Steep fees for Tory leadership race means more candidates will drop by 2017: Clement
Tony Clement was the first Conservative leadership candidate to back out of the race, but he says he won’t be the last. Backing out last week because of fundraising challenges, Mr. Clement told The Hill Times he’s certain others will be forced to do the same when faced with paying the full $100,000 fee due to […]
Conservative letter to electors claims Liberal scheme to rig next election
A House of Commons mail-out to electors from an unknown number of Conservative MPs alleges a government plan to “rig” the next federal election by forcing through a new voting system that will favour the Liberal Party. “The Liberal Plan to Rig the 2019 Election And How You Can Stop It,” screams the mail-out in […]
‘I’m a serious player,’ Trost says he’s in Conservative leadership race to win, can sell social conservatism
Brad Trost is someone who questions the science of climate change, is ready to fight for the rights of the unborn, and will stand up for traditional marriage—and he says these are things that separate him from others running for the Conservative leadership. In an interview last week with The Hill Times, the Conservative MP […]
PMO hires new digital aide, Monsef expands team
PARLIAMENT HILL—Former summer intern Johanna Robinson marked her first day as a full-time staffer in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office on Oct. 11. Ms. Robinson is now a full-time digital content assistant in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), working closely with digital creative lead Dave Sommer as part of the office’s communications unit overseen by […]
Conservative party sets ultimatum for electoral reform: no agreement without referendum
The Conservative party has set a national referendum as a “bottom line” demand for its MPs to be part of any consensus from a special House of Commons Committee charged with investigating possible reforms to Canada’s federal electoral system. “We have a bottom line, there will be no consensus that includes the Conservative party that […]
Tories use bad math to fight carbon tax
OTTAWA—Thanks to everyone for all the kind notes after a column I wrote last week about Conservative MP Lisa Raitt’s friend, Marie, who is worried she will have to pull one of her kids out of hockey next year because Justin Trudeau wants to start imposing a carbon tax a year later. Perhaps Marie can […]
Sewing up the so-cons
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Before he became prime minister, Stephen Harper would sometimes call me up, out of the blue, for tactical communication advice. I know, sounds crazy, right? But keep in mind, Harper and I once worked closely together at the National Citizens Coalition, and when he left that group to pursue the leadership of the Canadian […]
Taking a page from Trump’s playbook, Bernier embraces his Mad Max
OTTAWA—Peter MacKay is the ultimate political strategist. He was one-half of the team that united the Conservative and Reform parties, after promising never to do so in writing. He went on to join the cabinet of his negotiating partner and future boss, prime minister Stephen Harper. The two were not exactly bosom buddies. But they […]
‘I’m a full-spectrum conservative,’ but Scheer downplays his social conservatism, focuses on economy
Though he’s seen as one of his party’s flag bearers of social conservatism, Andrew Scheer is more interested in talking about the economy than getting into topics associated with social conservatism, like marriage and sexual morality, as he seeks the federal Conservative leadership. “I’m an unapologetic conservative. I’m a full-spectrum conservative,” Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu’Appelle, Sask.) […]
Vancouver Sun Hill scribe O’Neil’s book on St. Germain out next month
Veteran Hill reporter Peter O’Neil, who writes for the Vancouver Sun, has written a book about former Senator Gerry St. Germain that’s due out this month. The book is called I Am a Metis: The Story of Gerry St. Germain and is published by Harbour Publishing. A description of the book on Harbour’s website says it […]
