Senate law clerk leaving Red Chamber
Two of the top three Senate administrative posts will be without permanent occupants following the coming departure of law clerk Jacqueline Kuehl. Ms. Kuehl is leaving the Senate on July 6 “to pursue her passion to work in law” at Justice Canada, Independent Senator Larry Campbell (British Columbia) announced at a June 21 meeting of […]
Natural Resources Minister Carr promotes new comms director
Amid a string of recent ministerial communications staff changes, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr has promoted his press secretary, Alexandre Deslongchamps, to take over as director of communications in his office. Until recently, Laurel Munroe had been communications director to Mr. Carr since February 2016; she’s now left the minister’s office. Ms. Munroe had been […]
Deep discourse or partisan pablum? Political pundits weigh in on the art of the panel
Ian Capstick had to get out of the game. When the well-known NDP TV pundit announced on Facebook that he was leaving the world of punditry for his own personal health, he also criticized the world of political punditry in Ottawa. The former NDP press secretary found himself getting angrier and angrier, as he railed […]
Why Wernick’s story struck a chord: I’ve been there
OTTAWA—Good for you, Paul Wernick, for speaking out on your own personal mental health and wellness. Kudos also for challenging the norms of the work routine on Parliament Hill; it is brave of you to do so. Wernick recently gained attention for coming forward to speak about his health and the influence he believed the […]
GRIC exec stay on to see through review of Lobbying Act
The Government Relations Institute of Canada has extended its executive team’s terms by one year to focus on the upcoming Lobbying Act review. The ongoing executive, approved on June 28, are Global Public Affairs’ Philip Cartwright as president, Shaw Communication’s Alayne Crawford as vice-president, Canadian Automobile Association’s Jason Kerr as treasurer, and Earnscliffe’s Mary Anne […]
‘The federal government announced retaliatory tariffs in response to the U.S. tariff on Canadian steel, to start July 1. What do you think of this response?’
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “As the prime minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said the day the administration made the announcement, these tariffs are completely unacceptable. Canada has been the most steadfast and reliable ally of the United States for 150 years. “In response to these measures, our government announced the intention to impose […]
Woman who accused Trudeau of groping her 18 years ago won’t talk
TORONTO—Anonymous. The message landed, as these sorts of things do so often, via Twitter on June 6, 2018. “Hi Warren,” it read. “Do you know about this B.C. community paper editorial about Trudeau being handsy with a reporter before he was in politics?” I said I didn’t. “Yes,” the anonymous correspondent wrote. “He had to write […]
Political parties busy laying groundwork this summer for 2019 election, Conservatives already ahead
Conservatives are already ahead in recruiting candidates for the 2019 federal election and all the political parties are using these critical summer months to start laying the groundwork for the next national campaign, say political strategists. “This is the last summer before the election. Next summer, we’re pretty well in a writ period, regardless of […]
Like father, like son? Is Justin Trudeau the keeper of his father’s legacy?
MONTREAL—To mark the 50th anniversary of the election of Pierre Trudeau’s first government, Radio-Canada’s version of CBC’s The Current set out to look back on what it called 50 years of Trudeauism. But can the last half-century of federal governance—including nearly two decades of Conservative rule—really be summed up as the pursuit of a so-called […]
What if you threw a party and nobody came?
OTTAWA—What if you threw a party and nobody came? That is exactly what might happen to the annual Fourth of July bash at the U.S. ambassador’s official residence in Rockcliffe. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is not known as a big risk taker. Throughout his time in politics, as a Parliament Hill employee, a provincial minister, […]
