Ford Nation and the demise of the campaign playbook
OTTAWA—Last week, Scott Reid, formerly Paul Martin’s communications director and currently a political analyst and speechwriter who “was pitching in” for Kathleen Wynne’s team, wrote one of the more sobering post-mortems on the Ontario campaign. The piece, published in the Globe and Mail, posed the question as to whether campaigns even matter anymore: “In an […]
Quebec Liberals won’t suffer Wynne’s fate
As the last national assembly sitting before the Oct. 1 provincial vote was winding down last week, a brief encounter with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard yielded an unsolicited prediction. “I have a secret for you,” he told me on his way out of a Radio-Canada studio. “I will win the election.” Perhaps that was his way of […]
New federal languages legislation must address unique linguistic needs of Inuit
Inuit are pleased that the Government of Canada has prioritized the co-development of national First Nations, Inuit, and Métis languages legislation during the current legislative session. This co-development exercise has the potential to advance reconciliation between Inuit and the Crown, and to positively change the way we work together on shared legislative priorities. Perhaps most […]
Zerucelli, Julien exit the Prime Minister’s Office
The Prime Minister’s Office is down two senior staffers with the recent departures of both senior adviser John Zerucelli and senior manager of long term planning Noémie Julien as of June 11. Mr. Zerucelli’s departure was first set and announced in January. Up until then, he had been the director of operations in Prime Minister […]
Perry Bellegarde: the path we must walk together
Indigenous priorities are Canada’s priorities. Whether it’s the economy, the environment, opportunities for growth, or measures to help the middle class and those struggling to join it, First Nations care deeply about these public policy matters. In 2015, the Assembly of First Nations introduced Closing the Gap, which spelled out the challenges facing First Nations, […]
Nurses, the unsung heroes of health care, go beyond traditional roles
Last month, I attended the 16th Annual Awards of Excellence in Nursing, a celebration of both the beginning of National Nursing Week and the recipients of these awards. This year’s theme during Nursing Week was #YESThisisNursing, a testament to the constantly changing and expanding roles of nurses in Canada. It’s a theme that is especially relevant to […]
Trudeau government’s promise on Indigenous education gets a failing grade
What would you do if education officials in your children’s school board falsified graduation rates or failed to track why so many children were unable to pass basic literacy tests? What would you do if, year after year, education officials covered their tracks by ignoring orders to compile useable data to ensure better education outcomes? […]
Indigenous Relations Policy Briefing
What happens if Ontario makes good on plan to scrap cap and trade?
With the election of Doug Ford as Ontario’s next premier, the carbon market is in danger. The Quebec government plans to turn on the charm in order to keep its neighbour in the game. But what will happen if Ontario’s new Conservative government follows through with its intention to withdraw from the cap-and-trade system? Between […]
Respect provincial laws to ensure the highest standard applies
During the last electoral campaign, the Liberal Party’s platform stated that a Trudeau government would respect provincial and municipal authority before authorizing oil or pipeline projects. “While governments grant permits for resource development, only communities can grant permission.” So the Liberals said—before the elections. In Bill C-69, the government has decided not to take into […]
