#scott brison

With nine months to go before the next federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet in a way that places one of his most trusted ministers in charge of government spending while shaking up key portfolios at Justice, Indigenous Affairs and Veterans Affairs.

Outgoing Treasury Board President Scott Brison triggered the shuffle with his announcement late last week that he was stepping down from cabinet after deciding not to run for re-election.

Three current ministers received new assignments Monday, while two Liberal MPs were elevated to cabinet.

Replacing Mr. Brison at Treasury Board is Jane Philpott, who is now in her third cabinet post after moving from Health to Indigenous Services in the summer of 2017.

Two days ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was raising the Pride and Transgender Pride Flags on Parliament Hill along with Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale, Minister of Veteran Affairs Kent Hehr (not pictured), Special Advisor on LGBTQ2 Issues Randy Boissonault and Members of Parliament Dr. Hedy Fry, Scott Brison and Seamus O’Regan.

And yesterday, the Canadian Senate passed Bill C-16, protecting the rights of transgender and non-binary Canadians, prohibiting discrimination and criminalizing hate speech and hate crimes against transgender and non-binary people. It’s historic. It is a very important milestone, a vital step forward when we know trans people are the most discriminated against and also the most at risk within the LGBTQ coommunity; but as The Globe and Mail notes in this very good piece, it’s only the beginning in truly achieving equality for trans and non-binary people, and certainly not the time to stop fighting.

The Toronto Star also had a very good article on the importance of intersectionality back in May. If you don’t fight for Trans Rights, you don’t fight for Women’s Rights. Plain and simple, and don’t call yourself a feminist.

Longtime MP Scott Brison is resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet and will not be seeking re-election this fall.

Brison, who was President of the Treasury Board has informed Trudeau of his decision and said he is working to ensure a smooth transition out of cabinet.

It is not immediately clear whether Brison intends to remain the MP for the riding up to the end of this Parliament, or whether he’ll resign his seat in the near future.

Treasury Board President Scott Brison has promised federal unions that steps to repeal Tory legislation that gave the government power to unilaterally impose a new sick-leave regime will begin when Parliament resumes this week.

Treasury Board officials notified the unions in a letter that sections of Bill C-59, which allow the government to force a sick-leave deal, will be repealed as one of the “first orders of business. “

The move lifts a major threat hanging over bogged-down contract talks on sick-leave reforms and come as the largest union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, gets ready for its first bargaining session with the Liberals on Feb. 1.

“We are pleased that the new Liberal government has promised to repeal the labour law changes in Bill C-59 and given assurances that they will not unilaterally take away our negotiated sick leave provisions,” said PSAC president Robyn Benson.

But Brison isn’t going as far with another Conservative omnibus bill, C-4, which completely changed the rules for collective bargaining in the public service. The unions also want those changes repealed for the rest of this round of bargaining.

“We want the government to do the same with C-4 so our union and Treasury Board can go back to a system of fair collective bargaining on a level-playing field and achieve a collective agreement that strengthens public services for all Canadians,” said Benson. “We continue to oppose the labour law changes imposed through the Conservative government’s Bill C-4.”  

Treasury Board’s letter, however, said the government “intends to engage in consultations with public sector partners to revisit legislative provisions introduced through Bill C-4.” That process “will be put in place at the earliest opportunity.”

“This photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posing with Scott Brison and his family is being celebrated as a sign that the new government has a more open approach to gay Canadians.

“Few countries in the world display such openness,” wrote Laurent McCutcheon, a Quebec LGBT advocate who shared the photo on Facebook.

Trudeau is posing with Brison, a Nova Scotia MP who serves as president of the Treasury Board, Brison’s husband Maxime St-Pierre and their twin girls Claire and Rose.

Brison is the longest-serving openly gay MP in Parliament, and one of six openly gay sitting MPs.

Comments on the photo praised Trudeau for the show of support for family.

“Have to give it to Trudeau, he dares and it’s very good,” said one person, in French.

“This photo is really great and shows sincere openness. Bravo and thank you for sharing,” said another.”

Read the full story here

'Why is the minister breaking government rules? Why is he giving taxpayers the gold finger?'  - The Honourable Scott Brison, MP for Kings-Hants

'When Canadians are struggling just to get by, why are Conservative ministers showering each other with gold? Why the golden showers, Mr. Speaker?'  - The Honourable Scott Brison, MP for Kings-Hants

'Mr. Speaker, folklore has it that the Canadian beaver will bite off its own testicles when it is threatened and offer them up to its tormentors.'  - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

'This is a fucking disgrace...closure again. And on the Budget! There's not a democracy in the world that would tolerate this jackboot shit.'  - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

'Fuck you.'  - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

'Eat my shorts.' - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

'What bullshit is this?'  The Honourable Bob Rae, MP for Toronto Centre

'Oh, you piece of shit!'  - Justin Trudeau, MP for Papineau

‘I should have called him an Honourable Asshole.’ - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

'Mr. Speaker, [...] I rise today to condemn the Conservatives for their boosterism and cheerleading of the asbestos cartel and the human misery it causes. [...] Dante should have reserved a special level of hell for [these] charlatans and the fraudsters.' - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

'I want my Canada back!' - Justin Trudeau, MP for Papineau

'Rupert Murdoch is a bag of shit.' - Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre

Hi everyone,

Well we arrived in snowy Ottawa yesterday morning and had a fabulous first day! Shopping and checking out the sites in the Capital City! To end our first day Scott Brison, MP invited us to dinner on Parliament Hill! It was so much fun. We arrived just in time to see the members of Parliament leaving the House of Commons after a vote! So much drama!

Press outside the Parliament... big news!

Turbine is at Ottawa Fashion Week! Ha. No, not really about us.

First course. Warm goat cheese salad! And wine! Michel, my childhood friend from Saskatoon, who we are staying with was Press Secretary for Michael Ignatieff. Between Scott and Michel, Lisa and I heard some pretty interesting Canadian politics stories!

Goblin eyes!!

Security passes! Tight security to get into the building. We had a fabulous day, and dinner. Thank you Scott for being a wonderful host!

Stay tuned for Turbine's Day Two of Ottawa Fashion Week Update!