‘This is different’: diplomats warned of divided Canada during parliamentary crash course
How parties in the House of Commons interact over the next six months will be a key indicator of whether this minority government will last, a Liberal MP told new diplomats gathered for a crash course in Canadian politics on Nov. 8, while a Conservative MP warned the country’s unity is at stake. Conservative MP […]
Amid global political turmoil, a reminder of the checks, and purpose, of Canada’s electoral system
Protests in Pakistan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Chile, among others, to force governments’ resignation, and pressures to transform governance systems in Europe, and elsewhere, show the extent of political turmoil in the world. Canadians are rightfully concerned by President Trump’s possible impeachment and what happens in the U.S., Canada’s closest economic and security ally. But new […]
Implementation of new NAFTA will be ‘important priority’ for Liberal government as U.S. negotiations progress
With MPs set to return to Ottawa on Dec. 5, progress is being made towards implementation of the new NAFTA south of the border, highlighted by the recent visit to Parliament Hill of the chairman of the important U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. The implementation is viewed as an “important priority” by Foreign Affairs […]
Diplomacy strikes back: ‘State’ versus the shallow state
The trajectory of America’s diplomatic brain trust over the roughly one thousand days since U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration reads like a covert degradation operation: the evacuation of talent by intimidation and harassment, the institutional devaluation, the de-professionalization of the vocation by outsiders with murky agendas. The U.S. State Department represented, as of January 20, […]
New Senate group eligible for $191,000 for rest of the year, but funding source up in the air
The newly formed Canadian Senators Group expects to get its fair share of committee seats, and its interim leader says the group hopes to pull from a Senate surplus to cover its startup costs, despite Conservative Senators questioning if funds could come from existing caucus budgets. Alberta Senator Scott Tannas said the 11-member CSG has […]
Trudeau needs Freeland at foreign affairs to deal with NAFTA cliffhanger
OTTAWA—The economy always scores fairly high when voters are asked during election campaigns about the issues that matter most. But it’s debatable whether economic concerns really count for much unless the economy is in the doldrums and jobs are scarce. Among voters in the East, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals probably got some […]
Election 2019: The 25 ridings where each party did its best
On election night on Oct. 21, only the Liberals and the Conservatives watched their 25 top-performing candidates actually win their ridings. Three of the top 25 NDP candidates lost on election, as did one of the Bloc Québécois’. The 25 Conservatives MPs who recorded the strongest returns of their party’s slate all earned more than […]
OK, Boomer: The problem with analogue politicians in a digital world
OTTAWA—OK, Boomer. The fundamental lack of understanding of technology, paired with the complete disinterest in learning about it and how it affects our lives, is a massive problem for democratic governments, and Canada is not immune to this. In fact, this is where Canadian leadership takes hold—in deliberate ignorance. From New Zealand Member of Parliament […]
Premier Legault should be more ‘humane’ if he wants to avoid being a laughingstock
QUÉBEC CITY—Spare a moment of sympathy, if you can, for Quebec Premier François Legault. As I drove by his office here this week, I could not help but feel sorry for him. By his own admission, he had a “bad day” last week. In his attempts to make Quebec more in his own nationalist image, […]
Nearly 100 new MPs waiting until after cabinet reveal to move into offices
Nearly 100 new MPs will have to wait until after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his cabinet appointments on Nov. 20 to learn where their Hill offices will be, the chief government whip confirmed last week. Speaking to The Hill Times, Government Whip Mark Holland (Ajax, Ont.) said office allocation is based on the size […]
