Comings and goings: Top PM aide to leave; Liberals name critics and caucus leaders

A bit of a busy morning on Parliament Hill with a few things to note:

  • The media were allowed into the first few minutes of the weekly meeting of the National Conservative Caucus (normally a closed-door event) in order to witness Prime Minister Stephen Harper individually welcoming each new member of his caucus. He then gave a brief speech before media were asked to leave and the caucus returned to its regular business. Here is an excerpt of the remarks he gave:

    What a privilege it is for all us Members of Parliament to have such a role in building this magnificent country, our Canada. Remember always these things about our country: Its history is greater than our individual achievements. Its future is more promising than our political careers. It is the land of ancient Aboriginal societies. It is the enduring partnership of Macdonald, Cartier and their colleagues. It is the place where people of all cultures come from the world over to live in freedom, democracy and justice together.

    Let the memory of our first day as Members of Parliament continue to inspire us all. Even more, let it keep us humble in the service of our country.

  • Then, during the meeting of the Conservative caucus, Dimitri Soudas, the prime minister's director of communications, announced that he will leave his post and depart the PMO on Sept. 5. Soudas is the second-longest serving aide to the prime minister (principal secretary Ray Novak has been with Harper longer), joining his office on Sept. 5, 2002. Soudas' departure is also noteworthy because Harper has come to rely on Soudas, a Montrealer, for advice on Quebec and rarely says a word in French without running it first by Soudas to make sure he's using the right phrases.
  • Meanwhile, while the Conservatives were holding their caucus, the Liberals were holding one of their own and, when interim leader Bob Rae emerged from that meeting, the Liberals had their new critics lineup and caucus leadership positions. The list of critics is here and the list of the caucus leaders is here. Among the notables: Marc Garneau is the Liberal House Leader (for which he will receive an extra $15,834 on top of his MP's salary), Kevin Lamoureux is the deputy house leader (with an extra $5,684in salary), Judy Foote is the whip (and will get an extra $11,165 in salary), Massimo Pacetti is deputy whip (with an extra $5,684 in salary, and Francis Scarpaleggia is the caucus chair (also qualifying, as a result of his position, for an extra $5,684 a year in salary). Ralph Goodale will be Rae's deputy leader but, notably, the position of deputy leader does not come with any thicker pay packet.
  • Liberal MP David McGuinty had been Opposition House Leader in the last Parliament but finds himself this time as simply the Liberal critic for Natural Resources. I don't necessarily see this as a demotion so much as I see it as a potential leadership candidate being freed up from important House duties to mount a bid, should he so choose, to be the party leader. No leadership race is underway, of course, but I note that those caucus members who do have other leadership positions — Foote, Pacetti, Scarpaleggia, Goodale, Garneau* and, of course, Rae — are unlikely leadership candidates. (*N.B. While Garneau was ready to be interim leader on condition he would not seek the leadership he did say, after Rae was selected under the same condition, that he would not rule out being considered for the permanent leader's job). In addition to McGuinty (critic for natural resources), the other potential leadership candidates in caucus are all critics: e.g. Denis Coderre (Transport), Dominic Leblanc (Foreign Affairs).

 

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