The enduring value of journalism in a complicated world
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—At the end of the old year, I attended the funeral of my former Carleton journalism professor, David Van Praagh, who was a mentor and friend to many students over the years he taught there. As burial in the Jewish religion is a swift process, the ceremony at the cemetery in Greely drew only […]
Happy Trails: Craig Oliver and John Geddes bid adieu to the Hill
When Hill life resumes following the holiday break, some notable press gallery stalwarts won’t be around, including long-time CTV reporter Craig Oliver and veteran Maclean’s Ottawa bureau chief John Geddes. A reporter since 1957, Mr. Oliver has been around the Hill since 1974, starting during Pierre Trudeau‘s first Liberal government. Over the years, he served […]
CTV’s Don Martin delivers barn burner speech, brings the house down at farewell shindig
Last week’s Party Central column contained an egregious, though hopefully not unforgivable, error. It was written that Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief Susan Delacourt was not wearing red shoes. Party Central has since learned that for Ms. Delacourt not to wear red shoes is akin to outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer giving a straight answer […]
Maura Forrest to join Politico Pro Canada, Joanna Smith switches roles
When the House of Commons returns after the new year, the National Post‘s Maura Forrest will be in a different newsroom. Politico Pro Canada executive director Luiza Ch. Savage announced on Dec. 9 that Ms. Forrest will be joining Andy Blatchford in the media organization’s Ottawa newsroom and will be covering energy and environmental policy issues. […]
Politico ramping up Ottawa operations with expanded subscription service
Politico is quickly ramping up its operations in Canada, following the initial launch of Politico Pro Canada in September 2018, with veteran editor Susan Allan now at the helm, longtime Canadian journalist Andy Blatchford on the ground in Ottawa, and U.S.-based journalist Lauren Gardner working south of the border in Rosslyn, Va. Based out of […]
Unifor calls on Parliament ‘to act quickly’ on media help in wake of Torstar layoffs
In the wake of major layoffs at Canada’s second-largest news chain, Unifor national president Jerry Dias is calling on Parliament to act quickly to save local news outlets—with the Canada Revenue Agency continuing to consider an independent panel of media experts’ recommendations around how the government can best support Canadian journalism. On Nov. 19, according […]
Rebel Media, banned by press gallery ‘for years,’ vows to continue to cover parliamentary news ‘with or without’ gallery approval, says Levant
Despite what Rebel Media founder Ezra Levant says is the Parliamentary Press Gallery’s blacklisting of his organization, the right-leaning outfit “will continue to cover parliamentary news with or without [press gallery] approval,” according to Mr. Levant. Rebel Media had been denied access to both individual press conferences and to the gallery generally, Mr. Levant said […]
Anchorman: Evan Solomon named new host of CTV’s Power Play
Evan Solomon will be replacing retiring Don Martin as host of CTV’s Power Play. Since 2016, Mr. Solomon has been the host of the network’s Sunday political affairs show, Question Period, which he will continue. “Very excited and grateful to be stepping into the big shoes of my friend, the great [Don Martin],” Mr. Solomon […]
The Hill remembers: in 43rd Parliament, 19 MPs and Senators have served in the military
Remembrance Day will hold a special significance for 19 Parliamentarians who have previously served in the Canadian Armed Forces. In Ottawa, to mark the end of fighting on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony will take place on Nov. 11 at the National […]
The dark sides of conservatism
MEXICO CITY—There is a great deal that is interesting and informative in Brian Lee Crowley’s recent piece for the National Post “Right Now: Why Conservatives Are Grateful For The Society We Have.” Crowley claims that the key feature distinguishing conservatism is that it is not a rationalistic theory of how the world is. Rather, it […]
