Into the Harper nostalgia storm
OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you’re into bizarre conspiracy theories (and who isn’t?) you’re going to love one I heard recently concerning former prime minister Stephen Harper. Told to me by a staunchly Conservative friend of mine, this theory postulates that Harper is secretly plotting a political comeback. According my friend, if the Liberals call a snap election […]
Conservatives counting on new faces in Quebec, with few obvious ridings to target in 2019
The federal Conservatives are counting on well-liked local candidates and a message of “openness” from leader Andrew Scheer to convince Quebecers to give them more seats in 2019, say political players. Despite the Bloc Québécois’ messy divorce, however, there are signs it will be tough to build on the party’s recent success in the province. […]
Tories building on ‘large bedrock of support’ ahead of August convention: party president
As the Conservative Party prepares to huddle in Halifax at its end-of-summer policy convention, the party president is feeling buoyed by polling patterns and fundraising stats that he says put them in a prime position for the 2019 election. When the Conservatives’ three-day national convention begins in Halifax on Aug. 23, it will come on […]
A dozen ridings obvious targets for Conservatives as they seek to reclaim Liberal territory in Ontario next year
The federal Conservatives are well-positioned to make gains in Canada’s largest province in the next election, and a dozen Liberal ridings in Ontario may as well be painted with bullseyes. Those include Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, held by Leona Alleslev; Newmarket-Aurora, held by Kyle Peterson; Richmond Hill, held by Majid Jowhari; King-Vaughan, held by Deb Schulte; […]
Conservatives topped Liberals in fundraising for second year in a row in 2017: annual report
For the second year in a row, the Conservative Party topped the governing Liberals in fundraising in 2017, raking in roughly $4.9-million more in donations, as detailed in the parties’ published annual financial returns released last week. Overall, the Conservatives led the pack in 2017 with roughly $18.8-million in donations from 94,786 individuals, while the […]
Harper’s speech at Iran dissident event in Paris lends group undeserved legitimacy, says former DND analyst
Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s decision to deliver a speech at an event in Paris hosted by a controversial group that Canada once listed as a terrorist organization gives it “a lot of weight,” which it “doesn’t deserve,” says an Iran expert. Last weekend, Mr. Harper and John Baird, the former foreign affairs minister, spoke […]
Revenge of the Harperites
OTTAWA—By now, it’s easy to have forgotten that day in 2011 when Stephen Harper, fresh from winning a majority Conservative government, showed up as the surprise guest at a 700-person barbecue in the backyard of the Ford family home in Toronto. “He’s my new fishing partner,” the late Rob Ford told the enthusiastic crowd at […]
GRIC exec stay on to see through review of Lobbying Act
The Government Relations Institute of Canada has extended its executive team’s terms by one year to focus on the upcoming Lobbying Act review. The ongoing executive, approved on June 28, are Global Public Affairs’ Philip Cartwright as president, Shaw Communication’s Alayne Crawford as vice-president, Canadian Automobile Association’s Jason Kerr as treasurer, and Earnscliffe’s Mary Anne […]
Political parties busy laying groundwork this summer for 2019 election, Conservatives already ahead
Conservatives are already ahead in recruiting candidates for the 2019 federal election and all the political parties are using these critical summer months to start laying the groundwork for the next national campaign, say political strategists. “This is the last summer before the election. Next summer, we’re pretty well in a writ period, regardless of […]
Like father, like son? Is Justin Trudeau the keeper of his father’s legacy?
MONTREAL—To mark the 50th anniversary of the election of Pierre Trudeau’s first government, Radio-Canada’s version of CBC’s The Current set out to look back on what it called 50 years of Trudeauism. But can the last half-century of federal governance—including nearly two decades of Conservative rule—really be summed up as the pursuit of a so-called […]
