Factors governing party nominations extremely complex
OTTAWA—Just last week, the Samara Centre for Democracy denounced the Canadian nomination process as “uncompetitive and biased.” The organization released a study entitled “Party Favours: How Federal Election Candidates are Chosen,” which reviewed the circumstances surrounding nomination processes in the lead up to the October federal election. After interviewing more than 6,600 candidates who had run […]
Engage Canada won’t run more attack ads before election
Left-leaning political messaging group Engage Canada won’t be running any more ads attacking Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer before the upcoming election, say Unifor national president Jerry Dias and another source close to the organization. “Engage is finished,” said Mr. Dias in a phone interview with The Hill Times last week. Another source close to Engage […]
If Scheer’s elected in October, it will be another sign politics has taken a radical turn, and not for the best
HALIFAX—According to some of the polling, Andrew Scheer may be the next prime minister of Canada after this October’s election. If that happens, it will not necessarily be testament to the better man winning. It will be another sign that politics has taken a radical turn, and not for the best. It is bad enough […]
Unemployment rate may be at a record low, but confidence in the future far short of a record high
TORONTO—It’s natural enough that in an election year when the unemployment rate is at a record low that the Trudeau government should feel a little boastful—and hope voters will reward them. But boasting wears thin and while the headline numbers look good, many Canadians nonetheless worry about their economic circumstances and fear future risks in […]
Kinsellian tactics vs. the zen room
OAKVILLE, ONT.—In the movie, Avengers: Infinity War, arch-villain Thanos declares, “Reality is often disappointing.” And so it is. In fact, reality can be especially disappointing when it comes to politics; in our dream world, most of us like to think nice people can win elections based on their niceness. Alas, the truth is much different. […]
NDP loses Supreme Court appeal bid, ending challenge of BOIE’s $4-million repayment order
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled to dismiss the NDP’s attempt to challenge 2014 decisions by the House Board of Internal Economy ordering NDP MPs to repay roughly $4-million. The Supreme Court issued its decision, dismissing the NDP’s application to appeal a February Federal Court of Appeal ruling, on July 18, consequently putting an […]
Too much party control in ‘highly uncompetitive’ candidate selection: Samara study
Over the past five elections, fewer than one-fifth of candidates earned their name on the ballot through a competitive party nomination process, found a new Samara report, a statistic the group says shows candidate selection is “highly uncompetitive, opaque, unpredictable, and centrally controlled” by parties. In effect, party brass—not party members or the Canadian public—have […]
Majority of Canadians may support TMX, but the project remains an electoral risk for Liberals: pollsters
Recent polls may indicate a majority of Canadians support the government’s plowing ahead with the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, but with further opposition actions expected, experts say the best Liberals can likely hope for is to not lose too many progressive voters. “It’s very unlikely that it’s going to help them win support anywhere […]
Lack of Inuit language supports a key concern for advocates 20 years after Nunavut formed
Twenty years after legislators carved out Nunavut from the Northwest Territories as a new, majority-Inuit territory, advocates say Ottawa must do more to protect and enhance language and culture to live up to that vision. One of the main objectives in forming Nunavut was to create a homeland north of 60 for Inuit—who represent 85 […]
When the art of the possible is an impossible dream, demagoguery takes hold
HALIFAX—I recently went to a book launch in Montreal in a local synagogue, at which many prominent citizens attended. The atmosphere of civility inside was in stark contrast to the political climate outside. A few days before, the Coalition Avenir Québec government had passed Bill 21, forbidding people in authority (including teachers, police, and judges) […]
