Who and what are Canada’s ‘second class citizens?’
TORONTO—A new term has entered the lexicon of current Canadian politics. Critics of what the government terms the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act have charged that it creates “second-class citizens.” The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association among others scorns the Act because it provides for stripping the citizenship of and deporting dual citizens convicted of treason […]
Adams’ nomination loss is good news, bad news for Liberals
TORONTO—The good news for the Liberal Party is that Eve Adams lost. The bad news for the Liberal Party is that Eve Adams lost. Confused? Don’t be. The crushing defeat of the former Conservative MP in Eglinton-Lawrence a week ago is simultaneously good and bad. It is good because it showed that the Liberal Party’s […]
All eyes will be on Vaughan and Chow
OTTAWA—There are 338 ridings up for grabs in October and it’s a safe bet that an overwhelming majority of them will be decided solely by the prevailing national winds. There will be national issues, there will be regional issues and, most importantly, the performance of the national party leaders. Very few of these races will […]
Stephen Harper’s mixed legacy
LONDON, ENGLAND—When discussing the policy legacy of the Harper government, many concentrate on specific milestones, such as the completion of this or that free trade agreement. Yet the trends and precedents that will ultimately outlive his premiership also merit consideration, and on this front our national conversation tends to be somewhat normative and strategically blind. […]
Most believe election has already started, says poll
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to trigger the federal election on Sunday, Aug. 1, but most believe it’s already started. Some 55 per cent of Canadians believe the election has already begun, according to a random sampling of public opinion among 1,397 Canadian voters, conducted by Forum Research on Monday and Tuesday. Some 34 […]
Politics This Morning: Early election call speculation stoked
Good Thursday morning to you. The early election call speculation in Ottawa is getting poked, stoked, and fired up. The Hill Times first reported last year that Prime Minister Stephen Harper could pull the trigger early, but speculation has been ramping up in recent weeks. The Huffington Post Canada reported yesterday that the election magic could […]
Clive Veroni On NDP’s ‘Enough’ Ad
What do you think of the NDP’s ad? “Overall, I think this is a good ad for the NDP. It pokes the Conservatives where they are most sensitive right now: on the subject of ethics. This ad also has the potential to build its impact over time, as the Duffy trial resumes later in the […]
Del Mastro saga casts shadow as new candidates look to repair riding’s reputation
As Peterborough residents are divided over the footage last month of former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro in handcuffs and shackles after being sentenced to a month in jail for overspending on his 2008 campaign, the riding’s candidates are campaigning on accountability and providing an independent voice in Ottawa. The image of Mr. Del Mastro’s […]
Harper could be trying to deplete NDP, Libs to benefit Conservatives after election, say Hill sources
If Prime Minister Stephen Harper launches the election campaign early in order to outspend opponents over a longer writ period, he may be looking beyond Oct. 19 to the leverage that depleting the other parties’ finances would provide in a minority government. There are various signs that Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) will […]
Wells plots TV leaders’ debate that will be more ‘hike’ than ‘square dance’
Paul Wells has been spending his summer watching old election debates. His bosses at Rogers are busy finding actors that look like political party leaders. Mr. Wells, the political editor for Maclean’s, is one of the country’s best-known columnists but he admits he’s “not a broadcast guy.” That’s part of the reason he’s being fastidious […]
