What’s up with gas? Explaining the global and local politics behind the price at the pump
In the wake of rising oil and gas prices, Conservative politicians have been urging the government to decrease its dependence on oil imports and ramp up Canadian production, but Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the opposition is “playing politics.” Gas prices have been climbing steadily for months now, but in the last two weeks, Canadians […]
Time to take Poilievre seriously, no matter how unserious he seems
CHELSEA, QUE.—Those who believe a prime minister Pierre Poilievre is unthinkable had better start thinking—particularly the sleepy-heads in the Liberal communications shop. Political Twitter is a river of vituperation, and social media, generally, a fetid soup of ancient grudges and fresh outrage. But it is Poilievre’s natural habitat and the Ottawa-area Conservative MP is winning […]
A leader with baggage steps back into the spotlight
The entrance of Jean Charest, ex-politician extraordinaire, to the federal Conservative leadership race requires a closer examination of his work since 2013 as an influential lobbyist and consultant while at McCarthy Tétrault. This comes as Charest is breathing a sigh of relief after the Quebec Liberal Party was just cleared by an anti-corruption probe into […]
Convoy support could help Poilievre’s leadership bid, but populist support can cut both ways
He was first off the mark to declare his candidacy for the federal Conservative Party and has been polling well among Tory supporters, but Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre’s climb to the party’s pinnacle could face not only new challengers in the race—most notably from former federal Progressive Conservative leader Jean Charest—but pushback from his own […]
Conservative purity test for leadership does party no favours
OTTAWA—The Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership race is beginning to take full flight. Some key rules for the contest were announced last week, and the perceived early front runner Pierre Poilievre—the first declared candidate—is galloping across Canada trying to line up support. Another would-be contender, respected commentator Tasha Kheiriddin, announced she won’t be seeking the […]
Conservatives say next federal election will be a ‘change election,’ amping up stakes and division in current leadership contest
Conservatives say they expect their next party leader to most likely be the next prime minister of Canada, which is why the leadership race, unofficially begun last month when MP Pierre Poilievre announced his candidacy, will be ugly and divisive. “The stakes are higher, and when the stakes are higher, people’s elbows start to go […]
Poilievre’s past reveals populist, highly-partisan approach his favoured form of politics
Pierre Poilievre may be the next leader of the Conservative Party and, if things go his way, the next prime minister of Canada. But who is he and what does he stand for? And is he playing a dangerous game? First elected in 2004 as the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Ottawa-area riding of […]
Advice to leadership contenders on key policy planks to win Canadian Conservatives
TORONTO—As the Conservative Party launches into another leadership campaign, it should start with an examination of the reasons for the party’s recent electoral failure. The attempted move to the centre was a good idea to try to win over blue-collar, suburban, and urban voters, especially in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. However, the approach was […]
Is there such a thing as a ‘real Conservative?’
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Apparently, former prime minister Stephen Harper doesn’t think much of former Progressive Conservative Party leader Jean Charest’s brand of conservatism. Indeed, it seems Harper doesn’t think Charest is actually a conservative at all. This is why, according to a recent report in a French-language media outlet, Harper is determined to stop Charest should he […]
Inside out or outside in: no nucleus ID’d as far-right influences spread through and from Canada
The boundaries are blurry when it comes to how Canada’s far right and alt-right—terms that experts define differently—influence and are influenced by their international counterparts, in terms of where and how movements and ideas begin and develop. The recent trucker convoy protests in Ottawa, which spread to cities throughout Canada and around the world, are […]
