Electoral reform will not happen in this Parliament
OTTAWA—I took the MyDemocracy.ca voting test and discovered what I already knew. According to the online government survey, managed by Vox Pop, I am a pragmatist. The pragmatist in me says electoral reform is dead. Its public interment by the minister responsible for democratic reform was not a pretty sight. Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef […]
Ambrose hosts Hill media for a lively Christmas party
OTTAWA—A smattering of Conservative MPs and a good showing of reporters drank, swapped stories, and celebrated the holiday season on Dec. 7 at Stornoway, the official residence for Parliament’s opposition leader. Fun was in the air and a little light jabbing at the Hill media was on the menu at interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose‘s residence last Wednesday night. […]
Quebec, Ontario crucial to Conservative leadership race
Conservative leadership candidates are setting their sights on battleground provinces of Ontario and Quebec as the race heats up. Leadership candidates from Quebec could have an edge in what is a very crowded contest so far. Conservative MPs Steven Blaney (Bellechasse-Les Etchemins-Lévis, Que.) and Maxime Bernier (Beauce, Que.) are the only two current Parliamentarians from Quebec […]
Senior Conservatives helping run O’Toole leadership campaign
Since announcing his decision to run for Conservative Party leadership in mid-October, Conservative MP Erin O’Toole has garnered about a dozen MP endorsements and has built a campaign team that includes a number of senior veteran Conservative advisers. Mr. O’Toole announced his bid to become the next Conservative Party leader on Oct. 14, and has […]
‘Like a nuclear secret,’ public polls only scratch surface of what political campaign teams know
The victory of Donald Trump in last month’s U.S. presidential election shocked many, even media people who had been closely following the race. Yet, it’s quite likely the results weren’t as surprising to those directly involved with each of the main candidates’ campaigns. Published polls that indicated just ahead of the Nov. 8 election that […]
Leitch reaches out to those ‘ignored and mocked’ by Liberals, elite
Conservative MP Kellie Leitch’s latest effort to raise funds for her federal Conservative leadership bid invites those feeling “mocked and ignored by the Liberal and media elite” to join what she’s calling the “Revenge of the Comment Section” movement. She said in a Facebook post last week that it’s “clear that my campaign has touched […]
Early days for Alexander campaign, with hunt still on for manager
It’s early days for Chris Alexander’s leadership campaign. With the hunt still on to find the right campaign manager, but with a small team in place, Mr. Alexander says he’s looking to run a campaign led by grassroots input, with a “positive message,” focused on economic issues. “We need to renew the party, to be […]
MPs must consider sacrificing detailed data to make voting easier: Elections Canada chief
Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand says one of his recommendations to Parliament following the last election may mean that political parties and candidates have to “trade off” some of the “granular results they are used to getting” from Elections Canada in favour of increased flexibility for voters. The recommendation, which appears in his report titled […]
Tighter political fundraising rules could push activities ‘underground,’ says Canada’s outgoing chief electoral officer
Canada’s outgoing chief electoral officer says tightening up rules around so-called “cash-for-access” events or other kinds of fundraising might prompt political operatives to conduct their business less transparently. In an interview with The Hill Times last week, Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand, who steps down next month, said with recent examples of Liberal “cash-for-access” events, he […]
Maclean’s picks Mulcair as top Parliamentarian
While it might not make up for coming in third in last year’s election and then being told by his party that they could do without him as leader, Tom Mulcair might be feeling a little better about life after being named “Parliamentarian of the Year” by Maclean’s last week. While we commend Maclean’s for its pick, […]
