Politics this morning: Trudeaus in Japan, Conventions fast-approaching
It’s Tuesday, May 24. Here’s your political brief to start your day: Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau are in Japan. Mr. Trudeau is scheduled to meet with the heads of several Japanese auto makers, including Honda, Toyota, and Subaru and take part in a roundtable on small auto parts. Afterwards, the pair will have an audience […]
Proposed free-memberships make some Liberal MPs nervous
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s idea of free memberships for any Canadian who wants to register with the Liberal Party is making some incumbent Liberal MPs nervous because it could mean more challengers than usual and tougher fights in the nomination campaigns prior to the next election. “It’s open season for anybody to go,” said a Liberal […]
Two more to PMO, while Garneau and McCallum hire aides
Two more staffers have been added to the staff roster at the Prime Minister’s Office, located in the Langevin Block on Wellington Street across from the Parliament Buildings, including Natacha Engel as a special assistant for appointments and people. Ms. Engel is a former senior vice-president with the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal and a former lawyer […]
Trudeau wrong to make physical contact, but opposition shouldn’t overplay their hand
You would be hard-pressed to find many people who condone what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did in the House of Commons last Wednesday night. No Conservative, New Democrat, or Liberal—not even Mr. Trudeau himself—can justify walking to the floor of the Chamber and physically forcing someone—in this case Conservative Whip Gord Brown—to adhere to the […]
Grassroots Liberals demand withdrawal of proposed constitution to avoid ‘most divisive convention in years’: Grit riding
The Liberal Party’s leadership should withdraw the proposed new party constitution because it was put together without adequate “member consultation and engagement,” and a significant number of delegates will oppose it on the convention floor which could make this week’s biennial policy convention in Winnipeg “the most divisive in many years,” warns one Ontario riding association president. Tom Addison, president […]
Trudeau should never have gotten out of his seat, he comes undone
TORONT—On the night in question, I was at an event in Toronto honouring Senator Murray Sinclair. As it was getting underway, I received a text message from one of the Members of Parliament who had been at the very centre of it all. “He should not have been out of his seat,” the text said. […]
Unpromising start to electoral reform debate
MONTREAL—When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argues—as he did last week—that he has been invested by Canadians with a mission to introduce a different voting system in time for the 2019 election, he is both overstating the strength of his mandate (39.5 per cent) and misrepresenting its scope. The last federal campaign was anything but a […]
Ministers Duncan, Hehr and MacAulay hire PSAs
Science Minister Kirsty Duncan, who was busy last week attending a range of events for ‘Science Odyssey week,’ including a coding session on the Hill, recently welcomed a new assistant to her ministerial team. Donna Popovic is now assistant to the parliamentary secretary for Science, Liberal MP Terry Beech, also known as a PSA on […]
Martin after-party turns into a wonderful, Wonderful Wednesday
PARLIAMENT HILL—The new crop of Liberals on the Hill got a taste of Wonderful Wednesdays of Parliaments passed on May 11, as hundreds filled the grand main room of the beautiful Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Wellington Street to toast the unveiling of former prime minister Paul Martin’s official portrait. A mid-week outing, a.k.a. […]
Liberals use consultation as cover for promise-breaking
When Public Services Minister Judy Foote appeared to be reneging recently on a Liberal campaign promise to restore home mail delivery services, it’s notable that she leaned on consultations as cover. “In light of the commitment that was made, we’ve heard from Canadians that maybe that’s not the way to go,” Foote told reporters. Now that […]
