Joseph Coppolino

The work staffers do in the shadows of the Pink Palace — while elected officials bask in the limelight — cannot be ignored. They play a huge role in ensuring the proper functioning of the legislature, regardless of what side of the benches they are working on.

 surveyed people working in Ontario politics and related industries about who they believe are the most effective and influential opposition staffers at Queen's Park. All Ontario MPP offices and government ministries were invited to participate.

 subscribers were also invited to take part in the survey. Subscribers include government and public relations professionals, industry and not-for-profit organizations stakeholders, the Ontario Public Service, media personnel, and more.

Almost 280 people responded to the survey’s questions between May 1 and 15. Respondents stated they align with all political parties represented in the legislative assembly. Almost half said they have over five years of experience working in Ontario politics and related industries.

Here are Ontario’s most effective and influential opposition staffers according to 

Chief of Staff, Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition

Denton’s commitment to the NDP for more than 15 years has led to him standing atop the survey’s list of influential opposition staffers. Before joining Marit Stiles’s team as an executive assistant following her 2018 election, Denton could be found working in the background for NDP politicians, both at the provincial and federal levels, since 2007.

Originally hailing from the Maritimes, he started his NDP career within Jack Layton’s federal caucus and has since worked for Dippers Nathan Cullen, Megan Leslie and Peggy Nash.

Denton initially took on the role as executive assistant to Stiles with the intention of helping her get set up in her first year, he says, but now Denton is helping shape the NDP’s next chapter.

“It’s definitely been a shift from being responsible for constituency emails to helping run the organization,” he said.

“It's been great, but in some ways we are just getting started.”

Opposition leader Marit Stiles says Denton’s experience led their team through a virtually seamless transition as the reigns were handed over from Horwath.

“But it’s his vision for the next three years that brought everyone together and inspired us,” she said.

As Gélinas’s right-hand man, Waddell has been by the fifth-term Nickel Belt MPP and health critic’s side since 2012 – the entirety of his career in politics.

Waddell guessed his success comes from keeping things friendly and a willingness to help. He also gave a tip of the hat to Gélinas, calling her “one of the hardest working bosses.” Gélinas’ visibility province wide and likeability within her constituency lets Waddell and the team focus on their agenda and not the next election cycle, he said.

Waddell keeps a low-profile, essentially limiting his online presence to news articles about a harrowing 2013 bike accident in Toronto that 

Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition

A lawyer by training, Jasmine Attfield started with the NDP as a legislative assistant to several MPPs after law school following the 2018 elections. Attfield eventually worked her way into the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition as a legislative affairs manager before taking on the role of Deputy director of legislative affairs shortly before lockdowns began in March 2020.

“I had about one normal week before the world ended,” she said.

Over the past five years she’s worked closely with NDP caucus staff and her counterparts across the parties.

“I’m in an inherently relationship building role,” she said. “I sat in the chamber all day, every day while the house was sitting for two and a half years."

Researcher, Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition

For the better part of a decade, Bowker has had a voice within Ontario NDP circles.

He first came to provincial politics serving as an executive assistant and campaign communications manager to former Trinity-Spadina MPP Rosario Marchese in 2012, before making the leap to former NDP leader Andrea Horwath’s office in 2014.

Stiles called Bowker “invaluable” and “his ability to propose fresh solutions is his secret superpower.”

Following the completion of her Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2017, Bedassigae-Pheasant started her career as a policy advisor in the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines before joining the Ontario NDP caucus as a legislative assistant in 2019

Bedassigae-Pheasant now serves as the executive assistant to Sol Mamakwa, MPP for the Northern Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong, stretching from Sioux Lookout to Fort Severn on Hudson Bay. She joined Mamakwa in 2020 after he was first elected in 2018 and shepherded him through the 2022 campaign.

Mamakwa said Bedassigae-Pheasant’s wide-range of experience and education make her an essential member of his team. He adds that having someone with that experience who is also Indigenous is particularly impactful for his riding.

Chief of Staff to Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party 


Executive Assistant to MPP Lucille Collard

Chief of Staff to Green leader Mike Schreiner

Communications Advisor to Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady

Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs to

Executive Assistant to MPP Michael Mantha

Here are Ontario’s most influential opposition staffers according to 

Queen’s Park Survey 2023: Most influential opposition staffers

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