Scott Reid (political advisor)
Encyclopedia
Scott Reid was the deputy chief of staff (operations) in the Prime Minister's Office of Canadian
Prime Minister
Paul Martin
, as well as one of Martin's senior and longest-serving advisors. As a key spokesman for Martin, he made frequent appearances in Canadian media speaking on behalf of the PMO and the Liberal Party of Canada
. During the 2005-06 election campaign, he has served as director of communications for the campaign.
Reid has a B.A. in history and politics from Queen's University
. His background includes work for Liberal
Premier of Ontario
David Peterson
. He then went on to work for Earnscliffe Strategy Group, a political consulting firm closely tied to Paul Martin. From 1997 to 2001, Reid served as Communications Director for Martin while the latter was Minister of Finance
. He then returned to Earnscliffe until Martin became Prime Minister in 2003.
In 2004, Reid was the subject of much commented upon remarks by U.S. President George W. Bush
. At a summit in Monterrey, Mexico the Globe and Mail reported that Bush chatted with Reid about his job and then told him that "well, you got a pretty face." Bush repeated "You got a pretty face," and then said "you're a good-looking guy. Better looking than my Scott anyway." He was comparing Reid to his own spokesman, Scott McClellan
.
In October 2004, Reid made media comments concerning Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Danny Williams
during a dispute over offshore oil revenue sharing. When Williams failed to agree to one of Paul Martin's initial offers, Reid said that Williams was "making a mistake of historic proportions and he is doing it on the backs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians... He may get some short term gains, but he will pay for this in the long run." Reid's statement that Williams "was allowing his ego to get in the way of negotiations with the federal government" resulted in a public apology by the Prime Minister.
In 2005, Reid again found himself the subject of media attention after making several comments the press deemed to be insulting. Reid reportedly told Calgary Herald
columnist Don Martin
that, "Alberta can blow me."
In December 2005, Reid made an off-the-cuff comment that received negative press and was quickly exploited by the opposition and national press corp. Reid suggested that the Conservative
plan to issue cheques to parents of children under six was ill thought out because the parents might opt to spend the money on "beer and popcorn". The Tories countered with a press release stating "Does Paul Martin also stand by the views of his senior-most campaign officials -- that parents would choose 'beer and popcorn' over quality care for their children?" and Reid apologized. Reid's remarks are considered one of the Liberal Party
's major gaffes of the 2006 federal election
campaign.
On the January 29, 2006 episode of CBC News: Sunday
, Scott Reid stated that he would be stepping down from his position as press secretary of the Liberal Party in early February 2006. When questioned if he intended to remain in politics, he stated that he had an interest in remaining active in the Liberal party in the future.
After the Liberals' defeat in the January 2006 election, Reid and Scott Feschuk
, Martin's chief speechwriter, launched their own speechwriting company, Feschuk Reid.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, as well as one of Martin's senior and longest-serving advisors. As a key spokesman for Martin, he made frequent appearances in Canadian media speaking on behalf of the PMO and the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. During the 2005-06 election campaign, he has served as director of communications for the campaign.
Reid has a B.A. in history and politics from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. His background includes work for Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
. He then went on to work for Earnscliffe Strategy Group, a political consulting firm closely tied to Paul Martin. From 1997 to 2001, Reid served as Communications Director for Martin while the latter was Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (Canada)
The Minister of Finance is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible each year for presenting the federal government's budget...
. He then returned to Earnscliffe until Martin became Prime Minister in 2003.
In 2004, Reid was the subject of much commented upon remarks by U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. At a summit in Monterrey, Mexico the Globe and Mail reported that Bush chatted with Reid about his job and then told him that "well, you got a pretty face." Bush repeated "You got a pretty face," and then said "you're a good-looking guy. Better looking than my Scott anyway." He was comparing Reid to his own spokesman, Scott McClellan
Scott McClellan
Scott McClellan is a former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, and author of a controversial No. 1 New York Times bestseller about the Bush Administration titled What Happened. He replaced Ari Fleischer as press secretary in July 2003 and served until May 10, 2006...
.
In October 2004, Reid made media comments concerning Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is the first minister, head of government and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Before 1964, the position's official title was Premier of Newfoundland...
Danny Williams
Danny Williams (politician)
Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC, MHA is a Canadian politician, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...
during a dispute over offshore oil revenue sharing. When Williams failed to agree to one of Paul Martin's initial offers, Reid said that Williams was "making a mistake of historic proportions and he is doing it on the backs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians... He may get some short term gains, but he will pay for this in the long run." Reid's statement that Williams "was allowing his ego to get in the way of negotiations with the federal government" resulted in a public apology by the Prime Minister.
In 2005, Reid again found himself the subject of media attention after making several comments the press deemed to be insulting. Reid reportedly told Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
columnist Don Martin
Don Martin (journalist)
Don Martin is a Canadian television and newspaper journalist, currently the host of Power Play on CTV News Channel. Formerly a political columnist for the National Post and the Calgary Herald, he joined the show in 2010 following the departure of Tom Clark.-References:...
that, "Alberta can blow me."
In December 2005, Reid made an off-the-cuff comment that received negative press and was quickly exploited by the opposition and national press corp. Reid suggested that the Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
plan to issue cheques to parents of children under six was ill thought out because the parents might opt to spend the money on "beer and popcorn". The Tories countered with a press release stating "Does Paul Martin also stand by the views of his senior-most campaign officials -- that parents would choose 'beer and popcorn' over quality care for their children?" and Reid apologized. Reid's remarks are considered one of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
's major gaffes of the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
campaign.
On the January 29, 2006 episode of CBC News: Sunday
CBC News: Sunday
CBC News: Sunday was a weekly television newsmagazine series in Canada, which aired on Sunday mornings on both CBC Newsworld and CBC Television...
, Scott Reid stated that he would be stepping down from his position as press secretary of the Liberal Party in early February 2006. When questioned if he intended to remain in politics, he stated that he had an interest in remaining active in the Liberal party in the future.
After the Liberals' defeat in the January 2006 election, Reid and Scott Feschuk
Scott Feschuk
Scott Feschuk is a Canadian speechwriter, humorist and former newspaper journalist.His journalism career began at The Globe and Mail. After five years as a TV and political columnist for the National Post, he left the newspaper in 2004 to become chief speechwriter for then Prime Minister Paul...
, Martin's chief speechwriter, launched their own speechwriting company, Feschuk Reid.