Libs would benefit from Tory death: and Warren Kinsella says the Post “scaring people”
If the embattled Progressive Conservative Party is going to disappear, the political beneficiary will be the Liberal Party, says a top backroom Liberal strategist. Warren Kinsella, who helped run the Libs’ war room in the last election campaign and served as an architect for the Grit victory, said that the No. 2 choice of the […]
When the prime minister calls, you listen, just ask Doug Fisher
It’s both the secret hope and fear of nearly every journalist who works on Parliament Hill — to pick up the phone only to hear the raspy provencal tones of the Prime Minister of the day emanating from the other end of the receiver. But for veteran, well-regarded Toronto Sun columnist Doug Fisher, it’s something […]
Alliance rookie admires Laurier, Manning and, yep, Paul Martin
As an aide to three Reform and Alliance MPs, James Rajotte who was elected in Edmonton Southwest, Alta., is no stranger to the Hill. The 30-year-old began his Parliament Hill career in 1993 as an assistant to the late Edmonton-area Reform MP Hugh Hanrahan. He later worked with then-British Columbia Reform MP Margaret Bridgman before […]
In Alberta, it seems it’s as easy to be a preacher as a politician
I spent the better part of the holidays in British Columbia. On this occasion, I would enjoy a family reunion and, as well, see what I could discover of the temper of the times in the province. I brought with me a copy of a Statistics Canada report on church attendance in Canada or, to […]
PMO Chief-of-Staff Pelletier said to be leaving his post in the spring
There’s no life like it…Now that the rumours of Jean Chretien’s departure from 24 Sussex have been proven greatly exaggerated, new rumours are focusing on the people around him. Jean Pelletier, the Prime Minister’s quiet, but mighty and longtime chief of staff, is supposed to be leaving the Prime Minister’s Office in the spring, Heard […]
Alliance, Tories talking about Harris: sources say most viable alternative is Mike Harris [as next Alliance leader]
Despite grumblings from a significant number of Canadian Alliance members, Stockwell Day’s leadership of the party is relatively secure, according to Alliance sources. But Alliance and provincial Tory sources also say it’s not entirely because Alliance members are convinced that Mr. Day (Okanagan-Coquihalla, B.C.) is capable of turning in a superior performance in his next […]
Race for Speaker heats up: Kilger considered front-runner, McTeague an upset
While most MPs are still dealing with the aftermath of the Christmas drinkathon in Ottawa, others are already back into the political fray, especially those aspiring to be the 34th Speaker of the House of Commons. There are already four official candidates in the running, but Chief Government Whip Bob Kilger (Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburg, Ont.) and former […]
Alliance MP strategist Darrel Stinson criticizes strategists Love and Kenney
Canadian Alliance MPs lashed out at campaign strategists Rod Love and MP Jason Kenney last week on Parliament Hill at the party’s first meeting in Ottawa since winning a disappointing 66 seats in last month’s federal election. The question of Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day’s (Okanagan- Coquihalla, B.C.) leadership was not raised, but that seemed […]
Hampton attacks Buzz Hargrove
The federal NDP is on the right track and should stop letting Buzz Hargrove, the powerful president of the Canadian Auto Workers, and his negative views of the party get all the ink, says Ontario NDP Leader Howard Hampton. Moreover, with a strongly-worded attack against Mr. Hargrove, Mr. Hampton dismissed the request for a radical […]
Martin missed in Liberals’ election win: Grits name every reason under the sun for win, but not Paul Martin
Federal politicking is over for the year and as former U.S. ambassador to Canada James Blanchard once said in his book, Behind the Embassy Door, the Canadian “long, floating drinkathon” Christmas season is on. Government MPs have already forgotten the last federal election, Parliament, the Official Opposition, tax reduction, legislation and the cabinet shuffle. Well, […]
