Grits, Tories back addition of third shipyard to Canadian plan, but questions abound over future boom-bust cycle return
As the Canadian government moves forward with the addition of a third shipyard to its National Shipbuilding Strategy, defence procurement experts are raising questions over whether or not the addition could lead to a return to a boom-and-bust shipbuilding cycle. Under the shipbuilding strategy, Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax and Seapsan in British Columbia were the […]
Voters will return politicians to sender if backs turned on rural Canada
Compared to vote-rich urban Canada, rural ridings can seem unappealing to federal candidates. Due to their sparser demographics, they are tougher and more resource-intensive to campaign in. Rural ridings often resist change, sticking to traditional voting patterns (which favour the Conservatives). Priorities and issues for rural residents may differ greatly from their urban counterparts, which […]
Make climate change front and centre in election with a special leaders’ debate
Living in Ottawa, I am beginning to worry that tornadoes are going to become the new norm each year. That every spring we will see more and more residences and buildings damaged by flooding, which will need to be compensated, and tornado alerts serving to caution against the dangers of funnel clouds touching down in […]
Joe Biden and the electability trap
One thing that has always been true about Joe Biden is that he’s not cynical. Not just not cynical about life, America, or the world, but also not cynical about politics and his own place in it. In recent weeks, his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination has taken the odd tack of toying […]
Our celebrity prime minister
Nearly four years ago, Justin Trudeau was sworn in as Canada’s 23rd prime minister. He was the second youngest PM, and the first to be elected largely on the basis of celebrity value. Previously employed as a drama teacher and nightclub bouncer, his path to the PMO began in 2007 when he won the Liberal […]
Why spending on public transit is the fix for Canada’s big election issues
Climate change and the rising cost of living in Canada have become defining issues for the upcoming federal election. Recent polls suggest that concerns about the environment and affordability have become top ballot-box issues ahead of the vote. All parties realize that they need to have a robust election platform that focuses on both climate […]
There’s more to this election than SNC-Lavalin
OTTAWA—To listen to much of the news coverage these days, one would think this fall’s election is only about SNC-Lavalin. But in reality national elections are never about one thing, and rarely is there a single ballot question that all voters are agreed upon. SNC, to some, is the biggest scandal to erupt on the […]
Deepak Obhrai’s son among deep field of expected candidates for Conservative nomination in Calgary Forest Lawn
A crowded field of candidates is emerging in the Conservative nomination contest for the safe and coveted riding of Calgary Forest Lawn, which became vacant earlier this month after the death of seven-term MP Deepak Obhrai, the party’s nominated candidate there for the upcoming election. Obhrai’s son, Aman Obhrai, is among as many as 10 […]
Liberal Party completes nominations of incumbent MPs
With Liberal MP Bob Nault’s nomination as an official candidate in the upcoming election, the federal Liberals have completed the nominations of all incumbent MPs seeking re-election. Until last week, Liberal MPs Eva Nassif (Vimy, Que.) and Mr. Nault (Kenora, Ont.) were the only MPs left who had yet to be officially nominated. Mr. Nault […]
BCE lobbied Trudeau and senior advisers on ‘industry’ month before key CRTC decision
The CEO of Bell Canada’s parent company extended an intensive lobbying campaign to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his top officials last month, reporting discussions on “industry” a month before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced a decision the company has since said would cost it $100-million. On July 17, George Cope, president and […]
