The Invisible Government: How Council–Staff Relations Shape Municipal Governance
The Invisible Government Last week, I was at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, an event I’ve attended for years as both an elected official and more recently as a representative of Counsel Public Affairs. For me, it has always been one of the best places to reconnect with municipal politicians from […]
Building the Bench: Leadership Beyond the Table
Reflecting on my time speaking at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference on the Women’s Leadership Panel, one realization stood out clearly: we spend a tremendous amount of time talking about getting to the table, securing that first seat, breaking through glass ceilings, and ensuring our voices are present in key governance and […]
Counsel Welcomes Sara Loft as Senior Advisor and Nibwaakaawin Indigenous Engagement Practice Lead
Counsel Public Affairs is pleased to welcome Sara Loft as Senior Advisor and the new leader of Counsel’s Nibwaakaawin Indigenous Engagement practice. Sara is Bear Clan from the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario, and an elected Council Member. With a background in both law and public administration, she brings deep experience across government, Indigenous […]
Amanda van Baarsen Promoted to Senior Vice President & Western Practice Lead
Amanda van Baarsen Promoted to Senior Vice President & Western Practice Lead. Counsel Public Affairs is pleased to announce the promotion of Amanda van Baarsen to Senior Vice President and Practice Lead for Western Canada. In her new role, Amanda is responsible for the growth and health of the practice, from client outcomes to the […]
Why Strong Candidates Fall Short
Why strong candidates fall short As we get closer to the 2026 Ontario municipal elections this fall, many strong candidates are starting to come forward wanting to serve their communities. The sad reality is, many will fall short. When a capable municipal candidate loses, the easy conclusion is that they failed to connect with voters. […]
Government Doesn’t Take the Summer Off. Neither Should Your Advocacy.
When Queen’s Park rises for the summer, many organizations assume government does too, and they take their foot off the gas. Don’t make that mistake. Government doesn’t stop when the Legislature does. Ministers are on the road. MPPs are on the ground in their ridings. Political staff are working on priorities for the fall. Policy […]
Pipeline peace and Premier David Eby’s economic agenda highlight historic deal brokered by Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier David Eby today announced an historic and comprehensive economic agreement that touches on nearly every sector of the province’s economy while brokering peace between British Columbia and Alberta on the divisive issue of pipeline construction. The Canada-British Columbia Prosperity Agreement provides federal financial support to a series of critically […]
Pegah Taj and Maleeka Thomas Join Counsel Public Affairs
Counsel expands teams in BC and Ottawa Counsel continues to grow its expert team, strengthening its presence across multiple jurisdictions and expanding its ability to support clients navigating complex policy, regulatory, and government relations environments. With the addition of Pegah Taj as Senior Consultant in Victoria and Maleeka Thomas as Consultant in Ottawa, Counsel continues […]
Counsel at CRIC 2026 – Some Thoughts on Insights, AI, and Where We Go From Here
Recently, I had the privilege of attending CRIC’s national conference at The Carlu in downtown Toronto (CRIC stands for Canadian Research Insights Council). The conference was an opportunity for Canada’s research, analytics, and insights community to come together to share ideas and celebrate innovation beneath the timeless Art Moderne ceilings of the former Eaton’s Seventh […]
The Best Employees You’ve Never Thought to Hire
One of the biggest challenges for ambitious, fast-growing organizations is finding the right talent – the kind of people who can jump in and keep up. The question is: what does that person look like and more importantly, where do you find them? Do you need someone who can think on their feet, put out fires, and function on minimal sleep? […]