public affairs analysis briefs

Analysis: The Shadow Cabinet

February 2009 | public affairs

Background

After a tumultuous fall for the Liberal Party of Canada including a crushing electoral defeat, the emergence of a possible coalition government with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, the departure of leader Stéphane Dion (St. Laurent-Cartierville, QC) and the installation of Michael Ignatieff (Etobicoke Lakeshore, ON)as “interim” leader in name only, the Official Opposition has returned to Parliament with a new, leaner critics line up that more closely mirrors the government’s own front bench in terms of size and portfolios.

In keeping with a desire on the part of Mr. Ignatieff to present a “government in waiting” rather than just an opposition, there is an expectation that the Liberals will feature their proven performers more consistently in the daily Question Period and media appearances rather than the egalitarian approach favoured by M. Dion.

Overall, Mr. Ignatieff seems quite sensibly focused on the sizeable task of rebuilding the Liberal Party on several fronts: in the House during Question Period (a critical media opportunity for the Opposition every day), in traditional constituencies in the national electorate and as a fundraising organization.

Front of House

Front and centre will be Leader Michael Ignatieff. In addition to being the Leader Mr. Ignatieff has given himself responsibility for Intergovernmental Affairs, placing himself front and centre for any issue effecting federal/provincial relations. While this may seem a strange choice with the state of the national (and indeed global) economy, Mr. Ignatieff’s team is strong on economic advisors and it seems he sees opportunity in conflicts between the PM and the Premiers.

As the economy continues to be the driving force behind all issues on Parliament Hill, Finance Critic John McCallum (Markham-Unionville, ON) is sure to be front and centre. McCallum has a long history of relatively minor cabinet posts in the Chretien/Martin governments as well as a stint as the Minister of Defence. Before entering politics he spent time as the chief economist for the Royal Bank of Canada and as an academic at McGill.

Along with McCallum, Scott Brison (Kings-Hants, NS) will continue to play a significant role as a spokesperson on economic issues and was appointed the Chair of the Leader’s Advisory Committee on Economic Strategy.

The driving force of any opposition team is its House and Senate leadership – not just because they are the only jobs in opposition that come with extra pay and staff resources. Veteran Saskatchewan MP Ralph Goodale (Wascana, SK) has retained his role as Opposition House Leader, Nova Scotian Rodger Cuzner (Cape Breton-Canso, NS) remains as Chief Opposition Whip and Senator James (Jim) Cowan (NS) stays on as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

Other prominent MPs likely to feature both in the House and in media will include long-time Quebec MP Denis Coderre (Bourassa, QC) who resumes his duties as Defence Critic and takes on the mantle of Mr. Ignatieff’s Quebec Lieutenant mandated with the unenviable task of rebuilding the Liberal Party’s organization in la Belle Provence.

The older brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, David McGuinty (Ottawa South, ON), has been tasked with a very familiar portfolio: Environment and Energy. Mr. McGuinty has been a life-long advocate for environmental issues and has served with a number of organizations including the Prime Minister’s Roundtable on Environment and Economy. Former Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan (Halifax West, NS) has been given the counterpoint to Mr. McGuinty’s portfolio, Natural Resources.

Other critics of note include:

• Dominic LeBlanc (Beausejour, NB), Justice
• Mark Holland (Ajax-Pickering, ON), Public Safety & National Security
• Marc Garneau (Westmount, QC), Industry, Science & Technology · Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier, QC), Canadian Heritage
• Martha Hall-Findlay (Willowdale, ON), Public Works & Government Services
• Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park, ON), Infrastructure & Communities
• Gerry Byrne (Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte, NL), Fisheries & Oceans

Behind the Scenes

In addition to the shadow cabinet, Mr. Ignatieff has announced a number of roles for caucus members including making Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, QC), Ujjal Dosanjh (Vancouver South, BC) and Ken Dryden (York Centre, ON) as special advisors for Human Rights, Intergovernmental Liason and Working Familes, Poverty and Fundraising respectively. A number of other MPs have been given responsibility for outreach to specific communities and interest groups. These roles outside of critic responsibilities had always been planned – contrary to some media reports – and are intended to focus the work of the Liberal Party’s parliamentary caucus outside of Ottawa.

The new Leader has also cleared out all of M. Dion’s staff in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (OLO), many in the Liberal Research Bureau (LRB) and changed the leadership at the Liberal Party of Canda’s head office (LPC). Moreover, there have been indications that the OLO and LRB will be merged (at least in terms of their operations, if not their budgets) – a move that had been resisted by past Liberal leaders but has long been standard practice in the Conservative Party.

Mr. Ignatieff has opted not to hire a permanent Chief of Staff until after he is confirmed as Leader by a convention of the Party to be held in Vancouver, BC this May. In the interim the senior staff in his office consist of Mr. Paul Zed, a former MP and now senior advisor to the leader; Mr. Sachin Aggarwal, a well known organizer in the Liberal Party and currently serving as the Leader’s Deputy Chief of Staff; Mr. Ian Davey, the son of former Senator and Liberal“rain maker” Keith Davey and now Mr. Ignatieff’s Principal Secretary; and Rocco Rossi, a successful fundraiser and business man, has been installed as the Party’s new National Director. As well Don Boudria – a long time Liberal MP, House Leader and Hill & Knowlton consultant – has taken a leave from his professional duties to serve as the OLO’s Director of Parliamentary Affairs on a temporary basis.

What it means to GCI clients

With a minority government, the role of the Opposition is much more significant than during periods of majorities. Given the current commitment of the Bloc and NDP oppose all measures brought forward by the government, the support of the Liberal Party will be required for all government initiatives. Mr. Ignatieff has clearly learned from some of M. Dion’s mistakes and he does not intend to repeat them. He will be a tenacious opponent for Mr. Harper and his critics will be expected to hold the Ministry to account both broadly and on specific files. That’s where GCI comes in.

As of January 1st GCI Group has launched a new Public Affairs practice in Ottawa. With a balanced team of government relations professionals, GCI is able to speak to your issues on all sides of this fractious Parliament. In both Houses and in all Parties, GCI can help ensure you and your issues get the hearing they deserve.