‘They’re really riled up here’: Conservatives circling Goodale’s lone Liberal seat in Saskatchewan
Conservatives from across the Prairies are working to try to unseat longtime Liberal MP Ralph Goodale in Regina-Wascana, Sask., where a local columnist says anger towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the carbon tax has reached a boiling point. “It’s a pretty hostile campaign,” said Murray Mandryk, a columnist for The Regina Leader Post who […]
Tight contest between Liberals, Conservatives, lower voter turnout could benefit third parties, experts say
With the Liberals and the Conservatives deadlocked in the polls, and the country potentially headed for a minority-government situation, some political analysts anticipate more malleable voters may feel less compelled to choose either of the frontrunners. High turnout in the 2015 election was a boon for the Liberals, who ascended to form a majority after […]
The Arctic is being overlooked in this election
The silence is deafening. Unless you live in the Arctic, as I do, you probably haven’t heard anything about the region that makes up more than half of Canada’s territory. That’s frustrating, given the attention the Arctic received before the election was called when the Government of Canada made a number of announcements and released […]
Election 2019: Revving up the base in the divisive post-truth era
OTTAWA—It’s obvious to everyone how populism south of the border, in the United Kingdom, and much of western Europe has thrived in the post-truth era. U.S. President Donald Trump’s ability to twist information and pour out torrents of lies has changed reality in the U.S., where the lifeblood of political discourse often no longer has […]
‘Bonjour-Hi’ may seem like a fiasco, but it has a serious side
OTTAWA—Bonjour-Hi. These two innocuous words, spoken in combination, have struck fear in the hearts of Quebec politicians of late. “Bonjour” was endorsed by unanimous resolutions in the Quebec National Assembly last June encouraging merchants and their staffs to use the word “Bonjour” alone to welcome people to their establishments. The cause for concern was a […]
Conservative gains in Ontario before campaign due to ‘Ford being quiet,’ but pollster says Trudeau’s attacks may not be working
Many Liberal candidates say Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford’s unpopularity is still a significant issue at the doors more than halfway through the election campaign, with some political strategists saying that voters who backed Mr. Ford in 2018 are upset with the Ontario government’s record one year in, and may now look to back […]
When it comes to climate change, Scheer should ignore the media
OAKVILLE, ONT.—One fun thing about elections is how they suddenly turn journalists and columnists into masters of political strategy. Indeed, if you scan social media, or read newspaper opinion pages, or watch public affairs shows on TV, you’ll find legions of media pundits offering up their strategic advice to political party leaders as to how […]
Leadership contradictions, affordability, and a redefined Ford among election highlights so far
OTTAWA—How do you define excitement? Spoiler. Campaign 2019 is so far not the answer. But hope springs eternal as we hit the halfway mark of the election. If polls are to be believed, if the election ended today, we’d likely have a minority government, probably of the Liberal variety. Were that the case then the […]
New book explores legacy of the first female Supreme Court chief justice
In a recently released book, two academics explore the legacy of Canada’s first-ever female Supreme Court chief justice, Beverley McLachlin, who held the role from 2000 to 2017. “Not only has McLachlin had the courage to confront the ‘issues that really divide society,’ but she has developed techniques for considering these issues dispassionately, effectively, and […]
Five decades later, the class of 1969 looks back
MONTREAL—I attended my 50th anniversary high school reunion here over the weekend. I helped organize it, which is a paradox, because I disliked high school. For one thing, I attended the same school for 12 years, from kindergarten to graduation. Familiarity does breed contempt, and consequently, scholastic indifference. Our high school was not untypical of […]
