Resumen de In Defense of Political Staff

Ian Brodie

• The work of political staffers in Canadian politics is often maligned. This article argues that aides, or �exempt staff�, do essential work in Ottawa and other capitals. Far from being shadowy forces operating outside the law, political aides are in fact closely regulated and contribute to the democratic accountability of governments. Improving the quality of political staff will require better attention to their training and more stable career paths over longer periods of time.