House agrees to extend hybrid sittings, takes step closer to adopting remote voting app
The House of Commons unanimously agreed on Monday to extend the arrangement for hybrid sittings until June, with plans to adopt remote voting via app after House administration conducts “two comprehensive simulations” with MPs. Speaking in the sparsely filled House Chamber, Associate Finance Minister Mona Fortier (Ottawa-Vanier, Ont.) said parties reached a deal to continue […]
Liberals held a virtual election readiness ‘2021 kick-off call’ with caucus, ridings, and campaign managers last week
In the midst of ongoing spring election speculation, the federal Liberal Party held a virtual election readiness meeting last week with caucus members, riding association presidents, and campaign managers, which some saw as an “unofficial kick off” of the next federal election campaign, while others called it a regular preparatory meeting in case a snap […]
Post controversy, Green Party executive director position remains unfilled
Three months after the Green Party’s executive director exited his post amid controversy, the position remains unfilled, and, as speculation of an early election mounts, a party spokesperson says the search for a replacement has yet to begin. Prateek Awasthi started his job as the Green Party’s executive director in May 2020, becoming the first person […]
Parties ramping up candidate nominations across Canada as election threat looms
Speculation of a spring election is running rife, and federal parties are ramping up candidate nominations across the country, with at least 170 candidates nominated so far between the five major parties. “If parties were expecting the fixed election date [in 2023] to be respected I don’t think they would be ramping it [nominations] up […]
Could be a spring election
HALIFAX—COVID-19 has been the herd of elephants in the room for so long, it is a relief to have something else in the air other than the virus; talk of a federal election. The run of stories dealing with that possibility points to a trip to the polls this spring—perhaps in the month of May. […]
Pandemic election bill far from the finish line, as talk of spring vote continues
A mid-pandemic spring election would cause big problems, and it could come before proposed changes to make the electoral process safer have come into effect, says former head of Elections Canada Jean-Pierre Kingsley. Political pundits have speculated for months that either the government or opposition would trigger an election this spring. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau […]
Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle yet another indication Liberals ‘clearing the decks’ for a spring election, say political watchers
The Liberals deny it, but political insiders say last week’s cabinet shuffle is yet another indication Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is setting the stage for a spring election, and that the new cabinet is the governing party’s election cabinet. Last week’s shuffle was triggered after Navdeep Bains (Mississauga-Malton, Ont.) informed Mr. Trudeau (Papineau,Que.) that he […]
When is a cabinet shuffle more than a shuffle? When it means an election is coming soon
Just before starting a four-day virtual cabinet retreat, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet Jan. 12, probably for the last time before a federal election. This shuffle was triggered by Navdeep Bains, the minister of innovation, science, and industry, telling the prime minister that he would not be running in the next election as […]
Liberals may want early election, but COVID will be the real decider
OTTAWA—Signs are everywhere that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is setting the stage for an election this year. On Jan. 12, he shuffled his cabinet, moving out Navdeep Bains, who is not running again, while giving profile opportunities to others, like former minister Jim Carr and the well-regarded Omar Alghabra. There is always a rationale in […]
Only, but not lonely: former broadcaster and political rookie Marci Ien brings community to solitary House role
Marci Ien is used to going it alone. She was the first Black woman to co-host a morning show in Canada and now, as a recently elected Member of Parliament, she is the only Black woman in the House of Commons. “I’ve been an ‘only’ my whole life,” she said. “I’ve been an ‘only’ most […]
