Shedding the skin of government
After almost four years of bearing the skin of government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems to have shed that skin, become again a leader of the Liberal Party, and gotten his mojo back. In my experience of having worked for three political leaders (four technically), I can attest that my greatest criticism of these leaders […]
New chief of staff for Public Services Minister Qualtrough
Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough has a new chief of staff in her office following Matt Stickney’s exit to join the Liberal Party’s national campaign team last month. Mr. Stickney marked his last day in Ms. Qualtrough’s office on June 17 and has since joined the federal Liberal Party’s headquarters as the national […]
Federal parties are racing against time and losing
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Canada’s three main federal political parties have all managed to squander one of their most valuable resources—time. And yes, time is a resource, one that’s just as valuable as other political resources—money, organizational support, good candidates— if not more so. After all, it takes time to raise money, it takes time to raise awareness […]
Despite Greens’ rising popularity, NDP and Bloc more likely to hold balance of power in next House: pollster Lyle
Although the Green Party is recording historic highs in public opinion polls and has made recent gains in a byelection and some provincial elections, pollster Greg Lyle predicts the New Democrats and the Bloc will likely be more influential if a minority government is elected in October’s federal election. “We take it with a grain […]
Former Hill staffer Kim overseeing federal Liberals’ candidate-vetting process
A former Liberal Hill staffer is overseeing the federal Grits’ candidate-vetting process for the governing party, which, as of last week, has nominated 212 of 338 candidates across the country. Suh Kim, a former chief of staff to then-Liberal MP Bill Graham, is in charge of giving would-be candidates the green light, said Braeden Caley, […]
Canada should keep focus on human rights in midst of U.S.-Iran spiralling tensions, say activists
As tensions between the U.S. and Iran flare, Canada should keep its focus on Iran’s poor human rights record, activists say. With academics expecting rising tensions to lead to new negotiations between Iran and the original signatories of the Iran deal, Canada’s role could be keeping Iran’s human rights failings front and centre. “I think […]
So campaign 2019, the ‘Low Blows Election’ has begun
HALIFAX—So campaign 2019, the “Low Blows Election” has begun. Recently, a widely viewed news clip showed the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, rebuffing Justin Trudeau’s proffered handshake at the G20. The image made the PM look like a friendless kid trying to make nice on the first day of school and striking out. It was […]
There’s no sunny middle way out of a climate emergency
VANCOUVER—The Ontario Court of Appeal recently handed a win to the federal government—and dealt a blow to Doug Ford and other premiers bent on derailing the national carbon price—when it found the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act constitutional. The ruling went further than an earlier decision out of Saskatchewan, defining the purpose of the act as […]
Liberals, Conservatives offer clear policy differences on climate change
TORONTO—If voters want a clear choice in the upcoming federal election, differences on climate change policy between the Liberals and Conservatives provide just that, with carbon pricing the clearest but not the only dividing line. Yet the reality is that Canada is projected to fall short of meeting its 2030 emissions reduction pledge under either […]
Commission to unveil televised leaders’ debates producer in ‘next few weeks,’ says Cormier
Canada’s first-ever televised leaders’ debates commission is close to revealing the producer that will organize the two debates for the upcoming vote, with a decision expected to be announced in the “next few weeks.” The commission was initially eyeing a mid-June deadline for announcing the winning bidder, but that was an optimistic target, said Michel […]
