As fiscal plans go, NDP’s on light side
Jim Flaherty could have signed off on the fiscal framework the NDP presented on Wednesday. It borrows more from the late Finance minister's budgets than it offers in original content—at least at the front end of a New Democrat federal mandate. That starts with the tax-cutting infrastructure Flaherty put in place over his near decade […]
Politics This Morning Election 2015: Party leaders square off in Calgary for debate number two
The second debate of this election season happens today. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will square off in Stampede Park in Calgary, Alta., for a debate on economic issues, titled “Our Economy. Our Future.” It’s hosted by the Globe and Mail, in partnership with Google Canada and […]
‘This isn’t the Red Book, it’s a back page of the Red Book,’ says Hébert on NDP platform costing
PARLIAMENT HILL—The NDP tried Wednesday to channel Jean Chrétien’s famous Red Book of promises that kick-started his Liberal Party’s campaign to a majority government in 1993, but it didn’t work out as planned. The large contingent of veteran and not-so-veteran journalists who attended an NDP lockup to pore over what turned out to be a […]
Regular season election campaign wrapping up, playoffs about to begin
When the official campaign launched last month, I outlined five factors that will help determine the election’s outcome: campaign length, money, social media, voter turnout and seats, not votes. I also included a disclaimer-like paragraph for the inevitable surprises and external events (e.g., Syria) that could dominate media coverage, rendering even the most scripted and […]
78-day ‘sprint’ nothing compared to U.S. elections
NEW YORK (Troy Media)—Last week, I registered to vote for the first time in a U.S. election. As a Canadian with dual citizenship living in the United States, and an inveterate political junkie, this summer and fall gives me the gift of a double feature—two campaigns happening simultaneously in each of the countries I consider […]
Politics This Morning Election 2015: War rooms versus vetting teams
As another candidate bites the dust, dropping out of the election campaign because of controversial social media posts, it seems political parties’ war rooms are outshining their vetting teams. The latest to fall is Bonvaista-Burin-Trinity, Nfld., Conservative candidate Blair Dale, a former staffer to retiring longtime Conservative MP LaVar Payne. Mr. Dale wrote comments on […]
Lawyer representing Carson, Wright says he was ‘surprised’ RCMP charged Duffy with bribery
Former PMO chief of staff Nigel Wright’s lawyer says he was surprised the RCMP charged Senator Mike Duffy with bribery for accepting $90,000 Mr. Wright offered to repay ineligible housing allowances and per diems. Ottawa lawyer Pat McCann, who also represents former PMO senior adviser Bruce Carson in a trial on influence peddling charges that […]
17 ways to address Canadian security issues
The Munk election debate on foreign policy scheduled for Sept. 28 is likely to raise two questions. At the outset, the party leaders will likely be asked ‘what threatens our security?’ To hold his Conservative core, Stephen Harper will attempt to highlight his leadership, repeating his war record with the Taliban in Afghanistan, with the […]
Politics This Morning Election 2015: Carty talks Big Tent
The Liberal Party of Canada was considered the most successful political party over the last 100 years, but by 2011, the party was “broken, lost and deeply mired in unfamiliar territory,” says UBC professor Kenneth Carty in his new book Big Tent Politics: The Liberal Party’s Long Mastery of Canada’s Public Life. “Conservative Party electoral […]
Politics This Morning Election 2015: Carson goes on trial
Good Monday morning! It’s the beginning of the seventh week of the 78-day election campaign. Just as the Conservatives were getting over questions about Senator Mike Duffy’s fraud, breach of trust and bribery trial, a former top aide to Prime Minister Stephen Harper goes to trial today. After several delays, Bruce Carson, a long-time Conservative […]
