A small cabinet shuffle

By Aaron Wherry - Friday, February 22, 2013 - 0 Comments

To account for the resignation of John Duncan, the Prime Minister’s Office has announced a small cabinet shuffle. Bernard Valcourt, previously the associate minister of defence, becomes the new aboriginal affairs minister. Kerry-Lynne Findlay, previously parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice, becomes the new associate minister of defence.

National Revenue Minister Gail Shea gets responsibility for ACOA and Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney assumes responsibility for La Francophonie. Both were previously the responsibility of Mr. Valcourt.

Mr. Valcourt held several ministerial portfolio’s in Brian Mulroney’s cabinet in the late 80s and early 90s.

Questioning the existence of the Intergovernmental Affairs Minister

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 11:55 AM - 0 Comments

Yesterday afternoon, the NDP sent up Robert Aubin to ask Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Peter Penashue about his portfolio. Mr. Penashue hasn’t been answering questions about his election campaign, but Government House leader Peter Van Loan pointed at Mr. Penashue to take this one. Only Mr. Penashue didn’t seem to get the message and so, after a couple of seconds, Mr. Van Loan pointed to Tony Clement, who then stood and responded.

The NDP tried again and Mr. Van Loan again pointed at Mr. Penashue and this Mr. Penashue got the message and stood and offered an awkward response. A third question about intergovernmental affairs was then directed to Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice. A final question, about Mr. Penashue’s election campaign, was taken by Pierre Poilievre, the designated government spokesman on questions of ethics.

Yesterday’s one response from Mr. Penashue was the first time he’s spoken in the House this fall and just the tenth time he’s spoken this year.

The precise utility of the intergovernmental affairs portfolio is perhaps open to question.
Doug Finley roasted

By Mitchel Raphael - Monday, November 5, 2012 at 8:43 PM - 0 Comments

A tribute dinner was held to honour Conservative Senator Doug Finley at the War…

A tribute dinner was held to honour Conservative Senator Doug Finley at the War Museum. Proceeds went to the Scottish Society of Ottawa.

Jason Kenney.

(L-R) Chad Rogers, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and President of the Treasury Board Tony Clement.

Tory MP Bob Dechert with Finley cutout.

Accessory options to pose with Finley cutout.

Tory MP Rob Anders.

Diane and Doug Finley.

Leader of the Government in the Senate Marjory LeBreton and Kory Teneycke.

Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

(L-R) Tory MPs Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Alice Wong, Susan Truppe

Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak and Laureen Harper.

Tory MP Michelle Rempel.

Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak (L) and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

Doug Finley poster.

Tory MP Scott Reid (R).

(L-r) Cabinet ministers Jason Kenney and Joe Oliver.

Chad Rogers.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt (L) and Laureen Harper.

Steven Fletcher, Minister of State for Transport.

Ian Brodie and Sen. Carolyn Stewart Olsen.
Secretaries day

By Aaron Wherry - Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 5:16 PM - 5 Comments

The Harper government has released the list of 28 parliamentary secretary appointments. I count eight new MPs: Eve Adams, Chris Alexander (who replaces Laurie Hawn at defence), Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Robert Goguen, Kellie Leitch, Chungsen Leung, Michelle Rempel and Susan Truppe.