Liberal staffers to watch in 2003

Hill insiders point out that the current House session will be of critical importance, especially for Prime Minister Jean ChrÃ©tien who wants to leave a legacy behind before he retires in 12 or so months. But as the PM's publicly-stated retirement date gets closer with each passing day, some of these insiders also say it will be "impossible" for Prime Minister ChrÃ©tien to stay in office until his stated retirement date of February, 2004, due to Liberal infighting and especially because the balance of power overwhelmingly is tilted in favour of former finance minister Paul Martin who actually is the "Prime Minister in-waiting." These insiders point to the fact that even if the Prime Minister still is in office in the fall and in early winter next year, Liberals will be preoccupied with the leadership convention and not House business. The Libs say once a new leader is elected in November or possibly earlier, Mr. ChrÃ©tien won't have any justification to stay in office. Said one senior Liberal staffer: "The fall session and January and February, 2004 sessions of the Parliament are going to be clean up/wind up time for reasons of the leadership convention and his retirement plans." Hill Climbers interviewed seasoned Liberal staffers on the Hill to find out which one to watch in the 2003 Parliamentary session. All staffers interviewed requested anonymity. This session, more than any other, will be about policy and legislation because Mr. ChrÃ©tien has stated he wants to get as much legislation passed as he can. "He feels very strongly about these issues that were outlined in the Throne Speech and he wants to get 'em done," said another Liberal staffer. So, staffers who deal with policy, legislation and communications will be the "ones to watch." Staffers dealing with communications in different Cabinet Ministers' Offices will also play key roles as the spin wars start even before legislation is introduced in the House. An overwhelming majority of the staffers interviewed for this column said that the PMO, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Finance and the Defence departments will be the ones who will introduce most of the legislation in the House or will deal with significant issues to affect the country. These staffers indicated that executive assistants, or the chiefs of staffs, who are considered the "eyes and ears of ministers," directors of communications, press secretaries and the legislative assistants will be the most important ones to watch. In the realm of public policy, Liberal insiders say Eddie Goldenberg, long-time senior policy adviser to Prime Minister ChrÃ©tien, will again play a key role this year, as always, for he's not only a close friend and adviser to Mr. ChrÃ©tien but also one of his duties is to act as a liaison between Cabinet ministers and his boss. With the budget on the horizon, sources told Hill Climbers that Mr. Goldenberg is in close contact with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister John Manley, to ensure that the Prime Minister's priorities get adequately funded. Mr. Goldenberg is also responsible for keeping in close contact with the minister of finance on a regular basis. The Department of Finance has always been and will always be a pivotal department for all Prime Ministers and, according to one top Liberal insider. Mr. Goldenberg has always played a crucial role in conveying the PM's wishes to the Finance Minister. Jim Munson, the director of communications for Prime Minister ChrÃ©tien, and Steven Hogue, the new deputy director of communications, are also the ones whom senior Liberal staffers say have a responsibility to sell the PM's legislative agenda to the media. Some of the staffers say that Mr. Munson and Mr. Hogue have been successful in "softening up" the media in covering their boss. "Munson's success, in my opinion, is two-fold. He delivered for the Prime Minister in the sense that there's not that much hostility between the PMO communications and some of the journalists that used to exist when Francie was there. To be fair, circumstances were different when Francie was in the PMO but still I think Munson is doing an exceptional job," said a top Liberal insider. "On the other hand, he convinced the Prime Minister to do press briefings regularly. The Press Gallery was demanding it for a long time but Munson got it done at the end. Now, I think press coverage of the PM is different as compared to the past." Obviously, it goes without saying that the PM's EA Bruce Hartley; Chief of Staff Percy Downe; and Paul Genest, director of policy and research, are key staffers to watch as well. Tony Macerollo, executive assistant, and Mike Scandiffio, the new director of communications to Mr. Manley, are described by senior staffers as the ones to watch this year at the Minister of Finance's Office. Mr. Macerollo is the longest-serving EA to a Cabinet minister on the Hill. With extensive experience as a political staffer, Hill observers expect him to play an "indispensable" role in the leadership campaign of Mr. Manley if he chooses to do so. Mr. Scandiffio, on the other hand, has recently joined Mr. Manley's office and has years of experience as a Hill journalist. His boss is expected to release the budget in the third or fourth week of February and Mr. Scandiffio will play his part in selling the budget to his former colleagues in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. With the impending danger of war in Iraq and Canada and the rest of the world's preoccupation with the North Korean crisis, senior Liberal staffers say that Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham's political staff will play a critical role this year, including EA Dan Costello; Isabelle Savard, the director of communications; and Robert Fry, senior adviser to Mr. Graham. In the Government House Leader Don Boudria's Office, Liberal sources point out that Jerry Yanover, senior policy adviser; Jean Cintrat, executive assistant; Linda Champagne, legislative assistant; Marc Roy, director of communications; and Veronique Demers, press secretary, will be the staffers to watch. Mr. Yanover has been on the Hill for the last 30 years and is the top adviser to Mr. Boudria on legislation and Parliamentary procedures in the House. Ms. Champagne plays a vital role in the coordination of Question Period and overseeing the legislation that's put forward in the House. Chief Government Whip Marlene Catterall's Office also works in close coordination with the Government House Leader's Office. Richard Wackid, chief of staff to Ms. Catterall, Liberal sources said, will play a central role in coordinating the caucus participation in the House and in giving political advice to his boss. A Liberal source said that "In the midst of the Liberal infighting, Mr. Wackid will have to be really smart to get things done and keep all sides happy." Justice Minister Martin Cauchon's office will be in the limelight again when the minister introduces legislation on the "decriminalization of marijuana" and "same sex marriage." Minister Cauchon's EA Joachin Normand; Suzanne ThÃ©barge, director of communications; Mike Murphy, press secretary; Leanne Berard, legislative assistant; Chantal Bouchard, senior policy adviser; and Chantal Proulx, senior policy adviser, are the staffers to watch this year. The Hill Times arana@hilltimes.com

Hill Climbers

Liberal staffers to watch in 2003

Staffers in the PMO, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Finance and DND

How can Ontario achieve net zero, with greater energy reliability and resilience? Roadmap to a clean energy future

Assembly of First Nations elects Cindy Woodhouse as new national chief

PROC study should address ‘politicization of the speakership,’ says former parliamentary counsel

Former Parliamentarians Association seeks cash injection to boost presence, establish mentorship program

CUSMA and friends? Costa Rican trade minister makes pitch to join North American pact

Arctic security depends on follow-through on NORAD modernization promises, say defence experts

PMO staffers in final week of work too

McSweeney, Goldenberg, Hartley, Munson, Wackid, Macerollo, Armour, Prest, Yanover and Murphy are the tops

PM’s frontman on Iraq: Claude Laverdure

It’s show time for Mr. Manley