Ya, well it pays to be a Liberal I guess.Bill Blair resigns seat ahead of diplomatic appointment
Former defence minister will become Canada's high commissioner to the U.K.
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Feb 02, 2026 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 3 minute read
Minister of National Defence Bill Blair talks to reporters in Brussels on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
Minister of National Defence Bill Blair talks to reporters in Brussels on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Another Justin Trudeau-era cabinet minister has given up his seat in the House of Commons for a diplomatic post.
The former defence minister Bill Blair announced on Monday he is resigning his seat Monday and will depart Ottawa for London to become Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Blair is set to replace former Liberal MP Ralph Goodale — the long-serving Saskatchewan MP who was named Canadian high commissioner to the U.K. by Trudeau in 2021.
“Serving the people of Scarborough Southwest as your member of Parliament has been an incredible privilege,” Blair said on social media on Monday. “Today, I’m stepping down to accept the appointment of high commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
Ex-Trudeau ministers pegged for diplomatic posts
Blair’s resignation came nearly a month after former Trudeau stalwart and deputy PM Chrystia Freeland resigned her seat to take a position as an unpaid economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and become CEO of the Rhodes Trust.
Goodale, who returned home from the U.K. in December, is the subject of a scheduled fundraiser for the Regina—Wascana Federal Liberal Association, which is holding a “Welcome Home Pam and Ralph Goodale” reception at a convention centre in Regina on Feb. 21.
Suggestions that Blair may replace Goodale as Canada’s highest-ranking diplomat in the U.K. began swirling last year as government sources suggested three senior Trudeau-era cabinet ministers were being considered for vital diplomatic posts.
David Lametti — who famously replaced ousted Liberal cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould as justice minister in 2019 — was named Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations by Prime Minister Mark Carney, replacing former Ontario premier Bob Rae late last year.
After resigning his seat in January 2024, Lametti spent a little over two months as Carney’s principal secretary before resigning in September after reportedly clashing with a fellow senior member of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Those same rumours also pegged former energy minister Jonathan Wilkinson as a candidate for another diplomatic post — rumoured to be either the European Union or Germany — but he remains a Liberal MP for now.
Former top cop-turned-politician
Blair’s political career began in 2015 after winning a seat for the Liberals in the riding of Scarborough Southwest.
Blair was instrumental in shaping Canada’s policy for the October 2018 legalization of cannabis and entered cabinet in 2019 as public safety Minister.
He was named president of the Privy Council in 2021, played a key role in Canada’s controversial response to the nationwide convoy protests and was named defence minister in 2023 — a position he held until May 2025.
Before entering politics, Blair spent a decade as Toronto’s chief of police, ending a nearly four-decade policing career in the city upon his retirement in 2015.
“I want to thank my constituents and local volunteers for their trust and support,” Blair said on X. “It has been an honour to be your voice in Parliament for the last decade and to work for all Canadians to build safer communities, protect our sovereignty and shape a better future.”
Blair also thanked Carney and Trudeau as well as those “working behind the scenes in Parliament” for their “commitment to public service. Our country is better for it.
“I’m deeply grateful for this chapter and I look forward to continuing to serve Canada and Canadians in this new capacity.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Bill Blair resigns seat ahead of diplomatic appointment
Bill Blair has given up his seat in the House of Commons for a diplomatic post. Read more.torontosun.com
WE really need to get rid of this guy
- Thread starter Retired_Can_Soldier
- Start date
Always has , which is why our universities are pumping out more political scientists every year hoping for a shot at the gravy train .
Governor General getting $15,800 pay raise this year: 'Insult to taxpayers'
This year's raise will put the GG's annual take-home salary at $393,800
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Feb 06, 2026 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 2 minute read
Mary Simon
Governor General Mary Simon addresses the crowd during the Canada Day festivities in Ottawa in the nation’s capital on July 1, 2025. Jean Levac/Postmedia
OTTAWA — For the fifth year in a row, Canada’s vice-regal will notice a nice bump on her pay stub.
The Privy Council Office (PCO) confirmed to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) that the Governor General will get a $15,800 pay raise this year — current GG Mary Simon’s fifth automatic pay raise since entering Rideau Hall in 2021.
“The entitlement culture in Ottawa is an insult to taxpayers and politicians and bureaucrats shouldn’t expect more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the CTF.
“Taxpayers demand a culture change in Ottawa and that means the government needs to stop rubber-stamping pay raises for the Governor General, politicians and bureaucrats.”
Raises determined by legislation
This year’s raise will put Simon’s annual take-home salary at $393,800 — which the PCO said is determined by provisions in the Governor General’s Act.
According to Statistics Canada, the average annual salary for Canadians is about $75,000.
In 2025, the Governor General got a $15,200 raise, compared to the $11,200 pay bump she got in 2024.
The GG’s salary — established at $270,602 on Jan. 1, 2014 — is subject to annual raises based on a complicated formula multiplying the previous year’s salary by “the lesser of 107% and the percentage that the industrial aggregate for the first adjustment year is of the industrial aggregate for the second adjustment year.”
The salary has increased by $91,000 since 2019.
Legislated pay raises not uncommon
The vice-regal isn’t the only Ottawa denizen subject to legislated raises.
MPs and senators are subject to automatic increases every April 1, this year amounting to anywhere from a $8,800 to a $17,600 raise.
The basic salary for MPs is $209,800, with those holding specific roles or titles entitled to certain increases.
Cabinet ministers, for example, earn an extra $99,900 annually — the same hike granted to the Speaker of the House.
The prime minister earns double the standard MP salary, currently $419,600.
“Can anyone in Ottawa explain how Canadians are getting more value from the Governor General because her taxpayer-funded salary just increased by more than $1,300 a month,” Terrazzano said.
“The Governor General was already costing taxpayers too much money and Simon’s latest pay raise is almost enough to cover a Canadian family’s entire grocery bill for a year.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
This year's raise will put the GG's annual take-home salary at $393,800
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Feb 06, 2026 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 2 minute read
Mary Simon
Governor General Mary Simon addresses the crowd during the Canada Day festivities in Ottawa in the nation’s capital on July 1, 2025. Jean Levac/Postmedia
OTTAWA — For the fifth year in a row, Canada’s vice-regal will notice a nice bump on her pay stub.
The Privy Council Office (PCO) confirmed to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) that the Governor General will get a $15,800 pay raise this year — current GG Mary Simon’s fifth automatic pay raise since entering Rideau Hall in 2021.
“The entitlement culture in Ottawa is an insult to taxpayers and politicians and bureaucrats shouldn’t expect more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the CTF.
“Taxpayers demand a culture change in Ottawa and that means the government needs to stop rubber-stamping pay raises for the Governor General, politicians and bureaucrats.”
Raises determined by legislation
This year’s raise will put Simon’s annual take-home salary at $393,800 — which the PCO said is determined by provisions in the Governor General’s Act.
According to Statistics Canada, the average annual salary for Canadians is about $75,000.
In 2025, the Governor General got a $15,200 raise, compared to the $11,200 pay bump she got in 2024.
The GG’s salary — established at $270,602 on Jan. 1, 2014 — is subject to annual raises based on a complicated formula multiplying the previous year’s salary by “the lesser of 107% and the percentage that the industrial aggregate for the first adjustment year is of the industrial aggregate for the second adjustment year.”
The salary has increased by $91,000 since 2019.
Legislated pay raises not uncommon
The vice-regal isn’t the only Ottawa denizen subject to legislated raises.
MPs and senators are subject to automatic increases every April 1, this year amounting to anywhere from a $8,800 to a $17,600 raise.
The basic salary for MPs is $209,800, with those holding specific roles or titles entitled to certain increases.
Cabinet ministers, for example, earn an extra $99,900 annually — the same hike granted to the Speaker of the House.
The prime minister earns double the standard MP salary, currently $419,600.
“Can anyone in Ottawa explain how Canadians are getting more value from the Governor General because her taxpayer-funded salary just increased by more than $1,300 a month,” Terrazzano said.
“The Governor General was already costing taxpayers too much money and Simon’s latest pay raise is almost enough to cover a Canadian family’s entire grocery bill for a year.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Governor General getting $15,800 pay raise this year: 'Insult to taxpayers'
Current viceregal Mary Simon will earn $393,800 this year — and under legislation her pay will continue increasing annually. Learn more.
Government officials should be paid minimum wage, if that.
Or, they can live on bribes. What's the going rate for a GG or an MP these days?
Or, they can live on bribes. What's the going rate for a GG or an MP these days?
Must be pay raises across the board as the locals here have allocated an additional $800,000 for increases. Might be okay if the town had more than 3 stores and about half as many older ladies. Of course the taxpayer has no choice.Governor General getting $15,800 pay raise this year: 'Insult to taxpayers'
This year's raise will put the GG's annual take-home salary at $393,800
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Feb 06, 2026 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 2 minute read
Mary Simon
Governor General Mary Simon addresses the crowd during the Canada Day festivities in Ottawa in the nation’s capital on July 1, 2025. Jean Levac/Postmedia
OTTAWA — For the fifth year in a row, Canada’s vice-regal will notice a nice bump on her pay stub.
The Privy Council Office (PCO) confirmed to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) that the Governor General will get a $15,800 pay raise this year — current GG Mary Simon’s fifth automatic pay raise since entering Rideau Hall in 2021.
“The entitlement culture in Ottawa is an insult to taxpayers and politicians and bureaucrats shouldn’t expect more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the CTF.
“Taxpayers demand a culture change in Ottawa and that means the government needs to stop rubber-stamping pay raises for the Governor General, politicians and bureaucrats.”
Raises determined by legislation
This year’s raise will put Simon’s annual take-home salary at $393,800 — which the PCO said is determined by provisions in the Governor General’s Act.
According to Statistics Canada, the average annual salary for Canadians is about $75,000.
In 2025, the Governor General got a $15,200 raise, compared to the $11,200 pay bump she got in 2024.
The GG’s salary — established at $270,602 on Jan. 1, 2014 — is subject to annual raises based on a complicated formula multiplying the previous year’s salary by “the lesser of 107% and the percentage that the industrial aggregate for the first adjustment year is of the industrial aggregate for the second adjustment year.”
The salary has increased by $91,000 since 2019.
Legislated pay raises not uncommon
The vice-regal isn’t the only Ottawa denizen subject to legislated raises.
MPs and senators are subject to automatic increases every April 1, this year amounting to anywhere from a $8,800 to a $17,600 raise.
The basic salary for MPs is $209,800, with those holding specific roles or titles entitled to certain increases.
Cabinet ministers, for example, earn an extra $99,900 annually — the same hike granted to the Speaker of the House.
The prime minister earns double the standard MP salary, currently $419,600.
“Can anyone in Ottawa explain how Canadians are getting more value from the Governor General because her taxpayer-funded salary just increased by more than $1,300 a month,” Terrazzano said.
“The Governor General was already costing taxpayers too much money and Simon’s latest pay raise is almost enough to cover a Canadian family’s entire grocery bill for a year.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Governor General getting $15,800 pay raise this year: 'Insult to taxpayers'
Current viceregal Mary Simon will earn $393,800 this year — and under legislation her pay will continue increasing annually. Learn more.
Government officials and the like should be paid at the average of all their constituents. Then the issues are the same. Once the riff raff clears out, there would be good honest people that could fill the jobs with no issue.
The deeper issue is that our society doesn't know how to handle money and the natural tendency to hoard takes precedence over spending for the good of all which in the end creates more of everything for everyone. It's deep thinking.
The deeper issue is that our society doesn't know how to handle money and the natural tendency to hoard takes precedence over spending for the good of all which in the end creates more of everything for everyone. It's deep thinking.
The Parasite gets a raise equal to about what a pensioner is expected to live on for an entire year.Governor General getting $15,800 pay raise this year: 'Insult to taxpayers'
This year's raise will put the GG's annual take-home salary at $393,800
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Feb 06, 2026 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 2 minute read
Mary Simon
Governor General Mary Simon addresses the crowd during the Canada Day festivities in Ottawa in the nation’s capital on July 1, 2025. Jean Levac/Postmedia
OTTAWA — For the fifth year in a row, Canada’s vice-regal will notice a nice bump on her pay stub.
The Privy Council Office (PCO) confirmed to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) that the Governor General will get a $15,800 pay raise this year — current GG Mary Simon’s fifth automatic pay raise since entering Rideau Hall in 2021.
“The entitlement culture in Ottawa is an insult to taxpayers and politicians and bureaucrats shouldn’t expect more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll,” said Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the CTF.
“Taxpayers demand a culture change in Ottawa and that means the government needs to stop rubber-stamping pay raises for the Governor General, politicians and bureaucrats.”
Raises determined by legislation
This year’s raise will put Simon’s annual take-home salary at $393,800 — which the PCO said is determined by provisions in the Governor General’s Act.
According to Statistics Canada, the average annual salary for Canadians is about $75,000.
In 2025, the Governor General got a $15,200 raise, compared to the $11,200 pay bump she got in 2024.
The GG’s salary — established at $270,602 on Jan. 1, 2014 — is subject to annual raises based on a complicated formula multiplying the previous year’s salary by “the lesser of 107% and the percentage that the industrial aggregate for the first adjustment year is of the industrial aggregate for the second adjustment year.”
The salary has increased by $91,000 since 2019.
Legislated pay raises not uncommon
The vice-regal isn’t the only Ottawa denizen subject to legislated raises.
MPs and senators are subject to automatic increases every April 1, this year amounting to anywhere from a $8,800 to a $17,600 raise.
The basic salary for MPs is $209,800, with those holding specific roles or titles entitled to certain increases.
Cabinet ministers, for example, earn an extra $99,900 annually — the same hike granted to the Speaker of the House.
The prime minister earns double the standard MP salary, currently $419,600.
“Can anyone in Ottawa explain how Canadians are getting more value from the Governor General because her taxpayer-funded salary just increased by more than $1,300 a month,” Terrazzano said.
“The Governor General was already costing taxpayers too much money and Simon’s latest pay raise is almost enough to cover a Canadian family’s entire grocery bill for a year.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Governor General getting $15,800 pay raise this year: 'Insult to taxpayers'
Current viceregal Mary Simon will earn $393,800 this year — and under legislation her pay will continue increasing annually. Learn more.
Municipal salaries have tended to outstrip both private and federal government wages for a few years now.
Good unions , remember the administration staff all get equal or better raises . One for me , one for you .
It's absolutely disgusting! The position should be kyboshed!! It's not needed at all & a waste of money.
Now, now. Y'all need a Living Representative of His Majesty the Queen to make you feel all cuddly and loved.
Olivia Chow promotes her budget, and re-election, using your tax dollars
Ad campaign spending to promote city budget more than doubles in election year
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Feb 10, 2026 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 3 minute read
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow looks on during an announcement in 2024. Photo by COLE BURSTON /THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Toronto has gone from spending money to find out what residents want in their city budget to spending more promoting how great the budget is. In fact, in this election year, the city’s communications efforts on selling Mayor Olivia Chow’s budget, which gets voted on Tuesday, increased by $100,000.
Last year, the city spent just $42,000 to sell the public on Mayor Chow’s budget, whereas this year, the spending so far is $142,000.
That includes ads on billboards, radio, as well as ads aimed at “multicultural and diverse communities.” It also includes online ads through Google, LinkedIn, and Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram.
The tally doesn’t include the deal the city has with Astral, the company that operates the ad network for the TTC. Using the contract that gives the city free advertising, they also put up 100 transit shelter posters, utilized 70 digital screens in TTC properties, plus the TVs positioned on bus and subway platforms.
They even used the screens at Yonge-Dundas Square, now called Sankofa Square, to blast out imagery. On top of that, they used the city’s various social media accounts, including TTC accounts, to promote the budget.
Subjected to propaganda? Why, yes
If you feel like you are being subjected to propaganda with your own money, it’s because you are.
According to the online Facebook ad registry, the city spent nearly $12,000 of that amount on the social media platform promoting budget items such as TTC fares being frozen. One ad promoting the budget in general featured the line, “The City of Toronto’s 2026 Budget is building a city that works for you. Learn more and get involved today.”
It’s nice that the ad encouraged people to get involved, but it only started running after the budget was presented, meaning there was very little chance of any public input having sway over the budget’s contents.
The city’s communications plan spent just $56,000 to promote getting the public involved in budget consultations, but $142,000 promoting the finished project. Compare that to 2023 when the city spent $100,000 to get ideas and input from the public on what should be in the budget and just $42,000 in advertising to promote the contents.
All about Chow’s re-election campaign
That was before Chow took over; now it’s all about her re-election campaign this fall.
Since Chow took over in 2023, taxes have increased by 19%, spending 17%. No one could argue that services are 17% or 19% better since Chow took over, she’s simply frozen TTC fares, and expanded library hours to include Sundays.
In addition to promoting the TTC fare freeze and extended library openings, Chow’s budget promotion included an insert sent with all mailed copies of tax bills that also promoted hiring more police, building more affordable housing and completing the Gardiner construction ahead of schedule.
Any additional housing won’t be added to the stock for some time, there is no discernable improvement in the Major Crime Indicators tracked by TPS and the sped-up construction on the Gardiner was made possible by a push and funding increase from the province.
In Olivia Chow’s Toronto, costs go up and basic services languish.
‘Torontonians aren’t seeing value for their tax dollars’: Councillor Bradford
Councillor Brad Bradford, who has already announced he will be running against Chow in October’s election, blasted the spending. He said between the promotion of the much-ignored budget consultation and the money spent to promote the mayor’s budget the city is wasting $200,000 that could have gone to core services.
“It’s no wonder Torontonians aren’t seeing value for their tax dollars, when the mayor is choosing to spend money on propaganda instead of cleaning up parks. These are the wrong priorities when the city needs to focus on delivering basic services much better,” Bradford said.
Delivering basic services, like clearing the snow properly two weeks after a storm, isn’t part of mayor Chow’s plan. She’s focused on her partisan political agenda and re-election on your dime instead.
torontosun.com
Ad campaign spending to promote city budget more than doubles in election year
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Feb 10, 2026 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 3 minute read
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow looks on during an announcement in 2024. Photo by COLE BURSTON /THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Toronto has gone from spending money to find out what residents want in their city budget to spending more promoting how great the budget is. In fact, in this election year, the city’s communications efforts on selling Mayor Olivia Chow’s budget, which gets voted on Tuesday, increased by $100,000.
Last year, the city spent just $42,000 to sell the public on Mayor Chow’s budget, whereas this year, the spending so far is $142,000.
That includes ads on billboards, radio, as well as ads aimed at “multicultural and diverse communities.” It also includes online ads through Google, LinkedIn, and Meta, which owns both Facebook and Instagram.
The tally doesn’t include the deal the city has with Astral, the company that operates the ad network for the TTC. Using the contract that gives the city free advertising, they also put up 100 transit shelter posters, utilized 70 digital screens in TTC properties, plus the TVs positioned on bus and subway platforms.
They even used the screens at Yonge-Dundas Square, now called Sankofa Square, to blast out imagery. On top of that, they used the city’s various social media accounts, including TTC accounts, to promote the budget.
Subjected to propaganda? Why, yes
If you feel like you are being subjected to propaganda with your own money, it’s because you are.
According to the online Facebook ad registry, the city spent nearly $12,000 of that amount on the social media platform promoting budget items such as TTC fares being frozen. One ad promoting the budget in general featured the line, “The City of Toronto’s 2026 Budget is building a city that works for you. Learn more and get involved today.”
It’s nice that the ad encouraged people to get involved, but it only started running after the budget was presented, meaning there was very little chance of any public input having sway over the budget’s contents.
The city’s communications plan spent just $56,000 to promote getting the public involved in budget consultations, but $142,000 promoting the finished project. Compare that to 2023 when the city spent $100,000 to get ideas and input from the public on what should be in the budget and just $42,000 in advertising to promote the contents.
All about Chow’s re-election campaign
That was before Chow took over; now it’s all about her re-election campaign this fall.
Since Chow took over in 2023, taxes have increased by 19%, spending 17%. No one could argue that services are 17% or 19% better since Chow took over, she’s simply frozen TTC fares, and expanded library hours to include Sundays.
In addition to promoting the TTC fare freeze and extended library openings, Chow’s budget promotion included an insert sent with all mailed copies of tax bills that also promoted hiring more police, building more affordable housing and completing the Gardiner construction ahead of schedule.
Any additional housing won’t be added to the stock for some time, there is no discernable improvement in the Major Crime Indicators tracked by TPS and the sped-up construction on the Gardiner was made possible by a push and funding increase from the province.
In Olivia Chow’s Toronto, costs go up and basic services languish.
‘Torontonians aren’t seeing value for their tax dollars’: Councillor Bradford
Councillor Brad Bradford, who has already announced he will be running against Chow in October’s election, blasted the spending. He said between the promotion of the much-ignored budget consultation and the money spent to promote the mayor’s budget the city is wasting $200,000 that could have gone to core services.
“It’s no wonder Torontonians aren’t seeing value for their tax dollars, when the mayor is choosing to spend money on propaganda instead of cleaning up parks. These are the wrong priorities when the city needs to focus on delivering basic services much better,” Bradford said.
Delivering basic services, like clearing the snow properly two weeks after a storm, isn’t part of mayor Chow’s plan. She’s focused on her partisan political agenda and re-election on your dime instead.
LILLEY: Olivia Chow promotes her budget, and re-election, using your tax dollars
Spending to promote Mayor Olivia Chow's budget more than doubled compared to last year. Find out more.
