Tag: pmo

PMO vs National Council of Canadian Muslims: The Primary Documents

Before Prime Minister Stephen Harper left for his recent Middle East trip, the National Council of Canadian Muslims sent the following letter to the PM’s office:

Letter from National Council of Canadian Muslims to Prime Minister Stephen Harper re: Rabbi Korobkin

When I learned of the letter, I contacted its author, NCCM executive director Ihsaan Gardee, for more information. Continue reading PMO vs National Council of Canadian Muslims: The Primary Documents

In 2011 interview, Harper's new DComm dodged 2 questions — but not the pot one

Jason Macdonald
Jason MacDonald, seen here in 2011 while running for the Ontario PCs in an Ottawa riding, will become Stephen Harper’s 8th director of communications. (OTTAWA SUN)

Last Friday, Andrew MacDougall celebrated his last day as Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 7th director of communications with a long flight home (with me and other reporters) from the G20 summit in St. Petersburg. Today, MacDougall tweeted:


And so, MacDonald begins his term as the 8th top comms official in Harper’s PMO. His last port of call Continue reading In 2011 interview, Harper's new DComm dodged 2 questions — but not the pot one

How it works between the press and the PMO

At a press conference Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave on Friday in northern Quebec, a journalist who is an accredited member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery but who works for the Chinese state-owned China’s People Daily, shoved a member of Harper’s communications staff. He was upset that he was being denied a chance to ask the PM a question. The RCMP were forced to intervene.

I was not there but you can read eyewitness accounts of this episode from reporters who were there, including Sun Media’s Bryn Weese, Postmedia’s Michael Den Tandt, CBC’s James Cudmore , The Toronto Star’s Tonda MacCharles, and The Canadian Press’ Murray Brewster.

As a result of this incident, my social networks have filled up with people talking about how things work between the press and the PMO. And a lot of people — including some who ought to know better — have allowed a lot of myths to fester. So let’s set the record straight starting with this canard advanced on Twitter by former Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish:

Continue reading How it works between the press and the PMO

The PM looks for his 8th communication director in 8 years

Andrew MacDougall
I snapped this pic of soon-to-be former PMO Communications Director Andrew MacDougall at the Sikh Temple in Anandpur Sahib, the Punjab, India during PM Harper’s visit there in 2012.

It was just over a year on the job for Andrew MacDougall.

 

Now, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his chief of staff Ray Novak will need to find Harper’s 8th director of communications in 8 years. Continue reading The PM looks for his 8th communication director in 8 years

For the Ottawa bubble types: Leaders make staff adjustments

The staffs of party leaders can make a world of difference when it comes to the effectiveness of their chief’s mission so, here on the Hill, we tend to keep a close eye on whose coming and going in key positions. A few changes today: Continue reading For the Ottawa bubble types: Leaders make staff adjustments