Liberals opt for individual TV interviews in Winnipeg, not a televised leadership debate, say it’s ‘to get know’ candidates
PARLIAMENT HILL—When the nine Liberal leadership candidates meet face-to-face for the second debate in the contest for the party’s helm, it won’t be face to face. Technically, it won’t even be a debate. A decision to have the candidates interviewed individually by the party’s unsuccessful candidate in last month’s federal byelection in Calgary has […]
Liberal death-watch could well be over
The Liberal death-watch could well be over. Just take a look at the caliber of people who aspire to become leader. A sell-out crowd was expected in Vancouver on Sunday to witness nine candidates vying for the chance to lead Canada’s third place party. And not just any candidates. This race is by no […]
Liberal leadership candidates to talk ‘electoral cooperation’ in upcoming televised debates
PARLIAMENT HILL—The federal Liberal Party is putting potential cooperation with other opposition parties in the next federal election front and centre as it launches a series of five candidate debates in the party’s leadership election this coming weekend in Vancouver. Electoral cooperation is listed separately as one of seven issues the nine candidates will debate, […]
Cauchon set to enter Liberal leadership race, Bertschi registers too
PARLIAMENT HILL—The deadline for candidate registration in the federal Liberal Party leadership approached in dramatic fashion on Friday, as former justice minister Martin Cauchon, at odds with front-runner Justin Trudeau over his abandonment of one of the party’s hallmark accomplishments, the federal long gun registry, was set to begin a mad-dash weekend gathering the 300 […]
Liberals say they expect 100,000-plus eligible voters for leadership vote, and at least three candidates borrow money to cover initial $25,000 entrance fees
PARLIAMENT HILL—More than 100,000 Liberal Party members and voting-age Canadians who register as party supporters are expected to be registered as eligible voters for the Liberal leadership election set for next April, a senior party official says. The sea of voters, which would be unprecedented for federal political party leadership elections in Canada, is a […]
Seven candidates registered for Liberal leadership, Takach says next leader could determine Grits’ fate
PARLIAMENT HILL—With less than a week left before the registration deadline for the federal Liberal Party leadership race, only seven candidates were officially registered with Elections Canada as of Tuesday, despite a prediction from one of the contenders, Toronto lawyer and longtime Liberal George Takach, that the contest could be the party’s last chance. The […]
Tories abuzz, so Trudeau may be on to something
OTTAWA—Conventional wisdom has Justin Trudeau shooting himself in the foot on gun control. Opponents and party members alike are wondering why Trudeau would wade into such a divisive political issue on last week’s eve of the 23rd anniversary of the Montreal École Polytéchnique Massacre. But perhaps Justin is simply crazy like a fox. The Conservatives […]
The campaign people behind the Liberal leadership candidates
Liberal MP Justin Trudeau is the party’s clear front-running leadership candidate right now, but organizers can make or break a campaign too. “While there are lots of smart people on the campaign teams I think what will separate them is those who have the best organizers to mobilize the vote that will be necessary to […]
Trudeau could be called before House Natural Resources Committee in February to explain controversial Alberta comments
PARLIAMENT HILL—The Conservatives’ plan to call Liberal leadership contender Justin Trudeau before the House Natural Resources Committee over statements he made claiming undue Alberta influence over national social and democratic affairs will be delayed until at least February, in the thick of his run for the Liberal Party helm, a senior Conservative says. The development […]
Coyne: Grits don’t have to apologize for long-gun registry
PARLIAMENT HILL—Toronto lawyer Deborah Coyne, one of four women vying for the federal Liberal leadership, says no Liberal has to “apologize” for the federal long-gun registry, a political quagmire for the party for more than a decade. Ms. Coyne made the statement as she and several other Grit leadership candidates, including two other women, […]
