Tory delegates vote against anti-abortion resolution, endorse limiting citizenship, as policy convention wraps
HALIFAX—Conservative Party delegates railed against being known as “Liberal lite” Saturday, voting to pass a series of policy resolutions aimed at shoring up their base while trying to dodge some social pitfalls that would make it easier for opponents to place targets on their backs in 2019. Delegates attending the party’s national convention in Halifax […]
Maxime Bernier’s explosive exit from Conservative Party has ‘no impact’ on Tory Halifax huddle, say MPs
HALIFAX/PARLIAMENT HILL—Quebec MP Maxime Bernier announced in Ottawa on Thursday that he is leaving the Conservative Party, saying that he is in “politics to defend ideas, real conservative ideas.” But in Halifax, where thousands of Conservative Party members have gathered to debate those ideas, Mr. Bernier’s (Beauce, Que.) now-former caucus colleagues say his decision changes […]
Halifax huddle a chance for Scheer to step from Harper’s shadow and shine
OTTAWA—Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer heads into this week’s party convention in reasonable shape despite the best efforts of Maxime Bernier to do whatever it was he was trying to do. As Scheer travels to Halifax, his party’s fundraising numbers remain impressive, the party’s polling numbers are good, and generally his caucus is unified. Any other […]
Tories must ‘find a way to manage Max,’ but Bernier’s ‘selfish gesture’ won’t cast too dark a shadow over convention: strategists, MPs
As Conservatives huddle in Halifax this week to hash out their plan to topple the Liberal government next year, Tory MPs and politicos say they expect the convention’s focus to firmly remain on 2019 strategy, despite the recent distraction caused by MP Maxime Bernier. The three-day Conservative National Convention kicks off on Aug. 23 at […]
Halifax policy convention Scheer’s time to focus on homegrown visability
A policy convention is something like a Seinfeldian Festivus, or a biennial airing of grievances. As former Conservative strategist Tim Powers told The Hill Times in today’s paper, it’s three days on the therapist’s couch—a massive counselling session to get everything out in the open. But there’s a reason most people don’t broadcast their own […]
Maxime Bernier’s Twitter tirade a gift to Justin Trudeau
OTTAWA—Professional tip to all Members of Parliament, but particularly the Conservative ones, if you want to have a discussion about Canadian identity: Twitter isn’t the the best vehicle for you. That should seem self-evident but apparently that is not the case. Now if you want to wreak havoc, piss people off, and throw verbal hand […]
Tories building on ‘large bedrock of support’ ahead of August convention: party president
As the Conservative Party prepares to huddle in Halifax at its end-of-summer policy convention, the party president is feeling buoyed by polling patterns and fundraising stats that he says put them in a prime position for the 2019 election. When the Conservatives’ three-day national convention begins in Halifax on Aug. 23, it will come on […]
Time for mid-year leader reviews
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Since we’ve just passed the year’s mid-point, it’s time for me to write my long-awaited column on the following topic: “How did the federal party leaders fare during the past six months?” Okay, I was the only one long awaiting it, but that’s beside the point. What matters is we can now indulge in […]
In praise of political pragmatism
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Ideological principles can be wonderful things, but they also tend to be delicate, so delicate, in fact, they rarely survive for long when released into the wilds of politics. Once they fall into the clutches of politicians they’re either callously abandoned by the roadside to die or else cruelly twisted into something that barely […]
Conservative fortunes benefit from Scheer, Bernier on same team
OTTAWA—Last week, Andrew Scheer turfed Maxime Bernier from his shadow cabinet. Bernier, the former shadow minister for innovation, science, and economic development was apparently removed because he broke a promise to caucus concerning the promotion of his book, specifically a section dealing with the need to end supply management. Allegedly, he said he wouldn’t promote […]
