Industry Minister Paradis keeping chief of staff, policy adviser

Companies, lobbyists and advocacy groups are now setting up to track policy development and meet with key members of the new majority Conservative government. Part of that job involves identifying the top players, and The Wire Report hears that Christian Paradis, MP for Mégantic-L’Érable, Que., is taking his staff with him as he moves into his new position as industry minister. The chief of staff for Paradis will continue to be Marc Vallières, who has worked with the minister in that position since he became public works minister in 2008. A Conservative insider told The Wire Report that Vallières is a staple of Minister Paradis’ team, having been a part of it almost since his political debut. Until his appointment as industry minister in a cabinet shuffle last month, Paradis served as natural resources minister. First elected in 2006, Paradis was promoted to secretary of state for agriculture in 2007. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the public works minister. Paradis is also expected to keep his senior policy advisor, Bruce Winchester, who held the same position in Paradis' office as head of the Department of Natural Resources. One Conservative insider said Winchester is a “content guy” who will be a key player for Paradis. Winchester is expected to help other staff make a smooth transition into Industry Canada. Richard Walker, who joined Paradis’s office last summer to replace Margaux Stastny, who left on maternity leave, will continue to be the minister’s director of communications, sources say. Pascale Boulay is another, relatively new member of the team, having stepped into the press secretary role for Paradis last winter when Mary-Ann Dewey-Plante left for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s office. Boulay spent three years working for former Progressive Conservative MP André Bachand up until 2001. The Hill Times has reported that she also worked as former environment minister Jim Prentice’s press secretary, filling the position of Frédéric Baril when he left politics at the beginning of September. In 2004, Boulay also worked for then-Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler for a short period of time. In between her political positions, Boulay has worked as a public servant for almost 10 years. Conservative insiders add that as Paradis’ staff adjust to the industry portfolio, the office of Heritage Minister James Moore will have an edge on shared files such as copyright. Moore’s office will continue to be headed by chief of staff Joanne McNamara. A longtime political staffer, McNamara worked for Conservative MP Bev Oda as far back as 2004, and has been Moore’s chief of staff since 2009. Moore’s senior policy advisor, Tanya Peat, left on maternity last year and has been replaced by Erin Anderson. Following last month's cabinet shuffle, Codie Taylor, the former press secretary, left Moore’s office to accept a position in the office of new Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney. Prior to working for Moore, Taylor spent three years working for Veterans Affairs. As of deadline Thursday a replacement for Taylor had not been announced. James Maunder has also been named Moore’s director of communications, The Hill Times has reported. Maunder is relatively new to Moore's office, having replaced Jean-Luc Benoit in March. Previously, Maunder served as director of issues management and acting chief of staff to former natural resources minister Lisa Raitt. In 2006, Maunder served as a legislative assistant to Ontario Conservative Senator Marjory LeBreton. Prior to that, he worked as a legislative assistant to Nova Scotia Conservative Senator Don Oliver. Telecom and broadcasting companies—and their lobbyists—will also have their sights on key staff in the Prime Minister's Office and the Privy Council Office. In the PCO, Timothy Sargent serves as assistant secretary for economic and regional development policy, which includes responsibility for digital policy issues. In the PMO, Nigel Wright, a key “deal maker” as a managing director at Onex Corp., left the company last September to assume the top role in Harper’s team as chief of staff. Paul Wilson also maintains his role as Harper’s director of policy in the PMO. Wilson was appointed to the position in 2009. dgrenier@thewirereport.ca

Industry Minister Paradis keeping chief of staff, policy adviser

Broadcast | June 9, 2011

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