Summer recess is a pivotal time for national parties

During the break, the Liberals should try to sway opposition MPs to their benches, which would be a challenge to Pierre Poilievre’s leadership; and the NDP should bring back former leader Tom Mulcair, with his name recognition and gravitas.
Pancake flops and a looming byelection: MPs dress the part at Stampede for ‘lobbying highlight of BBQ season’

As Mark Carney struggled at the griddle, Pierre Poilievre was busy pitching himself as an Albertan returned ‘home’ at the festival where Alberta Senator Daryl Fridhandler says everyone is ‘on the same level.’
Backing down on DST is understandable, but doing so on supply management would be another story

Trump will definitely be pushing hard for dairy concessions but Carney cannot afford to cave on supply management.
Frustrated with party’s nominations process, former Alberta Conservative national councillor mulls comeback: ‘the worst I saw was in Calgary Skyview’

The national council has reduced itself to a mere ‘housekeeping’ role and has allowed itself to be ‘bullied’ by senior party and campaign officials. If the national council is unwilling to lead, it might as well ‘disband,’ says Marilyn Elliott.
MPs ‘utterly subservient’ to leaders, says Globe columnist Andrew Coyne who offers a path away from Canada’s anti-democratic system in his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy

In his new book, The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, Andrew Coyne unpacks how parties choose their leaders, how the leaders control their MPs, and how the shortcomings in Canada’s electoral system are putting a squeeze on democracy. It’s not pretty.
Does Doug Ford want Pierre Poilievre’s job?

Some polls are showing Doug Ford and his party are polling 21 points ahead of the Ontario provincial Liberals, but if the polls start to go south, Ford likely would not be interested in Pierre Poilievre’s job. That’s my summer speculation, for now.
Conservatives could use some outside perspective

A third-party review could help the Conservatives present themselves as a responsible body, not a cult of personality.
Carney’s ideological advantage

Mark Carney might only be a rookie politician, but it looks like he knows how to play the game.
Conservatives support extra money for military, says Poilievre

The Hill Times
The ever-changing relationship of leaders and media

Like Justin Trudeau after his initial election victory in 2015, Mark Carney was quite accessible to the media in his earliest days as prime minister. Will this last as his political capital inevitably wanes, his political baggage gains weight, and lassitude or governmental drift set in? Stay tuned.