U.S. conservatives crank up the vitriol, Canadians turns down volume
GATINEAU, QUE.—As American conservatism becomes more narrow, ridiculous and mean, Conservative leaders here appear to be mellowing—except for Preston Manning, but more on him later. They speak in softer registers, they explicitly welcome gays and immigrants into the fold, they no longer claim climate change is a socialist plot. Of course, Canada is a less […]
Three inconvenient truths for the NDP
As the New Democrats ponder the future of their federal party and its leadership, here are a few inconvenient truths they might have to face up to. 1. Yes, the NDP lost the last federal campaign on a fiscal and social platform that the Liberals could have written. The key planks of yearly balanced budgets […]
Funds key to clinching Conservative leadership
MONTREAL—It is a political rule of thumb that defeated incumbents tend to drown their sorrows in money and it turns out the federal Conservatives are no exception. At $5-million, the spending limit imposed on each of the candidates who will vie to replace Stephen Harper between now and next spring is more than five times […]
Mulcair faces ‘fight of his life’ at convention, says Capstick
More than 1,200 people are expected at the NDP’s convention in Edmonton next month and with a leadership review vote on the agenda following a disappointing election result last fall, at least one NDP supporter says Leader Tom Mulcair faces the “fight of his life.” “It’s a huge toss up right now as to what happens. We’re […]
Politics This Morning: Mulcair not taking anything for granted as leadership review nears
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who faces a leadership review in Edmonton, Alta., next month at the party’s convention, says he’s not taking anything for granted when it comes to support. “I’m going to continue to work tirelessly as I’ve always done. But people are showing more and more confidence in the way things are going […]
A bright shiny object amid Tory rethink
OTTAWA—We are still 15 months from the introduction of a new Conservative leader in this country, but amidst many sober, sage calls for a party to open up new policy avenues and find a way to speak to voters who do not hear them, the lure of the bright shiny object beckons. Kevin O’Leary is […]
Politics This Morning: MPs working in ridings during parliamentary recess
Good Monday morning! Parliament is not sitting this week as MPs are in their ridings meeting with constituents and making various announcements. For Liberals, that could mean discussing the controversial physician-assisted suicide issue with constituents as Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc has said the vote on the bill that’s still to be introduced could be […]
‘We can and must win in 2019,’ says potential Conservative leadership candidate Raitt
Conservative MP Lisa Raitt urged conservatives Saturday to stop “looking for blame” as she and two other prospective candidates for the party’s 2017 leadership sketched out how they believe they can topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and win back power in four years—despite the wave of popularity polls show Mr. Trudeau is still riding. “We […]
O’Leary shakes up Manning conference, predicts economic collapse, Liberal turmoil
Millionaire businessman and TV panel star Kevin O’Leary turned his dramatic talents on conservatives at the annual Manning Centre conference Friday, stealing the show as a prospective candidate for the Conservative Party leadership by blaming Alberta Premier Rachel Notley for the province’s oil industry crash, calling for a national referendum on a petroleum pipeline to […]
Politics This Morning: Conservatives descend on Manning Conference
Hundreds of conservatives from across the country will gather today at the annual Manning Centre Conference themed “Recharging the Right.” The conference opens today with a keynote speech from Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose at 7 p.m. at the Shaw Centre in downtown Ottawa. “The Manning Centre event is always a key one for Conservatives. […]
