Located steps away from Parliament Hill, Edelman Ottawa provides an array of services to clients in Canada’s capital. Our campaign-centric approach to communications marketing work enables our clients to participate authentically in the public dialogue.

Parliament resumes on January 30th with an early budget expected which could be delivered as early as late February to early March.

Rona Ambrose the current interim Leader of the Conservative Party will step down when her successor is elected on May 27th in Toronto. There are currently 13 people seeking the leadership, front runners in the race include former ministers Maxime Bernier & Kellie Leitch & former House Speaker Andrew Scheer. A French language debate will take place in Quebec City on January 17th.

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Just weeks before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, as with nations around the world, Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister is adjusting his cabinet lineup to work best with the incoming Trump Administration in the US and to better deliver on campaign & mandate letter commitments.

The importance of the bilateral relationship between Canada & the United States cannot be understated and the promotion of Chrystia Freeland to Foreign Affairs while retaining the Canada-U.S. relations file including trade relations, is the key takeaway of this strategy.

Bob Richardson Executive Vice President

Darcy Walsh Senior Vice President and General Manager (Ottawa)

Chris Vivone Senior Vice President

2017 FEDERAL CABINET SHUFFLE

TOP TAKEAWAYS

TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP

Incoming Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland distinguished herself with her work on the Canada-EU trade deal last year but her network of contacts in business and journalism in the United States and among both Democrats & Republicans is also seen as a key asset. She also recently took part in early meetings with the incoming Trump Administration alongside key PMO aides.

TRUDEAU THE DECISIVE

Justin Trudeau has once again displayed his political decisiveness in his willingness to promote high performers, his unwillingness to allow ministers to struggle in perpetuity and move talent where he feels it’s needed.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

The departure of Stephane Dion and John McCallum now only leaves three current Ministers who had full portfolios in the previous Liberal governments of Jean Chretien & Paul Martin; Lawrence MacAuley, Scott Brison and Ralph Goodale. (Carolyn Bennett was previously a Minister of State for Public Health while Navdeep Bains & Domenic LeBlanc were Parliamentary Secretaries).

EDELMAN OTTAWA

KEY DATES & CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP UPDATE

In a government, which the Prime Minister has specifically stated is, by cabinet, these picks matter. Also important to bear in mind will be the inevitable shuffle of political staff. These politicos are in many ways the gatekeepers to their political bosses and these relationships matter as well.

CHRYSTIA FREELAND (University – Rosedale, Ont.)

International Trade Foreign Affairs

KARINA GOULD (Burlington, Ont.)

Democratic Institutions

FRANCOIS PHILIPE CHAMPAGNE (Saint Maurice – Champlain, Que.)

International Trade

AHMED HUSSEN (York South – Weston, Ont.)

Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship

MARYAM MONSEF (Peterborough – Kawartha, Ont.)

Democratic Institutions Status of Women

PATTY HAJDU (Thunder Bay – Superior North, Ont.)

Status of Women Employment, Workforce Development & Labour