Local MP named chief whip

Ottawa-area MP Marlene Catterall has been named chief government whip.

Catterall's job will be to impose party discipline and to ensure members are in Parliament for votes. She replaces Bob Kilger, who quit to run for the Speaker's job.

A Quebec MP, Jacques Saada, takes over as deputy government whip.

Catterall was first elected to the Commons in 1988, and became deputy whip in 1994.

Saada was first elected in 1997, and has been parliamentary secretary to the Solicitor General since 1998.