A Poilievre Conservative leadership would be a test: is love really stronger than hate?
CHELSEA, QUE.—Here’s some “plain language” for the presumptive Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who has announced that all government communication must be comprehensible and direct should he become prime minister: less hate, more compassion. There is no question Poilievre has struck a deep vein of discontent as he’s campaigned, drawing unprecedented crowds across western Canada and […]
The secret to Tory unity
OAKVILLE, ONT.—To some, the ongoing Conservative Party leadership contest seems less like a race and more like a burning fuse. Indeed, the way certain political observers see it, when the race finally reaches its endpoint, and a new leader is selected, it’ll spark an ideological explosion that’ll rip the Conservative Party asunder. I don’t think […]
Parties should rethink how they choose leaders
OTTAWA—With more than 600,000 Conservative Party members eligible to choose a new leader this September, the process may arguably be a success. But, by virtually eliminating the role of political parties and Members of Parliament in the leadership selection, the process provides a badly distorted and highly misleading notion of openness, and a Trojan Horse […]
Politicos question why Liberals are holding their fire against Poilievre
Should Pierre Poilievre win the Conservative leadership race next month as expected, political insiders say he won’t make an easy opponent for the Liberals. Poilievre (Carleton, Ont.) has already been blasting the prime minister and the government day-in and day-out, and has been gaining traction with Canadians. But the Liberals have done little to respond […]
All hands on deck to get out the vote in the Conservative leadership election
With the Conservative leadership election in the home stretch, the winner needs to walk away with 16,901 of the total 33,800 available points, and all five leadership campaigns are making last ditch efforts to urge their supporters to cast their votes as soon as possible. “We’re pushing on every channel we can,” said Chris Rougier, […]
What are people buying into with Poilievre?
OTTAWA—In 2008, when then-prime minister Stephen Harper delivered a formal apology to former students of the residential schools program, Pierre Poilievre said the Indigenous recipients of compensation payments needed to get to work, not get money from Ottawa. “My view is that we need to engender the values of hard work and independence and self-reliance. […]
Pierre Poilievre’s resume should tell you all you need to know
HALIFAX—Pierre Poilievre has caught the eye of Washington Post contributing columnist David Moscrop, and it isn’t pretty. “The problems Canada and the world face are far too great to leave to a right-wing, doctrinaire, stuffed-shirt of a politician of such little distinction, capacity, or imagination,” he recently wrote. In case you missed his drift, Moscrop […]
Alberta Sovereignty Act a ‘huge’ challenge for Poilievre if he wins federal leadership election, say political players
The issue of Alberta sovereignty will be the first “huge” political hot potato for Pierre Poilievre should he win the Conservative leadership this September, particularly if Danielle Smith also wins the leadership of the United Conservative Party in Alberta, say political players. Smith, the UCP leadership contest front-runner, has proposed the “Alberta Sovereignty Act” that […]
Conservative caucus to hold summer retreat after the election of new leader, say MPs
With party unity as the issue top of mind for Conservative Parliamentarians and party members, the 119-member Conservative caucus is tentatively scheduled to meet on Sept. 15-16 in Ottawa for its annual summer caucus retreat to plot strategy for the fall sitting of Parliament. This will be the Conservative MPs and Senators’ first retreat after […]
Profound concern with Conservative Party direction at Centre Ice event
There were a lot of topics discussed at the recent Centre Ice Conservatives conference in Edmonton, Alta.: economy, foreign policy, domestic, and global security, reconciliation, and inclusiveness. All, refreshingly, from an adult perspective on what is good policy for a conservative movement. For instance, there was discussion of the pressing need for comprehensive reform of […]
