Only in Canada, it’s considered weakness to recruit a former PM to help solve the Huawei problem
OTTAWA—Only in Canada is it considered a weakness to recruit a former prime minister to help solve the Huawei problem. Reaction to the news that Jean Chrétien was willing to act as an envoy to meet with the Chinese leadership in the Meng Wanzhou extradition case was muted. The offer was floated privately months ago. […]
Trudeau’s awkward answer an unforced error
OAKVILLE, ONT.—During a recent news conference to outline his plans to ban certain plastic materials, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a painfully convoluted answer to a really simple question. The really simple question a reporter asked him was this: “What do you and your family do to cut back on plastics?” Here was the prime […]
Who is the real Conservative leader? It depends on who you ask
Andrew Scheer is on record as being the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. But who is the de facto leader? Is it Doug Ford, Jason Kenney or Stephen Harper? Who is really running the show or calling the shots? Ontario Premier Doug Ford has shut down the Ontario legislature until after the federal […]
Liberals’ cheeky fan dance over F-35 fighter jets getting a little tiresome
HALIFAX—The Liberals’ cheeky fan dance over the F-35 fighter jet is getting a little tiresome. It is also playing with political fire. One upon a time, when there was no Prince Charming shortage in Canadian politics, it was all so very clear. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, then acting as Prince-in-Waiting, flat out declared that Canada […]
Feds pick three vendors to pilot Phoenix replacement projects
The government has chosen three companies to audition for the job of paying its employees as a replacement for the problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system. “We have three vendors that have been selected through our process to date, and those three vendors will go forward with the public servants who are working on this project to […]
ISG Senators to propose amending Bill C-48 to allow tanker access to Nisga’a Nation: Sen. Paula Simons
PARLIAMENT HILL—A group of Independent Senators is getting ready to propose two amendments to the government’s controversial ban on oil tankers docking on the B.C. coast to allow pipeline and tanker access to the Nisga’a First Nation, says Independent Alberta Senator Paula Simons. The Nisga’a Nation is made up of four communities in northern B.C. […]
Liberal backers want to implement new NAFTA now, but Conservative supporters want to wait until after looming election, poll suggests
Canadians are split over when to implement the renegotiated NAFTA, a new poll suggests. A Forum Research poll suggested that 51 per cent of Canadians think the new NAFTA—formally called the USMCA or CUSMA in Canada—should be implemented now, while 49 per cent say the implementation should wait until after the upcoming federal election. Support […]
The Democrats and Democracy: 2020 is about values, not ideology
There is nothing Donald Trump—and the interests who have an existential stake in his unlikely political longevity—would enjoy more than watching the Democrats devour each other on the road to 2020. The current field of 24 candidates makes this primary campaign potentially the largest Democratic circular firing squad since the fateful 1968 Chicago convention. This […]
Lessons from the Doug Ford School of Public Administration
OTTAWA—School is out at Queen’s Park, but here are the lessons for the next semester based on the first year of Premier Doug Ford’s government in Ontario: Talk about helping “the people” while you slash programs that many need: Roll back promised funding increases for rape crisis centres, cut legal aid by 30 per cent, […]
Senate ushers back on the job as Chamber resumes contract with security firm
The Senate has resumed a controversial contract with a private security company for ushers to open doors in its new building after an estimated $95,000 bill raised questions about how the Upper Chamber seeks sole-sourced contracts and manages the building’s security. The contractors, hired to open doors inside the Senate of Canada Building on Rideau […]
