We’re being ill-served by Conservative, NDP leadership races
TORONTO—Canadians are being ill-served by both the Conservative and NDP leadership races. Neither party has found a candidate who is speaking intelligently about the real challenges facing the country. This is giving the Trudeau government a free ride. But no government should have a free ride. Our democratic society deserves something better—a serious opposition that […]
Leitch video: at least we know more about her ‘Canadian values’
Yes, the video Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch posted on her Facebook page recently has some odd moments, such as the several awkward pauses when she looks toward somewhere for what could be inspiration or a misplaced teleprompter. However, the video might just provide the most detailed public account yet for what are the “Canadian values” […]
Canada ripe for populist movement of its own, say politicos at Manning conference
Canada is ripe to see the same kind of populism cropping up in other Western countries take hold here, suggested politicos speaking at last week’s Manning Centre conference in Ottawa. One of the panels there on Friday, “Down with the Elites? Understanding the rise in anti-establishment sentiment,” started with Anthony Furey, a national columnist for the […]
Meet Gérard Deltell, the rising-star Quebec MP whose leadership endorsement will be one to watch
He may be a rookie in the House, but rising-star Conservative finance critic Gérard Deltell is a known entity in Quebec, where his upcoming endorsement in the Conservative leadership race is expected to be significant. The 52-year-old (Louis-Saint-Laurent, Que.) has garnered attention since arriving on the Hill last year. Though his name is recognized in […]
O’Leary isn’t Trump, but they’re both heat-drawing wild cards
MONTREAL—Is Kevin O’Leary the Canadian Donald Trump? It’s a question more complicated than the straight calculation of whether the political alchemy that propelled one belligerent reality show host to the pinnacle of power in America can hop the border. Because the previously unthinkable presidency of Mr. Trump has violated every convention of political wisdom and […]
Conservative leadership debates: it’s not all about you, Kevin
OTTAWA—The official leadership debates of the Conservative Party of Canada have been pretty lame thus far, in that there is no debate. However, as painful as they are in format, it is reasonable enough to assume that the official candidates of the party should actually show up for them. They are put on by the […]
The middle class is still waiting
OTTAWA—A funny thing happened on the way to Justin Trudeau’s new world of justice for the middle class: The federal government ran out of money. On Feb. 22, I told you about Justin Trudeau’s speech last week in Hamburg, where he told a blue-chip crowd in the German port city about the challenges of governing amid […]
How to counter the Liberal advantage
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes a political forecast isn’t a prediction; it’s more like a common sense observation. For instance, common sense tells me, that all things being equal, the next federal election will be handily won by the Justin Trudeau Liberals. I say that simply because the Liberals happen to enjoy a huge inherent structural advantage over […]
Five byelections won’t be a test of Trudeau but do mark end of an era: Hébert
Under the guise of the first large set of byelections since Justin Trudeau became prime minister, voters are about to turn a definitive corner on generational change on Parliament Hill. The vote to take place on April 3 in the immediate aftermath of the federal budget in five ridings spread across Quebec, Ontario and Alberta […]
Grit MP Ouellette emerges from caucus, happy ‘no one lost any teeth’
It’s getting harder to differentiate the quotes from politicians from the quotes of hockey players. For example, take these comments Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette made after a caucus meeting held Feb. 22, as distributed to press gallery members through a transcription service. “Should I say something? Should I say anything? What could I say?” he […]
