Is health care burning in Canada?
OTTAWA—Is health care burning in Canada? Professionals leaving in droves think so, and so do provincial premiers seeking a major cash infusion from the federal government. The issue is front and centre in Ontario after the Doug Ford government promised to review all options in tackling health-care problems. Privatization is on the table, along with […]
Parliament is subject to the law of the land, rule of law
OTTAWA—When Parliamentarians are elected, they acquire the universally accepted immunity or privilege of freedom of speech, which is designed to protect the interests of the institution. They are thus protected while performing their constitutional role in Parliament. Beyond the walls of Parliament, like every other citizen, they are subject to the law of the land: […]
Merrick Garland should not fold, here’s why
HALIFAX—“We are moving closer and closer to a fascist form of government, where we no longer believe in the rule of law.” William Cohen, former U.S. secretary of defence, is not the first person to call out the Republican Party for its fact-denying, fascist ways. But when he recently said those words on CNN, they […]
Disputes over Taiwan’s status remain greatest threat to world peace, not war in Ukraine
TORONTO—Disputes over the status of Taiwan, not the war in Ukraine, remain the greatest threat to world peace today. The Taiwan Strait has been called the most dangerous place on Earth. Any one of the ongoing U.S. provocations, or Chinese aggressiveness in defending its interests, or the current Taiwan government’s reckless pursuit of independence could […]
As Liberals’ support drops, Grit MPs to hold caucus retreat next month in New Brunswick to talk strategy
With the backdrop of the Trudeau government’s waning support in the public opinion polls and the NDP threatening to withdraw support under the supply-and-confidence agreement, the 158-member national Liberal caucus will congregate in New Brunswick next month to plot strategy for the fall sitting of Parliament, say Liberal MPs. It will be the first in-person […]
If Poilievre wins leadership, but fails to pivot to the centre, Quebec Tory MP Godin says he will ‘reflect’ on his own ‘future political life’
The Conservative Party will elect a new leader on Sept. 10, but already one Quebec Conservative MP is warning that the results could cause him to re-evaluate his future with the party. The unity of the Conservative Party after the leadership election will depend largely on the direction the new leader decides to take, says […]
How to deal with bad polls
OAKVILLE, ONT.—When it comes to dealing with bad polls, today’s politicians could learn a thing or two from a Roman Emperor who lived about 2,000 years ago. I’m talking about Marcus Aurelius, a famed stoic, who once said, “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but […]
Staffing updates for Treasury Board President Mona Fortier
It’s been a while since Hill Climbers checked in on Treasury Board President Mona Fortier’s team, and there are a number of staff developments to note, including the departure of senior policy adviser Casey Richardson in late May. Richardson came from Fortier’s old associate finance and middle class prosperity team, having first begun working for […]
Influx of women into nuclear disarmament gives us hope, unless they work for a NATO country
EDMONTON—At 10 a.m. on Aug. 4, the fourth day of the month-long Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, Canadian Ambassador Leslie Norton stepped to the green marble podium of the UN General Assembly in New York and delivered a speech on behalf of 67 nations. A maple leaf broach emblazoned on her jacket, the ambassador called […]
Trump’s Canadian proxy catches a wave
OTTAWA—In the last Conservative debate on Aug. 3, Jean Charest looked like a guy who took the wrong bus to a part of town he didn’t want to set foot in. It was the last best chance for the former Quebec premier, who must have thought he was making an important contribution to the leadership […]
