Care Bear Trudeau is out; Terminator Trudeau is in
OAKVILLE, ONT.—In case you haven’t noticed it, over the past few months Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has undergone a radical image makeover. Out is “Care Bear” Trudeau; in is “Terminator” Trudeau. Yes, our one-time super-sensitive, super-empathetic, touchy feely prime minister is officially now a tough guy. We see evidence of this transformation all over the […]
If his strategy is to declare war on everyone, Scheer will pay a price in next election
OTTAWA—Conventional wisdom dictates that Jason Kenney’s Alberta victory will boost the fortunes of Andrew Scheer in the upcoming federal election. I beg to differ. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now has two aggressive, anti-environmental foils to run against in an election. The more Kenney fights with the rest of the country, the more people will worry […]
My Alberta buddies say the province is going to teach Trudeau a lesson in October
TORONTO—Last month, I was back home in Calgary to teach at the law school. So, I got together with a couple high school buddies—one a lawyer, one an engineer—at Michael’s on 10th Avenue. (Michael’s has the best pizza in Canada, by the way. Hands down.) We got to talking about the coming Alberta election, and […]
Federal government ad spending rises after PM’s department bumps up limit 45 per cent in election year
The federal government is expected to spend about 60 per cent more on advertising in 2018-19, the last fiscal year before an election, than the year before, thanks to an increase to the ad spending limit by the Privy Council Office. The Canada Revenue Agency is one of the departments to have taken advantage of […]
This just in: carbon tax is not a cash grab, not a job-killer, and not an attack on Alberta
CHELSEA, QUE.—There will be lots of shouting and blaming in the wake of Jason Kenney’s unambiguous victory in Alberta last week. Much of the venom will focus on carbon taxes, climate change, equalization, and who-is-getting-screwed, with a possible return to bitter sibling rivalry between provinces, notably Alberta and Quebec. There will be lawsuits and hateful […]
Assange should not spend the rest of his life behind bars in the United States
HALIFAX—Even by Jerry Springer standards, the arrest of Julian Assange has elicited ferocious and contrary reactions. Everyone, including those who work in this business, should be riveted by this story—bearing in mind that the beginning of wisdom is the suspension of judgment. The stakes are huge. A good outcome for free speech is far from […]
One in, two out for Treasury Board President Murray’s staff team
There are a few staffing moves to report in Treasury Board President Joyce Murray’s office, with two recent departures followed by one new hire, Jonathan Robinson. Previously a member’s assistant to Liberal MP Hedy Fry, who has represented Vancouver Centre, B.C., since 1997, Mr. Robinson recently joined the exempt staff ranks on the Hill, landing […]
Anxious Liberals want Grits to fill all-important national campaign director position soon
With the next election day only six months away and the campaign unofficially underway, the federal Liberals have yet to officially name a national campaign director which is creating some anxiousness among party members eager to get started, say Liberals. “We’re not getting clear directions from the party,” said one long-time Liberal in an interview […]
Pollsters point to rising public racism, Quebec seats to explain Liberals’ U-turn on refugees
The Liberal government’s move to toughen up the refugee system is a signal to voters that fairness is the party’s priority when it comes to foreigners entering the country, says a former Liberal insider, and it could be part of an attempt to outmanoeuvre the Bloc Québécois, or win over ex-Liberal voters who don’t want […]
Could all the parties just cool the rhetoric on racism and immigration?
OTTAWA—White supremacists. Islamophobia. Systemic racism. Racialized people. Irregular entrants. These are hot words on Parliament Hill these days. These are all terms that identify problems facing Canadian social cohesion and are often discussed without a common understanding. Discussion around race and racism are delicate at the best of times, but when they get hotter and […]
