With NAFTA at risk, the name of the game’s now trade diversification
TORONTO—The Trudeau government’s response to big challenges, it seems, is to appoint more cabinet ministers. Instead of having a Minister for International Trade, we now have a Minister for Trade Diversification, Jim Carr, and a Minister for Export Promotion, Mary Ng. We have yet to see how having two trade ministers will double the results […]
Ford’s decision to cut Toronto City Hall down to size has all earmarks of a revenge move
OTTAWA—Premier Doug Ford’s decision to cut Toronto City Hall down to size has all the earmarks of a revenge move. And those at city hall piling in behind him have their own grudge matches to settle. Toronto city councillor Jim Karygiannis wants to increase the size of local council seats to mirror federal jurisdictions. Not […]
Trudeau creeps backwards towards defeat
CHELSEA, QUE.—Justin Trudeau has lost his sense of daring and, if he doesn’t get it back, he could also lose the next election. In 2015, he led his third-place party to a comfortable majority on the strength of a positive tone and some specific, progressive promises. His platform—if not his subsequent performance—defied the deadening incrementalism […]
Canadian charity law is changing: are Canadian charities ready?
HALIFAX—On July 16, Justice Edward Morgan of the Ontario Superior Court ruled “unconstitutional” the provisions of the federal Income Tax Act that prevent registered charities from spending more than 10 per cent of their expenditures on “political activities” on the grounds that the act restricts the constitutional right to freedom of expression. If the federal […]
Post-cabinet staffing decisions underway, changes happening in the Prime Minister’s Office
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet on July 18, behind the scenes, ministerial staffers were on the move, big time. While some initial changes have already happened since the shuffle, in particular, when it comes to shoring up chiefs of staff, further moves are expected to come by the end of August when […]
Liberals start nomination process for 25 unheld ridings
The federal Liberal Party opened up applications for potential candidates in 25 unheld ridings in late June, the first formal step towards candidacy for Grits in 2019, according to the party’s website. Those who want to run for the party in those opposition-held ridings can now formally ask the Liberal Party to send them […]
Trudeau’s ace in the hole on climate change
The federal Liberals may be taking a pragmatic approach to their carbon tax plan by softening the blow to heavy emitters. We are, after all, living beside a U.S. president who once believed global warming was a plot hatched by the Chinese to hurt American business and is already wreaking economic havoc in some key […]
From tiny agency of six to department-in-the-making: elevating the Status of Women
Despite the Trudeau government’s efforts to brand itself as feminist and to transform Status of Women Canada from an agency to a full department, critics say it’s an open question whether Ottawa has elevated the portfolio of the Status of Women to a place where it has a similar level of prestige to other files. […]
Canada needs to better champion its innovative industries
Canada is home to a highly innovative and reputable aerospace industry. This is an industry that developed the Canadarm, develops aircraft used around the world, and designs innovative technologies that are used worldwide. There are more than 400 aerospace firms in Canada, which employ more than 70,000 people. While our aerospace industry is admired by industry groups worldwide […]
Candidate selection: democratic or arbitrary?
Former Conservative Party of Canada minister Steven Fletcher sought his party’s nomination in his riding but it has, for no stated reason, been rejected by those controlling the party. The Canadian format for political parties electing candidates has traditionally been to hold riding conventions. After being nominated by party members, all candidates addressed the convention. […]
