Heavy lifting starts for Trudeau, McKenna on climate change
OTTAWA—As the first year ends, the heavy lifting starts. The Liberal government approval last week of the Pacific NorthWest Liquefied Natural Gas project was the first in a series of decisions that will be welcomed by some and despised by others. It also puts additional pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to follow through with […]
Majority approve Justin Trudeau’s work as prime minister despite expense uproar
A Forum Research poll indicates elector approval of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained high despite a furious controversy last week over more than $200,000 in moving expenses claimed by his two top aides. While attacks from Conservative MPs and the NDP in Commons question period may have nudged Mr. Trudeau and his party down in […]
‘I’m a free agent,’ Bélanger leaves Hill after almost two decades as NDP staff restructure
PARLIAMENT HILL—Senior NDP staffer Karl Bélanger was busy packing up his Hill office and almost two decades of political memories last week, after publicly announcing his departure on Twitter on Sept. 14. While he says he has no specific plans lined up, he’s looking forward to spending more time with his young family. “I’m a free […]
NDP needs to get back in the game, show Canadians they matter
OTTAWA—It has to be a frustrating time to be a New Democrat in Canada. In 2015, becoming government seemed like an actual possibility. Currently finding a pulse is a real challenge. The guy they fired in April seemingly won’t leave his job until a new leader is elected. Nothing says change like staying the same. […]
Mulcair to take a back seat, pave way for leadership candidates to shine in coming months
PARLIAMENT HILL—NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will continue to hold the government to account in Question Period, but he will likely take a back seat elsewhere over the coming months to allow “stars” to gain profile before the party elects a new leader next year, say NDP MPs and pundits. With the NDP leadership race officially underway, although no […]
Amid party ‘renewal,’ NDP recruits Robert Fox as new national director
Former Oxfam Canada executive director Robert Fox has been recruited to serve as the New Democratic Party’s new national director and says he’s excited to bring an outsider’s perspective to the party during its “renewal.” Mr. Fox marked his official first day on the job at party headquarters in downtown Ottawa on Sept. 12. “It’s […]
Longstanding legal battle between NDP and secretive House board picks up steam
A legal battle between the NDP and the powerful board of Cabinet ministers and other MPs who govern spending in the House of Commons is heating up, with hearing dates set to begin January 23, 2017 in Montreal, according to the Federal Court hearing list. The hearing centres on the Board of Internal Economy’s claim […]
Liberals, NDP poised to receive millions through candidate-rebate system
The federal Liberals and the NDP are poised to rake in millions of dollars this year by withholding 60 per cent of rebates that local candidates are to receive for their campaign expenses from last year’s election. Both parties signed written agreements with their candidates before the 2015 election that allow party offices to receive all rebates […]
Commons witness casts doubt on his own study of ranked ballot system
An Alberta political scientist cast doubt on the findings of a study he published stating the Liberals would have gained ground in the 2015 election from the ranked ballot electoral system favoured by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during a meeting of the House Electoral Reform Committee. University of Lethbridge professor Harold Jansen, whose essay published last […]
What Jack Layton would have thought of the NDP now
MONTREAL—Five years on, what would Jack Layton make of the Canadian political landscape and the gloomy state of the party he led to unprecedented heights before his premature death? Because he always tended to see a glass half full rather than half empty I believe he would probably first note some bright spots. For instance, […]
