Stories by Susan Riley
Something strange happening in Canadian politics
There is no telling what will happen if Justin Trudeau stumbles—as he inevitably will; as all long-serving prime ministers do, and Erin O’Toole may look benign in retrospect.
If a more confident managerial class embraces a new way of working—and accepts the modicum of risk that comes with any change—the federal public service could become a more vibrant, diverse, relevant workplace.
Unlike most of his cabinet contemporaries, Marc Miller rarely appears to be speaking from a script. This makes him interesting, which is hardly ever the case with senior ministers.
Jonathan Wilkinson wasn’t elected to protect the profits and longevity of oil and gas. He is supposed to be protecting Canadians from the kind of disaster occurring in his own province right now.
Conservatives would be well advised to start fashioning serious and updated economic policies, researching Liberal spending that may have backfired and come to terms with a country changing faster than they are.
It is time all political leaders acknowledge the sensible, significant majority of Canadians who did the responsible—and, frankly, easy—thing and got their shots.
As the world heads to COP26, the international climate conference in Glasgow, next week, it is time for the prime minister to pick a lane, now.
The crucial thing is to be curious, rather than quick to judge, to look beyond the politicians (on all sides) who exploit and inflate regional resentments for their own ends.Author
In retrospect, the election looks far from inconsequential; it may even look momentous, notwithstanding the absence of a radical shift in seats.
Now is a good time for voters to cast their judgement on Canada's political leaders, and how they have—or have not—addressed the country's biggest challenges.
There's only one option for those who believe the climate crisis is urgent and there is no more time for endlessly flexible targets: vote for the local candidate who is most credible on the environment. 
In the end, Senators almost always bow to the wishes of the government because they know they haven’t got the legitimacy of an elected body. But these days, the interventions seem less predictable.
Sorry, partisans, but at this stage, signs favour the Liberals.
The truth is there is no single, sweeping measure any government, or individual, can take that will eliminate the ugliness in our past, or end ongoing discrimination against Indigenous, Muslim, Asian, South Asian, Black.
Lewis is no shoe-in to win in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.
Too often, Justin Trudeau prefers to issue arrogant denials and elliptical non-answers that satisfy no one, embarrass his front bench and leave even friendly voters disappointed and cynical.
If politicians are unable to relate to the struggles of people they don’t often meet, maybe they’ll realize that paying sick people to stay home ultimately benefits the bottom line.
There will be plenty of time for an inquiry once the crisis has passed. But for now, a little co-operation, even the occasional word of support for the other side. Let's assume everyone is trying to do their best.
Once again, the Trudeau government’s larger, loftier climate ambitions seem to vanish every time a pipeline company, or a western premier, declares that the sky is falling. It never falls.
If Question Period remains impervious to reform, it needs to be marginalized—fewer sessions, selected topics, no longer televised?—and replaced by more rigorous committee hearings with rotating casts of MPs.
As deft as it was in designing and delivering relief, the Trudeau government’s ability to sell its message remain abysmal.
Erin O’Toole currently has a foot in two camps—those who want a modern, centrist party that takes climate change, social justice and the role of government seriously, or, the moral purists.
The prime minister has to know that any detailed, well-funded federal 'intrusion' on provincial turf, aimed at improving long-term care, could be wildly applauded by the public.
If Justin Trudeau was serious about climate, he would stand up to Jason Kenney and the well-financed oil lobby, not to Joe Biden.
'Shaming and blaming people does not prevent the spread of COVID. It creates stigma. It drives people underground,' says Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, and ain't that the truth. 
There is appropriate fodder for opposition critics, but instead they waste hours demanding timelines when everything is in flux, greeting every federal announcement with the same level of hostility and volume.
The clearest culprit in the current mess is an ideology—the neoliberal preference for small government, the stubborn and wrong-headed belief that private sector is always more efficient, a distrust of science.
The Trudeau government has shown it can move quickly, and mostly effectively, when faced with a health crisis. Wasn’t climate change supposed to be a crisis, too?
The Conservative motion is a fishing expedition, and, given the ongoing crisis, definitely out-of-season.
Taxing the rich sounds good in a campaign ad, but making it work requires careful design, clever marketing, and enduring commitment. These are not qualities associated with political leaders of any persuasion.
Why waste any more time and emotional energy blaming anyone, or everyone, when we need governments, political leaders, school boards, and public health agencies to start fixing what went wrong? 
The climate crisis is accelerating with every passing season. If not now, when? If not us, who?