The people working on Chong’s Conservative leadership campaign
Conservative MP Michael Chong, who officially launched his bid for the federal Conservative leadership on May 16, has a website, some swag, and a number of volunteers working on his campaign. Bram Sepers, a staffer under the former Conservative government, is his campaign manager and press secretary. Mr. Sepers was previously Mr. Chong’s Hill assistant for about two years […]
Visual CV: Rona Ambrose
From no-name policy wonk to Official Opposition Leader, Rona Ambrose has had an impressive 12 years in Ottawa. She became the youngest female member of Cabinet in 2006 at the age of 36, and has had the most portfolios — nine in total — of anyone in the Harper-era government. The Conservative Party’s interim leader […]
Ex-MP Scott Armstrong on his new life as an unelected Conservative critic and staffer
With the Conservatives wiped off the electoral map in Atlantic Canada in the 2015 election, defeated former Nova Scotia MP Scott Armstrong took on a unique role, joining the official opposition shadow cabinet and becoming a paid Atlantic issues adviser in the official opposition leader’s office. That’s meant spending the last few months bouncing back […]
Five issues that will haunt Tony Clement’s candidacy
TORONTO—Some political leadership candidates are truly inspirational, energetic, and brimming with bold, innovative ideas. Others are stiff, lack charisma, recycle shop-worn ideas, and are delusional about their chances of winning. Guess which category Tony Clement falls into? Clement, who represents the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka, Ont. was the fourth candidate to enter the race to […]
Think the Conservative leadership race is a yawn fest? The NDP has it worse
OTTAWA—The federal New Democratic Party is having a leadership race? Who knew? Even though it officially kicked off two weeks ago, it is so far a bigger snooze fest than the Conservative race. That doesn’t seem possible, but it is true. It is hard to believe that a year ago the NDP was leading federal […]
Federal parties eye Halifax as potential convention host, StrategyCorp recruits new VP
Halifax is suddenly the hot destination for Canadian politicos. Both the federal Conservative and Liberal parties are considering hosting upcoming conventions in Atlantic Canada’s most populous city, according to an Ottawa insider with ties to the Liberal Party who spoke on a non-attribution basis. The Conservative Party is eyeing the city as a potential host for its […]
‘Great big yawn fest,’ star candidates sitting out Conservative leadership race, fear losing next election: insiders
Some Conservative insiders say the party’s federal leadership contest is a “great big yawn fest” because there are no exciting or inspirational declared candidates and most don’t expect one to enter the current contest as they believe the Liberals will win the next federal election and say the real leadership contest will take place after the 2019 election. […]
Annual Financial Reports of Federal Political Parties
Liberal Party: Category 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total Contributions $10,119,908.62 $8,166,657.76 $11,292,845.85 $15,063,142.28 $21,276,897.57 Total Contributors 49,650 44,466 71,655 77,064 93,426 Total Transfers $235,572.91 $760,406.58 $282,457.59 $2,187,478.58 $1,312,625.13 Total Loans $15-million 0 0 0 $40-million Overall Total Contributions, Loans and Transfers $25,355,481.53 $8,947,064.34 $11,575,303.44 $17,250,620.86 $62,589,522.70 Total General Election Expenses $19,507,745.82 – – – […]
Liberals raised $21.3-million last year, but Conservatives broke record high, raked in $29-million
The Liberals raised $21.3-million last year, but the Conservatives raked in a record-breaking $29-million, roughly $7.8-million more than the Grits did, marking an overall federal party high, according to the recently published parties’ annual financial reports filed with Elections Canada. The Liberals raised $21,276,897 in 2015, up from the roughly $15-million in 2014, while the Conservatives raised a […]
Senate spending scandal peters out completely
TORONTO—The Crown’s decision last week to drop the accusations of fraud and breach of trust against Sen. Patrick Brazeau puts an end to the saga that developed during the last three years around one of the most prestigious Canadian institutions, the Senate. Many government branches were involved in what looked like a national tragedy, which fortunately has turned […]
