Horseshoe shape proven lucky for reduced partisanship in parallel U.K. Chamber, House Affairs Committee hears
The shape of a secondary House of Commons Chamber should be considered if Canada is to build one, former United Kingdom House clerk David Natzler told the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, saying the design of the British space seems to bring a more informal and less partisan tone. Established 20 years ago, the U.K.’s […]
Further staff exits over SNC-Lavalin likely, say strategists, as PMO grapples to address controversy
More than a month since the SNC-Lavalin story first broke—and one senior staff and two cabinet minister resignations later—the Prime Minister’s Office remains mired in the controversy, and strategists say they expect further senior staff departures to result. “I would expect that there is going to be some further personnel changes in the Prime Minister’s […]
Norman case could hurt Liberals with swing voters, a ‘second proof point’ after SNC-Lavalin scandal that Liberals politically interfere to help the powerful, says pollster
The looming trial of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman and his defence team’s allegations of political interference in the case could push swing voters away from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, says one pollster, by shoring up a perception created by the SNC-Lavalin scandal that Mr. Trudeau’s team likes to meddle where it shouldn’t to help […]
Liberal Party, feds launch campaigns to get Canadians aware of carbon price rebate
The Liberal government is pushing a broad public opinion and awareness campaign to get Canadians in the know about carbon pricing rebates, but one expert says a return at tax time won’t guarantee a bump in popular support for Ottawa’s pricing policy. The federal benchmark carbon pricing system will go into effect on April 1 […]
Prime minister should act in best interests of Canadians
CALGARY—As a student of politics and government in my youth, I was taught the quaint notion of ministerial responsibility. A concept taught but seldom followed in the modern political era. Lord Carrington, the great British parliamentarian was cited as the example. In 1982, he resigned from the British government as foreign secretary, not as a […]
What do you make of the three by-election results on Feb. 25? What stands out most?
Cory Hann Conservative strategist “We’re proud of all three of our candidates, and their tireless work bringing our positive Conservative vision to voters in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Jasmine Louras and Jay Shin ran solid campaigns, and fought hard in their ridings to show that Conservatives will put people before government. “Adding a caucus […]
Team Trudeau out-played by its corporate pals
CHELSEA, QUE.—It became obvious last week that Prime Minister Trudeau’s office relentlessly—and improperly—pushed former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to get a second opinion on whether engineering giant SNC-Lavalin should be exempted from criminal prosecution resulting from bribery and fraud charges in Libya many years ago. They would not take her “no” for an answer, although […]
Justice Minister Lametti hires director of litigation
Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti has named a new director of litigation in his office, with Jim Kapches moving over from National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office to take on the role as of Feb. 25. Until recently, Mr. Kapches had been working away as a policy adviser to Mr. Sajjan since January […]
Scheer finally has a theory for winning
OAKVILLE, ONT.—If nothing else, the SNC-Lavalin scandal that’s currently rampaging through Ottawa like a wounded elephant, has provided Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer with something he’s desperately needed for a long time: a theory for winning. And, yes, up until now Scheer really hasn’t had such a theory. Indeed, all he’s had to date are […]
Trudeau stands up for SNC-Lavalin, but not for his cabinet ministers
HALIFAX—Politicians love writing their own report cards. And it’s not just Donald Trump who revels in giving himself straight As in everything. Last week, both the prime minister and his former principal secretary assured Canadians that the SNC-Lavalin scandal was much ado about nothing—no more than business as usual, with a small and regrettable deficiency […]
