Communications staff shakeup for Lebouthillier and Joly
Canada’s National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier has a new director of communications and a new press secretary at the helm in her ministerial office. Christina Lazarova has entered the senior staffing ranks on the Hill after landing the job of director of communications and parliamentary affairs to Ms. Lebouthillier. Until recently, Ms. Lazarova was working […]
Grits in unusual spot of being attacked on both sides for controversial Trans Mountain pipeline, say strategists, pollsters
The federal Liberals are being attacked from all sides on the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and their support of the project could threaten their centre-left coalition, say pollsters and strategists. “It takes a certain amount of political skill to be shot from two different fronts,” said Robin Sears, former national director of the NDP […]
‘I don’t see any end to this any time soon’: Conservatives dig in heels over Liberal elections bill
Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould was left cooling her heels last week as the committee studying the government’s elections bill continued to squabble over a timeline to send it back to the House. And Conservative MPs say they’re willing to draw out the debate for as long as they think is necessary. Ms. Gould (Burlington, Ont.), […]
Political parties set to testify about data use, collection efforts at House Affairs Committee
Representatives from Canada’s top federal political parties are set to testify before the House Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics Committee about how they use and collect data, as part of an ongoing study into the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook data breach and the privacy concerns it’s raised. At the same time, some MPs on the committee […]
In with the new, and not a minute too soon
CHELSEA, QUE.—At the moment, we don’t know the outcome of today’s Quebec election, but polls predict significant advances for Québec Solidaire, a left-leaning sovereigntist party that was born in 2006 and gained momentum in the aftermath of the Quebec student strikes in 2012. Its impact throughout the campaign, particularly among young Montrealers, is only the […]
Alberta federal Conservative nomination voting in Yellowhead during work hours could ‘marginalize’ riding association members, say Conservative candidates
A candidate who’s seeking the fiercely-contested Conservative nomination in the coveted riding of Yellowhead, Alta., is questioning why the party is holding voting at two of the six locations during working hours on week days, and is worried it’s going to “marginalize” a number of members of the riding association and put him at a […]
I have no ‘mechanisms of leverage over anybody’: Inside the Senate’s Government Representative Office
In an Upper Chamber that is increasingly inching towards greater independence, gauging support for government legislation is “not a science—it’s an art,” according to the man tasked with keeping score. As one of the three Senators who makes up the Government Representative Office—along with government representative Peter Harder (Ottawa, Ont.) and legislative deputy Diane Bellemare […]
New directors named for ministers Petitpas Taylor and MacAulay
Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor promoted Adam Exton to take over as director of parliamentary affairs in her office last month. Up until recently, Mr. Exton was a senior parliamentary affairs adviser and Ontario regional affairs adviser to Ms. Petitpas Taylor. He joined the health minister’s office from the get-go as a special assistant for […]
Three keys to successful trade negotiations
OTTAWA—When I lived in Geneva in the late 1990s, I was approached by the director of a private university there to teach a course for its MBA students. The subject was “Communications, Presentation, and Negotiation Skills.” I pointed out I had experience as a broadcaster and a public speaker, but knew next to nothing about […]
Marwah assumes chair of top Senate committee as Campbell steps back
The fall sitting of the Senate began with a change in leadership for the Chamber’s most powerful committee, with Independent Senator Sarabjit (Sabi) Marwah ascending to the role of chair of the Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration Committee on Sept. 20. Sen. Marwah (Ontario) replaced ISG colleague Sen. Larry Campbell (British Columbia), who officially resigned […]
