Today in Canada’s Political History: Ray Novak appointed Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper

Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper appointed a new Chief of Staff on this date in 2013.

Ray Novak would serve with great distinction as the PM’s top assistant during the following two years, becoming one of the anchors of the Harper government. Previously, he held the positions of Principal Secretary and Executive Assistant to Harper. He was known for providing unvarnished advice to the PM, and was liked and respected by PMO staff and government officials.

I owe a great debt to Ray for his support in my proud role as speechwriter to the Prime Minister, and for countless other courtesies he extended me. It is therefore a great personal pleasure to recognize Ray on this important anniversary.

Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.