Legendary Hill scribe Richard Gwyn dies at 86
For years, Richard Gwyn was regarded as one of the best political journalists in Canada. He died last week from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 86. Mr. Gwyn made a name for himself as a national affairs columnist at The Toronto Star, where he covered the governments of Pierre Trudeau, Joe Clark, John Turner, […]
Introduction of remote voting in the House could come without unanimous support
The House Affairs Committee recently recommended the Lower Chamber adopt a system of remote electronic voting for use in exceptional circumstances, requiring changes to the Standing Orders, but enduring Conservative opposition could see the government move ahead without unanimous support this fall. While it’s seen as good form and tradition for amendments to the Standing […]
RCMP, Canada Elections commissioner probing O’Toole campaign allegation that it was hacked by MacKay campaign, says O’Toole campaign
The RCMP and the commissioner of Canada Elections have started probing Erin O’Toole campaign’s hacking allegation against the Peter MacKay campaign, a spokesperson for the O’Toole campaign told The Hill Times. “It’s easy to be confused by the technical details of what took place, or muddy the waters with misrepresentations,” said Melanie Paradis, a spokesperson […]
Ex-Liberal MPs running in next election eagerly await start of nomination process
With the Liberals in majority territory in public opinion polls, some Liberal MPs who lost the last election are eagerly awaiting the start of nomination contests that will give them a chance to reclaim their seats. In interviews with The Hill Times, some former Liberal MPs said nominations for unheld ridings—those currently occupied by MPs […]
An electoral democracy that serves all Canadians and that Canadians trust
In July 1920, Canada had just come out of a world war and was struggling with the global Spanish flu pandemic that had killed some 55,000 Canadians. The Russian Revolution was casting a long shadow over Europe and democracy was about to be shaken off its foundations in a number of countries. In Canada, Parliament […]
Senator Marilou McPhedran tables bill to lower voting age to 16
Independent Senator Marilou McPhedran wants to see younger Canadians at the voting booth. She tabled a bill in the Senate to lower the voting age to 16 last week. “We already know that young people are leaders of today and tomorrow,” the Manitoba Senator said in a statement. “My generation is leaving a lot on […]
NDP, Green MPs raise concern over Canada’s trust in OAS election monitoring in Bolivia
As doubt grows over the monitoring of the last Bolivian election, NDP and Green Party MPs have raised their concern over the ability for the Organization of American States to be trusted to oversee a pivotal election in September. Recent studies have suggested that the decision of the Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation […]
While some MPs urge adoption, Conservatives still skeptical about remote voting
As the House Affairs Committee studies whether and how to introduce remote voting to the Lower Chamber, some MPs are urging it to recommend such voting be temporarily introduced as physical-distancing restrictions prompted by COVID-19 have kept Canada’s top legislature from dealing with almost all regular business since mid-March. “I don’t think people thought that […]
A fall federal election is ‘a real possibility,’ and a ‘sweet spot’ for Liberals to win a majority, say pollsters
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are currently enjoying a strong wave of national popularity, a fall election is a “real possibility” from a purely strategic point of view, and an ideal time to convert a minority government into a majority, say leading pollsters. “The number suggests that there’s going to be a window, at […]
Liberals consulting MPs, party base on nomination rules for next election: spokesperson Caley
The Liberal Party is consulting MPs, past candidates, and riding associations on how it should draw up the rules for MPs seeking a nomination to run for the party again in the next election. The Conservative Party was first out of the gate, announcing nomination rules last month. A spokesman for the Liberal Party told […]
