Chiefs of staff shuffle follows federal cabinet change-ups
At the same time as the five Liberal cabinet ministers affected by last week’s shuffle were moving into new offices, so too were a number of chiefs of staff, with three such moves confirmed. Tim Powers, vice-chairman of Summa Strategies, said chief of staff changes after a cabinet shuffle are “really not that unusual,” noting […]
Ending madcap planning in Ottawa
OTTAWA—Ottawa seems to be prone to selecting poor locations for important projects or to giving away prime locations for private and less important projects. The latter is true for LeBreton Flats, and the former the case for the location sites chosen for a joint federal-local library and for a new Civic Hospital. The Melnyk-Ruddy RendezVous […]
Former Liberal candidate accuses Trudeau and Liberal Party of rigging nomination contest in Milton, Ont.
A former Liberal candidate who came within a five percentage point-margin of unseating Conservative Deputy Leader Lisa Raitt in the 2015 election is accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of manipulating a nomination contest to make way for their preferred candidate, Olympic gold medalist Adam van Koeverden, for the 2019 election. In a press […]
‘Unjust’ reporting on China not ‘conducive’ to development of Canada-China relationship, says Chinese ambassador in rare press conference
In a rare press conference, China’s envoy in Canada took time to lambaste members of the Canadian press for what he says is “unjust” coverage of China, which he claims has led to a negative view of China among members of the Canadian public. Speaking to a group of reporters at the Chinese embassy, Ambassador […]
‘Negotiations are done,’ says Canadian official, in face of U.S. Democrats looking to reopen USMCA
As United States Democrats question if they will approve the re-negotiated NAFTA, a Canadian official says the deal has been signed and negotiations are over. In the midst of a record-length partial shutdown of the American government over the funding of a U.S.-Mexico border wall, Democrats—including new House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi—have said that […]
Ukrainian hero feted in the streets a historical horror
For the approximately 200 Canadian military trainers currently deployed to Ukraine, it is likely that on the first of January they would have witnessed a torch-lit procession. Throughout Kyiv and numerous other towns in Western Ukraine, thousands of civilians took to the streets—not to usher in the New Year—but to celebrate the 110th anniversary of […]
Shuffle shenanigans a time-honoured Ottawa spectator sport
OTTAWA—It wasn’t just the National Football League playoffs that were generating all the excitement this past weekend. The great fantasy sport of cabinet-making was in full motion, precipitated by Scott Brison’s somewhat surprising resignation the week before that kicked off Ottawa’s favourite parlour game. When the cabinet was shuffled on Monday it was small and […]
Liberals rolled the dice on legalization, now we’re paying the price
Last October, Canada became the first country after Uruguay to legalize recreational marijuana. To discuss some of the current policy considerations post-marijuana legalization, it is helpful to look back over this last year. It was almost one year ago that the Senate began an intensive study of Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, with five Senate […]
Critics question O’Regan pick for Indigenous Services, say ‘lame-duck’ posting could harm momentum
Dealing with a new Indigenous services minister feels like starting over, say many affected groups who fear momentum will be lost by bringing in a “lame-duck minister” who may not be able to make good on the government’s promise to enact child welfare legislation. Seamus O’Regan is earning mixed reviews in his new role, panned […]
Heymans exhibit the Art of Diplomacy in new book
Bruce and Vicki Heyman have penned a new book offering their personal insights into the Canada-U.S. relationship. Mr. Heyman served as U.S. ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2017 during the second term of the Obama administration. Since leaving the ambassador’s residence, Mr. Heyman has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and its […]
