Latest news with #AndrewMacDougall
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
There's a good reason Carney has nothing to learn from Starmer on negotiating with Trump
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, centre, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16 in Kananaskis, Alta. 'What Trump doesn't do is bully things he likes,' writes Andrew MacDougall. 'Trump likes the United Kingdom and that makes all of the difference. It has little to do with Starmer or his propositions.' Pool Getty Images flag wire: false flag sponsored: false article_type: Opinion : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false : Andrew MacDougall is a director at Trafalgar Strategy, a U.K.-based consultancy, and was director of communications to former prime minister Stephen Harper. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Why Carney has nothing to learn from Starmer on negotiating with Trump
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, centre, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16 in Kananaskis, Alta. 'What Trump doesn't do is bully things he likes,' writes Andrew MacDougall. 'Trump likes the United Kingdom and that makes all of the difference. It has little to do with Starmer or his propositions.' Pool Getty Images flag wire: false flag sponsored: false article_type: Opinion : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false : Andrew MacDougall is a director at Trafalgar Strategy, a U.K.-based consultancy, and was director of communications to former prime minister Stephen Harper. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Ottawa Citizen
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
MacDonald: The ideal setting for the prime minister's new home
Article content In the long sorry tale of finding a home for our prime minister, many ideas have surfaced, some more worthy of consideration than others. Andrew MacDougall's recent suggestion in the Ottawa Citizen that Rideau Hall would be just right for the job has sparked a debate we should snuff out here and now. Article content It is perhaps typical of Canada that neither the representative of our head of state (the Governor General), nor our head of government (the prime minister), has a residence purpose-built to their roles. But there is nothing particularly unusual or wrong about that. Like both Rideau Hall and 24 Sussex Drive, 10 Downing Street was built as a private residence. Nor is it likely that it's what anyone would choose if starting from scratch. Article content Article content Article content Indeed, even Buckingham Palace started out life as a private residence, and the familiar façade we see today was only one of the later, many additions and improvements made over the course of the last two centuries. Article content The same holds true for Rideau Hall, which was built originally as a private residence for Thomas McKay, but which has served as the vice-regal residence for every single Governor General of Canada since Confederation. Few at first would have thought it a suitable residence for the sovereign's representative but over the intervening decades it has seen additions and improvements with a view to making it just that, an appropriate venue for affairs of state, such as are performed by the Governor General. Article content The prime minister, on the other hand, has no need for a similar venue. Nor does he need the kind of office space available at Rideau Hall for the Governor General's staff and other vice-regal functionaries. He already has significantly more office space in the Privy Council Office building and in the Parliament Buildings. Article content Article content Article content What the prime minister does need, though, is a home, one that is safe and secure. And appropriate for the role, for while the prime minister does not preside over events such as Order of Canada investitures requiring venues like the ballroom at Rideau Hall, he should be able to host his international peers in a style of which Canadians can be proud. I've been to a reception at 24 Sussex. It doesn't fit the bill. Article content And while I'm no expert, I can well believe it wouldn't be anyone's first choice from a security perspective. But then would Rideau Hall be any better? I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet given how long the prime minister has been living at Rideau Cottage, but does anyone think the grounds of Rideau Hall would remain open to the public if the prime minister moved in for good? (And does anyone remember the outcry the last time the grounds were closed to the public for 'security reasons?')
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
AC delays at Island long-term care homes continue
Residents at many of the Island's public long-term care facilities could be in for a warm summer as delays in getting air conditioning set up continue. Andrew MacDougall, the executive director of seniors care with Health PEI, says finding companies to do the installation work has been more difficult than expected. The province put out tenders to install cooling units at seven facilities back in November. Two newer long-term care locations on the Island are already equipped with air conditioning. MacDougall said contracts have been awarded for four homes — Summerset Manor, Wedgewood Manor, Prince Edward Home and Beach Grove Home — and new tenders have been issued for the remaining facilities. The province is now in the process of scheduling the work, though MacDougall said none of the AC units are installed yet. "The reality is it's been a complicated procurement process," he said. "I think everyone's well aware that Prince Edward Island's a booming place. There's lots of construction, lots of industry going on, and it's been challenging to get market response to the tenders that we put out." He said changes in standards for the types of coolants used in the units have also contributed in part to the delays. In the meantime, MacDougall said there's no "one magic solution" but the province has been installing portable AC units and fans in the facilities, which are also cutting back on the use of what he called "heat-inducing equipment" like ovens and dishwashers. He said staff are keeping a close eye on residents to make sure they're properly hydrated. "We didn't want to be here right now having this kind of conversation when we started this process earlier," he said. "We are here, but we are prepared as well and we're responding." MacDougall said the time frame for getting the cooling units installed varies from facility to facility and will depend in part on when contractors are available. Residents, staff struggle with lack of AC With the Island having dealt with recent heat warnings and humidex values reaching the high 30s, one staff member at a long-term care facility said there is an urgent need for cooling. "It is pretty miserable on the hot days, especially," said Jeleasa O'Connor, a resident care worker at the Prince Edward Home. "On the really hot days, it's affecting us. We're having to take more breaks, definitely getting more water in, more people complaining of headaches and migraines." She said staff have been taking care to make certain residents are hydrated and cool. She added that while there are heat pumps in the facility, their range is small. And residents who have their own portable ACs end up staying in their rooms where things are most comfortable. O'Connor said she expects morale will improve once the facility is properly outfitted. "The heat makes everybody grumpy, staff and residents," she said.
