Categories: Need to know

Conservative party starting to crack?

Tory flacks polishing resumes, cold-calling lobby firms

by macleans.ca on Monday, May 25, 2009 10:40am - 16 Comments

Forget the polls and the attack ads—the surest indication yet that the Conservatives may be hitting the panic button at the prospect of facing a reinvigorated Liberal Party on the hustings comes in today’s edition of the Hill Times, which reports that some ministerial staffers have already begun preparations for life after government. The paper reports that several lobby firms have been fielding calls from (unnamed, of course) Tories “sending out feelers”—not quite asking for a job, but checking out the possibilities for future employment in a post-Harper Ottawa. It could be a bleak landscape for suddenly unemployed Hill climbers, however—not only has the recession taken its toll on public affairs firms, but many will also be hamstrung by the draconian “cooling off” period imposed by the Federal Accountability Act, which would prevent them from actively lobbying government for five years.

The Hill Times

Tags: Canada

Jay

Its more like the Hill times wishes the conservatives would crack! Geez just another liberal hack publication!

Michael

Jay,

Change the record…this one is broken. And it’s talking crap anyway.
http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com Scott Tribe

What, Jay.. those “unnamed sources” are only credible if they release Conservative attack ads, but not if they’re conveying dismay in their job prospects?

Spencer

Shouldn’t public affairs firms be doing better? Certainly there’s been an explosion in lobbyist activity in DC because of all pork flowing out of there.
planningpolitics

Jay, the Hill Times follows power, pure and simple.
Wayne

Since when has the Hill Times or the Embassy ever had an article that was anything remotely in support of the CPC. Try again … by the way last time this year there was an identical article in fact are you sure you have the right year and weren’t dumpster diving?
joe clarke

it sounds like jay and wayne are are rehashing CPC talking points from the web!!! How about offering something original for a change gentlemen? This griping about media coverage is getting old and tired!!!
http://farnwide.blogspot.com/ SteveV

Funny how nobody wants to deal with substance of the story, just attack the messenger. Typical.

I just hope all these Tory staffers qualify for EI.

Will

They may regret not considering Ignatieff’s EI changes….

Simon Says

IGGY has no policies, has no money, and wants to bring the government down on EI changes that make little sense. Bluff away IGGY, your cards are being seen by all who actually follow this mess.

Liberals are in no better shape than they were a year ago, only they have a new leader. It will take more than that to get my vote and hopefully the vote of slightly informed Canadians.

http://farnwide.blogspot.com/ SteveV

Actually, by any measure you want to use the Liberals are in better shape than they were last year. It’s also true that the Conservative are in worse shape. Anybody who is “informed” wouldn’t dispute that, so what does that make you? Oh, yes…

kc

Oh those poor Tories. Caught between a recession they didn’t see coming and the FAA which they crafted. Better listen to the Count and lower away on those eligibility rules boys and girls – you’re gonna need em.
jay

Good to see so many negative comments :) BTW I will call out the CPC on things I don’t like, so know I am not just a CPC hack, however their seems to be a lot of Liberal hacks. Oh well it is what it is!

kc

I refer you to Wells’ 5th rule. Least i think it’s the 5th one…i can’t keep up with them myself. :)

Jim in toronto

Looks like Wayne and Jay are the only ones who have a clue in this room. Liberal hacks are cancers to society! Not the CPC is perfect by any means. John Macallum, Ralph Gooddale, and Mark Holland are the worst of the Liberal hacks!
Rob

LOLOLOLOLOLOL