The Conservative dilemma
OTTAWA—When a party loses an election it had expected to win, those agitating for a change in leadership are sure to find a receptive audience, not only in the party but also in the country at large. However, the current rumblings about dumping Andrew Scheer as leader mask a deeper and more painful choice for […]
Scheer has time on his side, a short time
OTTAWA—Andrew Scheer has time on his side. Short time that is. The Conservative Party is scheduled to review his leadership in less than six months. When Joe Clark was under attack for his leadership, he personally set the bar very high. The youngest prime minister ever elected promised to step down if at least two-thirds […]
Leaders, committees, and floor-crossing: Senate faces tough choices post-election
Senators are beginning to plot out their approach to the 43rd Parliament, with questions about who will hold key positions of power among the many that they will have to resolve in the coming months. The Conservative and Liberal Senate caucuses will have to choose new leaders. Outgoing Conservative Leader Sen. Larry Smith (Saurel, Que.) […]
Trudeau should give more profile to ministers, empower backbenchers in new minority government, say MPs and pollsters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to be seen as the leader of a strong cabinet, empower his caucus, provide more latitude to backbench MPs, and mirror some of the lessons learned from his father’s 1972 election result to lead a strong minority government after a humbling election night on Oct. 21, say Liberal MPs, pollsters, […]
Jason Kenney is shooting off his foot, not just his mouth
CHELSEA, QUE.—The major obstacle to Alberta’s future well-being at the moment is not Justin Trudeau. It is Jason Kenney. The Alberta premier’s belligerent and distorted attacks on “Ottawa,” and his deafness to the climate change concerns that influenced the outcome of the recent election, is winning him no friends in the rest of the country. […]
We need to do much more work on possible scenarios for the future
TORONTO—In population projections to the year 2100, our population is expected to reach almost 50 million people, compared to about 37 million now. That’s an extra 13 million people in what might be called a business-as-usual case that assumes continued immigration in line with current levels. Not good enough, says a small think tank, the Century Initiative, […]
Knives out to dump Conservative leader, but Scheer’s team should reach out to supporters urgently to survive April leadership review, say Conservatives
With the knives out for Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer for failing to win the federal election, it’s unclear whether he will survive another election amid the onslaught of calls last week for his resignation. To head off a potential ouster, some say Mr. Scheer needs to urgently reach out to his supporters to ensure they […]
As crazy as it seems, this weird government will likely prove durable
HALIFAX—It was the upside-down election. The ones who gained seats lost, and the ones who lost seats won. And as crazy as it seems, this weird government will likely prove durable. Maybe that’s why Justin Trudeau isn’t looking like a PM who has just lost his majority and now has 20 fewer […]
‘Albertans would consider it as betrayal’: Alberta Independent Senators shoot down suggestions of cabinet gig
Two Senators from Alberta poured cold water on the idea that a member of the Red Chamber should be chosen to represent their province at the cabinet table, in interviews with The Hill Times last week. “I don’t know that that’s the best idea for Alberta. I think we need all of our Senators from […]
It’s a new day for Indigenous rights in Canada
OTTAWA—On Oct. 24, 2019, British Columbia tabled legislation to align provincial law with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In full partnership with the B.C. First Nations Summit, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, and the B.C. Region of the Assembly of First Nations, the provincial government co-developed law to start […]
