Harper strong on offence, in every way: Riley

PM Stephen Harper either backs off, blames a bureaucrat—or, better still, a Liberal—and waits for another day. What he never does, and never will do, is apologize, admit a mistake or allow the enemy to take a prisoner.

When will politicians start dealing honestly, openly with the most serious challenge facing our planet?

First, if you want to sell your magnificent record of environmental stewardship, in the hopes of allaying U.S. administration qualms about the Keystone XL pipeline, you don’t send Joe Oliver to Washington.

It’s revenge of the nerds, but they’re still nerds

Trudeau vows to fight the personal attacks by not responding in kind—confessing to Mansbridge that his approach may be naive. But he is convinced that Canadians are disgusted as he is with Harper’s tactics.

Forgotten, but not gone

The central quest of Canada’s newly-awakened First Nations activists could hardly be more profound. What they are asking for, in various ways and different languages, is respect, recognition of the injustices they have endured and, amazingly, reconciliation with the non-native majority.

Ethics rules for ministers: be obedient, be indispensable

I don’t know about you, but I’m confused. What does it take to be fired by Stephen Harper?

Justin Trudeau: bright new thing or same-old same-old?

Trudeau’s controlled and cautious campaign points to a conservative, rather than transformative, approach to government—deferential to the oil industry, foreign investors, powerful interest groups, and, dream-like rhetoric aside, the economic status quo.

Finley never lets reality trump ideology

The federal minister of Human Resources and Skills Development is a low-wattage presence on the Harper front bench, but she keeps alight the flickering flame of Thatcherism.

Two premiers and a plan

Alison Redford of Alberta and David Alward of New Brunswick have been roaming the land recently, selling what sounds like an irresistible idea.

Time for frank talk on foreign aid, and a reset

Haiti is a specially difficult case. Aid work can take decades. Development is not a career for the impatient.

Riley: the heroes and zeroes of First Nations uprising

The hero, even if young activists don’t see it this way, is Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo.

2012: Let’s not do that again, says Riley

So many fine minds, wasted. So many reputations, shredded. So many bright hopes, dashed. The dumpsters around Parliament Hill must be brimming with discarded principles this holiday season.

While Justin panders, Martha gambles

While Trudeau was backpedalling furiously last week over his gun registry blunder, Martha Hall Findlay called Stéphane Dion’s doomed Green Shift ‘brilliant policy.’ Now that is bold.

If Trudeau is ‘progressive,’ what does the word mean?

A national energy policy, reborn and renamed

While environmental questions remain, this project could give oil producers the ‘social licence’ that Alberta Premier Alison Redford and others say they need to keep selling their controversial product—at least at home.

Harper’s Tories: loud and proud after all

Who would have predicted, in 2005, that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives would become global champions of gay rights?

Style, meet substance. Substance, meet style

If Liberals are running a beauty contest, Justin Trudeau will win. If they want more, they are going to have choices.

There's a pretence of penny-pinching on MPs’ pensions: Riley

It has taken a while, and the sensitive debate has mostly unfolded behind closed doors, but federal politicians are finally moving to trim their extravagantly generous pensions.

Oliver’s arrogance trumps Redford’s insight: Riley

A national energy strategy won’t answer all the questions. But neither will an approach—Energy Minister Joe Oliver’s approach—that essentially says ‘pipe down and leave it to us.’

Politicians as transparent as misbehaving six-year-olds

The larger problem is a culture that insists on loyalty above common sense, honesty and consistency.

Make the rich pay? Not in Canada

Canada needs a return to rectitude in the private sector and recognition that public service can offer compensation more important than money.