As Annamie Paul steps away from the Green Party, recent candidates say its future rests on fostering internal ‘unity’
After experiencing “disappointing” results in the 2021 election, the Green Party will need to sort out its issues with infighting if it is to thrive in Canadian politics, according to two recent party candidates and the president of the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas constituency association. “I think our policies are incredibly relevant, but Canadians do want to […]
Three former staffers among new MPs-elect headed to the House
Elections often see staffers step out from behind the curtain to make a go of running for office—this year was no different, and among the new class of MPs headed for seats in the House of Commons for the first time are three former staffers, Conservatives Adam Chambers, Melissa Lantsman, and Dan Muys. Mr. Chambers […]
‘They lost the air war’: Trudeau Liberals missed their majority government by only 16,870 votes in 11 ridings, Hill Times analysis
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals could have won a majority government in the Sept. 20 election if they had received 16,870 more votes spread across 11 ridings, according to an analysis by The Hill Times. The 11 closest losses for the Liberals included three in Ontario, two in Quebec, and one each in Manitoba, Newfoundland […]
If Conservatives keep O’Toole as leader, more conservative voters will move to Bernier
HALIFAX—The most spectacular self-immolation of Election 2021 was Annamie Paul and the Green Party; but the more consequential one belongs to Erin O’Toole. The Conservative Party of Canada wasn’t aiming at party status in the recent election, as the Greens were. It was aiming at government—for the third time since the days when they last […]
Suppose they gave an election and nobody won
It would be very easy to simply slide alongside the emerging narrative that the 44th Canadian general election was a waste of time, a waste of money, and an empty exercise where the hopes and dreams of political junkies met their maker. To be fair, the Liberals were indeed hoping for a majority and fell […]
Trudeau has plenty of fresh faces, proven talent to address clear gaps in his cabinet
OTTAWA—A new cabinet is coming and there are some clear gaps or changes needed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to a gender-balanced cabinet and now needs to appoint at least four new women to cabinet. Three women ministers lost their seats—Maryam Monsef, Deb Schulte, and Bernadette Jordan; and one, Catherine McKenna, didn’t […]
Get ready for O’Toole 2.5
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Should he stay or should he go? That’s the burning question people in political circles are asking these days about Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole, in light of his disappointing finish in the recent federal election. But in my view, another question needs asking, i.e., if O’Toole does stick around for another kick at […]
Charities, non-profits need more than upped disbursement quota from feds to advance equity in communities
A re-elected Liberal government means commitments made will be revisited, and a vision for Canada post-pandemic unveiled. One commitment, in particular, made in the 2021 federal budget, was the government’s intent to increase the disbursement quota, or the minimum amount that charitable organizations must spend or grant each year, as a means to “boosting charitable […]
Bloc willing to ‘turn water to wine’ in House, but won’t budge on health transfer boost
In the new minority Parliament, the Bloc Québécois will continue to push for increased health transfers from the federal government as the “main demand,” says one MP of the platform plank that some experts say could be made a condition of the party’s support for Liberal legislation. “We have always presented ourselves in Parliament as […]
The Seinfeld election: an election about nothing
This election might be called the Seinfeld election, an election about nothing. There was no single issue, as there was in 1988 when free trade turned that election into a referendum. Nor was there a burning desire to vote the bums out, as there was in 1984, 1993, and 2015. Instead, it just was. Sure, […]
