Ontario’s perfect storm for apathy
OAKVILLE, ONT.—The Ontario election’s historically low voter turnout has generated lots of anxious handwringing. University professor and author Emmett Macfarlane bluntly summed up much of that anxiety when he tweeted, “The worst government in the history of the province and (censored) couldn’t even be bothered to vote. A pox on uninformed, apathetic citizens, most of […]
Religion was both a blessing and a curse in Quebec
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—The original French version of O Canada was written in 1880 by a man who lived just down the road. Adolphe-Basile Routhier was a judge in Kamouraska, but also an author, poet, and ultramontane Catholic. The latter two characteristics were evident in the national anthem: the lyrics refer to knowing “how to carry the […]
‘Patchwork approach’ to drug decriminalization ‘shameful,’ shows ‘lack of leadership’ from feds, say advocates, critics
Despite the federal government leaving the door open to expanding the decriminalization of small amounts of drugs in the future, drug policy and human rights organizations across the country are criticizing the temporary exemption approved for British Columbia on May 31 as a “patchwork approach” that will leave many Canadians behind. “It’s incredibly disappointing,” said […]
Federal Conservatives should look to Ford’s Ontario campaign for a more pragmatic, open-minded approach, say strategists
Ontario voters responded to Doug Ford’s more collaborative, open-minded approach to politics by sending the Progressive Conservatives to a second straight majority, say both a Liberal and Conservative strategist, but it’s not clear if any of the leading contenders for the federal Conservative leadership are interested in following that model. Shakir Chambers, who worked under former […]
What, if anything, does Ford’s victory in Ontario actually tell us?
OTTAWA—The outpouring of analysis on the re-election of Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative majority in Ontario makes interesting reading, but it may not amount to much. Ford benefited from the advantage of incumbency and having two main opposition leaders—the NDP’s Andrea Horwath and the Liberals’ Steven Del Duca—who couldn’t find a way to […]
In Ontario, economic anxiety prevails
Last Thursday night, it took only 18 minutes for the major networks to declare Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives the winners of the 2022 Ontario election. Later, we would learn that his team won a record 83 seats in the legislature. In 1995, Mike Harris similarly swept the Ontario election, winning 82 of the […]
Premier Legault’s failed Anglo charm offensive
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Quebec politics is like hockey, columnist Lysiane Gagnon once wrote: les Québécois like a team that fights to win, and that’s the one they will support, or respect. The May 14 march of thousands of citizens through downtown Montreal to protest Bill 96 showed Anglo-Quebecers were, in the words of the 1970s film Network’s […]
Bloc on full offensive over Liberal challenges to Bill 96, as feds keep eye on implementation
The Bloc Québécois is accusing Liberal MPs of “encouraging the anglicization of Quebec,” in response to criticisms of Bill 96, the province’s language bill overhauling the Charter of the French Language. During Question Period on May 30, quoting previous comments made by Quebec Premier François Legault, Bloc Québécois House Leader Alain Therrien (La Prairie, Que.) […]
Ontarians deserve better leaders
So far, the Ontario election campaign feels like a giant letdown, and E-Day hasn’t even arrived yet. No matter who takes office, it seems most Ontarians will wake up on June 6, look at the news, sigh and shrug. The outcome seems bleak, no matter what the result. As of writing, Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier […]
Kenney caught in quagmire of his own making
OTTAWA—Prior to the pandemic, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was arguably the most powerful and influential conservative leader in Canada. Andrew Scheer, when he was federal opposition leader, had Kenney campaign for him in Ontario, while at the same time staying away from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. When Erin O’Toole was seeking to replace Scheer, he […]
