Guy Caron: the economic policy wonk who wants to lead the NDP
Guy Caron is a policy wonk with a personality. That’s how Robin MacLachlan, a former NDP staffer now with Summa Strategies, describes him anyways. Over the years, Mr. Caron has gone from “policy wonk to politician,” said Mr. MacLachlan, who has known Mr. Caron since before his time in politics. He’s an “activist turned leader” and “economic […]
With O’Leary gone, Conservatives dodged a nuclear missile
OTTAWA—Kevin O’Leary, we hardly knew you! Your political career is over in the blink of an eye. You say it is because you were being selfless and putting the interests of the Conservative Party first. Some cynics, me among them, wonder if you were more concerned about the impact of a lost leadership on the […]
O’Leary supporters have potential to throw Conservative race wide open
MONTREAL—With the Conservative crown slipping from his grasp, Kevin O’Leary settled on becoming kingmaker last week. But will the decision to throw his support to Maxime Bernier do the trick? On that, the evidence is mixed. There is not a Canadian political junkie who does not remember the high drama that attended Stéphane Dion’s upset […]
Why the Conservative membership total blew away insider projections
The Conservative Party blew past estimates from leadership candidates, pollsters, and party insiders by signing up 259,010 members by the March 28 cutoff to vote in the federal party’s leadership race on May 27. Estimates by those close to the race had ranged from 150,000 to 200,000 over the past few months, far below the number of […]
Conservatives’ rank and file ‘pissed off’ O’Leary quit, wondering, ‘what the hell are we left with?’
With Kevin O’Leary gone from the Conservative leadership race, there are concerns within the party about the level of star power left and the chances any of the remaining candidates have of winning the next federal election, say insiders. There is still resentment toward heavyweights from the former Stephen Harper cabinet, such as Peter MacKay, […]
Time for NDP to wave the red flag
OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the Bible’s Book of Job, there’s a cheery little line that reads, “After dark, I hope for light.” I suspect that perfectly sums up the attitude of many federal New Democrats who, after the darkness of their party’s unexpectedly poor showing in the last national election, are now hoping for better things to […]
O’Leary departure makes things less interesting, but likely for the best
Watching the Conservative leadership race unfold over the next month will not be nearly as interesting now that Kevin O’Leary has quit the race. But as a country, we’re probably better off that this happened. Why? He might have somehow become prime minister. Yes, we agree with Mr. O’Leary’s assessment that he would have had […]
This just in: Parliament Pub set for a comeback after more than two-year hiatus
The Parliament Pub, the patio for which provides the best view of the Parliament Buildings of any Ottawa establishment, is set to reopen during the May long weekend, weather permitting, after being closed since December 2014. It closed due to renovations the federal government—owner of the historic Birks Building at 107 Sparks St., where the […]
Kevin O’Leary drops from Conservative leadership race, backs Maxime Bernier
Businessman Kevin O’Leary, widely considered to be a front-runner in the Conservative Party leadership race, is bowing out of the contest in its final leg because he says his lack of support in Quebec would make it difficult for him to beat Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in the next general election. He’s thrown his support behind […]
Tory leadership candidates courting supply management group for support
Multiple candidates in the Conservative leadership race have reached out for support from the organizers of a politically active Facebook group in Quebec created to defend supply management. Staff on the campaigns for Andrew Scheer (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.), Michael Chong (Wellington-Halton Hills, Ont.), and Steven Blaney (Bellechasse-Les Etchemins-Lévis, Que.) have contacted the administrator or one of […]
