Friday, December 1, 2023
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Stephen Jeffery

Stephen Jeffery has been a deputy editor and reporter with The Hill Times since May 2023. He was previously editor of The Lobby Monitor, and a journalist and producer with The Canberra Times in his home country of Australia. He moved to Canada in 2019, and covers topics such as intergovernmental affairs, cabinet, legislation, lobbying, the Prime Minister's Office and the Deputy Prime Minister's Office.

Opinion | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | November 27, 2023
We Australians have something of a reputation, whether it’s our backpackers or our Members of Parliament. For all the recent talk of decorum in the Canadian House of Commons, there’s been much consolation in Ottawa that it’s not as bad as the scenes in Canberra, writes Stephen Jeffery. Photograph courtesy of Alex Proimos/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | November 27, 2023
Opinion | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | November 27, 2023
We Australians have something of a reputation, whether it’s our backpackers or our Members of Parliament. For all the recent talk of decorum in the Canadian House of Commons, there’s been much consolation in Ottawa that it’s not as bad as the scenes in Canberra, writes Stephen Jeffery. Photograph courtesy of Alex Proimos/Wikimedia Commons
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY, MIKE LAPOINTE | November 23, 2023
Treasury Board President Anita Anand tabled the annual departmental results reports in Parliament on Nov. 9. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY, MIKE LAPOINTE | November 23, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY, MIKE LAPOINTE | November 23, 2023
Treasury Board President Anita Anand tabled the annual departmental results reports in Parliament on Nov. 9. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | November 6, 2023
Iddo Moed, Israel's ambassador to Canada, right, and Irwin Cotler, international chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for human rights, at a press scrum on Oct. 30. Moed said his country will not consider a ceasefire because 'we have a murderer shooting at us, continuing to shoot at us, and there is no reason why we should stop.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | November 6, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | November 6, 2023
Iddo Moed, Israel's ambassador to Canada, right, and Irwin Cotler, international chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for human rights, at a press scrum on Oct. 30. Moed said his country will not consider a ceasefire because 'we have a murderer shooting at us, continuing to shoot at us, and there is no reason why we should stop.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 30, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week told reporters that a humanitarian pause in Gaza is something that 'Canada supports.' Similar calls have been made by representatives of the United States and some European Union member states. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 30, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 30, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week told reporters that a humanitarian pause in Gaza is something that 'Canada supports.' Similar calls have been made by representatives of the United States and some European Union member states. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 23, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embraces Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, at a conference on antisemitism in Ottawa on Oct. 17. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 23, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 23, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embraces Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, at a conference on antisemitism in Ottawa on Oct. 17. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 23, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, right, with Tarik Ali Khan, Canada's ambassador to Jordan. in Amman. An additional Canadian diplomatic 25 staff have been deployed across the region since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Photograph courtesy of X/@melaniejoly
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 23, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 23, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, right, with Tarik Ali Khan, Canada's ambassador to Jordan. in Amman. An additional Canadian diplomatic 25 staff have been deployed across the region since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Photograph courtesy of X/@melaniejoly
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 17, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for the release of all hostages, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, and the creation of a humanitarian corridor in a statement to the House on Oct. 16. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 17, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 17, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for the release of all hostages, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, and the creation of a humanitarian corridor in a statement to the House on Oct. 16. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 16, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she was concerned that the fighting in Israel and Gaza could lead to a global 'second front' of conflict, alongside Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Joly was in Tel Aviv last week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 16, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 16, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she was concerned that the fighting in Israel and Gaza could lead to a global 'second front' of conflict, alongside Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Joly was in Tel Aviv last week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 16, 2023
The Conservative Party had 67 advertisements active on Meta last week, many of which featured party leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 16, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 16, 2023
The Conservative Party had 67 advertisements active on Meta last week, many of which featured party leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 9, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his cabinet in Charlottetown, P.E.I., earlier this year, unveiled his new cabinet committees, sub-committees, and working groups on Sept. 27. The Hill Times photograph by Laura Ryckewaert
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 9, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 9, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his cabinet in Charlottetown, P.E.I., earlier this year, unveiled his new cabinet committees, sub-committees, and working groups on Sept. 27. The Hill Times photograph by Laura Ryckewaert
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 9, 2023
Liberal MPs Ken Hardie, left, and John McKay, Conservative MP Michael Chong, NDP MP Heather McPherson, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Conservative MP Raquel Dancho, and Bloc Québécois MP Stéphane Bergeron in Taiwan. The country's economic and cultural office has sponsored the travel of 21 MPs since the 2021 election. Photograph courtesy of X/@iingwen
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 9, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 9, 2023
Liberal MPs Ken Hardie, left, and John McKay, Conservative MP Michael Chong, NDP MP Heather McPherson, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Conservative MP Raquel Dancho, and Bloc Québécois MP Stéphane Bergeron in Taiwan. The country's economic and cultural office has sponsored the travel of 21 MPs since the 2021 election. Photograph courtesy of X/@iingwen
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 27, 2023, apologized on behalf of Parliament after the House unknowingly gave two standing ovations on Sept. 22 to a man who fought in a Nazi unit the Second World War while Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in the House for a joint parliamentary address. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 2, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | October 2, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Sept. 27, 2023, apologized on behalf of Parliament after the House unknowingly gave two standing ovations on Sept. 22 to a man who fought in a Nazi unit the Second World War while Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in the House for a joint parliamentary address. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | September 29, 2023
Australia's Parliament House in Canberra. Australians will vote in a referendum on Oct. 14 proposing to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Photograph by Stephen Jeffery
Opinion | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | September 29, 2023
Opinion | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | September 29, 2023
Australia's Parliament House in Canberra. Australians will vote in a referendum on Oct. 14 proposing to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Photograph by Stephen Jeffery
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | September 25, 2023
House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota enters the House with the Speaker’s Parade on Sept. 25. Rota apologized for honouring a constituent who fought in a Nazi Waffen-SS unit during the Second World War. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | September 25, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | September 25, 2023
House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota enters the House with the Speaker’s Parade on Sept. 25. Rota apologized for honouring a constituent who fought in a Nazi Waffen-SS unit during the Second World War. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY ABBAS RANA, STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 14, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. A run of strong survey numbers for the Conservative Party is as much about voters growing jaded with the governing Liberals and Trudeau as it is about enthusiasm for the official opposition, according to some pollsters. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY ABBAS RANA, STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 14, 2023
News | BY ABBAS RANA, STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 14, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. A run of strong survey numbers for the Conservative Party is as much about voters growing jaded with the governing Liberals and Trudeau as it is about enthusiasm for the official opposition, according to some pollsters. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 14, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is engulfed by his security detail as he attempts to meet Belleville, Ont., residents amid a crowd of protesters on July 20. Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis later described the scenes as 'absolutely unacceptable.' Screenshot courtesy of CTV News
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 14, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 14, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is engulfed by his security detail as he attempts to meet Belleville, Ont., residents amid a crowd of protesters on July 20. Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis later described the scenes as 'absolutely unacceptable.' Screenshot courtesy of CTV News
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 7, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan is a strong choice for the portfolio, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's Jason Clark. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 7, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 7, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan is a strong choice for the portfolio, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada's Jason Clark. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 7, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his cabinet ministers on July 26, 2023, speaking with reporters at Rideau Hall after he shuffled the cabinet. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 7, 2023
FeatureBY STEPHEN JEFFERY | August 7, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured with his cabinet ministers on July 26, 2023, speaking with reporters at Rideau Hall after he shuffled the cabinet. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 31, 2023
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, lower left, Treasury Board President Anita Anand, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves- François Blanchet, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 31, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 31, 2023
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, lower left, Treasury Board President Anita Anand, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves- François Blanchet, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 28, 2023
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault appeared in 50 communication reports filed to the federal lobbyists' registry that included the environment as a topic in the first half of 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 28, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 28, 2023
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault appeared in 50 communication reports filed to the federal lobbyists' registry that included the environment as a topic in the first half of 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 24, 2023
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, left, with Tricia Geddes, associate deputy minister of Public Safety, at the House Affairs Committee on June 15, 2023. His department is conducting an assessment of the future of contract policing in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 24, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 24, 2023
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, left, with Tricia Geddes, associate deputy minister of Public Safety, at the House Affairs Committee on June 15, 2023. His department is conducting an assessment of the future of contract policing in Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 17, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, on July 7, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on July 8, both at the Calgary Stampede. The next federal election could hinge on how well Trudeau can convince voters he deserves another chance, and whether Poilievre can make the case that he is the change that's needed. Photographs courtesy of Twitter @JustinTrudeau and @PierrePoilievre
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 17, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 17, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, on July 7, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on July 8, both at the Calgary Stampede. The next federal election could hinge on how well Trudeau can convince voters he deserves another chance, and whether Poilievre can make the case that he is the change that's needed. Photographs courtesy of Twitter @JustinTrudeau and @PierrePoilievre
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 17, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said on July 11 that the amount of land burned during the 2023 wildfire season was approaching the area of Newfoundland. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 17, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 17, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said on July 11 that the amount of land burned during the 2023 wildfire season was approaching the area of Newfoundland. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 10, 2023
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault unveiled the federal government's National Adaptation Strategy on June 27. 'The insurance industry paid out $1.4-billion for a 20-minute hailstorm in Calgary, $1.6-billion might seem like a lot, but it is a pittance, given the need,' says IBC's Craig Stewart. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 10, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 10, 2023
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault unveiled the federal government's National Adaptation Strategy on June 27. 'The insurance industry paid out $1.4-billion for a 20-minute hailstorm in Calgary, $1.6-billion might seem like a lot, but it is a pittance, given the need,' says IBC's Craig Stewart. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 3, 2023
A cyclist, pictured June 6, 2023, rides past the Parliament Buildings on a day when the wildfire smoke was off the charts in Ottawa. Smoky skies returned to Ottawa last week as Canada's worst wildfire season on record continued. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 3, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 3, 2023
A cyclist, pictured June 6, 2023, rides past the Parliament Buildings on a day when the wildfire smoke was off the charts in Ottawa. Smoky skies returned to Ottawa last week as Canada's worst wildfire season on record continued. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 3, 2023
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big City Mayors' Caucus meeting in 2022. The FCM has called for talks about a funding framework tied to population growth for municipalities. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 3, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | July 3, 2023
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, left, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big City Mayors' Caucus meeting in 2022. The FCM has called for talks about a funding framework tied to population growth for municipalities. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY ABBAS RANA, STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 26, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have a similar preferred prime minister percentage. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY ABBAS RANA, STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 26, 2023
News | BY ABBAS RANA, STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 26, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have a similar preferred prime minister percentage. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY TAYLOR O’BRIEN, STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 21, 2023
House of Commons
As of April 1, 2023, federal MPs make a 'basic sessional indemnity' of $194,600 per year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY TAYLOR O’BRIEN, STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 21, 2023
News | BY TAYLOR O’BRIEN, STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 21, 2023
House of Commons
As of April 1, 2023, federal MPs make a 'basic sessional indemnity' of $194,600 per year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 18, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair office said the federal government is continually assessing its 'emergency management approach to ensure we are being responsive to the needs of communities.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 18, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 18, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair office said the federal government is continually assessing its 'emergency management approach to ensure we are being responsive to the needs of communities.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 12, 2023
Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger told the House Ethics Committee that she was not persuaded “that automatically exempting sponsored travel from the gift rule would be consistent with the fundamental objectives and expectations" of the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 12, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 12, 2023
Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger told the House Ethics Committee that she was not persuaded “that automatically exempting sponsored travel from the gift rule would be consistent with the fundamental objectives and expectations" of the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 5, 2023
A Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency firefighter at the Tantallon fire in Nova Scotia. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick 'have all experienced serious wildfires' and prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands. Photograph courtesy of Communications Nova Scotia
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 5, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 5, 2023
A Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency firefighter at the Tantallon fire in Nova Scotia. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick 'have all experienced serious wildfires' and prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands. Photograph courtesy of Communications Nova Scotia
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 5, 2023
Nancy Bélanger, December 2017
Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger's update to the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct will come into force on July 1. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 5, 2023
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | June 5, 2023
Nancy Bélanger, December 2017
Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger's update to the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct will come into force on July 1. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | May 29, 2023
NDP MP Gord Johns said the retroactive costs will affect other municipal services. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | May 29, 2023