The morning buzz: What's making news on Parliament Hill
1. 'Straight talk' returns to the PMO. The big internal news today among Tories is the return of William Stairs to the Prime Minister's Office. Mr. Stairs is not a household name across Canada, but in the stuffy political corridors of Ottawa he is well known as a fair, honest and effective staffer.
Well-liked by the media, he was the messenger who was shot by Stephen Harper just after Mr. Harper took over as Prime Minister in 2006. Serving very briefly as his director of communications, Mr. Stairs gave some sensible advice to the new Prime Minister that he didn't want to hear around David Emerson's decision to cross the floor from the Liberals. Mr. Stairs was quickly removed from his post.
With roots in the Progressive Conservative side of the party, Mr. Stairs became the chief of staff to cabinet minister Vic Toews. And there he stayed until today. Mr. Stairs is returning to the PMO as director of issues management.
"Having his calm head, clever brain and straight talk back in the PM's inner sanctum is a good thing," a Tory strategist said. "He'll have the pleasure of keeping an eye on the prorogation agitation."
Although, the decision by Mr. Harper to shut down Parliament has proved to be a contentious issue, it is not the issue that brought back Mr. Stairs. The Tory strategist suggests Mr. Harper's chief of staff, Guy Giorno, needed a senior, capable guy in the PMO and saw that in Mr. Stairs.
"He has a good ear to the ground and will give Giorno and the PM a no-BS view on what is happening (that's what got him in trouble in the first place). That kind of skill set is vital in any government that is serious about performing well or better depending on your perspective."
Mr. Toews has not yet replaced Mr. Stairs.
2. Jack Layton's best qualities. According to a new Angus Reid poll, the NDP Leader is considered the best leader to babysit your children and to drink a beer with at your local bar.
The online survey of 1,019 Canadians asked which federal leader they would prefer to do things with, including serious issues, such as dealing with a terrorist attack, and not-so-serious issues, such as drinking a beer and babysitting.
The results suggest Mr. Layton is the most normal, fun guy of the four leaders: 29 per cent of respondents would have a beer with Mr. Layton compared to 16 per cent for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, 10 per cent for Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe and six per cent for Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. On the babysitting question, Mr. Layton won the support of 22 per cent of respondents. That same number would like him on their sports team.
Mr. Ignatieff, known for his big brain and intellect, was chosen by 22 per cent of respondents as the best leader to recommend a good book to read and 25 per cent of respondents wanted him to be on their trivia quiz team.
And the Liberal Leader reinforces the view of him as a serious, cerebral (out of touch?) guy as he launches his cross-country tour of campuses today, speaking with students about their concerns for the future. He is having a "conversation" with students at the Nova Scotia Community College in Dartmouth.
Meanwhile, Mr. Harper was selected as the preferred leader to deal with a terrorist attack and negotiate with U.S. President Barack Obama on trade and security issues.
3. Jean Chrétien, 76; Sir John A. Macdonald, 195. Both former prime ministers celebrate their birthdays today. And something special is happening in Kingston, the home of the first prime minister, Sir John A. The Kingston Brewing Company has come up with two special brews in honour of the politicians: Sir John Eh's Scotch Ale and Little Shawinigan Lager.
Arthur Milnes, a Sir John A. buff and senior fellow at the Queen's University Centre for the Study of Democracy, says that the Brewing Company will pick up Mr. Chrétien's tab should he make an appearance in the Eastern Ontario city today. Mr. Milnes notes, too, that Sir John A. won his sixth and final majority victory after he turned 76. "There is no word if Mr. Chrétien is planning a comeback once he hits this politically-magical age for Prime Ministers himself."
It is Sir John A. Macdonald Day across Canada as a result of an Act of Parliament. Celebrate appropriately.
(File photo: Peter McCabe/The Canadian Press)