Norway model the best choice for U.K. to avoid Brexit calamity
OTTAWA—The Norway model is still the best solution for the United Kingdom as it struggles to secure its future after its fast-approaching deadline for exiting the European Union. Norway has twice rejected full membership in the EU, most recently in 1994, mainly to protect its fisheries industry and, to a lesser extent, its farmers from […]
From staffer to minister: the rise of Mary Ng
Despite claims of favouritism levelled by opponents, Mary Ng says it’s her 20 years of government and political experience that propelled her to the Liberals’ front bench in the 16 months between her election to the House of Commons and her cabinet appointment. “What you get is you get a grounding—you get a grounding in […]
Beware of military pomp
OTTAWA—A recent National Post exclusive story revealed how the military brass had been reined in by a cost-conscious senior bureaucrat. Internal Department of National Defence documents obtained by reporter David Pugliese show that the original budget for a change-of-command ceremony for the head of the Royal Canadian Air Force was pegged at $107,000. Deputy defence minister Jody […]
PCO clerk Wernick celebrates the bureaucracy’s best at annual awards shindig
Most Hillites have heard of Canada-U.S. coordinator Brian Clow’s unit based out of the Prime Minister’s Office, but what about the bureaucrats backing them up? Known as the Canada-United States Engagement team, the 15-person group was recognized with an Exemplary Contribution Under Extraordinary Circumstances award at the 2018 Public Service Award of Excellence ceremony held […]
Supporting Taiwan’s participation is in line with Canada’s UN goals
On Sept. 18, leaders from the 193 United Nations member countries will gather in New York to kick off the fall meeting of the General Assembly—a key organ of the UN in which all countries have equal standing. Unlike Canadians, the 23 million people of Taiwan will not be represented at these discussions. Taiwanese leaders […]
Toronto-area Liberal MP leaves party to join Scheer’s Conservatives
Toronto-area Liberal MP Leona Alleslev shocked political players on the Hill Monday when she announced she was defecting from the party she rallied behind in the last federal election to join the Conservatives. In a stunning announcement on the first day of the House’s fall sitting, the MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, Ont., announced that […]
Climate at the crossroads
It began and ended with two new cabinets and two new words: climate change. They were added to the title of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first minister of the environment and climate change in 2015; and taken away from the new title for Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s first minister of the environment, conservation and parks […]
A goulash of grief in every pot? The Trump midterms aren’t just about America
MONTREAL—In the recent course of promoting his latest book, Fear: Trump in the White House, legendary Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward told NPR ominously, “I am convinced that people need to wake up and not kind of pretend this is just politics or this is partisan. … We are at a pivot point in history.” […]
The right path, the hard path: Canada must continue to call out global rights abusers
Saudi Arabia’s reaction to statements of concern from Canada’s foreign ministry over repression of human rights activists shows a willingness to weaponize trade policy in order to secure consent to human rights abuses. This can only embolden other human rights violators like China, despite provisions of the World Trade Organization aimed at forestalling trade retaliation […]
Playing politics with Quebec’s future
Among Canada’s larger provinces, none is greying faster than Quebec. For the first time in its modern history, the province is struggling with labour shortages. To varying degrees all its regions including Montreal are affected. Those shortages are projected to become more acute as the last of the baby boomers retire over the coming decade. […]
