With Trump left behind and COVID easing, Trudeau can soon test his standing and vision with voters
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau evaded the Trump menace and is now on the verge of politically surviving the worst public health crisis in a century. Taken together, those developments likely signal an attempt sooner than later by the Liberals to try to reclaim the parliamentary majority forfeited in 2019. Trudeau was present in Britain on […]
Parliament will be a little lesser of a place without Harris and Easter
OTTAWA—When two hardened political veterans announce their pending retirements, their “intention not to run in the next election,” you can be pretty sure that the rumoured late summer or early fall call of the next federal election is moving closer to reality. NDP stalwart Jack Harris from Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island Liberal […]
Trudeau: will he pull the plug or not?
HALIFAX—With Parliament just two weeks away from summer recess, Canadians are in for a period of Shakespearean drama; to pull the plug, or not to pull the plug. That is the question confronting just one person; Justin Trudeau. The usual way for a minority government to fall is for the opposition to gang tackle at […]
Not enough data on election misinformation, say experts, as critics warn of government censorship
While a government amendment to its struck-down election misinformation law is one solution put forward, some MPs say want more in terms of study into how to combat false claims during election campaigns. On May 4, Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull (Whitby, Ont.) put forward a motion for the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) to […]
PM Trudeau should stay laser focused on governing, not on the next election
Hill circles are abuzz yet again with speculation about the next federal election, now rumoured to be planned for September with the writ to be dropped in August. Adding more credence to this speculation is the Liberal Party’s decision last week to invoke an “electoral urgency” rule that will allow the party to expedite its […]
Politicos predict a September federal election, but if not, expect October 2023
Barring a fourth wave of COVID-19 hitting Canada in the coming weeks, the August-October window is the optimal time for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to pull the plug and try to win a majority government, say political insiders, pollsters, and Liberal MPs. If the Liberals can’t capitalize on this opportunity, then the next election may […]
‘No direction’ from Liberal Party on COVID campaign logistics, some candidates and riding associations complain
Election readiness is now a top priority for all federal parties, but some Liberal riding associations and candidates say they are not getting clear guidance from the party on the logistics of campaigning during or soon after a pandemic. Others, however, say they don’t need any guidance from the party on campaign logistics, and are […]
Next election a chance for Liberal ‘clean sweep’ in Hamilton, says former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps
The next election is an opportunity for the Liberals to get a “clean sweep” in the Hamilton area, thanks to their party’s lead in the polls and the fact that two opposition incumbents in the area are not seeking re-election, says former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps, who has deep political roots in the city. […]
Forty-third Parliament of Canada, I hardly knew ya!
OTTAWA—Barring unanimous consent to extend the number of sitting days, the House of Commons is scheduled to rise on June 23, and I truly hope I am not the bearer of either bad or surprising news here, but they ain’t coming back. I’m talking gone, au revoir, adios, tail-lights in the rear-view mirror. I’m talking […]
Conservatives plot contingency plan for candidate nominations in case of a snap federal election
With ongoing speculation about a snap general election coming in the next few months, the Conservative Party’s national council recently passed a new rule that allows the party’s executive director, in consultation with the national council, to “alter, abridge or suspend any section or sections of the rules as they see fit” to ensure all […]
