Liberal leadership speculation a distraction, Trudeau should shut it down firmly, say Liberal MPs, political insiders, and pollsters
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is definitely planning to lead his party in the next election, he should put an end to the speculation about the leadership election, or it could become a serious distraction for the government at a time when the country is dealing with the serious health and economic challenges of COVID, […]
House sitting ‘make or break’ for O’Toole’s leadership, say Conservatives
Conservative MPs, former senior Tories, and political insiders view the upcoming House sitting to be a litmus test for Erin O’Toole’s leadership. If he survives until the summer recess, it will be harder for his opponents to bring him down after that point and he will most likely lead his party in the next election, […]
Introduction of party labels on the ballot in 1972 was a seismic change to Canadian party politics: Alex Marland
Re: “The problem with the ballot,” by Nelson Wiseman, (The Hill Times, Jan.17, p.11). For decades, Canadian political scientists have muddied the date of when party labels first appeared on federal election ballots. Some literature says 1970, when the Canada Elections Act was amended, and some sources say 1972 when that act took effect in that […]
Champagne has to help boost Canada’s capacity for successful innovation
TORONTO—The Liberals have promised a Canada Advanced Research Projects Agency (CARPA) as a public-private “bridge” to “help unleash bold, new research and ideas, protect Canada’s competitive advantage, and help Canadian companies grow and create highly skilled jobs.” It will be modelled, the Liberals say, on the U.S. Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), with an […]
In defiance of O’Toole, Saskatchewan MPs vote to back Batters in regional caucus: source
The Conservative Party’s Saskatchewan caucus voted Thursday night to stand behind Senator Denise Batters staying in the regional group, a source says, months after leader Erin O’Toole booted Batters from the national caucus in November. In a special meeting on Jan. 20, the 14-member Saskatchewan regional caucus voted in favour of Batters, according to a […]
Alexa McDonough and the cost of blazing trails
Trailblazing isn’t easy, but those who knew her say Alexa McDonough had the character and resilience to do it with grace, earnestness, and always a sense of humour. Since her recent death, McDonough has been described as a “role model,” an “icon,” and the reason many women in politics who came after her were able […]
Are Canadians adequately preparing for tomorrow’s risks today?
OTTAWA—Davos, the annual January gathering in the Swiss Alps of heads of state, business leaders, policy wonks, activists, and journalists, was cancelled this year due to COVID, but the World Economic Forum (WEF) still released its Global Risks Report which typically helps shape the Davos agenda. The 2022 report provides an intriguing perspective of the […]
Agriculture Minister Bibeau has a new acting chief of staff, Jérémy Gauthier
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, who has held her portfolio since 2019, has kicked off the new Parliament with some changes to her ministerial office, where Jérémy Gauthier has stepped in as acting chief of staff. Gauthier took over the reins from Alison Porter, who’s now on maternity leave, in December. Porter was among the first […]
Canada chooses oil companies over Indigenous peoples
The contradictions couldn’t be more glaring. While recent laws passed by the federal and the British Columbia governments pledge to transform relationships with Indigenous peoples, their actions indicate otherwise. For example, in northern British Columbia, the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs of all five clans oppose incursion into their traditional, unceded lands by the Coastal Gaslink pipeline. […]
Our discordant debates damage democracy
OAKVILLE, ONT.—If there’s anything certain in this world, it’s that conflict and politics go together like Justin Trudeau and cute socks. In fact, as much as we might hate to admit it, people who inhabit the political world enjoy watching ideological opponents take rhetorical swipes at each other. If nothing else, it’s good entertainment. And […]
