17 political books to read this fall
With the summer reading season officially closed, some of the serious offerings snubbed on the dock await. Fortunately there were plenty of political books timed to coincide with the election campaign, and others offering policy prescriptions that could prove useful beyond. Here are some of the highlights to look for this fall. Already released: Strength […]
The Greens: A party just like the others?
POWELL RIVER, B.C.—After a visit by the Green Party’s Elizabeth May to Powell River on July 31, she was quoted in the local newspaper: “There is no chance of a Conservative winning in this riding. It’s either going to be a Green or an NDP Member of Parliament in this riding.” It was a clever […]
Is the NDP to the right of the Liberals?
TORONTO—The NDP may be heading for power, something it has never had a realistic chance of obtaining at the federal level. That is a dramatic change from the past. What have not changed are the assertions by journalists and academics that the party has lurched to the right. That is what journalists and academics have […]
We don’t have to strategically vote this time
TORONTO—Will the specter of strategic voting fail to play a pivotal role on the national political scene come voting day on Oct. 19? Proponents of strategic voting argue it’s a necessary evil when political circumstances warrant—a reasonable assertion at face value. But inciting voters to abandon their principles in order to vote strategically is a […]
Recession or not, Canada’s economy is underperforming
TORONTO—Whether Canada has been, is, or will be in recession is not the issue. The important reality is that, recession or not, Canada has an underperforming economy and that is what should concern us. It is why we should worry less about a budget deficit and focus more on why we need a public investment […]
Trudeau’s a great retail campaigner, but paid campaign plays into his weakness
Words are about information. Pictures are about emotion. Emotion equals power. Print folks—the ones who pour their souls into writing newspapers and magazines, the ones who craft profound essays for blogs, the ones who toil in government offices and conjure up grand speeches—like to believe that words matter still. But, mostly, they don’t. The people […]
Harper’s world built on dispassionate political ledger sheets
OTTAWA—The story of little Alan Kurdi and his brother, Ghalib, two young Syrian boys who wanted new bicycles and whose family dreamt of the safety and peace that we take for granted in our country, has spawned a gut-check question being asked at home and by those watching us from afar. Are we no longer […]
Need to catch up on election news? Here’s a campaign 2015 primer
OAKVILLE, ONT.—These first few weeks of September, which herald autumn’s inevitable arrival, are always a bitterly sad time for those who cherish the hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer. But this year, that sadness is also accompanied by a unique challenge. Not only do Canadians have to abandon their cottages or return from vacation or […]
Drowned Syrian toddler washed ashore, we all share in the shame
OTTAWA—One picture is worth a thousand words. The image of a child’s dead body, washed ashore in a botched human smuggling attempt, is one that shocked people around the world. Even more puzzling is the confusion surrounding the potential Canadian connection in this international tragedy. Like thousands of others fleeing the chaos of war, […]
How Liberal gains could hand Mulcair victory
VANCOUVER, B.C.—Liberals have made the biggest gains in the polls since the 2011 election, but so far it is the NDP who are poised to win more seats. Looking at the horserace numbers, it is clear the Conservatives have been the big losers, dropping from 40 per cent to 29 per cent while the Liberals […]
