Statecraft opens the cabinet door on prime ministerial power in Ottawa
Editors Stephen Azzi and Patrice Dutil—professors at Carleton University and Toronto Metropolitan University, respectively—have spent years studying and publishing about Canadian prime ministers. In Statecraft, they introduce a novel lens to a literature that has traditionally focused on prime ministers as heads of government striving to advance an agenda without being derailed by political firefighting or […]
Extremities of anger
Marsha Lederman’s October 7th is a book that comes out of the Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s military response, but it’s not an account of the war in Gaza or how it is playing out in Israeli politics or in the Arab world. It is about how the conflict is being felt here in Canada, culturally.
Imagining Canada into being
The narratives of nation building have always been aspirational, and for a country that holds itself to be just and tolerant, Canada’s past and present are rife with injustices and intolerances. Amid the prosperity, there remains poverty. Alongside compassion there is an ineradicable strain of selfishness. The project that is Canada is not yet finished. Long may it remain a work in progress.
‘An upset tummy of a book’: Mark Critch on anger, humour, and why he was itching to write
The comedian reflects on his latest book’s inspiration, including Donald Trump, national identity, and the chaos of Canadian politics.
Canadian war photography historian looks into Vimy Ridge
Carla-Jean Stokes’ book about William Ivor Castle’s work tells the stories behind the famous photographer’s First World War photos, including the ones he manipulated.
Q&A | ‘Treachery’ and ‘troublemaker’ MPs: why going against party leaders is verboten in Canadian politics
In the new book No I in Team, political scientist Alex Marland and his co-authors unpack why party discipline has gone too far.
The impossible office: why Canadian prime ministers fail
The Canadian prime ministership is an impossible office, demanding that its occupant simultaneously pass three unforgiving tests: political, managerial, and collegial. Fail one and you’re limping. Fail two and you’re finished. Justin Trudeau was wobbling on all three. One wonders how Mark Carney will fare.
For democracy, we have to make public life appealing again
Despite our county’s many strengths, our politics suffer from some formidable challenges. The national discourse has become more polarized, divisive, and nastier. Unfortunately, we aren’t alone. Democracies across the globe face similar, even more ominous predicaments.
Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists talk about their books
The $25,000 prize will be handed out on Sept. 24 in Ottawa at the Politics and the Pen event, the annual fundraiser for the Writers’ Trust of Canada.
Is Finland a model for Canada to counter disinformation?
The reported absence of significant attacks will likely continue to fuel the belief in democratic policy circles that Finland is a shining example other countries should follow in the fight against disinformation. But how practical is the hope that Finland can be a beacon for other democracies? Ecologically speaking, not very.
