Shuffling Freeland would be a ‘mistake,’ says former Liberal justice minister Cotler
A former Liberal justice minister says moving Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to a different cabinet role would be “a mistake” at a time of increasing authoritarianism around the globe. “[Ms. Freeland] has been so effective, [and] when you have the right person in the right place at the right time, it’s not the time […]
Conservative MPs swept most seats by widest margins, and won 32 ridings by 50 per cent of vote
The Conservatives dominated in the ridings where the winning candidate won by the widest margins. Almost half the 147 seats won with 20-per-cent-plus vote leads were captured by Conservatives and all 32 seats won by more than 50 per cent of the vote went blue in the Oct. 21 federal election. The Conservatives also claimed […]
2019’s 47 tightest races, won by less than five per cent margins
In the ridings secured by the slimmest margins, there were likely more Liberal candidates counting down the clock and vote counts on election night, where the Grits ultimately took 26 of the 47 seats won by less than five per cent. Liberals were on the losing end of those tight races in nine cases, where […]
Scheer has caucus support, for now
OTTAWA—Andrew Scheer dodged a bullet in caucus last week. That was not surprising because it would have been highly unlikely for caucus to unilaterally usurp the role of party members. Even those who privately do not support Scheer would be publicly loathe to take him out in a caucus vote. Instead, his enemies in the […]
Implementing UNDRIP a matter of human rights, and human rights shouldn’t be partisan
Four years ago, Justin Trudeau proclaimed that no relationship was more important to him and to Canada than the one with Indigenous peoples. He swept to power in 2015 after a campaign filled with messages about hope, optimism, and a focus on a renewed nation-to-nation relationship. His government was re-elected with a reduced seat count, […]
86 ridings in 40 days: Trudeau’s cross-country sprint may have given party an edge
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the most likely of the three leaders to keep or convert ridings he visited on the 40-day campaign, with the leader scoring a 53 per cent conversion rate, but politicos say the leaders’ tours aren’t necessarily the decisive factor in winning those seats. That’s based on the Liberal leader’s marathon […]
Canada has to achieve its goals for a more innovative economy
TORONTO—We don’t know whether Navdeep Bains will be reappointed as minister for innovation, science, and economic development when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveils his new cabinet on Nov. 20. But what we do know is that whoever fills the portfolio will have to do a much better job than has been done so far if […]
Rodriguez could be shuffled to key government House leader’s post, say Liberal sources
With Justin Trudeau set to name his rejigged cabinet on Nov. 20, Parliament Hill is abuzz with speculation about the shuffle, including the possibility that the Liberal government will opt to spread responsibility for the all-important regional economic development agencies among different ministers this time around, rather than keeping them under the purview of just […]
Senate hierarchy has been hiding serious allegations of sexual harassment of Senate staffers behind casuistical interpretations of parliamentary privilege
HALIFAX—I have some news for the Senate of Canada: parliamentary privilege was never meant to shield alleged sex abusers from being outed, or to keep their alleged victims from getting justice. For five years now, that is what the Senate’s Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (CIBA) has, in effect, been doing. History […]
The 60 seats that flipped in 2019
Conservative candidates switched the most seats across the country, at 27, stealing mainly from the Liberals in the Western provinces and often winning by the widest margins. The Bloc Québécois was next, grabbing 22 seats from the other parties, mostly at the NDP’s expense, taking 10 of the 14 seats the NDP lost in the province. […]
