The party of Stephen Harper isn’t going anywhere
HALIFAX—With the disappearance of Jean Charest from the Conservative leadership race, Justin Trudeau has been dealt another ace by a party that can’t seem to get over Stephen Harper. Unless a meteor enters the political firmament—someone new and estimable not now on the candidate radar screen—the person who replaces the hapless Andrew Scheer will be […]
Muddling through a minority Parliament: a view from government and opposition benches
OTTAWA—Whether a government is a strong minority—as now—or a weak one—as in 2006 under Stephen Harper—the challenges and opportunities are pretty much the same, perhaps just not to the same degree. The main theme throughout the period of the minority, on which all efforts must be focused, has to be election readiness. A political party […]
Conservative Party still trying to rebrand itself to win an election
Re: “Ten lessons for the Conservatives as they seek to rebuild,” (The Hill Times, Jan. 20, p. 3). Having just read Yaroslav Baran’s opinion piece, my overall take-away from the “10 lessons” is that the Conservative Party of Canada is still trying to rebrand itself in a way that will win an election. Most political […]
‘There’s a risk of excessive polarization of the party’: Harper’s interference in Conservative leadership dividing Conservatives
Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s decision to recently step down from the Conservative Fund in order to reportedly block the potential Conservative leadership candidacy of Jean Charest is causing fissures in the party, with some saying, “he’s a former defeated Conservative leader” and should stay out of the leadership contest. “There’s a risk of excessive […]
Ten lessons for the Conservatives as they seek to rebuild
Currently embarking on a leadership race, the Conservative Party of Canada is poised for collective introspection and renewal, the result of which will determine the likelihood of the party emerging from the next election with a mandate to govern the country. Much has been written, stated, and overstated about the state of the party in […]
I sure hope more women run for the Conservative leadership
OTTAWA—A quick Google search of women and conservative policy in Canada prompts a link to “Conservative women,” a subpage buried deep on the Conservative Party of Canada’s website. In this link, the author reflects how the left often describes Conservatives as the party of “old, white men”: an “oft-repeated stereotype” the message begins. A few […]
Why stereotyping of Conservatives as party of ‘old white men’ persists
A quick Google search of women and conservative policy in Canada leads to a link to “Conservative Women,” a subpage buried deep on the Conservative Party’s website. In this link, the party reflects on how the left often describes Conservatives as the party of “old white men,” what has become an “oft-repeated stereotype.” A few […]
Fundraising a big challenge for Conservative leadership candidates in upcoming contest, say political players
Federal Conservative leadership candidates will likely have a hard time raising money for their June 27 campaign, especially since they will not only be competing with each other, but the party headquarters will also continue its own fundraising throughout the contest, says a candidate and a veteran political strategist. “It will be difficult, especially considering […]
The Conservative challenge: picking a leader today to meet the needs of tomorrow
OAKVILLE, ONT.—The fallout from the recent eradication of a top Iranian military commander should remind us all as to just how quickly the Canadian public’s collective attitudes can change. In the space of just a few days, we went from being indignant about Andrew Scheer’s expense accounts to being terrified about the possible onset of […]
Poilievre has advantage as ‘most conservative’ candidate in Conservative leadership race, says campaign guru Kory Teneycke
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre will have an edge in the party’s upcoming leadership contest as one of the few heavyweight contenders from the Reform/Alliance side of the party, says Kory Teneycke, the former staffer and campaign manager who helped push Andrew Scheer out of the party leadership post. Mr. Poilievre (Carleton, Ontario) is “probably the […]
