‘There’s a risk of excessive polarization of the party’: Harper’s interference in Conservative leadership dividing Conservatives
Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s decision to recently step down from the Conservative Fund in order to reportedly block the potential Conservative leadership candidacy of Jean Charest is causing fissures in the party, with some saying, “he’s a former defeated Conservative leader” and should stay out of the leadership contest. “There’s a risk of excessive […]
Ten lessons for the Conservatives as they seek to rebuild
Currently embarking on a leadership race, the Conservative Party of Canada is poised for collective introspection and renewal, the result of which will determine the likelihood of the party emerging from the next election with a mandate to govern the country. Much has been written, stated, and overstated about the state of the party in […]
No more shush deals: Senators ready to press for accountability, harassment reforms once Parliament returns
ISG Manitoba Senator Marilou McPhedran says she is planning to press for more changes to the way harassment complaints are handled in the Red Chamber when Parliament returns from its winter break, including a ban on asking harassment victims to sign non-disclosure agreements. Sen. McPhedran told The Hill Times she plans to introduce a motion […]
I sure hope more women run for the Conservative leadership
OTTAWA—A quick Google search of women and conservative policy in Canada prompts a link to “Conservative women,” a subpage buried deep on the Conservative Party of Canada’s website. In this link, the author reflects how the left often describes Conservatives as the party of “old, white men”: an “oft-repeated stereotype” the message begins. A few […]
Quitting the Royal Family is a little like quitting the Mob, and don’t expect a going-away party
HALIFAX—Quitting the Royal Family is a little like quitting the Mob. Don’t expect a going-away party. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have done that, no matter how many people prattle on that it is only a partial withdrawal. There are no weekenders in the Mob or the Royal Family. Now the pair is […]
PCO, Canada’s high commissioner to U.K. likely consulted in royal couple’s plans to move here part time, say experts
As the Royal Family scrambled to navigate the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s announcement they were planning to pare down their royal duties and move to Canada part time, one expert says Canada’s high commissioner to the U.K. Janice Charette would “likely be a key person” in any early discussions including Canadian officials, with a […]
Reboot of Trudeau ‘from sunny to serious’ a recognition Canadians want a serious prime minister, say politicos
The rebranding of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party is a step in the right direction, say politicos, as Canadians want a serious prime minister governing in a minority Parliament and a divided country facing tough national and international challenges. “What we’re seeing is basically a reboot of the Trudeau and Liberal brand, […]
Loophole-filled, weakly enforced lobbying law still an unethical facade
The federal Lobbying Act continues to be an unethical facade 30 years after it came into force, as is the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, in force since 1997. Together they are so loophole-filled and weakly enforced, mainly to hide unethical big business lobbying, that they should be called the “Secret, Unethical Lobbying Legalization Act and […]
Canada: unprepared for natural disasters
OTTAWA—The terrifying Australian bush fires is one of the more explosive events of increasing climate change emergencies. Here in Canada, two recently obtained sets of access to information records from Public Safety and Agriculture Canada are not exactly reassuring for Canada’s preparedness for natural disasters. Public Safety records from the agency, which is most responsible for […]
Flanagan named one of two policy heads to Environment Minister Wilkinson
There are a number of new faces now at work in Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson’s office, including new director of climate, energy, and regulatory affairs Erin Flanagan. Ms. Flanagan was last posted in then-international trade minister Jim Carr’s office as director of policy. Before she joined that office in January 2019, she’d […]
