‘Hope, courage, determination’: politicos mark 40 years since start of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope
Four decades after Terry Fox dipped his right leg in the ice cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Parliamentarians honoured his legacy. “When I think of hope, courage, determination, I think of Terry Fox,” said Liberal MP Pam Damoff in a Twitter video. “As we face challenges in […]
‘Canada’s forgotten public health emergency’: opioid crisis rages amid the pandemic, says former Harper aide
With public health officials largely preoccupied with beating back the spread of the stealthy coronavirus, Benjamin Perrin, a former senior aide to then-prime minister Stephen Harper, says the collision of the pandemic with the opioid crisis has the makings of a “perfect storm.” Given that a potential vaccine for COVID-19 is still likely many months, […]
Recent PMO additions include new writers, comms aides
There have been a number of staff additions to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office in recent weeks, including new correspondence writers, communications planners, and a new speechwriter. Andrew MacKendrick has returned to the Hill and has joined the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as a communications planner. Mr. MacKendrick recently spent a three-month stint offering communications […]
A look at the Liberal research bureau team, led by Melissa Cotton
The Liberal caucus’ research office has seen its ranks depleted in recent months, as staff land new gigs in ministerial offices across cabinet, as chronicled in Hill Climbers, and in turn, there are a number of fresh faces on the team led by Melissa Cotton as managing director, with further hires expected. Ms. Cotton has […]
Inside the Campaign: Managing Elections In Canada: a new book pulls curtain on the people and machinery behind the vote
Crashed buses and a blackface scandal highlighted the 41-day campaign of the 2019 election. A new book with contributions from political staffers, campaign managers, pollsters, and journalists takes readers inside Canadian political campaigns. From the day the writs are issued and the race is off and running, politicians crisscross the country stumping, but behind the […]
Ipsos’ Bricker to host ‘ask me anything’ COVID-19 webinar on April 24
MONDAY, APRIL 13 House Not Sitting—The House has been suspended until Monday, April 20, and the spring schedule is still not confirmed due to the global pandemic. It was scheduled to sit for four straight weeks until May 15. It was then scheduled to take a one-week break and to resume sitting again on May […]
The people behind the Conservative OLO’s communications, digital media shops: Part 3
The final instalment of Hill Climbers’ three-part run-down of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s 76-member team is diving into the 30 staffers who are tackling communications, digital media, video production, and correspondence coming from the leader and caucus. Part 1 of the series focused on the 19 staff departures from the official opposition leader’s office (OLO) […]
Politicos honour ‘fierce campaigner’ Shirley Douglas
MPs across the partisan divide honoured the life of Canadian activist and actress Shirley Douglas after news of her death broke on April 5. Ms. Douglas—the daughter of past NDP leader and medicare founder Tommy Douglas—appeared in more than a dozen films and several TV shows throughout a career that spanned from 1953 to 2008. […]
Nauta leads policy, research in Scheer’s 76-member Conservative OLO: part two
AN APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT HILL—Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s office is packed with plenty of experienced hands, including former Harper-era staffer Renze Nauta, who’s in place as director of policy and research for the official opposition team. Mr. Nauta joined the opposition leader’s office (OLO) shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected as party leader in 2017, […]
Senator Doug Black calls for creation of Economic Recovery Council in post-coronavirus world
In order to ensure Canada is positioned to rebound from the fiscal damages brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Alberta Senator Doug Black is calling for the creation of an Economic Recovery Council. Sen. Black, a member of the Canadian Senators Group, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week calling for the […]
