‘I’d be worried if I was a Liberal anywhere in B.C.’: polls predict strong headwinds for federal B.C. Liberals in next election, but MPs say they’ll defend their record
With the politically explosive fallout from the expulsion of Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott from the Liberal caucus continuing, political analysts are warning British Columbia federal Liberals to expect strong headwinds in October’s election, but Grit MPs say they’ve served their constituents well and the SNC-Lavalin controversy will be one of many factors that voters […]
‘Criminally irresponsible’ for Tories not to release climate plan, says activist, but Conservative strategists and pollsters say it’s unwise to push out plan as SNC-Lavalin scandal dominates
It’s “criminally irresponsible” for the Conservatives to attack the Liberals’ carbon tax without offering an alternative plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says an environmental activist, but Conservative strategists and pollsters say there’s no sense in the opposition releasing a key policy platform in the midst of the SNC-Lavalin scandal. Catherine Abreu, executive director of […]
‘Civil wars’ are ‘incredibly damaging’: Trudeau boots Wilson-Raybould, Philpott from caucus
After weeks of being hounded with allegations of political interference in judicial affairs, sparked from within his own party, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday expelled former cabinet ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott from the Liberal caucus, citing a breakdown in trust. Speaking to the national Liberal caucus in an emergency meeting on Tuesday […]
‘Want to run for office?’: Conservatives using Facebook ads to recruit candidates
The Conservative Party has taken an unusual step to bolster its slate of candidates for this October’s election: it’s running Facebook ads asking people to run for office. “Canada needs your help now, more than ever. Want to run for office? Help your country—become a Conservative candidate,” reads one of the ads the party has […]
With seven months to go, Singh under crunch to introduce himself and his vision to Canadians
His journey to the House of Commons was the subject of much speculation, and after a long wait, and 534 days after being elected the new leader of the federal NDP, Jagmeet Singh says it was a “really poignant” moment when he first, finally, took his seat in the House on March 18. “That was […]
The Kenney campaign con and the new meaning of narrative
The word “narrative” as a political term of art is by no means new. The concept has been around since long before the days when Hollywood production values migrated to the White House with Ronald Reagan. From “the boy from Baie-Comeau” defining Brian Mulroney’s rise from son of an electrician in a Quebec mill town, […]
Like sands through the hourglass, the SNC saga is leaving everyone restless
OTTAWA—It really does feel like a soap opera. The “it,” of course, is the ongoing SNC-Lavalin saga and its numerous plot twists. A little more than a week ago, the Liberals brought down their last budget prior to the election. It was meant to be a scene-changer and a launch pad for new storytelling. To […]
Feds’ housing pitch beckons millennials, sets stage for opposition to offer alternatives, say strategists
The Trudeau government’s transparent pitch at drawing millennials to the ballot box with its incentive for first-time homeowners may help animate this fickle demographic amid an erosion of enthusiasm for the party, say some political strategists, while also setting the stage for other parties to offer competing visions. Largely billed as a salve for the […]
UN migration pact needs substantive debate, says ex-Harper aide
Canada needs to have a substantive policy debate about the UN Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and how it will influence domestic law, said Rachel Curran, former Harper-era staffer, at a panel discussing Canada’s immigration policy. Speaking at the Manning Networking Conference on Sunday, Ms. Curran recalled that, last year, when the Trudeau […]
SNC-Lavalin affair capturing Canadians’ attention, but no sign of shifting votes, pollsters suggest
While Canadians across the country are paying attention to the SNC-Lavalin controversy, it doesn’t seem to be shifting voting intention too much at this stage, pollsters suggest. But some of them and Members of Parliament say the issue could contribute to greater voter cynicism about politics, which may lead to some Canadians deciding to stay […]
