Nasty fights erupt between some incumbent Conservative MPs and challengers, while two Tories decide not to run again
Two Conservative MPs, who were facing nomination challenges, recently announced they won’t seek re-election in 2019, and nasty fights are erupting between some incumbent MPs and their challengers. Moe Amery, a former Progressive Conservative Alberta MLA, who is running for the nomination against Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai (Calgary Forest Lawn, Alta.), described the seven-term MP […]
Failed NDP leadership candidate Angus tweets, then deletes, criticism of party under new leader Singh
PARLIAMENT HILL—Failed NDP leadership candidate Charlie Angus deleted a tweet he posted criticizing his party for fixating too heavily on image and style because he didn’t want to be seen as coming out against “new ideas” and “new people” entering party ranks, he said. In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Angus (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.) said […]
As Conservatives huddle in Victoria, Kellie Leitch announces her exit
Former cabinet minister Kellie Leitch stole the early thunder at the national Conservative caucus meetings in Victoria on Wednesday, announcing she will not seek re-election in 2019, months after mounting an unsuccessful bid to win the party leadership. Ms. Leitch (Simcoe-Grey, Ont.) confirmed to reporters that she would not seek a third term in the […]
Seven Conservative MPs face divisive nomination challenges, party denies it’s behind the move
Seven Conservative MPs are facing nomination challenges for the 2019 election, but there is widespread speculation the party’s leadership is behind at least some of those challenges, which the party strongly denies. “There were some OLO staffers last fall who were overheard musing about the need to organize challenges against a handful of incumbent MPs, […]
The science of politics
OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you believe the latest in fashionable wisdom, the best of all possible national political leaders would be a reincarnation of Albert Einstein. After all, the current trend in media commentary (especially on the left) is to judge political parties and politicians on the basis of how much they revere “science.” For instance, it’s […]
Conservatives open nominations in their 92 held ridings, but deny new rules ‘advantageous’ to incumbent Tory MPs
With new nomination rules in place that some describe as “advantageous” to incumbent Conservative MPs, the federal party has opened up nominations in held ridings, but Conservatives deny the charge that they are favouring MPs in the 2019 nomination process. The nominations in the Conservative-held ridings opened up on Nov. 1 under the new rules […]
A lament for O’Leary
OTTAWA—Many of you, I am sure, have been privately lamenting over these past few months how Canada is so much lesser because Kevin O’Leary still hasn’t made it into public life. If only he had won the Conservative leadership race, was in Parliament, and helping us all sort through the tough public-policy issues of the […]
Leadership: in the eye of the beholder
In my time as a reporter, UN worker, and public servant, I have met many people in public life. The three most memorable were Peter Lougheed, Pierre Trudeau, and René Lévesque. When I arrived in Calgary in the summer of 1978, I was assigned to cover a speech by then-premier Peter Lougheed at a political […]
NDP united behind Jagmeet Singh, despite Quebec concerns, say MPs
New Democrats have elected Jagmeet Singh on a mandate for change and after dominating the leadership vote, achieving caucus unity shouldn’t be a problem, say NDP MPs. Caucus members and NDP insiders painted a positive picture after the marathon leadership race ended Sunday, with more than 53 per cent of the vote-casting membership selecting the […]
Jagmeet Singh’s win heralds the start of a new era of Canadian politics
With the selection of Jagmeet Singh as NDP leader, the 2019 federal leadership lineup is now complete. It will be strikingly different from that on offer only two years ago on not one but two significant scores. It will also be more representative of 21st-century Canada. For the first time, there will be someone drawn […]
