“The Liberal government has tabled a new Elections Reform Bill, C-76. What do you think of it? Should it be passed?”
Cameron Ahmad Liberal strategist “We are bringing forward a generational update to the Canada Elections Act. The Elections Modernization Act is a major step forward in our government’s commitment to improving and strengthening our elections and our democratic institutions. Additionally, we are reversing the changes brought in by the Harper Conservatives that made it harder […]
Liberals’ major new elections bill to undercut Conservatives’ spending advantage during campaigns
The government’s major new elections bill will scrap the rising cap on spending by political parties during long election campaigns, a move that could limit how the opposition Conservatives can capitalize on their long-held fundraising advantage in the 2019 election. Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act, will also establish a spending limit for at least […]
Canada must call out Afghanistan’s poor human rights record, seek justice for persecuted minority Hazaras
In 1998, at the height of their barbaric rule, the Taliban issued a fatwa, a religious declaration, against the innocent Hazaras of Afghanistan, accusing them of being infidels worthy of being killed wherever and whenever. Killing Hazaras, by the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam, would guarantee a front-row seat in paradise. “Wherever you go, we will […]
Conditions gloomy in Afghanistan as October election approaches
Afghanistan will hold a parliamentary election this October despite the normal security issues within the country. Earlier this year, President Ashraf Ghani offered political recognition to the Taliban, but so far the group has yet to say yes. This leaves the Taliban continuing to fight, since they aren’t likely to participate in the election. The […]
Liberals to use two-pronged strategy in 2019 campaign: ‘demonize the right’ and ‘steal’ from the left, say NDP, Conservative MPs
The governing Liberals are already in the 2019 election campaign mode, but opposition MPs say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s strategy to “demonize” the right and “steal” policy ideas from the left won’t work and plan to focus on the Grits’ unkept promises in the next federal campaign. “That seems to be their strategy that they’re […]
PBO preparing to tackle challenge of costing party platforms in 2019, with lessons learned by recent practice run
Questions remain over how the parliamentary budget officer’s new responsibility to cost party platforms during the next federal election will shake out, but the office is already busy preparing, with a practice-run recently completed and plans to double its staff and strike information-sharing agreements with departments underway. “It’s going to be the first time ever […]
At Grits’ convention, Conservative deputy leader Raitt says Tories targeting seats Liberals won by five per cent or less in 2015
HALIFAX—In their bid to form government in 2019, the federal Conservatives are going after ridings the governing Liberals won in close races in the last election, among other targets. In an interview with The Hill Times at the Liberal Party’s biennial policy convention in Halifax, N.S., this weekend, Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt (Milton, Ont.) […]
Chicoutimi byelection a ‘referendum’ on Trudeau, could determine PM’s main opponent in Quebec in 2019 election: politicos
The yet-to-be-scheduled byelection in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord will test the theory that potential electoral gains in Quebec could offset Liberal losses in the rest of Canada in 2019, and some politicos say it will determine which federal political leader will be Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s main opponent in the province in the next election. “It’s a […]
Trudeau government in ‘home stretch’ of mandate, political insiders suggest a reset with Throne Speech, summer cabinet shuffle
With the next election only 19 months away, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should focus on governing and hit the reset button this summer by proroguing Parliament, shuffling his cabinet, and starting the fall session with a new Throne Speech, say political insiders. “At some point during this summer, the prime minister should be meeting with […]
Experts warn of ‘long-term political consequences’ for Liberals if Trans Mountain pipeline fails, but Trudeau says pipeline will happen
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who met with B.C. Premier John Horgan and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley for more than two hours on the Hill on Sunday, says the government will start negotiating with Kinder Morgan to “remove the uncertainty” over the fate of the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project and promised the pipeline will happen, […]
