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Home , Alykhan Velshi, Bal Gosal, Bev Oda, Diane Ablonczy, Gerry Ritz, Jean Charest

EMBASSY, Wednesday, March 28, 2012—10 EMBASSY, Wednesday, March 28, 2012—11 Feature Feature

Africa this spring, she took heat for government’s approach to the Middle Paul Hong Ward Elcock aligning the Canadian International , , Liberal justice East. Need evidence of Mr. Fogel’s Neil Desai. , foreign minister’s , prime Development Agency with private natural resources minister and human rights critic power? After his organization alert- senior policy adviser minister’s special adviser sector interests and especially min- Mr. Cotler is respected, even with- ed the foreign minister’s office to a Mr. Hong is in on human smuggling and The ing companies. Her experience on in the Conservative camp, on issues video link it thought offensive that was charge of advising Mr. the file (since 2007) means she involving and , for instance, tweeted by the chief Palestinian envoy Baird on Asia, parts of illegal migration The former head of the Canadian knows it well. Ms. Oda is influential where the two have some agreement. to , the government called her Africa, Oceana includ- Security Intelligence Service, because she signs off on whether Representing a hotly-contested heav- in for a high-level dressing down and ing Australia and New Canada’s spy agency, the prime minis- to approve millions of dollars in ily-Jewish neighbourhood, limited communication with her until Zealand, and the UN. top he and Immigration Minister Jason Last week, he was ter tapped Mr. Elcock to be his direct aid funnelled through international a replacement arrived. Ouch. adviser on human smuggling after development NGOs, and on which Kenney have collaborated on anti- with Mr. Baird and nearly 500 Tamils docked in British countries Canada should focus its Semitism initiatives this government the prime minister in Frank Dimant Columbia aboard the MV Sun Sea in 80 aid most. has supported. He travels extensive- , Photo: Jason Ransom Asia. Mr. Hong is the ly abroad and uses his skills as an most known on the August 2010 hoping to make Canada executive vice-president of PMO international human rights to diplomatic reception circuit of Mr. their new home. Another migrant ship , B’Nai Brith Canada arrived the year prior. Mr. Elcock has influencing defend political prisoners. Perhaps now eclipsed somewhat by POLITICAL STAFFERS Rachel Curran Baird’s trio of senior policy advisers. , prime travelled to Thailand, New Zealand, public safety minister Mr. Fogel’s influence in the Jewish com- He may be younger looking than his While dirty Although his job could be con- minister’s director of policy 30-something years, but this South and Australia to monitor the phenom- Alison Redford, munity, Mr. Dimant is still an important Nigel Wright With a majority under the Tory enon and come up with ways to stem details of his sidered domestic, under Mr. Oliver player influencing the government’s , prime Korean-born -bred strategist divorce forced it has become international. After a premier of belt and more time to craft long-term has political smarts and a passion for the flow. He does his work quietly, but Premier for less approach to the and Israel. minister’s chief of staff policy, Ms. Curran has an important with Mr. Harper announcing millions him to go off- 30-plus-year career in the investment He is well-consulted as a foreign policy A well-paid Bay Street dealmaker, human rights and freedoms. Canada’s message lately business on Bay Street the rookie than six months, Ms. Mr. Wright took a leave of absence last job. She’s the last stop for politi- of dollars of new initiatives to fight Redford, of the pro- stakeholder and holds sway as pub- cally-driven policy proposals before human smuggling in southeast Asia and he’s been MP became minister last spring and lisher of The Jewish Tribune and leader year to serve as the prime minister’s Kasra Nejatian busy pushing started racking up the air miles. He vincial Progressive chief adviser. Rooted in the party’s they are seen by the prime minister. , immigration during his visit there this month and Conservative Party, has of the B’Nai Brith, a national Jewish Rising through the ranks of a minis- an anti-human smuggling bill winding through domes- visited China, Japan, England, the service and advocacy group. Progressive Conservative wing, he is the minister’s director of tic crime laws, US, and Kuwait, pushing Canada’s oil been a “very strong most powerful political staffer in . ter’s office and then the PMO, she was strategic planning through Parliament, it’s clear this is it’s important sands as “ethical” oil, the Keystone advocate for energy described to The Hill Times as bright, Wherever you see Mr. Kenney, Mr. still very much a priority. foreign policy not to forget XL and Northern Gateway pipelines, supply to the US—that’s Paul Grod hardworking, and meticulous. , Nejatian is usually only a few steps been helpful,” noted Alykhan Velshi, that this social conser- and fighting against the EU fuel qual- national president of the behind. He could be mistaken for a Gen. , chief vative’s responsibility extends to ity directive. Canada’s oil sands make one federal government director of planning in the communications or policy aide, but his Kristen Shane John Baird, foreign minister source. Having worked Ray Novak Described by observers as “a frig- national security, counter-terrorism, international news and Mr. Oliver is Ukrainian Canadian Congress , prime minister’s job is strategic planning. Either way, of defence staff as a senior policy A lawyer and head of an energy prime minister’s office Out of Libya, and with a fight- gin’ machine” and “the most active border protection, and cyber security. their chief defender. Although his job is mostly domesti- principal secretary it’s clear Mr. Kenney listens to him adviser to Progressive company, Mr. Grod since 2007 has led ing force no longer on the ground in hether they sit in the House foreign minister we’ve ever had” He’s been active in the government’s cally focused now, Mr. Velshi, a former You wouldn’t think Mr. Novak has and likes having him around because Conservative the UCC, which represents many in the , the Canadian Forces are Wof Commons, the corner office, for the number of foreign visits he’s efforts to fight human smuggling and top staffer to Mr. Kenney, still has a big a key international role, but he does. a year ago he had resigned from his when he was secre- 1.2 million-strong Ukrainian-Canadian taking a breather, but preparing for or the Langevin Block, they make undertaken since taking office last cross-border crime, including work on , agriculture minister personal interest in foreign affairs. And As the prime minister’s longest-serv- former job as director of multicultural Mr. Ritz straddles both domestic tary of state for exter- community concentrated in the prai- the next big engagement. With govern- Canada’s foreign policy, or influence spring, Mr. Baird is, by most accounts, the perimeter security deal. being at the table alongside the prime ing inner-circle staffer (he started affairs and was grilled by the opposi- and foreign aspects of agriculture. His nal affairs, she knows her way around ries. The prime minister last fall attend- ment-wide budget cuts coming, Gen. those who do. off to a good start. Seen to be close minister on a day-to-day basis, he can as his executive assistant in 2001), tion-dominated House ethics commit- job includes boosting agricultural trade, Ottawa and Washington. A bilingual law- ed a UCC dinner in his honour, and his Natynczyk will have a say in how they Through frank conversations with to the prime minister, he’s spent time chime in on those files, said a govern- this 30-something is trusted. The PM tee for using government resources for Peter MacKay, re-opening markets to Canadian beef, yer, her international experience makes caucus members are eager to attend go down and how they affect the future government insiders and policy ana- at home reaching out to long-over- ment insider. Mr. Velshi was for a few is said to employ him on key files, partisan fundraising. But after the elec- and cutting down non-tariff barriers to her “unique among premiers” said a for- UCC events to show support for the capability of the Canadian Forces. lysts, Embassy chose this list of 80 pow- looked diplomatic communities such defence minister months last year the head of Ethical China being the biggest one. During tion, Mr. Kenney rehired Mr. Nejatian A senior minister with a strong trade. But lately he’s been busy defend- mer foreign affairs analyst. She has given large and well-established Ukrainian- erbrokers of Canadian foreign policy. as the Association of Southeast Asian Oil, a group lobbying for the use of oil the Canadian G8 and summits as his communications director. He’s a political pedigree, Mr. MacKay is ing Canada’s continued supply man- legal reform advice in Africa, and helped Canadian community. It was tough to narrow down. Nations. Mr. Baird is at the forefront sands resources, whose message has he sat in on Mr. Harper’s bilateral blunt, fast-talking, Iranian-bred former Morris Rosenberg, deputy tasked with upholding the Tories’ agement as Canada seeks to enter the administer Afghanistan’s first parliamen- Choices were made based on access of trying to re-engineer a values-based been repeated by Cabinet ministers. talks, and he travels with the PM City corporate lawyer—and muscular military image while bring- Trans-Pacific Partnership where some in tary elections. But will she stay premier? minister of foreign affairs to power, demonstrated ability to Canadian foreign policy, and he says Khalil Shariff abroad. While people like Ms. van one to watch. A lawyer by training, Mr. ing down the axe on his massive the club are against the system. In this She has called an election for April 23. , CEO of Aga effect change, experience—or simply Canada is not afraid to ruffle feathers Vugt know the policy side of interna- Rosenberg has a long public service departmental expenses. With the government, anything foreign affairs- Khan Foundation Canada Garry Keller because they’re in a powerful job. to do it. But critics see him backing , chief of staff to tional affairs, “Ray bridges the com- career, including as a deputy minis- looking more to its allies related is more often than not tied to the International Roy Rempel, The 2012 list marks the demise down on Chinese human rights, for Brad Wall munications, the politics, and the prime ter for various departments for more and Canada’s prime minister saying economy, and Mr. Ritz’s job fits the link. , Co-operation the foreign minister of the government-wide Afghanistan instance, and selling out for votes on Mr. Keller is one of a small nucleus of policy all into one,” said one senior minister’s policy adviser than a decade. Since 2010, he’s led a “we have to be prepared to contribute Minister Bev Task Force and the names associ- Israel. premier of key political staffers who play a big role staffer. To what extent is he influen- Mr. Rempel has a PhD in inter- department critics have described in more” to protect Canadian interests Not your typical past choice for an Oda doesn’t go ated with that, as Canada maintains a Chris Alexander, in shaping the political side of Canada’s tial? His monarchist penchant is said national relations and has written recent years as being once great and against security threats, Mr. MacKay’s internationally-minded premier, but to every event smaller military training presence in foreign policy. Raised in Stony Plain, to have helped push the PM to return several books on Canadian foreign now relegated to the corner. He’s got file is highly relevant. parliamentary secretary to Saskatchewan is booming from sell- she’s asked to the still-troubled country. , trade minister Alta. and in his mid 30s, he’s been work- the ‘royal’ to the names of Canada’s and defence policies. Observers cite a big job on his hands. He will have This gospel music-singing small- ing its oil, gas, uranium, potash, and attend, but she The Asia-Pacific region is a greater the defence minister ing as an aide to Tory MPs and Cabinet air force and navy last year. him for his defence knowledge and his hands on an ongoing foreign pol- town BC lawyer is putting on big-time Few parliamentary secretaries nor- wheat globally, so Mr. Wall is listened makes her pres- priority in Canadian foreign policy, ministers since 1997, including a stint as his keen interest in the War of 1812. icy review. And he’ll have to manage air miles to move the ball forward , associate mally make the cut, but Mr. Alexander to in Ottawa. When the leader of the ence known at and that too is reflected. On the heels the director of the Tory research bureau He used to serve as policy director whatever cuts are coming to DFAIT on three key files in a priority port- is more influential than most because Saskatchewan Party, a liberal-conser- those held by Brent Babcock of Prime Minister ’s defence minister for backbench MPs. He has a long histo- , defence min- responsible for the Western hemi- in this week’s budget. He’s said to get folio: getting Canada in the coveted and Ontario’s former top of his stellar diplomatic resume. vative combo, lobbied against the the Aga Khan visits to Southeast Asia and China ry with Mr. Baird and is loyal to the core. ister’s senior policy adviser sphere under when he along well with his boss, Mr. Baird. courting markets for Canada’s natural Trans-Pacific Partnership trade club, cop, Mr. Fantino vaulted into a junior Before winning his seat in the House foreign takeover of Potash Corp. of Foundation A Royal Military College gradu- was trade minister. That international resources, and with his trade minister and clinching free trade deals with minister role (on the seniors file) of Commons as a in the Saskatchewan Inc. the federal govern- Canada. It is ate and former armed forces mem- experience gives him influence. pushing for a seat at the Trans-Pacific the European Union and India. “He’s after winning a 2009 by-election as a 2011 election, he was Canada’s ambas- ment blocked the deal. an agency of Neil Desai, ber, Mr. Babcock took this job in Louis Lévesque, deputy Partnership table, it’s no surprise the new, but he’s good,” said one trade star candidate. Sticking to his talk- sador to Afghanistan, deputy special the non-denominational Aga Khan 2010, having previously worked as CIVIL SERVANTS ing points now as associate defence Development Network, founded by chief of staff to the interna- minister of trade head of the Canada China Business watcher. “He’s more open and he’s representative to the UN’s secretary , an aide to former defence minister Diversifying beyond the Council made the cut. more interested.” minister, he holds the procurement general for Afghanistan, and served at the Aga Khan, the imam of Ismaili tional co-operation minister Gordon O’Connor. Like Mr. MacKay, Mr. Desai knows foreign relations United States and opening But Canada’s largest trading part- purse strings. He’s also the guy who’ll the Canadian Embassy in Russia. He premier of Muslims. AKFC is a preferred non- he’s an easterner, hailing from New Described by one trade analyst as and politics well and is in the PM’s new markets in Asia is a pri- ner is still important. New to the list have to take the heat if Canada does also published a book on his time in profit partner of the Canadian Brunswick. Working with his direc- “the godfather of the Canada-EU agree- inner circle of foreign policy decision- ority for the Harper govern- this year are people in charge of craft- , a U-turn on its promise to spend bil- Afghanistan. The foreign minister just International Development Agency. tor, Joe Varner, his senior policy role ment,” he pushed for an economic makers. He was stakeholder relations ment. Trade more generally ing and executing a Canada-US perim- lions on F-35 fighter jets. appointed him to a fact-finding mission And Mr. Shariff “is very, very good means he has sway in Mr. MacKay’s immigration minister deal with the EU to open labour mobil- manager in the prime minister’s office is an important portfolio eter security agenda that affects bil- He may not be on the Cabinet in Sri Lanka to “help inform Canada’s at moving the agenda forward from a inner circle. ity and government procurement, before signing on with . He to the prime minister. Mr. lions of dollars in cross-border trade, committee on foreign affairs, but next steps” in relating to the country development perspective,” said one , minister of now currently in its end stages. The helped set the political agenda dur- Lévesque has an influen- privacy, and sovereignty. don’t underestimate the power Jason coming out of civil war. government insider. The Harper gov- Canada-EU trade deal is building on ing bilateral visits with world leaders tial role implementing the Broken down by category, but Kenney has over foreign policy. state for foreign affairs ernment has courted Ismailis, which Louise Girouard, trade the Quebec- professional ser- it sees as a moderate Muslim sect, during the Canadian hosting of the G8 government’s trade agenda. in no particular order, here are this Young, hardworking (he’s usually in ( and consular affairs) A -born econ- First elect- Hélène Laverdière, vices agreements. Mr. Charest is also and consulted the Aga Khan, a billion- and G20 summits in 2010. In between minister’s director of policy year’s top 80 most influential people the House after hours debating the omist, he was the sherpa ed in 1997 as actively pushing to Asian, European, aire philanthropist, on its upcoming government stints, he worked for the in Canadian foreign policy. bills he sponsors), and with a freaky NDP foreign affairs critic and stakeholder relations for the 2010 G20 summit in a Reform MP Ms. Laverdière is a former for- and American players his 25-year office of religious freedoms. Munk School of Global Affairs at the Having worked several senior ability to recite facts and figures, he Seoul, South Korea. POLITICIANS is also chair of the powerful Cabinet representing eign service officer who worked $80-billion Plan Nord agenda to devel- University of Toronto. He is media roles in several ministers’ offices, operations committee, in charge of part of , in the United States, Senegal, and op and conserve northern Quebec. Dave Toycen savvy, with a strategic and internation- Ms. Girouard has come to know day-to-day co-ordination of the gov- Ms. Ablonczy Chile before she was elected during , CEO of World ally-focused mind. policy, communications, House pro- Jason Ransom Photo Neil Yeates, Stephen Harper, prime minister ernment’s agenda. He’s in the midst has main- Quebec’s 2011 NDP Orange Crush. DIASPORA GROUP AND Vision Canada cedure, and how to run an office. Margaret Biggs, Morris Rosenberg and . The prime min- NGO REPS Trade is a government priority, and deputy minister of remaking Canada’s immigration tained a low Originally serving as CIDA critic, she World Vision is Canada’s largest Andrea van Vugt ister, more than any- system to be better in tune with profile since shifted to foreign affairs when long- Christian humanitarian organization , prime so Ms. Girouard has an important job. of citizenship and one else, influences Canada’s economic needs. Mr. Kenney taking on her time critic Paul Dewar took a stab at Shimon Fogel and another big recipient of Canadian minister’s foreign affairs, “Louise is a very steady insightful per- Canadian foreign pol- , son that brings a lot of experience,” Wayne Wouters immigration is also the Tory point-person on entic- dual role with leadership and has performed strong- International Development Agency trade, and international , privy Mr. Yeates is Canada’s top immi- icy. Although his cur- ing immigrant communities to vote foreign affairs ly in the official Opposition role. CEO of The Centre for funding. CIDA is funding 11 of its said one former political staffer. council clerk gration bureaucrat. His job is to rent foreign minister, Conservative, a feat he pulled off well last January. ongoing projects to the tune of almost development policy adviser support a very activist minister Israel and Jewish Affairs With all key foreign policy portfolios Mr. Wouters is Canada’s top pub- John Baird, is on a long in the last election. Although not Dominic LeBlanc Mr. Fogel made this list previ- $20 million. World Vision has sup- Oren Cainer whose goal is to reform both the leash, some observ- seen to be a great driver of policy, her , ously when he headed the Canada- ported some of the government’s anti- in her lap, three years of experience as , foreign minister’s lic servant. While not intimately immigration and citizenship sys- ers still say the coun- a PMO policy adviser, and direct access involved in international affairs, he Bev Oda role gives her influence. She’s made sev- Liberal foreign affairs critic Israel Committee. But observers note human trafficking work. And it strikes senior policy adviser tems—a big job. He’s had to put in try’s foreign policy is , international eral trips to South and Central America A Liberal frontbencher and bilingual that this year he holds even more the right balance for the Harper to the prime minister, Ms. Van Vugt (née Rather than employ one director gives advice to the PM on all policy place ways to deal with a growing shaped by far the most by the man co-operation minister and has taken heat for Canada’s han- New Brunswicker, Mr. LeBlanc’s views power at the helm of the new CIJA, Conservatives as a non-denomina- McGuigan, she got married last year to of policy like past ministers did, Mr. and operational issues affecting gov- case backlog, and is set to manage at the top. And now, more than ever, She has largely flown under the dling of the consular cases of a New are appreciated by Mr. Baird, although which consolidated the Canada-Israel tional organization with a Christian Dustin van Vugt, chief of staff to Minister Baird has three senior policy advis- ernment. A trained economist, he’s upcoming refugee reforms. And he with his coveted majority and no radar since almost losing her job Brunswick farmer jailed in and he represents the third party in the Committee, Canadian Jewish Congress base. This year World Vision was criti- of State for Sport ) has a position ers who are involved in the day-to- also the guy in charge of keeping the has overseen the switch to a global election in sight, he has the time last year for allegedly misleading others caught up in Arab Spring protest House. They’ve travelled to Haiti along and other Jewish groups last year. cized for partnering with Barrick Gold of influence. She’s one of a small group of day shaping and direction of policy. federal government an attractive and case management system to better and experience to make his mark Parliament. Praised for responding crackdowns. “She’s one of those very with their NDP counterpart. He’s his The small-but-mighty Canadian Jewish and CIDA on a development project political staffers shaping Canada’s foreign Mr. Cainer is responsible for Europe, efficient employer with strong capac- manage applicant files. with his self-proclaimed “principled” relatively quickly to the Somali fam- steady performers in the government,” party’s former defence critic and a for- community, courted by both Liberals in Peru because of the mining giant’s policy. She is reportedly a bright mind the Middle East, Afghanistan, and the ity in the current context of job and Continued on Page 12 approach to foreign relations. ine last fall and food crisis in West said one former Tory staffer. mer leadership contender. and Conservatives, influences the alleged unethical practices. committed to the Conservative cause. Commonwealth. budget cuts.