In apologizing for turning away Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, Canada puts anti-Semites in a corner
This past weekend marked the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of the broken glass. It was the night when Germany’s prevailing anti-Semitism exploded in unprecedented violence across the land. Synagogues were destroyed and burned down, Jewish people were attacked on the street and in their homes, and Germany was firmly ensconced in a movement—an […]
A pink wave in Canada? Progress tends to be incremental, but ‘many young women are mobilizing’ for next election, say female politicians
The U.S. midterms saw an unprecedented number of women successfully seek office in a race that captivated many Canadians’ attention, raising questions of whether that enthusiasm will spill over and spur a “pink wave” when Canadians return to the polls in 2019. In a series of historic firsts, the U.S. will send the country’s first […]
Will we have something big to celebrate with China by 2020?
TORONTO—Has the Trudeau government blown its highly ambitious 2016 initiative to launch a new relationship with China? Certainly in Beijing, the Chinese leadership must wonder whether it is worth devoting much additional time on Canada, given the Trudeau government’s hot-and-cold pursuit of a free trade agreement and other mixed signals. These include the rejection of […]
The Hill’s Memorial Chamber, a space of reverence
When the original Parliament Building was destroyed in the fire of 1916, Canada was in the midst of the First World War. Construction of the new Parliament Building began almost immediately, and its architect, John A. Pearson, designed it to be a call to parliamentarians to remember that in a time of war they had […]
Innovation Minister Bains hires new press secretary, Danielle Keenan
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains has a new press secretary in place in his ministerial office, Danielle Keenan. Ms. Keenan recently moved over from Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould’s office to take on the job. She’d been working for Ms. Gould since May 2017, starting off as a special assistant for issues […]
‘The risk is there’: marijuana legalization unpopular in ridings with high Chinese-Canadian populations, says former Ontario Liberal minister Chan
Federal Liberal ridings with high proportions of Chinese-Canadians could be in jeopardy in 2019 if the party fails to do more to explain the rationale behind marijuana legalization, because Chinese-Canadians have deep-rooted apprehensions about drug use of any kind and some incorrectly see it as a “precursor to cocaine legalization,” say politicos. “They [Chinese-Canadians] don’t […]
After last week’s midterms, United States is a more deeply divided nation
OTTAWA—Last week’s midterm elections reinforced the reality of the United States as a deeply divided nation. The voting population appears to be split down the middle. Divisions are even more stark when it comes to race and the urban-rural divide. With only two Senators elected per state, predominantly Republican rural areas become disproportionately important in […]
New review, old problems: Feds’ Trans Mountain redo beleaguered by criticisms
Complaints are mounting over the timeline, scope, and even evidence being considered as part of the National Energy Board’s reconsideration of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, with extensions formally requested by at least one intervener, the Squamish Nation. “They are repeating the same pattern, the same approach that landed them in court … [by] […]
No one’s fooled, Big Man on the Hill
TORONTO—Let’s start with the mirror, shall we? Come on, Big Man on the Hill. You haven’t taken a good, long look in a long time, have you? You know, just standing there, nothing on. Lights on, bright. No one is around. It’s just you and me. Look at yourself. Really look. You’ve got that gut that […]
Populism vs. pomp
OAKVILLE, ONT.—The power of populism as a political force is such that it can even make life difficult for vice-regals. Just ask Canada’s current Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, or ask two of our former governor-generals, Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean. All three of these women have recently experienced the sting of what might be called a […]
