Meslin’s first-ever book a condemnation of and prescription for all that ails modern Canadian politics
Author and activist Dave Meslin doesn’t mince his words in describing what he sees as an ailing political system in Canada, calling it a “childish circus” and a “demoralizing farce,” plagued by toxic discourse, and populated by unrepresentative party “cartels.” His prescription, as laid out in his new book: tear it all down, and rebuild […]
Questions remain over political party data practices after recent testimony, says expert Colin Bennett
Little has been learned and questions remains after the recent and unprecedented House committee appearance by representatives from Canada’s major political parties, who spoke about and took questions on parties’ collection, use, and protection of personal data, says University of Victoria professor and privacy expert Colin Bennett. “A lot of it [the testimony] was expected. […]
Political parties set to testify about data use, collection efforts at House Affairs Committee
Representatives from Canada’s top federal political parties are set to testify before the House Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics Committee about how they use and collect data, as part of an ongoing study into the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook data breach and the privacy concerns it’s raised. At the same time, some MPs on the committee […]
Bernier may not be most lingering challenge for Conservatives after Halifax
OTTAWA—Despite Maxime Bernier’s efforts at setting a different agenda, the Conservatives managed to pull off what appeared to be a reasonably successful convention in Halifax on the weekend. While at this point it is unknown what Bernier’s walk away will do to party fortunes in 2019, it is fair to say at least on the […]
Convention supply-management tumult ‘opened the floodgates’ for Bernier supporters, says organizer
A Conservative Party member and proponent of ending Canada’s supply management system said he’s received plenty of interest from current and former MPs and businesspeople in support of maverick MP Maxime Bernier’s future party. This follows a tense scene at the party convention that saw a policy resolution on phasing out the system dropped before reaching a vote. […]
Scheer tries out his Ford-Trump routine
OTTAWA—If you’re tired of the mendacious, anger-spewing modus operandi that now passes for political discourse in the United States, you may want to find something to do outside Canada next year. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who is so uninspiring that rival Maxime Bernier finally quit the party over what he said was moral and intellectual […]
Drawing from a new well: Tories look to party outsiders to quench voters’ thirst for change
Looking to replicate their success in the recent Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Que., byelection on a national scale, the Conservatives’ 2019 campaign chief is encouraging party faithful to think outside the box and recruit outside traditional party circles. “Especially in seats we haven’t won for a long time, going back to the same well again and again […]
Conservatives reach out to Bernier supporters, ‘time will tell’ how many will follow him out of the party
HALIFAX—Members of the Conservative caucus presented a united front Thursday after Maxime Bernier’s dramatic exit from the party, and suggested the party’s rank and file wouldn’t be too quick to follow behind him. Mr. Bernier (Beauce, Que.) lost the contest to lead the party last May by a razor-thin margin to Andrew Scheer (Regina–Qu’Appelle, Sask.). […]
Tory delegates vote against anti-abortion resolution, endorse limiting citizenship, as policy convention wraps
HALIFAX—Conservative Party delegates railed against being known as “Liberal lite” Saturday, voting to pass a series of policy resolutions aimed at shoring up their base while trying to dodge some social pitfalls that would make it easier for opponents to place targets on their backs in 2019. Delegates attending the party’s national convention in Halifax […]
Tories target young voters, talk campus recruitment at convention
With a record-number of youth turning out to vote, young Conservative convention delegates gathered in Halifax this weekend say their party can close the gap that saw the Liberals capture their demographic in 2015, if they keep the “big blue tent” in mind on controversial issues and steer clear of “inflammatory rhetoric.” The party has […]
