The baneful morality of the political ‘pivot’
GATINEAU, QUE.—Our media culture is so drenched in cynicism that the most outrageous, even despicable, pronouncements—from Conservative leadership candidates, for instance—are treated as mere strategy, even tactical coups. The underlying assumption is that once someone has won the contest, he or she will “pivot” back to a more reasonable, compassionate, and thoughtful posture. No harm […]
Leitch’s campaign says mass email to supporters while pictured firing a handgun intended to communicate directly to gun owners, ‘very important’ community
OTTAWA—Conservative Party leadership candidate Kellie Leitch’s email to supporters about her proposed firearm policies, which included a photo of her firing a 1972 Walther P1 handgun at a shooting range while discussing the “tradition of using firearms for hunting and for recreational purposes,” was intended to communicate to lawful gun owners who are important to the party, […]
Leitch pictured firing Walther P1 in fundraising email to her Conservative Party supporters, not a Nazi-era handgun, says gun owner
OTTAWA—An email blast from Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch to supporters shows her firing a 1972 Walther P1, not what two national gun associations had identified as a Nazi-era semi-automatic weapon, a 9mm Walther P38, the owner of the gun told The Hill Times later Tuesday night after reading the story. “The handgun is not a P38. […]
Why are we still talking about Trudeau’s Christmas vacation this close to Easter?
TORONTO—Defending the spending habits of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not the best topic for a former director of communications of Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper. But this is not about partisan politics. It is about the institution of the Prime Minister of Canada, the preferred target of opposition and media, not always justified. The […]
Conservative Party must be transparent about fraudulent memberships or it will ‘undercut credibility of outcome,’ says Kent
The Conservative Party has to be transparent to Canadians and to its more than 100,000 members about the process it’s undertaking to scrub fraudulent memberships from the party list or it will undermine the outcome of the leadership race, says Conservative MP Peter Kent. “That will undercut the credibility of the outcome. It is incumbent on the […]
Bernier’s national membership chair MP Nuttall was accused of membership fraud in 2010
Amid unproven allegations that Maxime Bernier’s leadership campaign fraudulently signed up members, which Mr. Bernier denies, The Hill Times has learned his membership chair was accused of using similar tactics in 2010. Conservative MP Alex Nuttall (Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte, Ont.) was one of the first MPs to support Mr. Bernier’s (Beauce, Que.) leadership for the Conservative Party. Mr. Bernier […]
Norm! Gagnon leaving Parliamentary Press Gallery after 30 years
Normand Gagnon, coordinator of technical services for the Parliamentary Press Gallery, is retiring this week after 30 years with the office. His last day on the job is March 23, one day after the federal budget comes down. “I was hoping for a smooth week before I left; it’s not going to happen with the budget,” […]
Health Accord, opioids, assisted dying, and more keep lobbyists focused on Philpott
With the federal government having worked out new health-funding arrangements with most provinces, passed assisted-dying legislation, started a process to legalize marijuana, and facing a national opioid crisis, it’s not surprising Health Minister Jane Philpott would see an ample amount of lobbying since coming to office. Ms. Philpott (Markham-Stouffville, Ont.) has been named in 115 […]
Raitt willing to serve in an O’Leary-led Conservative caucus
Conservative MP and leadership candidate Lisa Raitt has a website dedicated to telling people that Kevin O’Leary is “wrong for the Conservative Party and wrong for Canada,” but says she’s willing to put all that aside and support him if he becomes leader. And that support includes serving as a critic in an O’Leary-led Conservative […]
O’Leary says ‘fraud’ occurring in Conservative leadership race, alleges ‘vote rigging’
Kevin O’Leary says there’s “fraud” happening in the current Conservative leadership race, and he’s reported it to party officials, who say they are investigating. The businessman-turned Conservative leadership candidate issued a statement Thursday night that said “there are backroom organizers who are committing widespread vote rigging and potentially breaking our electoral and financing laws to […]
