Ottawa · Public Affairs · Strategic Communications
I aimed for it.
I understand why things work, not just how.
That's the difference between managing a situation
and seeing it before it exists.
I grew up in Matane. I ended up in Ottawa. That wasn't an accident — it was a decision made early, when the logic of it wasn't obvious to anyone else. Ottawa is where decisions get made in this country. That's where I wanted to be.
My career has moved across contexts that most advisors never bridge: provincial politics in Quebec, a political internship in France before I had any connections to leverage, federal files in Ottawa, corporate mandates, crisis work that never made the news — because that's what good crisis management looks like. The crises that don't explode are the ones nobody hears about.
"I'm usually early. I've learned to see that as a method, not a flaw."
I was with Sheila Copps when everyone was with Paul Martin. With Bob Rae when Quebec was Ignatieff or Dion. I convinced Montreal's administration to bid for the FIFA World Cup when the conventional wisdom said the new mayor would never go for it — and it was Edmonton, the sure bet, that ultimately walked away. I proposed that a minister use federal funding obligations to hold Hockey Canada accountable on language rights — a precedent that became a governance tool for years afterward.
None of that is contrarianism. It's a consistent pattern: I find the path that isn't on the map yet, because I started reading the terrain earlier. The obstacles I flag usually seem abstract until they're not. The opportunities I push usually seem unlikely until they're obvious.
I've spent a decade in Ontario. I operate across both linguistic worlds of Canadian politics — not as a translator, but as someone who genuinely understands both from the inside. That's rarer than it sounds. And it's one of the reasons I ended up in Ottawa. This is where Canada actually happens.
I'm not the advisor who'll tell you what you want to hear. I'm the one who'll tell you what's coming — and what to do about it before anyone else knows it matters.
Before a file becomes a crisis, before an obstacle becomes a wall, before an opportunity closes — that's where I work. I advise organizations on what's coming in federal policy, regulatory environments, and political dynamics. Not trend reports. Actual strategic positioning.
Ottawa isn't just a geography — it's a system with its own logic, its own timing, its own pressure points. I know how mandates move through that system, where they stall, and how to advance files that others have written off. Bilingual. Both sides of the aisle. Federal and provincial interfaces.
The best crisis work is invisible — the public never sees it because it was managed before it escalated. That's the standard I work to. When visibility is unavoidable, I build the narrative that controls the frame, not just the message.
Analysis on Canadian politics, federal policy, and defence. Independent. Unfiltered. The take nobody asked for — and usually needed.
Leclercʼs War Room →Analyse politique et communications stratégiques. Le même regard, une autre langue, un angle parfois différent.
Lire sur Substack →Real-time political analysis, commentary, and the occasional observation that doesn't fit anywhere else.
Follow @kimleclerc →Longer-form professional analysis. Public affairs, communications strategy, and Canadian policy. The work behind the work.
Connect on LinkedIn →Commentary on Canadian politics, federal policy, and strategic communications. Available for interviews, panels, and expert analysis.
Media inquiries →Earlier writing on public affairs, government relations, and Canadian policy. Still indexed. Still relevant.
Read the archive →A conversation show hosted with Audrey Aubut. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Listen on Spotify →Video content on Canadian politics, public affairs, and strategic analysis.
Watch on YouTube →If you find the analysis useful, you can support independent work directly.
Buy me a coffee →Community Advocacy — CCHADO
Gold award in issues and crisis management for the Central Outaouais hospital campaign. AUCOIN Stratégie & Communication, 2024.
Hockey Canada & Language Rights
Proposed the minister invoke federal funding obligations to hold Hockey Canada accountable on French-language requirements — a governance precedent later applied across sports organizations.
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Montréal Bid
Advised on Montréal's World Cup host city candidacy when conventional wisdom said the new administration wouldn't engage. Montréal joined the bid. Edmonton — the consensus pick — withdrew.
F-35 Cost Overruns — Expert Analysis
Quoted as expert on why countries may seek alternatives to the F-35 amid rising costs and procurement uncertainty — including Canada's strategic calculus.
Read the article →Available for Expert Analysis
Commentary on Canadian federal politics, public affairs, defence policy, and strategic communications. Bilingual. Based in Ottawa.
I work with organizations navigating complex policy environments, reputational challenges, and strategic uncertainty. I also take media inquiries and speaking engagements seriously.