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A Rude Awakening
- October 6, 2009 11:34 AM
- By Rosemary Barton
There is nothing like waking up in the morning to see your face in the papers.
It must have been a rude awakening for Ruby Dhalla today.
The Toronto Star reported that a senior Conservative source says at least three Liberals have contemplated defections.
And one of the names raised in the story: none other than Ruby Dhalla.
In an attempt to put a stop to the story, Dhalla tweeted this statement this morning: "The rumour mill is in overdrive again. The joys of being a women in politics !"
It's well-known in Ottawa that Dhalla is not thrilled with the fact that she is not getting a lot of support about her private member's bill that would allow elderly immigrants to qualify for pension benefits after three years instead of 10.
Just yesterday, Judy Sgro, the Liberal critic on the issue, said she would not support the bill because of concerns about the costs of such a measure.
But being disgruntled does not equal defection: today Dhalla was given a new responsibility in the shadow cabinet.
She tweeted: "I look forward to my new responsibilities as Special Advisor to the Leader for Child Poverty."
Doesn't really sound like someone about to cross the floor, does it?
About the Authors
- Rosemary Barton started her television career reporting from Quebec City where she covered the ins and outs of Quebec politics. She moved to the CBC Parliamentary Bureau in 2007. She also stood on the side of road awaiting U.S. President Barack Obama's motorcade for hours in the cold. When she finally spotted him, all of Canada heard her shriek, "I saw him!"
- Alison Crawford worked in Fredericton, Calgary and Winnipeg before returning to her hometown to work in the CBC parliamentary bureau. Her beats include the RCMP, justice, public safety and the Liberals. Alison credits her investigative skills as well as a national etiquette column and coverage of a ferret Christmas party, with having prepared her for covering national politics.
- Andrew Davidson is a producer for the CBC politics page in Toronto. He joined CBCNews.ca's national desk in 2006 and was the lead news writer for the website's 2008 federal election coverage.
- Chris Hall is the National Affairs Editor for CBC News. He's been a member of the CBC Parliamentary Bureau since 1998. That adds up to 11 budgets, four elections, three prime ministers and too many confidence votes to count. Chris started his career in print before moving to the CBC in 1992. Since then, he's worked in Toronto, Halifax and St. John's, as well as Ottawa.
- Leslie MacKinnon Leslie's been working in news and current affairs since newsrooms used teletype, televison was shot on film and radio tape was edited with a razor blade. She saw through The Journal's long run on CBC-TV, and since then has worked in Halifax, Toronto and Ottawa in the CBC's various permutations. Right now, she's a TV news reporter in the political bureau, and likes certain parts of Ottawa - the canal, the Hill - a lot.
- Janyce McGregor has been a television producer in the CBC's Parliamentary Bureau since 2001. She started her career working for Studio 2 on TVOntario. In 2005 her then-doctoral student husband persuaded her to follow him to the U.K., where she worked for BBC World Service Radio in London. Janyce is originally a farm girl from southwestern Ontario. Her most important job title is "Norah's Mom."
- Chris Rands has been a member of the Parliamentary bureau since 2001. He started at Toronto's AM Radio giant CFRB before moving to CBC's National Radio News in 1996. Chris has worked in Toronto, Moncton, Sudbury, Regina, Washington and St John's. Every time Chris walks up to the Peace Tower, he wants to throw his hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore.
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