‘Red Toryism’: The best and worst of Canadian conservative politics
There is now a big debate as to what conservatism now means in Canada. A uniquely Canadian conservative label is “Red Tory,” and it can be seen as the best and worst of Canadian politics. The term “Red Tory” was often used as a pejorative epithet among more right-wing conservatives, to describe what they considered […]
Parties should rethink how they choose leaders
OTTAWA—With more than 600,000 Conservative Party members eligible to choose a new leader this September, the process may arguably be a success. But, by virtually eliminating the role of political parties and Members of Parliament in the leadership selection, the process provides a badly distorted and highly misleading notion of openness, and a Trojan Horse […]
Politicos question why Liberals are holding their fire against Poilievre
Should Pierre Poilievre win the Conservative leadership race next month as expected, political insiders say he won’t make an easy opponent for the Liberals. Poilievre (Carleton, Ont.) has already been blasting the prime minister and the government day-in and day-out, and has been gaining traction with Canadians. But the Liberals have done little to respond […]
Michael Chong should reconsider his crusade for reform: Copps
OTTAWA—Member of Parliament Michael Chong is back on the reform bandwagon. The veteran Conservative MP from Wellington-Halton Hills is touting a trio of reforms that he claims will take power away from the prime minister and give it to members of Parliament. But before we jump on the Chong train-wreck, let’s review the result of […]
All hands on deck to get out the vote in the Conservative leadership election
With the Conservative leadership election in the home stretch, the winner needs to walk away with 16,901 of the total 33,800 available points, and all five leadership campaigns are making last ditch efforts to urge their supporters to cast their votes as soon as possible. “We’re pushing on every channel we can,” said Chris Rougier, […]
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos adds to policy team
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos welcomed a new policy adviser, Jed Graham, to his team at the end of July. Graham is currently working toward earning a doctor of philosophy degree in political economy from Glasgow Caledonian University—where he earlier earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences—and is a former part-time lecturer at the school. He’s […]
How Conservatives should approach their back-to-Parliament strategy
It’s that time of year again. It’s time for the House of Commons to resume sitting after the BBQ circuit summer recess. And what a recess it was: high gasoline prices, global supply chain issues, and interest rate hikes. The Conservatives could not have asked for a better issue set heading into the fall, and […]
What are people buying into with Poilievre?
OTTAWA—In 2008, when then-prime minister Stephen Harper delivered a formal apology to former students of the residential schools program, Pierre Poilievre said the Indigenous recipients of compensation payments needed to get to work, not get money from Ottawa. “My view is that we need to engender the values of hard work and independence and self-reliance. […]
Pierre Poilievre’s resume should tell you all you need to know
HALIFAX—Pierre Poilievre has caught the eye of Washington Post contributing columnist David Moscrop, and it isn’t pretty. “The problems Canada and the world face are far too great to leave to a right-wing, doctrinaire, stuffed-shirt of a politician of such little distinction, capacity, or imagination,” he recently wrote. In case you missed his drift, Moscrop […]
Alberta Sovereignty Act a ‘huge’ challenge for Poilievre if he wins federal leadership election, say political players
The issue of Alberta sovereignty will be the first “huge” political hot potato for Pierre Poilievre should he win the Conservative leadership this September, particularly if Danielle Smith also wins the leadership of the United Conservative Party in Alberta, say political players. Smith, the UCP leadership contest front-runner, has proposed the “Alberta Sovereignty Act” that […]
