Political staffers, aides, and “exempt staff” are too often maligned in Canadian politics. Neither elected nor independently hired on merit, and with salaries paid by government revenues, they have exclusive access to elected officials at the very heart of decision-making. Despite their reputation as shadowy figures wielding undue power, in reality, staffers perform a plethora of crucial tasks: from coordinating and ensuring delivery on electoral mandates and advising politicians, to communicating political decisions and engaging with stakeholders.
Tag: Mike Duffy
Red Room Renovations: A Primer on Recent Reforms to the Senate
Alexa Greig It seems as though it was just yesterday when the Senate was facing its latest existential crisis. Canadians were frustrated by widely-publicized scandals related to the eligibility of living and travel expenses for Senators, which renewed public questioning of the quality of Senate appointees and the legitimacy of the institution itself. The Senate,…
New Year, New Agenda: What to Expect in 2015
Deanna Veltri As the new year begins, policy-makers across Canada are gearing up for what looks be a busy year ahead. 2015 is expected to bring a packed political agenda with issues of both national and regional scope that will make for an interesting lead-up to the federal election scheduled for October 19 (although many…
PP+G REVIEW 