Scheer’s free-speech promise: smart politics, not smart policy
OTTAWA—On the question of free speech new Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer wasted no time in signalling what Canadians can expect if they choose him to occupy 24 Sussex. Speaking to Conservatives the night he won the leadership last month, he repeated his campaign promise to stop giving federal funds to universities that fail to protect […]
Cancel Super Hornet purchase, say defence experts
Almost nine in 10 defence and security experts surveyed by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute say the government should cancel its interim purchase of Super Hornet fighter jets from Boeing Co. The purchase of 18 Super Hornets was announced in November as an interim measure while the government takes up to five years to complete a competition […]
We need more working moms in federal politics
OTTAWA—Like it or not, the medium is always the message—and a young political woman with a baby bump on a campaign trail is bound to make noise. NDP MP Niki Ashton, 34, is the only woman in the race to replace Tom Mulcair as leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. On May 29, […]
Stogran alleges ‘malicious’ rumour, harassment from insiders led to quitting NDP leadership race
After blaming “insiders” for his decision to pull out from the NDP leadership race less than two months after entering, Pat Stogran says the real reason was far more nefarious: someone within the party had crossed the line, sharing “a malicious and unfounded” story that he thought would harm his family. Party insiders and people […]
Liberals won’t retract their claws
OAKVILLE, ONT.—With his genial smile, cherubic face, and pleasant personality, it’s easy to think that newly elected Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer is genuinely likeable. Of course, anyone who does think that way about Scheer hasn’t been paying much attention to the Liberal Party’s propaganda machine. After all, that machine has been in overdrive lately, […]
Top Conservatives brief caucus on Scheer’s leadership vote numbers, MPs say they’re now satisfied, Bernier didn’t ask any questions
Conservative MPs say last week’s potentially explosive controversy around newly elected leader Andrew Scheer’s leadership vote numbers is no longer a problem after two top Conservatives briefed the national Conservative caucus on June 7. Conservative MPs also say Dustin Van Vugt, executive director of the Conservative Party, and Derek Vanstone, deputy chief returning officer for […]
Handling Conservative caucus Scheer’s ‘key battleground for party unity’: Pollster Lyle
New Conservative leader Andrew Scheer is expected to wait until some time after the House has risen for the summer before announcing his shadow cabinet, and how he handles this and other caucus issues stand to be a major test of his ability to instil party unity. “He’s approaching the transition as he should, very […]
Scheer’s social conservatism obvious target, but Liberals to lay off new leader at onset: insiders
Liberal Party veterans say new Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s reputation as a social conservative is an obvious target for politicking from the Justin Trudeau government, but some say the party in power is likely to avoid being overly aggressive against the new leader for the time-being. Reasons include not being sure, exactly, what direction Mr. […]
‘Surprise’ support for social conservatives Trost, Lemieux helped secure Scheer’s leadership win
Despite flying under the radar in the packed Conservative leadership race, Conservative MP Brad Trost and former MP Pierre Lemieux—both social conservatives—placed fourth and sixth, respectively, on the first ballot, and ultimately helped propel new leader Andrew Scheer to victory. “There were two audible gasps in the room,” said Michelle Austin, former Conservative staffer and […]
Tories get leader, but not big tent party needs
TORONTO—Connect the dots that led to Andrew Scheer’s narrow Conservative leadership victory and what you have is a triumph of retail politics over big ideas. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives lived and eventually died on the battlefield of boutique policies tailored to specific segments of the electorate. Those same dynamics ultimately determined the outcome of the former […]
