‘Most of major attacks on democracy in C-23 left untouched by Senators’ in committee report, say NDP, Libs
PARLIAMENT HILL—A puzzling aspect has emerged over nine amendments Senate Conservatives recommended to the controversial government bill that would radically alter federal election law: why would the Senators ignore a widely-denounced clause that could prevent tens of thousands of electors from casting ballots in the next election, while urging the government to remove a party […]
Neufeld says more than 100,000 to be disenfranchised under feds’ election bill, will testify at House Affairs Committee next week
PARLIAMENT HILL—The opposition parties have former B.C. elections chief Harry Neufeld at the top of their witness lists for testimony on proposed Conservative election law after he warned that “well over 100,000” electors will be denied their right to vote if the government goes ahead with plans to prohibit voter vouching for electors with no […]
Filibuster champion, Christopherson says it’s akin to playing ‘high-risk poker’
NDP MP David Christopherson says his recent nine-hour filibustering experience at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee which delayed study of the Fair Elections Act for three meetings, was like playing “high-risk poker,” and he’s satisfied with what his efforts achieved. “Our tools are limited as an opposition, but we do have some means, and […]
NDP won’t back down on denying committee travel
The NDP isn’t backing down after denying funding for House committees to travel in protest of the Conservatives’ election law, a move that’s frustrating Commons committee chairs. A House subcommittee approved almost $500,000 for proposed committee travel that’s now in jeopardy after the NDP recently blocked Government Whip John Duncan’s (Vancouver Island North, B.C.) Feb. […]
Poilievre uses debate on Senate reform to attack Trudeau’s ‘elitist’ proposal at Manning Conference
OTTAWA CONVENTION CENTRE—It was billed as a conservative debate on whether to reform or abolish Parliament’s Upper Chamber, but Minister of State for Democratic Reform Pierre Poilievre saved his harshest criticism to debate Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in absentia at the Manning Networking Conference in Ottawa on Saturday. In a meandering address sprinkled with […]
Liberal Senators talking to Conservative Senators about regional alliances in Upper Chamber, says Sen. Cowan
MONTREAL—Liberal Senators, who were expelled from the party’s Parliamentary caucus last month, have begun discussions that could result in regional alliances with Conservative Senators on economic or social issues across the country, The Hill Times has learned. As well, several Senate Liberals attending the Liberal biennial policy convention for the last time as ex-officio […]
Liberal biennial policy convention starts off with a bang, ends with a bit of a whimper
MONTREAL—The first national Liberal biennial policy convention under Justin Trudeau’s leadership ended with a bit of a whimper rather than a bang Sunday, as Mr. Trudeau barely made an appearance for the final hours and party officials moderating party resolution votes were left to say the final goodbyes on behalf of the party leadership. […]
Conservative voters are your neighbours, not your enemies, ‘these are good people,’ Trudeau tells convention
MONTREAL—Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau won four standing ovations from a packed Liberal convention on Saturday, as a party that was on life support only a year ago showed it is not only ready, but is hungry for an election battle against Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2015. But while the estimated crowd of nearly […]
Liberals support Leslie, even though Conservatives courted him first
MONTREAL—It took nearly a half-hour for a crowd of media covering the Liberal biennial policy convention to wring confirmation out of former Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie that he had discussions with senior Conservatives before deciding to join Justin Trudeau’s Liberal team for the next election. But even after that news—following a week of controversy over […]
Liberal delegates buoyed by Trudeau, party has cash, and polling numbers
MONTREAL—Leader Justin Trudeau’s speech to 2,000 Liberals at the party’s biennial policy convention in Montreal Thursday night appeared to electrify Grit delegates as they look ahead to the next federal election. “We’re a family again,” Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul’s, Ont.) said after Mr. Trudeau’s (Papineau, Que.) speech, a performance that jolted from hard […]
