Ed Holder gets real — and I like it.

PMO PIc: Harper and Holder

There are 308 MPs in the House of Commons. I like a lot of them. On all sides. Most are “good people”.  The common denominator among the ones I like a lot are those that are — and Andrew Potter forgive me for using the term — authentic. They are comfortable in their own skin. They’re interested in other human beings for the simple reason that they find other human beings interesting — not  simply because there’s a chance those other human beings might vote for them or say something nice about them.

Ed Holder, the London West MP, (pictured above in 2011 with PM Harper at the Tim Horton’s Brier — and yes, this pic, was taken by a PMO photographer)  is one of those I like a lot for those reasons and here’s the latest evidence — Continue reading Ed Holder gets real — and I like it.

Your Nova Scotia Cabinet: Bigger must be better

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil leads a cabinet of 16; sworn in today in Annapolis.

The cabinet is:

Stephen McNeil President of the Executive Council; Policy and Priorities; Intergovenrmental Affairs; Aboriginal Affairs; Military Relations
Diana Whalen Deputy President of the Executive Council; Finance
Keith Colwell Agriculture; Fisheries and Acquaculture
Michel Samson Economic and Rural Development and Tourism; Acadian Affairs
Leo Glavine Health and Wellness; Seniors
Karen Casey Education and Early Childhood Development; Youth
Kelly Regan Labour and Advanced Education
Andrew Younger Energy; Communications Nova Scotia
Geoff MacLellan Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
Zach Churchill Natural Resources
Randy Delorey Environment; Gaelic Affairs
Tony Ince Communities, Culture and Heritage; African Nova Scotian Affairs
Joanne Bernard Community Services
Lena Diab Attorney General and Justice; Provincial Secretary; Immigration
Labi Kousoulis Publi Service Commission; Information Management; Voluntary Sector
Mark Furey Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

Continue reading Your Nova Scotia Cabinet: Bigger must be better

Stephen Harper's cabinet trivia: From Flaherty to MacKay to Baird and back again

Defence Minister Peter MacKay
Defence Minister Peter MacKay speaks to the media as he unveils the Afghanistan Memorial Vigil on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, July 9, 2013. MacKay told reporters this was not going to be his final public appearance as defence minister. (Andre Forget/QMI Agency)

On the eve of a widely expected cabinet shuffle, some trivia on Stephen Harper and his cabinet history: Continue reading Stephen Harper's cabinet trivia: From Flaherty to MacKay to Baird and back again

A History of Harper's Cabinet Shuffles, Pt II

Harper and Johnston
Together again tomorrow for a cabinet shuffle? Governor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seen here at Rideau Hall after the Jan. 4, 2011 mini-shuffle, could be about to team up again to suffle the cabinet deck. (Chris Roussakis/QMI Agency)

I last tried to track Harper’s cabinet changes back during the Christmas break of 2011 when we were expecting a post-Christmas shuffle. Here is an updated version of that list on the eve of what we expect to be another shuffle.

On Nov 7, 2010, here’s what cabinet looked like: Continue reading A History of Harper's Cabinet Shuffles, Pt II

Key Alberta cabinet posts go to Redford think-a-likes

Duane Bratt of Calgary’s Mount Royal University and I take our first blush of the smaller cabinet named by Alberta Premier Alison Redford today. I was particularly interested to hear Prof. Bratt’s observation about the new transportation minister — Ric McIver — and the relationship he’s soon going to have to have very soon with the man who beat him last year in the race for Calgary’s mayor, Naheed Nenshi.

More from colleague Jackie Larson at the Edmonton Sun on the new cabinet.