the better. Almost one year into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, it’s “so far so good” for the PMO, say a couple of Liberal observers. “They’ve done […]
Amid party ‘renewal,’ NDP recruits Robert Fox as new national director
Former Oxfam Canada executive director Robert Fox has been recruited to serve as the New Democratic Party’s new national director and says he’s excited to bring an outsider’s perspective to the party during its “renewal.” Mr. Fox marked his official first day on the job at party headquarters in downtown Ottawa on Sept. 12. “It’s […]
Two new staff join Ambrose’s team ahead of Parliament’s return
Ahead of the fall House of Commons sitting, set to start on Sept. 19, there are a couple new, though familiar, faces now working on the official opposition leader’s team, led by interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose. Rebecca Rogers is no longer serving as manager of tour for Ms. Ambrose, with Semhar Tekeste having stepped […]
Science Minister Duncan’s chief of staff joins Veterans Minister Hehr’s office
Science Minister Duncan’s chief of staff joins Veterans Minister Hehr’s office Science Minister Kirsty Duncan has bid farewell to her chief of staff, Rob Rosenfeld, who left the minister’s office the week before last to join Veterans Affairs and Associate Defence Minister Kent Hehr’s political staff team as the new director of communications and issues management. Mr. Rosenfeld made […]
McCallum’s chief of staff joins Sohi amid senior staff shakeup
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum recently said goodbye to his chief of staff, Mathieu Bélanger, who last week joined Infrastructure and Communities Minister Amarjeet Sohi’s office as director of policy. Mr. Sohi’s ministerial office has not had an official director of policy since the Liberals government came to power last fall, although Gurpreet Vinning, […]
Immigration Minister McCallum hires constituency aide as cases director
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister John McCallum has hired his longtime constituency aide, Lisa Cheskes, to work as a political aide as part of his ministerial staff team, but she’ll continue to put the expertise she’s developed over years as an assistant in his Toronto-area constituency office to use in her new role. Ms. Cheskes […]
Former Citizen bureau chief Kennedy scooped by PMO
Former Ottawa Citizen parliamentary bureau chief Mark Kennedy has joined the communications team in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, and has been quietly finding his feet on the other side of the Hill divide for about a month. He’s now as a communications adviser for parliamentary affairs and democratic reform. His first official day in Langevin Block […]
Indigenous Affairs Minister Bennett hires Queen’s Park aide as new policy adviser
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett was busy last week with responsibilities that included delivering a formal apology on behalf of the federal government to the Sayisi Dene First Nation in Manitoba, which likely also meant a busy transition into the office for her new policy and regional affairs adviser. Jessica Hayden joined Ms. Bennett’s ministerial staff […]
NDP procedural wizards give a glimpse of the House’s behind-the-scenes choreography
The House leader and whip’s offices are central valves in the beating heart of House of Commons strategy for any recognized party on the Hill, working to negotiate, track, and shake up the Chamber’s agenda. Given the importance of these offices to performance in the House, Jeremy Huws, chief of staff to NDP House leader […]
