Liberals trigger ‘national electoral urgency’ clause that allows party to bypass nomination rules, 10 weeks from election
With the next federal election only 10 weeks away and about 100 ridings without nominated candidates, the federal Liberals have triggered a “national electoral urgency” clause that allows the party to bypass the nomination process and appoint candidates directly, making some would-be candidates nervous they might not get a fair shot in the nomination contests. […]
Climate change, existential risk should be at the centre of political debate in Canada
TORONTO—Climate change is creeping up on us, year by year. We are now living in the fifth consecutive year of what will be the hottest five-year period humans have ever recorded, with July the hottest month ever recorded. And we can expect even higher temperatures in the future. According to some studies, the concentration of […]
Indigenous leaders flag climate change, language, justice issues as priorities heading into election
Some Indigenous leaders say climate change is one of the most important issues, if not the top issue, in the upcoming 2019 federal election. Status concerns, language rights, restorative justice, changing the relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples, and other top public policy issues were also flagged as key election issues for the Indigenous […]
Directors depart offices of Minister Sohi and Minister Hajdu
Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi has bid farewell to his director of parliamentary affairs, Sandra Schwartz, while Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu is down a director of operations. Up until late July—July 26, to be exact—Ms. Schwartz had been parliamentary affairs director in the natural resources minister’s office for the last […]
Kenney’s campaigning could help Conservatives in B.C., hurt them in Quebec, say politicos
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is making good on his promise to campaign against the federal Liberals as the election approaches, and political observers say he could help the federal Conservatives to win seats in B.C., but could also hurt them in Quebec if he isn’t careful. Mr. Kenney led his United Conservative Party to a […]
Time has come for Liberals to get a spine on guns in Canada
OTTAWA—Guns are now a mental problem. So says American president Donald Trump, who continues to claim there is “no political appetite” for legislation governing the guns themselves even though he is finally admitting that it might be wise to improve background checks on those who want to purchase them. On this side of the border, Liberals […]
Five ways NDP seeks to differentiate itself from Trudeau government
An NDP government under Jagmeet Singh may be a long shot, given the party’s performance in the polls, which have had the Conservatives and the Liberals running neck and neck for months at a time. Still, the party is hoping to pry some progressive votes away from the Liberals in part by calling for a universal […]
‘He was like a brother to me’: colleagues reflect on death of long-serving Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai
Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai, who died last week after a brief battle with cancer, is remembered by his colleagues as a man “who took his job very seriously, but never took himself too seriously” and who “recognized humanity beyond the politics.” Mr. Obhrai died on Aug. 2, surrounded by his family, after being diagnosed with […]
NDP eyes youth electorate in fundraising appeals in hopes of drawing first-time voters to polls
After the unprecedented turnout of young voters in the last election that helped propel the Liberals into power, the NDP appears to be making a play for that electorate. Last month, the party sent a series of fundraising appeals, asking supporters to contribute to its First-Time Voters fund. The campaign sought to raise $100,000 to […]
Scheer’s abandoned pledge to quickly balance budget if elected a ‘confirmation’ Liberal plan is working, says Grit MP Easter
The Conservative leader recently pulled back on his 2017 promise to balance the federal budget in two years if elected, and the Liberal chair of the House Finance Committee says that’s a sign Andrew Scheer thinks the government’s current approach is working. A July 30 Globe and Mail editorial points out that “in May, Andrew Scheer […]
