More candidates could drop out after Sept. 30 deadline, PPC, Greens lead pack so far
The People’s Party of Canada and the Green Party have had the most declared candidates step aside over the last couple months—with reasons ranging from a candidate’s family member being charged with murder, to offensive online comments, to personal reasons, though many remain unexplained—and more candidates could drop out after the Sept. 30 nomination deadline. […]
CIJA, Dairy Farmers lead last lobbyist push before election call
The summer months and final days before the official federal election call didn’t stop some lobbyists from reaching out to government ministers and their staff before the caretaker mode took effect. Lobbying levels in August, the last month ahead of the election call on Sept. 11, dipped by roughly a quarter from the month before. […]
Time reporter Kambhampaty says she learned of Trudeau’s brownface use from ‘gossip’ among Vancouver school’s community
The U.S.-based Time Magazine reporter who broke the story about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing brownface at an Arabian Nights-themed party in Vancouver says she learned about the existence of the picture from ongoing gossip among the Westpoint Grey Academy community. “I had heard about it as a source of gossip in Vancouver community and, […]
From Baghdad to Brexit: Britain’s bookend mea culpas
One of the signature features of life in our rambunctious 21st century seems to be the narcotic luxury of a collective amnesia that enables a chaos-addled society to ponder the actions of individual enablers in splendid isolation from one another. Take the following mea culpa from a former British prime minister for catalyzing a narrative that […]
Education, ‘food diplomacy,’ ICAO council seat among early priorities for Malaysian envoy
Malaysia’s new high commissioner to Canada arrived just days before the federal election campaign began, but Nor’aini Binti Abd Hamid says she’ll have more than enough to keep her busy with Malaysia’s bid to keep a spot on the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization council, coupled with her efforts to promote increased trade and education […]
Clout of young voters remains the crucial election question
OTTAWA—Justin Trudeau’s theatricality and mindless whimsy have cost him dearly. The prime minister’s dress-up antics in India last year raised a lot of doubts about his judgment. And it’s obvious the photos of him from years ago in racial face paint have undermined his credibility and stature at home and abroad. The Liberal campaign stalled […]
A rattled Liberal team may be most pronounced impact so far of Trudeau blackface controversy
OTTAWA—While Justin Trudeau’s repeated blackface appearances may be forgiven by Canadians, the greater political problem for the prime minister is that his once potent political brand continues to wither. If this were the 2015 campaign, it is likely his political career would have ended. In 2019, he may indeed survive, but his days of conveying […]
PBO campaign proposal costing ‘above expectations’ so far, hundreds more estimates expected
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux and team have been going full steam in costing this year’s election campaign proposals, with a flurry of reports looking at policy commitments from three of Canada’s major federal parties posted online since the beginning of September. As of filing deadline on Sept. 24, the Conservatives were leading the way […]
Not so woke: Trudeau’s use of blackface should prompt a second look at his governance
OTTAWA—“Diversity is our costume” would be a more appropriate catchphrase for our so-called woke bae prime minister. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a political career, and a life, by trading on his good name, wealth, privilege, and whiteness; but also on his proximity to Indigenous people (stare into his Haida tattooed bicep) and to […]
Trudeau, the Mr. Dressup of Canadian politics
HALIFAX—A long time ago, a Liberal MP told me he was not supporting Justin Trudeau for the leadership of the party. At that time, Trudeau was a cross between a rock-star and a political messiah-in-waiting for the then battered Grits. So I wondered why this particular MP had peeled away from the pack that was […]
