The Conservative leadership campaign, as viewed by a ‘blue Liberal’
OTTAWA—In this cold and snowy month of February, people in the capital clearly need to preoccupy themselves with some sort of parlour game to keep the conversational juices flowing and have something to do indoors. So it is that—with the end of the sideshow to the south that was the impeachment trial, and questions as […]
Can the Conservatives make themselves relevant again?
OTTAWA—Here’s Peter MacKay’s take on Canada’s responsibility to help address the global climate change emergency: “We could throw all our car keys in Halifax Harbour, turn down the heat, turn off the lights, walk around naked in the dark eating organic beets, and it won’t make a difference,” the former Harper-era cabinet minister said on […]
Conservative Party’s national council should share Scheer’s expense audit report with party members, say some Conservative MPs and leadership candidate Gladu
The Conservative Party’s national council should share the findings of the forensic audit into $900,000 of outgoing leader Andrew Scheer’s expenses, say some Conservative MPs and one leadership candidate, and they say it’s critical for the party to improve the governance and transparency of the Conservative Fund following the controversy over the party’s subsidization of […]
Big caucus backing not necessarily a sign of coronation for MacKay, say politicos
As Conservative leadership candidate Peter MacKay garners a surge of endorsements from the Conservative caucus, politicos say those displays of support are not necessarily signs of a coronation for the former high-profile Harper cabinet minister. As of Feb. 4, 20 sitting MPs and two Conservative Senators have publicly pledged their support to Mr. MacKay, including […]
When it comes to climate policies, Conservative leadership contenders need to move beyond criticism
OTTAWA—It was disappointing, but not surprising, that the leading candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party came out with the predictable language about tearing up “Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax.” Both Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole were quick to make this point. Clearly, they are taking the view that in order to win the current […]
Greens looking to grow as first leadership race in 14 years kicks off
The federal Green Party’s leadership race has officially begun—its first in 14 years—and along with a “healthy debate” over its future, the party is hoping to spark a wave of momentum it can ride into the next election. “The experience we had in [the leadership race in] 2006 was that our membership doubled during the […]
Conservative leadership candidates likely to raise 60 per cent of funds online, but must get party approval first, says Gladu
Conservative Party leadership contestants will probably raise 60 per cent of their totals funds online, says leadership candidate Marilyn Gladu—but they can’t get started until they’ve been vetted and approved by the party as candidates. In an interview with The Hill Times, the two-term Conservative MP said she has started to receive donations from supporters, […]
CPC leadership race exits show it’s getting easier to say ‘no’ to public office
OTTAWA—Why are some good potential candidates stepping away from the Conservative leadership race? Three did last week: Rona Ambrose, Jean Charest, and Pierre Poilievre. Having them not compete for the Conservative crown is a loss to the party. The spectre of having these three political power players battling it out with Peter MacKay, Erin O’Toole, […]
Why Harper still dominates the news
OAKVILLE, ONT.—When you hear the name “Stephen Harper,” the last word that springs to mind is “charismatic.” Words that do spring to mind, on the other hand, include: boring, brooding, stodgy, plodding, and pedantic. Yet amazingly, despite his ostensibly anti-charismatic personality, and despite being off the political stage for nearly five years, Harper has become, […]
The party of Stephen Harper isn’t going anywhere
HALIFAX—With the disappearance of Jean Charest from the Conservative leadership race, Justin Trudeau has been dealt another ace by a party that can’t seem to get over Stephen Harper. Unless a meteor enters the political firmament—someone new and estimable not now on the candidate radar screen—the person who replaces the hapless Andrew Scheer will be […]
