NDP shadow cabinet

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Thu, 2012-04-19 20:14

flight from kamakura

NDP shadow cabinet

House officers

    Tom Mulcair, leader of the Official Opposition, intergovernmental affairs.
    Libby Davies, deputy leader, health.
    David Christopherson, deputy leader.
    Megan Leslie, deputy leader, environment.
    Nathan Cullen, house leader.
    Sadia Groguhé, deputy House leader, deputy immigration, citizenship and multiculturalism.
    Nycole Turmel, whip.
    Phil Toone, deputy whip, deputy fisheries (East Coast).

Shadow cabinet

    Malcolm Allen, agriculture.
    Charlie Angus, ethics, ATI and privacy.
    Niki Ashton, women.
    Dennis Bevington, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
    Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, seniors.
    Françoise Boivin, justice.
    Charmaine Borg, digital Issues.
    Alexandre Boulerice, labour, deputy ethics, ATI and privacy.
    Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, housing, deputy human resources and skills development.
    Chris Charlton, human resources and skills development.
    Robert Chisholm, fisheries, Atlantic Gateway, deputy intergovernmental affairs.
    Olivia Chow, transport, infrastructure and communities;
    Ryan Cleary, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, post-secondary education.
    Joe Comartin, democratic reform.
    Jean Crowder, aboriginal affairs.
    Don Davies, international trade.
    Anne-Marie Day, employment insurance.
    Paul Dewar, foreign affairs.
    Pierre Dionne Labelle, Francophonie.
    Fin Donnelly, Western Economic Diversification Canada, deputy fisheries (West Coast).
    Linda Duncan, public works and government services.
    Matthew Dubé, sport.
    Peter Julian, energy and natural resources.
    Randall Garrison, public safety, LGBTT.
    Yvon Godin, official languages.
    Jack Harris, defence.
    Matthew Kellway, military procurement.
    François Lapointe, small business and tourism.
    Hélène Laverdière, americas and consular affairs.
    Hélène LeBlanc, industry.
    Hoang Mai, national revenue.
    Irene Mathyssen, pensions.
    Wayne Marston, human rights, Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario.
    Pat Martin, Canadian Wheat Board.
    Brian Masse, Canada-U.S. Border, Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway.
    Peggy Nash, finance.
    Pierre Nantel, heritage.
    Manon Perreault, disability issues.
    John Rafferty, Federal Economic Development Initiative for northern Ontario.
    Mathieu Ravignat, treasury board.
    Jean Rousseau, Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec.
    Romeo Saganash, international development, deputy international trade.
    Jasbir Sandhu, Asia-Pacific Gateway.
    Jinny Sims, immigration, citizenship and multiculturalism.
    Kennedy Stewart, science and technology.
    Peter Stoffer, veterans.
    Glenn Thibeault, consumer protection.

Deputy critics

    Robert Aubin, deputy transport, infrastructure and communities.
    Paulina Ayala, deputy Americas and consular affairs.
    Tyrone Benskin, deputy official languages.
    Denis Blanchette, deputy public works and government services.
    Ruth Ellen Brosseau, deputy agriculture.
    Guy Caron, deputy finance.
    Andrew Cash, deputy heritage
    Sylvain Chicoine, deputy veterans.
    Rosane Doré Lefebvre, deputy public safety.
    Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, deputy aboriginal affairs.
    Dan Harris, deputy industry.
    Carole Hughes, deputy aboriginal health.
    Anne Minh-Thu Quach, deputy environment.
    Alexandrine Latendresse, deputy democratic reform.
    Laurin Liu, deputy science and technology.
    Christine Moore, deputy defence.
    Dany Morin, deputy LGBTT.
    Jamie Nicholls, deputy natural resources.
    Annick Papillon, deputy consumer protection.
    Ève Péclet, deputy foreign affairs.
    Craig Scott, deputy justice.
    Djaouida Sellah, deputy health.
    Mike Sullivan, deputy housing, deputy disability issues.

Thu, 2012-04-19 20:23

flight from kamakura

huge promotion for cullen, well deserved demotions for some (laverdière, benskin), a bit of a mystery why dewar is still in foreign affairs but i guess foreign ministers are always sort of inept and easily controlled, and if he flails about, he can be dumped. nash in finance is dicey to me, but she's a hard-worker, so she'll do a good job. craig scott's position is more important than it looks, i'd bet that he gets the nod for the ministry over boivin when mulcair becomes pm. pat martin didn't come out so well on paper, nor did jamie nicholls, but i think those two have more on their plate - teevee for the former and organizing/phd defense for the latter, so they may well have asked for lighter house work. kellway has been masterful on the jets scandal, but harris is fantastic pick for defense, very interesting considering that chisholm is basically the shadow minister of the maritimes. davies will make and excellent health minister one day.

all in all, nice work.

Thu, 2012-04-19 20:36

Bärlüer

Comartin losing the justice portfolio was to be expected. His mishandling of the issue of the appointment of unilingual Moldaver to the Supreme Court made the party look ridiculous.

Thu, 2012-04-19 20:44

Howard

Bärlüer wrote:

Comartin losing the justice portfolio was to be expected. His mishandling of the issue of the appointment of unilingual Moldaver to the Supreme Court made the party look ridiculous.

A rare, but grave, miscue.

Thu, 2012-04-19 20:51

flight from kamakura

yeah, totally. that was as bad as it gets. though there are a couple head-scratchers, like how benskin ended up anywhere near bilingualism, why boulerice didn't get a better portfolio - considering he's probably top 5 most effective quebec mps, even ahead of saganash - and how christopherson ended up in the leader's circle. he's a great mp, but elite? i don't know. also nice to see some of the genuinely incompetent mps denied spots altogether - morin from ndg, sana, etc. mulcair is a stern taskmaster, it has to be said.

Thu, 2012-04-19 21:16

quizzical

how do we find out if they are incompentant MP's? did they do something wrong? and what is ndg?

Thu, 2012-04-19 21:23

Unionist

flight from kamakura wrote:
nash in finance is dicey to me, but she's a hard-worker, so she'll do a good job.

Did you have a problem with her in finance before?

Thu, 2012-04-19 21:26

mtm

On the contrary, I think Boulerice having Labour will be a very very important and visible portfolio as the Harper war on unions continues unabated.

FYI NDG= Notre-Dame-de-Grace, a riding (and region) in Montreal.

Thu, 2012-04-19 21:31

Sean in Ottawa

flight from kamakura wrote:

yeah, totally. that was as bad as it gets. though there are a couple head-scratchers, like how benskin ended up anywhere near bilingualism, why boulerice didn't get a better portfolio - considering he's probably top 5 most effective quebec mps, even ahead of saganash - and how christopherson ended up in the leader's circle. he's a great mp, but elite? i don't know. also nice to see some of the genuinely incompetent mps denied spots altogether - morin from ndg, sana, etc. mulcair is a stern taskmaster, it has to be said.

Christopherson was widely regarded and praised as a very effective cabinet minister in the Rae government.

Thu, 2012-04-19 22:08

#10

Brachina

Arrg, I thought that Mulcair's whole shadow Cabinate was displayed in the Maclean's article was complete, but it appears they left out the purely dupty critics, of which there is plenty. I based my last post in the Mulcair thread on that info.

I'm happy that Lauren and Anne didn't get demoted as deputy critics both have done well and Christine Moore's demotion is less then I,originally thought which is also good. I also notice REB got promoted to Deputy agri which shows how far she's grown into her role as an MP, also good for her riding which I think,depends on Agriculture.

I really hope Rathika gets a committee chair, she made some PR blunders, but very minor, and unlike many in the Shadow Cabinate Rathika won her riding on her own merits and she I believe is very popular in Scarbough and important to winning in the 905.

I also like Chirstopherson as DL, picking one with experience was a good reminder that the NDP is not completely without governmental experience, he has connections with labour, and best of all he worked closely with Bob Rae so I'm betting it'll be his job to be a pain in Bob's ass. That could get interesting.

Thu, 2012-04-19 22:20

#11

Catchfire

I was hoping Mulcair was going to pick Topp for leader. *ducks*

Thu, 2012-04-19 23:33

#12

Howard

Catchfire wrote:

I was hoping Mulcair was going to pick Topp for leader. *ducks*

It was a secret ballot afterall, so who knows

Thu, 2012-04-19 23:33

#13

Hoodeet

So: for foreign affairs --Dewar, whose stance on issues from militarization and Afghanistan to Palestine and Latin America has been highly questionable, either because it is weak or non-existent or because it is contrary to what the NDP stands for, or should stand for.

IMOLaverdière for consular affairs -- what is her knowledge of international issues and her position on them?

Thu, 2012-04-19 23:37

#14

Hoodeet

Following up: Julian would have been more knowledgeable and reliable on foreign affairs, but energy and natural resources is one area that requires the kind of political skill and knowledge that Julian can bring, and it can dovetail very nicely with foreign affairs, since Canada's foreign policy is now virtually all linked to the promotion and defence of energy corporations out to pillage foreign natural resources... Smart move, then. I'm still unhappy about Dewar, though.

Over all, I'm very impressed with the list. Can't wait to see them all in action --and to hear what other rabblers have to say about them.

Fri, 2012-04-20 00:05

#15

Stockholm

Hoodeet wrote:

IMOLaverdière for consular affairs -- what is her knowledge of international issues and her position on them?

ummm...she has been a career diplomat most of her life and was second in command at the Canadian embassy in Santiago, Chile before she decided to run for the NDP. Her portfolio is Consular Affairs and The Americas...meaning that she will have special responsibility with foreign affairs in the western hemisphere

Fri, 2012-04-20 00:30

#16

flight from kamakura

laverdière is a lightweight and mulcair knows it. i was a pa to an ambassador and i can say, from experience, that she's the sort of candidate that we were happy to get when we were irrelevant. she'll be replaced come the nomination meeting, and mulcair is sensible to have demoted her back to her skill level. we need a killer opposition and, very basically and assuredly, mulcair is an excellent judge of competence.

on the point of julian - he'll be a minister in tmpm, there's no question. probably top 5 of all mps, leagues ahead of any of the leadership candidates except for mulcair and nash.

Fri, 2012-04-20 01:51

#17

Wilf Day

Very good choices, with some interesting twists.

Promoted to one of the seven House Officers, as Deputy House Leader, is Sadia Groguhé. Who? Is this a token ethnic appointment, for one of our four Maghrebian deputies?

Far from it; this is one ambitious, talented and impatient woman, from what she told her home town paper in France last July:

http://www.laprovence.com/article/istres/sadia-groguhe-listreenne-devenue-deputee-au-canada

Quote:
. . . her voice is clear, energetic, determined.

Born into a family of 12 children, she receives a Master of Psychology at Aix. Then the specialist in social inclusion runs as an independent candidate in the 1994 cantonal election (when she was 31): "I could not imagine citizenship without engaging in politics . " The young woman is then noticed and Jacques Siffre, Socialist Mayor of Istres, takes her on his list. From 1995 to 2000, she will be a municipal councilor at the side of, notably, François Bernardini. The current Chief Magistrate remembers "a very young woman very present while being unobtrusive. She worked without exuberance ". Particularly in the southern districts " where she was appreciated ".

A first experiment that whetted the appetite of Sadia Groguhé, to some extent. "But with the birth of my children, I then put politics aside. " A hiatus of ten years during which she will change her country.

Six years ago she, her husband and their four children have made the big leap to America. "Given the difficulties facing our beautiful country of France, we did not want our children to be victims of discrimination," says Sadia Groguhé, herself born of French parents, Algerian, and whose husband is from Ivory Coast. "So we made a formal application for emigration to Canada in 2003. Two years later, we got our visa and we chose Quebec."

In the federal election of May 2 "an orange wave" the color of Jack Layton's New Democratic Party (NDP), swept Canada. With 30.6% of the vote, the party, anchored on the left, went from 37 to 103 deputies in the House of Commons. Among them, Sadia Groguhé, elected in the riding of Saint-Lambert. "Because I had been naturalized only in October 2010, some newspapers headlined 'A new Canadian running for office," jokes the forty-something woman. "But when I campaigned door-to-door I've always had a very, very warm welcome. People asked me where I came from, but it is not at all the same mentality as in France. They do not look at skin color, but the candidate, her party, her proposals." For François Bernardini, who Sadia Groguhé called shortly after her election, "it shows that Canadians are much more open than we are to differences, to integrate the diversity and the minority."

This success does not surprise Messaouda Saker, her older sister, who lives in the center of Istres. "It's a very big pride for our whole family, she deserves it, although I would have liked her to succeed here. It's still weird that in France we can not break in even when we have the ability. I think Sadia wants to go further still" she jokes. "She wants to become a minister!" She's on her way: the Canadian MP was appointed June 11 deputy spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration in the shadow cabinet of the "Official Opposition" as they say in Canada. She does not hide her ambition and is aware of her abilities: "If I had not quit for my children, I know I would have quickly become an MP in France."

But before taking up the political struggle again, Sadia Groguhé would like to spend a few days holiday in Istres, at the end of July. "This is my city, I still love it," she says.

Fri, 2012-04-20 17:58

#18

clambake

This government is infuriating to no end:

Fri, 2012-04-20 18:15

#19

Hoodeet

Stockholm wrote:

Hoodeet wrote:

IMOLaverdière for consular affairs -- what is her knowledge of international issues and her position on them?

ummm...she has been a career diplomat most of her life and was second in command at the Canadian embassy in Santiago, Chile before she decided to run for the NDP. Her portfolio is Consular Affairs and The Americas...meaning that she will have special responsibility with foreign affairs in the western hemisphere

Hoodeet (JW)

Thank you, Stockholm, and forgive my ignorance.

Fri, 2012-04-20 18:19

#20

TheArchitect

Hélène Leblanc as Industry critic is a big surprise. Everything I've heard about her is positive, but I would have expected such an important role to be given to a more prominent MP.

Fri, 2012-04-20 21:16

#21

JeffWells

clambake wrote:

This government is infuriating to no end:

Even absolute power doesn't assuage the hate of these people.

Sat, 2012-04-21 00:18

#22

Brachina

Harper isn't including his parliamentary secraitaries, which are kind of like deputy critics.

The whole smaller cabinates are better fallacy is bullshit. First off more means less pressure and stress for major ministers, because the burden is spread around. 2 when you have a party that is just bursting with talent like the NDP, why wouldn't you want to milk it for all you can. If fact I hate the very idea of backbenchers, I'd assign everyone a role.

Sat, 2012-04-21 16:39

#23

Brachina

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/04/20/a-scouting-report-on-team-mulcair/

Macleans has some good anaylasis on the shadow cabinate.

Mon, 2012-04-23 11:06

#24

Stockholm

I couple of other appointments to mention:

1. i had wondered if Christopherson would have any formal duties beyond the title of Deputy Leader. It seems he also chair of the Public Accounts Committe

2. 20 year old Pierre-Luc Dussault who seems very impressive and mature beyond his years will apparently be chair of House Ethics Committee!

Mon, 2012-04-23 11:23

#25

Haddy

It is being reported/rumoured that Comartin and Mulcair met on Friday and Mulcair talked Comartin out of resigning until at least the summer. Word is that Comartin is leaving then. As well Libby is leaving, Ann McGrath is out in June and the rest of Jack/Brian Topp's leadership teams are being "reorganized" this week.

There is real conflict in caucus right now and main concern today is on Mulcair's misunderstanding between decriminalization versus legalization with numerous NDP MP's in Quebec calling connerie/bull"@#$%.

Mon, 2012-04-23 11:56

#26

mtm

Haddy, joined Apr 19, 2012.

Sowing seeds of discontent and rumours/"reports" nobody else seems to know anything about. Sigh.

Mon, 2012-04-23 12:01

#27

Charles

Where exactly is this being "reported"? Odd that noone else seems to have heard anything at all about any of these claims...

Mon, 2012-04-23 12:24

#28

Stockholm

I suspect that this brand new poster is probably on the Tory payroll to try to spread false rumours of dissent in the NDP. Caveat emptor.

Mon, 2012-04-23 12:35

#29

KenS

Brian Topp wrote:

For example, much media coverage has focused on Hollande's proposal to restore fair taxes on high incomes. The details are less important than the victory Hollande scored in how this proposal was debated. It was widely discussed in terms of whether or not to dispense with cadeaux fiscales - fiscal gifts, to the wealthiest of the French - rather than the populist right-wing "smaller government, lower taxes, more freedom" slogans that have delivered none of these things, while building grotesque income inequality here in North America. In short, Hollande found a way to win both the frame and the debate over economic equality.

Mon, 2012-04-23 12:49

#30

quizzical

where does that come from kens?

Mon, 2012-04-23 13:12

#31

RevolutionPlease RevolutionPlease's picture

quizzical wrote:

where does that come from kens?

It's from here:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/brian-topp/w...

Mon, 2012-04-23 13:24

#32

Stockholm

I love how Topp points out the following!

"A party apparatchik, who spent most of his career toiling in obscurity, building his party. A tool of the labour movement and other suspect players who, some argue, must not be allowed near the public purse. A not-entirely-successful dieter and exerciser, as of yet. An instinctive consensus-builder and team-leader, who drew criticism for being too quick to compromise to keep his party united in its darkest moments. A relative unknown who sounds like his predecessor, who he served as a senior adviser. All of these things have been said about French Socialist Party presidential candidate François Hollande. Which makes him my kind of guy."

Mon, 2012-04-23 13:27

#33

quizzical

T'anks RevPlz

Mon, 2012-04-23 13:45

#34

Howard

Stockholm wrote:

I suspect that this brand new poster is probably on the Tory payroll to try to spread false rumours of dissent in the NDP. Caveat emptor.

Some of these talking points have been making the rounds, from staffers of other parties. They may still be true, but for now, I don't put a lot of faith in them. Could they be retaliation for Mulcair's comments about the Liberals' leadership troubles (i.e. Rae vs. Trudeau, Rae vs. the party)?

Mon, 2012-04-23 14:30

#35

Mucker

CBC Breaking News saying Bruce Hyer has quit the party to sit as an independent...

Mon, 2012-04-23 14:35

#36

Mucker

There is no link.

It's on the main website: http://www.cbc.ca/news/ in the "ticker" or whatever that's called. No article yet.

Mon, 2012-04-23 14:36

#37

KenS

Yep.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/23/pol-ndp-bruce-hyer.html

Long gun registry and discipline over his vote.

Mon, 2012-04-23 14:37

#38

Mucker

Now there's a link:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/23/pol-ndp-bruce-hyer.html

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:03

#39

Stockholm

Sounds like sour grapes over being dropped from the shadow cabinet. He was first elected in 2008 so he needs to stay until 2014 to get his pension. This way he can stop doing any work since Independent MPs are not responsible to anyone and just coast until Oct. 2014 and then pocket his pendion and retire.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:06

#40

Brachina

Holy Crap on cracker what was the matter Bruce things going too well for the NDP you have go throw a temper tantrum. Congratulations on giving the Tories a great christmas gift. Any hope we can convince him to rejoin the NDP cacus?

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:09

#41

Brachina

I'm pissed at Bruce, but I will say this at least he didn't go over to the liberals. He did what he did for what he believed in, I just hope this can be fixed before it gets any worse.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:10

#42

madmax

This is a good wake up call for the NDP.

I hope they get wise fast.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:11

#43

kropotkin1951

Stockholm wrote:

Sounds like sour grapes over being dropped from the shadow cabinet. He was first elected in 2008 so he needs to stay until 2014 to get his pension. This way he can stop doing any work since Independent MPs are not responsible to anyone and just coast until Oct. 2014 and then pocket his pendion and retire.

Nice personal attack, worthy of a Tom Flanagan clone. The scent of power is bringing out the best in the partisans. Is character assassination going to be part of the NDP media campaign in the lead up to the election? I can hardly wait to hear the stuff on the Conservatives if this is what he is getting from the party faithful.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:12

#44

Stockholm

Its all a bit weird and I wonder if Hyer has a history of being erratic. Mulcair had already removed any sanctions againt Hyer and Rafferty for breaking ranks on the gun registry vote and Rafferty got into the shadow cabinet. It seems odd for Hyer to suddenly decide that he needs to quit the party because IF the NDP wins the 2015 election and IF the new NDP government brings in some form of gun registration - he would have to vote for it...

Of course Hyer has to be Independent - he has no where to go - the Liberals won't touch him with a ten foot pole since they were so "holier than thou" about the LGR and having a whipped vote. Hyer would never go Tory since he is such an environmentalist etc... I suppose he could try to team up with Elizabeth May - but I don't know that May wants to have a caucus that is 50% pro-gun either.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:12

#45

Aristotleded24

KenS wrote:
Yep.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/23/pol-ndp-bruce-hyer.html

Long gun registry and discipline over his vote.

Yikes. Mulcair walked right into the trap that Harper set for the NDP over the gun registry vote. I hope he can be persuaded as to the error of his approach.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:18

#46

Doug

I'm not certain myself why Mulcair feels requiring party discipline over the gun registry is so important. But then I'm not someone who's convinced that it's such a great idea to bring it back as policy.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:19

#47

kropotkin1951

Aristotleded24 wrote:

Yikes. Mulcair walked right into the trap that Harper set for the NDP over the gun registry vote. I hope he can be persuaded as to the error of his approach.

It might help keep the seats in Quebec and I think that all NDP policy decisions will now be driven by that objective. Hopefully the new NDP King from Quebec won't alienate too many red neck rubes outside of the "La Belle" Province. Otherwise by the election after the next one the NDP federally might be looking more like the Creditistes than a government in waiting.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:22

#48

Stockholm

Except that Mulcair had already REMOVED any sanctions against Hyer and Rafferty and Rafferty is now a member in good standing of the shadow cabinet. All Mulcair said was that IF in 2015 the NDP runs on a platform to have registration of firearms - not bringing back the discredited Liberal policy, but a new NDP version - and that anyone running on the NDP line has to be willing to support the policy. There has to be some other issue here. Hyer could easily have waited until 2015 and quit if he felt at that time that the party policy was not something he could support. Why NOW?

Surely the fact that he was dropped from the shadown cabinet (I assume because he is not all that capable) was just a coincidence.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:33

#49

Freedom 55

kropotkin1951 wrote:

Stockholm wrote:

Sounds like sour grapes over being dropped from the shadow cabinet. He was first elected in 2008 so he needs to stay until 2014 to get his pension. This way he can stop doing any work since Independent MPs are not responsible to anyone and just coast until Oct. 2014 and then pocket his pendion and retire.

Nice personal attack, worthy of a Tom Flanagan clone. The scent of power is bringing out the best in the partisans. Is character assassination going to be part of the NDP media campaign in the lead up to the election? I can hardly wait to hear the stuff on the Conservatives if this is what he is getting from the party faithful.

Yeah, seriously.

And Stockholm, can you link to a source that confirms Hyer was no longer sanctioned under Mulcair? 'Cause that's not what was initially being reported when the news broke.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:33

#50

kropotkin1951

The issue is a new leader drawing lines in the sand around hypothetical scenarios that haven't even been discussed at convention and voted on by the membership. Maybe he just doesn't like that new style. He probably expected a honeymoon period instead of essentially being given an ultimatum. Maybe he even expected the party to be democratic in more than name and that of course would have been quite naive.

Mon, 2012-04-23 15:37

#51

Freedom 55

Stockholm wrote:

Surely the fact that he was dropped from the shadown cabinet (I assume because he is not all that capable) was just a coincidence.

What are you assuming here? That he's incapable; or that's the reason he was dropped?

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