Leadership race as identity crisis: the Conservatives veer into unknown territory
OTTAWA-Forget about Kellie Leitch’s surrealist video and her efforts to appeal to Canadians’ worst instincts. All the questions about what she might think she’s doing are minor in contrast to the much larger issues arising from the Conservative leadership contest that is mercifully getting closer to its final act. For better or worse, the Conservatives […]
O’Leary leadership campaign focused on business experience, millennials
With a campaign headquarters office in Toronto, businessman and television personality Kevin O’Leary is looking to appeal to millennials and bring a “businessman’s approach to politics” in his bid for the Conservative Party leadership. “Kevin is the outsider candidate. He is trying to move beyond political correctness to bring a businessman’s approach to politics. You […]
Manning Conference featured red-carpet style soirée, while Senators get social … media, that is
Picture this: nearly 600 suited-up students, MPs, and industry leaders exchanging ideas, discussing policy issues and nibbling on appetizers, all with the chance of networking with one of the 14 candidates for the federal Conservative Party leadership. I’d be lying if I said the Trillium Room at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa didn’t look like […]
Conservative Party has ‘double standard’ on leadership campaign rules, and ballots only allow for 10 candidates, not 14, says Trost campaign
The Conservative Party isn’t following the rules it set and expects all federal leadership candidates to comply with which is a “double standard,” says Conservative leadership candidate Brad Trost’s campaign. Joseph Ben-Ami, campaign director for Mr. Trost’s (Saskatoon-University, Sask.) leadership bid, also said although there are 14 candidates running, the federal party’s ballot papers only allow party members to rank 10 leadership […]
We’re being ill-served by Conservative, NDP leadership races
TORONTO—Canadians are being ill-served by both the Conservative and NDP leadership races. Neither party has found a candidate who is speaking intelligently about the real challenges facing the country. This is giving the Trudeau government a free ride. But no government should have a free ride. Our democratic society deserves something better—a serious opposition that […]
Niki Ashton expected to enter NDP leadership race next week
Keep your eyes peeled: Niki Ashton is likely to announce her intention to run for the leadership of the NDP next week, say two sources close to her office. An NDP staffer who is affiliated with Ms. Ashton’s (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, Man.) office, as well one of Ms. Ashton’s regular volunteers, each said separately they are expecting Ms. […]
Meet Gérard Deltell, the rising-star Quebec MP whose leadership endorsement will be one to watch
He may be a rookie in the House, but rising-star Conservative finance critic Gérard Deltell is a known entity in Quebec, where his upcoming endorsement in the Conservative leadership race is expected to be significant. The 52-year-old (Louis-Saint-Laurent, Que.) has garnered attention since arriving on the Hill last year. Though his name is recognized in […]
O’Leary isn’t Trump, but they’re both heat-drawing wild cards
MONTREAL—Is Kevin O’Leary the Canadian Donald Trump? It’s a question more complicated than the straight calculation of whether the political alchemy that propelled one belligerent reality show host to the pinnacle of power in America can hop the border. Because the previously unthinkable presidency of Mr. Trump has violated every convention of political wisdom and […]
Conservative leadership debates: it’s not all about you, Kevin
OTTAWA—The official leadership debates of the Conservative Party of Canada have been pretty lame thus far, in that there is no debate. However, as painful as they are in format, it is reasonable enough to assume that the official candidates of the party should actually show up for them. They are put on by the […]
Grit MP Ouellette emerges from caucus, happy ‘no one lost any teeth’
It’s getting harder to differentiate the quotes from politicians from the quotes of hockey players. For example, take these comments Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette made after a caucus meeting held Feb. 22, as distributed to press gallery members through a transcription service. “Should I say something? Should I say anything? What could I say?” he […]
