November 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
- Meeting with Rob Anders, 5pm
Attendees: Dave Fitzpatrick, John Dielwart
Thursday, November 16, 2006
- Meeting with Jim Prentice, 10 am
Attendees: Sue Riddell-Rose, David Middleton, Gord Kerr, John Dielwart
- Meeting with Lee Richardson, 3:30 pm
Attendees: Sue Riddell-Rose, David Fitzpatrick, Gord Kerr, John Dielwart
- Meeting with Diane Ablonczy
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and MP for Calgary Nosehill, 4:30 pm
Friday, November 17, 2006
- Meeting with James Rajotte, 11am
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
- Meeting with Brad Trost (Saskatoon-Humbolt), Chair of Conservative Energy Caucus, 11am, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
Summary: Brad Trost was focused almost exclusively on the political angle. He professed to have done a great deal of reading on the issue, and was knowledgable. However, when getting into more of the substantive discussion, he was less knowledgable to some of the more fundamental impact, particularly when it comes to the technicalities of the financial structures of income trusts. He also confessed to be unaware of "how bureaucrats think" and the interplay between the department of finance and the bureacracy.
Nevertheless, the meeting was positive. Brad was receptive. As Chair of the Conservative Energy Caucus and Member of the Natural Resources committee, it can be assumed he will be sympathetic and do what he can to assist the coalition.
- Lunch with John McCallum, Liberal Finance critic, 12:00pm, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
Summary: the Liberals clearly want to propose a ten year extension as their policy. McCallum clearly wanted to have this position endorsed by the coalition, which they avoided doing. Once again, the politics of this issue is outweighing the policy. McCallum used the meeting to sound out his preferred direction for the Liberals.
- Meeting with Mike Savage (Lib) (Dartmouth), 1:30pm, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
- Meeting with Steven Chase, Globe and Mail Parliamentary Bureau, 9:30am, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
- Meeting with Patrick McIntyre, Senior Policy Advisor, Natural Resources, 11am, Ottawa.
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
- Meeting with Massimo Pacetti (Lib), Vice Chair of House Finance Committee, 12:30pm, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
- Meeting with Simon Doyle, Ottawa Hill Times, 2pm, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
- Meeting with Judy Wasylyceia-Leis (NDP), 4:30pm, Ottawa
Attendees: Gordon Kerr, David Middleton
Thursday, November 23, 2006
- Meeting with National Post Editorial Board, 11am, Toronto
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
- Meeting with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty at 5:15pm, Ottawa
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
- Meeting with Federal Conservative Alberta Caucus at 8:15am, Ottawa
Attendees: Dave Middleton, Gord Kerr, John Dielwart
Summary: While brief, the meeting was positive. Gord Kerr presented prepared remarks summarizing the meeting with the Minister (at a high level). John Dielwart followed up with a conversation about operating in a mature basin and the value of the trust structure to extract from the basin. He also underscored the fact that the MLPs are still in existance in the United States and that now is not the time to kill the structure when it is expanding in the U.S. Dave MIddleton talked about enhanced oil recovery and CO2 extractions - and how the trust structure brings jobs, royalty revenues, taxes and reinvestment.
It was a succinct presentation, and the messages the members presented were complimentary. The caucus gave about 5 minutes for Q&As. Ken Epp remarked that he wished they would have had more time with the coalition, and I think he was genuine. It might be worth seeing if we could get them back there for a longer period next time they're in town.
Some very key and senior caucus members were there, including Ministers Ambrose (although she arrived at the end) and Prentice.