The politics of vacation shaming
OAKVILLE, ONT.—While researching this column, I discovered that if you criticize a politician for going on a holiday, you’re guilty of something called, “vacation shaming.” The idea is everybody, even politicians, deserve a peaceful, stress-free holiday. And yes, I would agree that it’s wrong to shame a vacationing politician, except, of course, when political circumstances […]
Profound concern with Conservative Party direction at Centre Ice event
There were a lot of topics discussed at the recent Centre Ice Conservatives conference in Edmonton, Alta.: economy, foreign policy, domestic, and global security, reconciliation, and inclusiveness. All, refreshingly, from an adult perspective on what is good policy for a conservative movement. For instance, there was discussion of the pressing need for comprehensive reform of […]
Politics This Morning: Gould and Boissonnault to announce new passport pickup locations
Good Wednesday morning, There are no committee meetings scheduled today, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister are both scheduled to spend the day in the National Capital Region for private meetings. The government is adding new passport pick-up locations across the country. Families Minister KARINA GOULD will make an announcement at a Service […]
Parliamentarians back Canadian delegations to Taiwan in face of China’s threatening response to Pelosi’s visit
MPs and Senators say they are emboldened to continue parliamentary visits to Taiwan in the face of China’s threatening response to the recent visit of a top U.S. lawmaker to the self-governing island. The Canada-Taiwan Friendship Group, a cross-party group of Canadian Parliamentarians, is planning to have a delegation travel to Taiwan this fall, in […]
Ford helps undermine Ontario’s public health system, then eyes more privatization
OTTAWA—Swallowing a bee while discussing the possible privatization of Ontario health care, Doug Ford reflexively thought he might have to undergo emergency treatment. “I’ll be rushing to the hospital to get this bee out of here,” the premier speculated as he tried to continue with a press conference last week in rural Dundalk, Ont. Luckily, Ford […]
India looks to quickly wrap draft of interim trade deal with Canada, as both sides discuss additional early pact
To overcome hurdles that prevented Canada and India from reaching a free trade deal, the two sides are discussing rolling out a series of phased agreements that could eventually lead to a comprehensive pact. In March, Canada and India announced their intention to start negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the objective […]
Open minds, not dated rhetoric, needed to fix ailing health-care system
OTTAWA—Go to any media outlet web page, paper, podcast, radio station, or TV station across Canada and you’ll find an identical story about a challenged health-care system or a system in crisis. You know the range of headlines: they focus on wait times, cancelled surgeries, health-care worker burnout, health-care worker shortages, growing angst over all […]
Loss of eastern seat, division of municipalities under fire in proposed Quebec riding redraw
The first draft of Quebec’s new federal electoral map is out, and it’s raising the eyebrows of federal and local politicians who are concerned by the proposed loss of a riding in eastern Quebec and decisions to split multiple municipalities between ridings. “Although I understand the role and objectives of the commission, in particular to […]
Ministers Marci Ien, Diane Lebouthillier see policy adviser moves
Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien has seen a couple of staff exits of late, and another is soon to come, with policy adviser Myriam Djossou set to mark her last day in the minister’s office later this month. Djossou is set to be under post-employment status as of Aug. 26, according […]
More immigrants running for political office means paving the way for active citizenship
Kristyn Wong-Tam made history when they became the first Asian-Canadian, queer, and non-binary person elected to Ontario’s legislature, significantly expanding the vision of what a politician looks like in this country. Wong-Tam joins other recent Canadian political “firsts” among Ontario MPPs, including Bhutila Karpoche, the first elected official in North America of Tibetan descent, and […]
