Trudeau calls on some celebrity friends to urge Canadians to stay inside
After a day spent imploring Canadians to stay inside, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to encourage some Hollywood friends to share the message. Earlier in the day on March 23, Mr. Trudeau told the Canadian public “enough is enough.” “Go home and stay home. This is what we all need to be doing, […]
A few fresh faces on National Revenue Minister Lebouthillier’s busy team
AN APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT HILL—National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier held onto her portfolio from the last Parliament post-election, but has added some new staff to her office, including new press secretary Jeremy Bellefeuille. Mr. Bellefeuille is a former assistant to then-Ottawa Liberal MP Andrew Leslie and to new Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste. In […]
Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner postponed until October
Like many events around Parliament Hill, the night some call the “Nerd Prom” is being postponed until October. The Parliamentary Press Gallery executive board announced last week that the event that brings together the press and federal politicians and staffers will not take place on its originally scheduled date of May 2. “If all normal […]
On Parliament Hill, it’s been eerily quiet during coronavirus pandemic crisis
MONDAY, MARCH 23 House Not Sitting—The House has been suspended until Monday, April 20, due to the COVID-19 virus, but it’s expected to return this week for a short time to pass emergency measures in financial aid for Canadians and businesses to get through the COVID-19 crisis. As of April 20, it is then scheduled […]
No more Hill parties, after coronavirus pandemic forces Parliament Hill to shut down
As COVID-19 cases continue to exponentially grow in Canada and around the world, possibly the only thing spreading faster is cabin fever. Ottawans are shut in because everything has shut down. Seemingly half the city has taken up running in an effort to stave off insanity. Thanks to these keen folk, Sparks Street has actually […]
A dive into federal Heritage Minister Guilbeault’s 24-person team
AN APARTMENT NEAR PARLIAMENT HILL—Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, a first-time Member of Parliament who represents Laurier-Sainte-Marie, Que., has a 24-member ministerial team supporting him in his new role, led by former PMO senior adviser Mathieu Bouchard. Running Mr. Guilbeault’s policy shop is director Rebecca Caldwell. Aside from a long list of experience in politics, […]
Envoys select top 12 ambassadors of the year at third annual bash
From museum exhibitions to events highlighting culture and cuisine, to strengthening bilateral ties and investment, 12 emissaries were named as their region’s Ambassador of the Year at last week’s third annual celebration. Pulled from a pool of more than 130 diplomats stationed in Ottawa, they were recognized for their work promoting public diplomacy. Organizers, which […]
Former MP Bossio now working for Gender Equality Minister Monsef
Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef’s office includes her former caucus colleague, Mike Bossio, who’s been hired on as a senior adviser for rural affairs. Mr. Bossio was the MP for the riding neighbouring Ms. Monsef’s, Hastings-Lennox and Addington, Ont., from 2015 until last fall, when he was defeated by […]
Coronavirus hits home for the Hill
After returning to Canada following a cruise vacation, Assunta Gerretsen, the mother of Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen, tested positive for COVID-19. Ms. Gerretsen returned to Canada last week. She and her husband, John Gerretsen, a former Ontario MPP and Kingston mayor, were subsequently quarantined at CFB Trenton after disembarking on March 9 from the Grand […]
Coronavirus suspends most Hill operations
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured on March 17, addresses reporters from Rideau Cottage, where he has been in self-isolation since last week after his wife tested positive for Covid-19. The West Block foyer sits empty. Parliament voted unanimously to suspend until April 20 to limit the spread of coronavirus. A number of services on the […]
