Ranked-ballot system could have stopped Trump, says U.S. expert set to speak to MPs on electoral reform
A prominent Harvard professor who has argued a ranked-ballot system in the United States could have prevented Donald Trump from winning the Republican presidential nomination will be one of the final witnesses in the summer round of House of Commons committee hearings on federal electoral reform in Canada. Professor Eric Maskin stated in a New […]
NDP procedural wizards give a glimpse of the House’s behind-the-scenes choreography
The House leader and whip’s offices are central valves in the beating heart of House of Commons strategy for any recognized party on the Hill, working to negotiate, track, and shake up the Chamber’s agenda. Given the importance of these offices to performance in the House, Jeremy Huws, chief of staff to NDP House leader […]
‘Charlie would make an incredible leader,’ Angus touted as potential NDP leadership candidate, Chow tops poll of NDP supporters
In an NDP leadership race that doesn’t have any candidates yet, veteran NDP MP Charlie Angus is attracting a fair amount of support on social media and among party insiders, while former MP Olivia Chow has emerged as the favourite in a recent poll by Ekos Research. Sally Housser, a senior consultant with Navigator and […]
Mulcair says NDP will push for repeal on anti-terrorism law, despite divided public support
The NDP intends to put the government’s “feet to the fire” over promise to amend a controversial anti-terrorism law passed by the previous government, despite polling indications that the public is fairly divided in its support for the law. Outgoing NDP Leader Tom Mulcair told The Hill Times on Aug. 11 that his party will […]
Poll finds support for PM Trudeau’s preferred electoral system—if it means winner elected with majority support
A new public opinion poll indicates the ranked-ballot electoral system Prime Minister Justin Trudeau favours to replace Canada’s so-called first-past-the-post system of electing federal governments has the approval of only a third of Canadians—until they are told that under the system “the winning party is always elected with the support of the majority.” The unusual Forum […]
‘I knew I had big shoes to fill,’ Daniel Blaikie on winning the riding his father represented for nearly 30 years
Daniel Blaikie is not your average politician. The 32-year-old is a philosopher-turned-electrician who traded his steel-toed boots for a suit and tie and followed in the footsteps of his father when he ran successfully in the last federal election and in an attempt to take down the Harper government in his “corner of the country.” […]
Bilingualism ‘critical’ for leadership candidates, Supreme Court judges: Languages czar
It’s crucial for both judges on the Supreme Court and political party leaders in Canada to know both French and English, says Canada’s official languages commissioner. The Hill Times sat down with Graham Fraser before he wraps up his decade in the job at the end of his current term on Oct. 16. Though language tensions have […]
Year after election call, ‘this is more than a honeymoon . . .’
OTTAWA—It was a year ago when Justin Trudeau, then leader of the third-place Liberals, marched in Vancouver’s pride parade. It was one of his first acts of the marathon election campaign. Just hours earlier that day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper had gone to Rideau Hall to visit with the Governor General and set in motion […]
This just in: PMO’s Butts tops The Hill Times’ 15th Annual Terrific 25 Staffers in 2016
PARLIAMENT HILL—When it comes to Hill staffers, PMO principal secretary Gerald Butts is the tops. Mr. Butts, who is one of the two most powerful political staffers in the PMO along with the more low profile chief of staff Katie Telford, led this year’s list as the No. 1 staffer in the 15th Annual Terrific 25 Staffers Survey. As well as topping the […]
Results of The Hill Times’ Terrific 25 Staffer Survey: 2016
The Top 25 List Gerald Butts, principal secretary, Prime Minister’s Office Greg McClinchey, member’s assistant, Liberal MP Judy Sgro Sean Murphy, manager of parliamentary affairs, Conservative Whip Gordon Brown Katie Telford, chief of staff, Prime Minister’s Office Vince MacNeil, chief of staff, Government House Leader Dominic LeBlanc Colleen Knight, parliamentary sssistant, Liberal MP T.J. Harvey […]
