Conservatives waving an ideological white flag
OAKVILLE, ONT.—When Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole decided to impose a carbon tax (I know he says it’s actually a “price on pollution” but you and I both know it’s really a tax) he basically loosened the last tether connecting his party to its ideological moorings. Indeed, the party has been gradually disconnecting itself from its […]
O’Toole’s bold carbon pricing pitch shows he’s willing to take risks to win
OTTAWA—Erin O’Toole made a bold move last week. He became the first leader of the modern Conservative Party of Canada to acknowledge that consumers directly have some price to pay for carbon consumption. He announced this a few short weeks after a slim majority of party members at the Conservative policy convention refused to acknowledge that […]
‘It’s getting worse, we’re going backwards’: Ontario MPs say constituents confused, frustrated, angry with vaccine supply issues, and partisan ‘finger-pointing’ as COVID cases skyrocket
Canada’s most populous province is facing an increasingly uphill battle in reining in the pandemic with new cases of COVID-19 hitting all-time highs last week, intensive-care units stretched to capacity, and what a number of Ontario MPs describe as confusion, frustration, and anger with the vaccine rollout among their constituents. Ontario recorded 4,250 new COVID-19 […]
Conservative Green philosophy is real
TORONTO—By all accounts, the grassroots of the Conservative Party embarrassed their leader, Erin O’Toole, by recently rejecting a resolution at their policy convention saying that, “climate change is real.” But instead of opposing Green philosophy, Conservatives should be astutely looking at what genuinely Conservative and genuinely Green ideas have in common. Erin O’Toole is desperately […]
O’Toole and the problem of pessimistic conservatism
OAKVILLE, ONT.—A conservative friend recently texted me to ask if there’s any chance Stephen Harper will ever return as Conservative Party leader? When I replied that, in my opinion, the chances of that ever happening were next to nil, he responded by texting me a sad emoji face. Not a good sign for the Conservative […]
Has the Hill changed for women in the workplace post-#MeToo?
In the years since the #MeToo movement rocked the globe, it has brought changes that women who work federal politics say range from the good, like opening the conversation, to the less positive, such as creating a rift between men and women in the workplace. Parliament Hill was no outlier when it came to the […]
Lone wolf MPs break down what it’s like to be a region’s solitary party voice
MPs whose party affiliation causes them stand out alone in their region say that while it can be hard work, it can also serve as an amplifier for their voice and influence. If Robert Bothwell, Gluskin professor of Canadian history at the University of Toronto, had to guess how the next election would play out […]
MPs call for revamp of federal role in long-term care system devastated by COVID-19
One week away from one of the most anticipated budgets in recent Canadian history, MPs and advocates are calling for greater federal support for infrastructure and staffing for long-term care homes that have been devastated over the last year by a COVID-19 pandemic for which many were completely unprepared. A recent report from the Canadian […]
Most dangerous time for a government is when opposition is weak
HALIFAX—The most dangerous time for a government is not struggling to preserve itself in a minority situation. In fact, minority governments often produce the best results. After all, compromise and cooperation are not optional, the way they are when one party has a majority. Democracy is better served when every Member of Parliament has some […]
Tsai-Klassen returns to Hill as chief of staff to International Development Minister Gould
International Development Minister Karina Gould has found a new chief of staff for her office, with Frédérique Tsai-Klassen returning to the Hill to take on the top job as of April 12. Ms. Tsai-Klassen previously left the Hill in 2017, and until recently had been working as director of communications for the Canadian Embassy in […]
