public affairs analysis briefs

Analysis: Mr. Prentice Leaves Ottawa

November 5 | public affairs

Background

After four years in opposition and nearly five as an indispensible member (particularly in the early years) of the Harper Government, Federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced on November 4th that he would be stepping down immediately as a cabinet minister and Member of Parliament in order to become the Vice Chairman of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). Although a significant player in the Harper cabinet and the Conservative Party of Canada, Mr. Prentice's departure is likely more noteworthy for the fact that it marks the first voluntary departure of a senior cabinet minister from the government outside of an election cycle.

The Impact

Mr. Prentice has been on difficult files since the Conservatives took office in 2006 and has chaired the critical Operations Committee of Cabinet from the beginning. He has been handed a steady stream of issues that are not only challenging in their own right, but often at odds with the traditional views of the governing Party's base: aboriginal affairs, the wireless spectrum auction and climate change to name a few.

Prentice comes for the Progressive side of the Conservative Party of Canada. He had made a bid for the leadership of the defunct Progressive Conservative Party in 2003. He is known to be a friend and former colleague of both Joe Clarke and Brian Mulroney - men who have to greater or lesser extents become persona non grata among the Primer Minister's inner circle.

On top of his past, Mr. Prentice is well known to harbour great expectations for his political future. If past is prologue then an eventual run for the leadership of the Conservative Party that would come with a shot at the Prime Ministership could well be in the cards.

Anlaysis

While the impact to both the government and its current positions under Mr. Prentice's purvue are likely to be minimal, the new Minister of the Environment - John Baird - is, of course, also the old Minister of the Environment. Retaining his other portfolio as Government House Leader, Mr. Baird will certainly be a quick study to get up to speed on a number of pending files, including the next United Nations meeting on climate change happening later this month in Cancun, Mexico.

As for Mr. Prentice's future, there are likely two outcomes from today's announcement: first, he will be in a much better financial position should he decide to re-enter politics in a post-Harper leadership race; and second the distinction between his new Toronto address and credentials and those of the plethora of Westerners almost certain to join any such eventual race likely won't hurt either.

Taken together, it is not surprising that many within and around the government were less than shocked at Mr. Prentice's move.

What it means for GCI clients

With a seemingly endless series of minority governments, change is really the only constant on the Federal political scene. Having the right advice, counsel and insights into this constantly swirling pool can be the difference between being heard and becoming part of the noise.

That’s where GCI Group comes in. With a balanced team of public affairs professionals, GCI is able to speak to your issues on all sides of this fractious Parliament and across the senior ranks of the Public Service. In both Houses of Parliament, in all Parties and with officials that matter, GCI can help ensure you and your issues get the hearing they deserve.

For more information, please contact one of our Public Affairs experts directly, including our newest member of the team, Lynne Hamilton, another one of Canada's Top 100 Lobbyists.