Secretary of State Long adds director, and others to team

Plus, Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali has hired a new special assistant for parliamentary affairs and assistant to the parliamentary secretary.
Bringing investment banking rigour to Ottawa

Unlike the private sector, senior public servants are rarely removed for persistent underperformance. And tone from the top, however well calibrated, cannot substitute for rigor on the ground.
Liberals ride wave in federal polls as widening gender, age gaps squeeze Conservatives’ coalition

As the Liberals post their largest lead since Prime Minister Mark Carney was chosen to lead the party, the Conservatives are feeling the pinch from multiple age brackets and a growing chasm among women voters, says Abacus Data CEO David Coletto.
One year in a leaky boat

Pierre Poilievre is not done as Conservative leader, but neither is he back on solid ground.
Stories from the past should not help separatists

Amid promised referendums in Quebec and Alberta, former public servants should keep in mind the ammunition they could provide to the separatists’ cause—and keep it quiet.
‘Voters have short memories’: delayed elections commissioner report puts damper on accountability, says political scientist Alex Marland

A former cabinet minister’s Elections Act misfire may create a minor chilling effect on politicians answering questions during byelections, but ignorance of elections rules is not a strong defence, says former CBC journo Hannah Thibedeau.
‘Like something out of a bad day in Afghanistan’: ex-politicos share views from the ground in Mexico

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Global Affairs has registered 26,305 Canadians currently in Mexico as of Feb. 23, but that number is ‘likely much higher.’
The road ahead on foreign interference

Parties should move to implement watertight nomination and leadership processes to shut out hostile actors trying to influence Canadian politics.
New senior adviser joins AI Minister Solomon’s team, deputy chief named

Plus, there are staffing updates to note in the offices of secretaries of state Nathalie Provost and Stephen Fuhr.
Having a defence industrial strategy is good, but we’ll also need to know what to do with it

Canada should leverage its geographic advantage—far from Europe’s front lines—along with its close relationship with Ukraine and its willingness to invest heavily to develop advanced drone and anti-drone capabilities that can be shared with and sold to allies.