Charting a path for a Charest victory
OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race, Pierre Poilievre has a clear advantage over his main rival, Jean Charet. This is mainly because Poilievre is what I call a “winged candidate,” while Charest is a “non-winged candidate” and, when it comes to internal Conservative politics, “winged candidates” usually do better. At this point, I […]
Ideas, policy, and party leaders
TORONTO—The Conservatives and the NDP are poles apart on policy, but they share a common feature: ideological principles drive them. Both parties have internal divisions, but the disagreements are about the ideas that ought to sustain their party. Ideology energizes the emotions of Conservative and NDP partisans and many of their parties’ supporters. The Conservatives […]
Russia’s war in Ukraine forces foreign policy into Conservative leadership race spotlight, says Charest
With Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukraine and reports of widespread human rights violations, a Conservative leadership candidate says the conflict has put a spotlight on foreign policy during the race. Unlike the last Conservative leadership race, the frontrunners don’t bring an abundance of foreign policy experience, but Jean Charest leads the pack with his international […]
Conservatives to finalize nomination rules for unheld ridings after consulting the new leader, says party president Batherson
The Conservatives have set their nomination rules for incumbent MPs for the next election, but will finalize the rules for unheld ridings once the new leader is elected, says Conservative Party president Rob Batherson. “As we did in 2020, we want to make sure that we have input from the new leader and their team, […]
Why Poilievre will ignore Bergen’s plea
OAKVILLE, ONT.—I don’t consider myself a rebel, but years ago, while working in a U.S. Senatorial Republican primary race, I was part of a campaign team that openly and brazenly defied the party establishment. The drama began when the Republican Party’s state chairman, a guy named John Sununu, got wind of the fact that we […]
How can lower-profile Conservative leadership candidates shift the race?
Lesser-known Conservative leadership candidates will have a chance to bring forward their ideas and increase their notoriety and in the process could force the frontrunners to address them—especially if the vote takes multiple ballots and they need to become their rivals’ supporters second choice. The Conservative leadership race has quickly become a crowded field of […]
If Kenney loses his leadership review, he will be the second casualty of populist uprising after O’Toole, say politicos
If Alberta Premier Jason Kenney loses his May 18 leadership review, he will be the second casualty of the populist uprising after Erin O’Toole, who was ousted as Conservative party leader in early February, say politicos. “He’d [Jason Kenney] have to get in line after Erin O’Toole,” said Nik Nanos, founder of Nanos Research. “Erin […]
Why is Patrick Brown running for the federal Conservative leadership and how does he fit with Jean Charest?
OTTAWA—On the surface, it makes little sense why a former short-time Ontario provincial leader and now Brampton mayor—known for running the show there—is coming forward to throw his hat into the federal Conservative Party of Canada leadership race, hoping to win over other contenders. But Patrick Brown has politics in his blood and greater ambitions. Brown’s […]
Getting out of ‘groundhog mode’: Party Central’s back with an unmasked party at the Met
In Art Deco low light, throngs of lobbyists, politicians, staffers, and reporters crowded the Métropolitain Brasserie Restaurant, run by Sarah Chown and one of political Ottawa’s favourite watering holes, on March 23, many of whom were back on the Hill to let loose and celebrate for the first time in a long time. Stephen Hendrie, […]
Yesterday’s man takes a shot at remaking Canada’s future
OTTAWA—One thing is for sure: you can take Jean Charest at his word when he says he’s not afraid of an uphill struggle. I can recall his lonely days as the so-called leader of the Progressive Conservative party after the loss to Jean Chretien’s Liberals in 1993. The joke about being able to hold a […]
