Premier Stephen McNeil says he only found out last week his chief of staff, Laurie Graham, was interested in taking his job as leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
Graham has worked for McNeil in the premier’s office since March 2016, first as principal secretary. She has been chief of staff since January 2019.
“I knew that people had called her thinking that she should run, and then I think last week she told me she owed it to them and to herself to consider it and that’s what she’s doing,” he said following a ribbon cutting event in Kentville for a new hospice.
McNeil saw no problem with her continuing to be his top staffer despite her seeking support for a possible candidacy.
“Just as a cabinet minister may be considering it today, I have all the faith and confidence that she would not be using her position as the chief of staff in my office and she knows, as cabinet ministers know, that if they enter the race they will have to step down from their current positions.”
Laurie Graham left her job as a reporter in Ottawa to come home to Nova Scotia to work for Premier Stephen McNeil in 2016. (Tom Ayers/CBC)
Jane O’Neill, co-chair of the leadership campaign, agreed with that point during a briefing with reporters about the leadership campaign rule process and rules.
“As long as [any candidate] complies with the rules as written, we welcome any candidate who shows an interest.”
They include the timeline for when the $50,000 entry fee must be paid, as well as an additional $10,000 compliance deposit, which is due at the time of a candidate’s filing. The campaign spending limit will be $350,000 and all Elections Act rules regarding who can donate and donation caps will be in effect.
Although the names of anyone who donates more than $200 will eventually be made public through Elections Nova Scotia filings, O’Neill said right now the plan is for them to simply be reflected as having donated to the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. A decision has not been made yet about whether donors will be listed in terms which candidate their money supported.
“We’ll look at it, and whether or not that’s something that makes sense for us to be doing at a later date or not. But I can tell you that any one individual is certainly not in a position to donate more than the annual limit set by Elections Nova Scotia.”
Delegates who are members of the party and have paid a $20 delegate fee ($15 comes back as a tax credit) will be able to vote electronically or by phone.
Voting will take place electronically or by phone from Feb. 1-6 using a preferential ballot. Each of the 55 electoral districts will be worth 100 points, assigned based on vote share. To win, a candidate must receive 2,751 points.
O’Neill said it hasn’t been decided how many debates there will be, although the hope is there will be at least two. The debates, along with the convention itself and all campaign activity, must adhere to public health guidelines in relation to COVID-19, she said.
Field begins taking shape
With the rules for the leadership campaign now public, the field is starting to narrow.
Municipal Affairs Minister Chuck Porter told CBC News on Monday that he’s decided against making a run. Porter said he made the decision on the weekend.
Business Minister Geoff MacLellan and Health Minister Randy Delorey have also said they’re out.
Their cabinet colleague, Labi Kousoulis, is considering a bid, he said Monday.
The Halifax Citadel-Sable Island MLA was first elected in 2013 and has served in several cabinet portfolios, most recently as labour and advanced education minister.
“I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me,” said Kousoulis, a certified management accountant who said people he’s talking with appreciate his financial background and the fact he spent time working in rural Nova Scotia.
“I don’t take these decisions lightly. I will be talking to Liberals and Nova Scotians and moving forward.”
Others mulling leadership bids
All signs also point to Community Services Minister Kelly Regan jumping in the race. The MLA for Bedford was first elected in 2009.
A statement from the “Kelly Regan Campaign” on Monday said the minister would announce her intentions at a formal event next week, and that she “continues to engage with party members around the province as she works toward this announcement.”
Education Minister Zach Churchill and Immigration Minister Lena Diab have both said they’re considering leadership runs.
Central Nova MP Sean Fraser, who is also the parliamentary secretary to the federal finance minister, and Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin have said they are weighing their options.
Asked about his thoughts on Graham’s possible candidacy, McNeil suggested anyone taking over the party would be carrying on the work he started in the fall of 2013 when he led the Liberals back to power after almost 15 years on the opposition benches.
“Listen, I’m thrilled that Nova Scotians want to continue the work that we’ve had,” he said. “The fact that we’ve had strong people stepping forward, I think it’s a good idea that people outside of government are looking at it.”
Premier plans to remain neutral
McNeil says he has spoken to other possible contenders about the job and offered them his advice and insight. He doesn’t think Graham, who spent several decades as a reporter for CBC and then CTV before working for McNeil, has an unfair advantage by being his chief of staff.
“No, I don’t. I believe when the race starts, those who put their names forward will be at the same footing.”
The premier said he plans to stay neutral in the upcoming campaign, as tradition dictates.
“Every one of them [has] called me, asked me my opinion [and for] my thoughts.”
McNeil laughed when asked if he had dissuaded or asked any of the potential candidates to hold off throwing their hats in the ring.
“Not at all,” he said.
“I’ve said to everyone my job will be to keep this team together as we go through a leadership process.”
The Liberals will elect their new leader on Feb. 6. Candidates have until Oct. 9 to officially enter the race.
TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
