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Focuses on the role of spin doctors in the political campaigns of politicians in Canada. Role of political consultants in enhancing the image of politicians; Factors that should be considered in making a campaign strategy; Events that show pitfalls in political campaigns of known politicians in Canada. INSETS: SPIN DOCTORS;TERM PAPER ENHANCEMENTS.

Profiles Rod Love, a private political consultant in Canada. Information on the proceedings of the United Alternative Convention in Ottawa, Ontario; Love's influence on Prime Minister Ralph Klein's political life; Love as a political consultant.

Trudeau Plan Could "Exhaust" Canada's Fiscal Room, Watchdog Says (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's fiscal road map could reduce Canada's future spending capacity by leaving debt at elevated levels for decades, according to the nation's budget watchdog. Growth Debate Mark Carney, the former governor at both the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, described the Liberal government's spending plan as a "hybrid budget.". [Extracted from the article]

The article looks at the election campaign in Canada, reporting that the re-election campaign of Conservative Party Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hired political strategist Lynton Crosby and discussing Crosby's past work for politicians including London, England, Mayor Boris Johnson and British Prime Minister David Cameron. Crosby's views on public opinion polling in election campaigns are cited.

Observes that Toronto lobbyist John Duffy founded his own consulting firm and newsletter offering advice to companies and interest groups, the day after the Tories won Ontario's June 8, 1995 election. `Ontario Government Outlook'; Duffy's credentials; How Duffy omitted the fact that he was a former speech writer for Liberal Leader Lyn McLeod who lost a 20-percentage point lead during the campaign.

The article focuses on a report of Doctor Brian Postl, the federal advisor on wait times in Canada, which states that the federal government will have difficulty meeting its promise to guarantee wait times in five key areas because the provinces responsible for delivering the necessary services have made inconsistent progress towards these goals to date. Postl says that to achieve wait time objectives integrated changes are required that put patients at the center of the system.

This article discusses some of the ideas proposed by Peter Nicholson, lead policy advisor to Paul Martin, incoming prime minister. Nicholson, one of the brains behind Paul Martin's assault on the deficit in the mid-1990s, is back as the prime minister-to-be's policy guru. A glimpse of what he's likely telling Martin behind closed doors has been published. It's a wonkish walk through economic theory, but Nicholson's article also contains clues about directions Martin might take. Good news, perhaps, for MPs like cabinet-aspirant John Godfrey who've been pushing the so-called children's agenda. Nicholson is gushiest on spreading new technologies and business models. So Ottawa knows enough to push business to do business better?

This article offers the observation that exiting Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien has stayed on too long. Stepping off a plane into Ottawa's airport recently, I briefly wondered if I'd landed in the wrong city. Ottawa is, as we report in our cover package, about to undergo its own renewal as the Liberals prepare to formally confirm Paul Martin as incoming prime minister at their Nov. 12-15 convention. Journalists and pundits are wrong much more often than we care to admit--but all those who said that political disaster would result from the 18-month lag between Jean Chré tien's retirement announcement and his departure from office have been right. You get a sense from some of his senior people--and from some comments that the PM made to author Lawrence Martin in his new book on "Chrétien, Iron Man" that, too late, he understands he has stayed on too long. Based on his own performance, Chr& eacute;tien's first crop of prime ministerial advisers were his best--people like his "elegant executioner," chief of staff Jean Pelletier. Maybe that's the real lesson for Paul Martin to absorb, as he prepares for the challenge of fulfilling his life's biggest ambition: he'll know, someday, it's time to go when his most trusted people stop arguing with him.

This article compares the powerful political couple associated with Jean Chrétien to the power couples associated with Paul Martin. Two events signalled that David and Penny Collenette's day as the pre-eminent Chrétien-era power couple was all but over. First came the news in early October that Penny, who served as Chrétien's patronage czarina from 1993 to 1997 -- handing out hundreds of prized appointments -- had bowed out of the running for the Liberal nomination in an Ottawa riding. Then David, the PM's staunchly loyal transport minister, announced a nearly $700-million subsidy boost for Via Rail -- only to have Martin's camp warn Via not to spend a cent until the new order reviews the pledge. Martin's top strategists, David Herle and Terrie O'Leary, form the most obvious power couple in his entourage. Less widely known is the West Coast duo of Mark Marissen, 37, one of Martin's top B.C. organizers, and his wife, Christy Clark, 38, B.C.'s deputy premier and education minister.

This article compares the political advisors chosen by Jean Chrétien to those chosen by Paul Martin. Chrétien clambered his way to the top from Shawinigan, but he chose top advisers with sterling Ottawa and Montreal establishment pedigrees. Eddie Goldenberg, his closest confidant and now chief of staff, is son of Carl Goldenberg, the late Liberal senator and prominent Montreal labour lawyer. His campaign chieftain was Power Corp. executive John Rae, son of a distinguished diplomat and brother of former Ontario premier Bob Rae. Martin grew up in a mansion in Windsor, son of one of the most powerful federal politicians of his day, but he has chosen self-made political operators as his closest confidants. Terrie O' Leary, his former chief of staff and one of his most trusted advisers, is daughter of a Toronto Irish pub owner. David Herle, sometimes described as "first among equals" in Martin's close-knit circle of strategists, is son of a small-town Saskatchewan farmer and grain buyer.

This article speculates on the possibility that former politicians such as Frank McKenna and Ed Broadbent may want to become involved in the Paul Martin government. With Ottawa regime-change in the offing, you can hear some of the old stallions kicking at the stall door. Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna, 55, is making noises about running alongside old friend Paul Martin. And there's even talk that popular former NDP leader Ed Broadbent -- at 67 he's almost as old as the departing PM -- might take up the party colours in Ottawa Centre, where he lives. Broadbent allows this is a long shot. But if he does run it could bring on the fireworks: the Liberal standard-bearer is expected to be lawyer Richard Mahoney, a Martin insider and former party bigwig who is widely considered a cabinet shoo-in.

Focuses on Raj Chahal, a member of the Canadian Liberal Party. His work as a Liberal in Alberta; His appointment to special policy adviser to the prime minister; His thoughts on feelings of alienation among western Canadians.

Reports that Canadian Alliance Party leader Stockwell Day has hired Ezra Levant as his communications director in an effort to raise his approval rating. Public opinion of Day; Views of Levant regarding Day; History of Levant's career in politics.

Discusses how many of Canadian Jean Charest's chief advisers can trace their political roots back to the Conservatives' so-called Red Tory days under Joe Clark's leadership. The examples of Jodi White and Nancy Jamieson; Whether the Charest campaign is trying to put the Brian Mulroney years behind them.

Offers observations on Mitchell Sharp, 86, a special adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. His admirers and detractors; His influence which extends into a variety of spheres; What he considers to be his claims to fame.