Liberals about to learn how difficult it is to pursue policy while trying to ensure the trains run on time
OTTAWA—Well that was fun! As the carcass of the 43rd general election continues to be picked over in search of political ammunition or insight, it might be useful to step back and examine what actually happened and what, if anything, it might mean. There is a strong consensus that this election was one of the […]
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
Highs The vote For the 43rd time in the country’s history, Canadians headed to the polls to decide who to send to the House of Commons. In many countries around the world, citizens don’t have a say in their government. But in Canada, every so often, every MP has to go back to their […]
‘A clear mandate’: Trudeau wins second term, with voters handing Liberals a minority
MONTREAL—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was re-elected with a minority government, squeaking out a narrow, humbling victory in a tight and divisive election that subjected Canadians to fear tactics, dirty tricks, and misinformation like never before. Mr. Trudeau’s victory caps what had been an unpredictable election campaign. It brings an end to a nail-biting, gruelling 40-day […]
Three in four federal scientists say Canada isn’t doing enough to combat climate change
Only one in five federal scientists think Canada is doing enough to fight climate change, and PIPSC president Debi Daviau says the government needs to do more to equip these experts with the resources needed to properly combat the crisis. A recent survey conducted by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) […]
Minority governments are not all that bad, says Nova Scotia reader
Minority governments are not all that bad. They force parties to work together and they force leadership reviews when the leadership is weak, which is what we have now. Also, radical measures introduced by minority governments are sure to be defeated. On the other hand, minority governments can make it difficult to get legislation passed, […]
PBO campaign proposal costing ‘above expectations’ so far, hundreds more estimates expected
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux and team have been going full steam in costing this year’s election campaign proposals, with a flurry of reports looking at policy commitments from three of Canada’s major federal parties posted online since the beginning of September. As of filing deadline on Sept. 24, the Conservatives were leading the way […]
GTA to be hotly contested in election, ‘decides whether governments are minorities or majorities’
Political strategists, professors, and candidates agree that voters in the Greater Toronto Area will play a critical role in deciding who will form the next government, with one pollster saying the recent blackface controversy enveloping Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could potentially suppress the Liberal Party’s vote in the upcoming election and lose them some crucial ridings. […]
Wilson-Raybould reflects on reconciliation, SNC-Lavalin affair in new book
Moving towards reconciliation and through a “postcolonial door” will require moving past partisanship, and rebuilding Indigenous nations to work with the Crown to overhaul the Indian Act, among other things, says Jody Wilson-Raybould in her new book. Set to be launched on Sept. 20, the one-time justice minister and attorney general-turned Independent MP argues in […]
Election direction: front-runners are shying away from bold ideas, harsh realities
OTTAWA—We’re a week into campaign season and we know one thing for sure: we’re not supposed to talk about some of the most glaring issues that influence the future course of this country. Election 43 has already been heralded as the ‘election about nothing,’ but why is anyone surprised? The penchant we have in Canadian […]
Campaigning ‘from the front’ will test Liberal strategists
The senior Liberal strategists running the governing party’s re-election campaign made history in 2015 by bringing the party from third to first place, but the test for the same team now is if they can defend the government’s four-year record and get their party re-elected with a second mandate on Oct. 21. “The 2015 campaign […]
