Too soon to gauge staying power of ‘freedom’ theme in Conservative politics, now at fore of leadership race, say strategists
Conservative strategists are in agreement that while there has always been a campaign for more freedom and smaller government at the heart of conservatism in Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the theme particularly relevant today—most notably in the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race. But some argue that it’s too early to say whether or […]
Brown rips Poilievre over ‘slow and selective’ response to Buffalo shooting, as politicians of all stripes denounce ‘white replacement theory’
In the wake of a mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., that left 10 Black people dead, Conservative leadership hopefuls and MPs of all stripes are strongly condemning the “ugly racist hate” that motivated the act. But as politicians and the public continue to take stock of the tragedy that occurred just south of the Canada-U.S. […]
Dear Conservative Party, you can’t force relatability
During the first official Conservative leadership race debate last Wednesday evening, debate moderator and retired journalist Tom Clark (formerly of CTV and Global) ran a tight ship. Hosting a debate is a tricky business, and this newsroom does not envy the moderator’s position (alright, maybe a little bit). But by sticking to such a strict […]
Why do Conservatives hate public television?
At the Tory leadership debate in Edmonton last Wednesday, the mere mention of the word CBC elicited boos. Loud shouts and hisses were quickly muffled by the microphones as the format for the event prohibited anyone from clapping, cheering, or booing. The format also prevented anyone from mentioning another politician’s name. When that happened, the […]
No big winners or losers in curious Conservative leadership debate, say strategists
During Wednesday’s first official Conservative leadership debate, several candidates had “their sights set on trying to blunt Pierre Poilievre’s momentum,” despite a “boring” format that was designed to be “controlled” and “civilized,” said longtime Conservative strategist Tim Powers. The shift from “royal rumble” debate in Ottawa on May 5 to the May 11 stage that […]
In Conservative leadership race, everyone has an angle
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Before the dust had even settled from the very first Conservative Party leadership debate, concerned voices were raised noting the event’s savage rhetorical tone. Indeed, while I viewed the fiery debate exchanges as just politicians doing what they had to do, others seemed quite put off by the […]
How COVID won the political battle
OTTAWA—Anyone watching the first Conservative leadership debate on May 5 may have thought they were watching a satire or some kind of theatre-of-the-absurd take-off on nasty populist politics. What came across as the debaters’ main concern was how supportive each would-be Conservative standard bearer was of the right-wing agitators who used trucks to turn downtown […]
Time for Tory leadership race to climb out of the sewer
OTTAWA—Apologies. Yet another commentator is going to wade into last week’s Conservative leadership debate hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly the Manning Centre. While its dramatic appeal may have been its very raw nature—and some partisans love that—it came across as one of those old, then-named World Wrestling Federation mega events. You […]
Conservative leadership debate shows the party is not aging well
HALIFAX—If you’ve ever wondered what a dinosaur looked like in its death throes, you can always count on the Conservative Party of Canada and the United States to give you a pretty good imitation. The latest example of this party’s race to irrelevance was last week’s unofficial debate at the Canada Strong and Free network, […]
Abortion debate will ‘quite likely’ define Conservative leadership election, say Conservatives
With Roe vs. Wade making international headlines, the divisive issue of abortion access will have a significant impact on the down ballot support and fundraising for candidates on both sides of the divide in the ongoing Conservative leadership election, say Conservatives. In interviews with The Hill Times, political insiders supporting different candidates and one leading […]
