A dozen MPs won’t run again in 2019, starting ‘snowball effect’ with more to come, say insiders
NDP MPs David Christopherson, Hélène Laverdière, and Conservative MP Bev Shipley all announced in the last week they will not seek re-election in 2019, adding to a list that has now reached a dozen, and political insiders expect this is the start of a “snowball effect” of MPs calling it quits in the months to […]
Fickle voters keep parties on their toes, say strategists
Canadian voters are less and less likely to stick to voting for the same party election after election, say political strategists, who estimate this is one of the reasons why there have been large swings between parties in recent elections. In the 2011 federal election, the NDP swept Quebec, taking 59 of the then-75 seats in […]
A government reboot is in the cards this summer
OTTAWA—Is Justin Trudeau’s government in need of a reboot? Summer speculative stories are coming fast and furious about a possible cabinet shuffle, the potential retirement of long-standing Liberal Parliamentarians, and a 2019 pre-election season, which will kick up a notch in the fall. As the introduction to the never-ending soap opera Days of Our Lives […]
British couple’s suspected Novichok poisoning leaves more questions than answers
OTTAWA—On June 30, in the sleepy little town of Amesbury, England, a middle-aged couple—Dawn Sturgess, 44, and Charlie Rowley, 45—were hospitalized while in medical distress. At first, British authorities believed their condition to be the result of potentially a contaminated batch of drugs. But days later it was announced that Sturgess and Rowley were in […]
Donald Trump doesn’t have a cold; he’s the tipping point in an epidemic
In the besieged practice of journalism, there is sometimes a moment when a narrative hits a Gladwellian tipping point beyond which what had been reported as a series of random or discrete events flags the full scope of a larger phenomenon: an epidemic, a web of corruption, an ethnic cleansing campaign, a financial crash. Historically, […]
Where’s Wernick? Unions say PCO clerk should be more involved in Phoenix fix
The two largest federal public service unions are frustrated about what they say is Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick’s lack of involvement in fixing the Phoenix pay system, adding that his absence is particularly apparent in light of his recent comments about loosening the rules to fire public servants. But one expert says the top bureaucrat’s role […]
Parliament should consider U of O model to support staff
I have read many articles in your publication about a lack of resources or knowledge of resources for parliamentary and political staffers to help them with problems regarding their roles, health, workloads, goals, harassment, professional responsibilities and relationships, stress, and other important matters. While obviously a different context, I wonder if it might be worthwhile […]
Departments dodging MP query on Facebook meetings, say critics
Some departments are “dodging” an MP’s question on government meetings with Facebook, revealing loopholes in the Lobbying Act that opposition critics say need fixing. Last month, in response to an Order Paper query about their meetings with Facebook, about half of the 50-plus government departments and agencies surveyed didn’t answer and instead deferred to the federal […]
Natural Resources Minister Carr names new press secretary
Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr has quickly named a new press secretary in his office, promoting policy adviser and issues manager Mackenzie Radan to take over the role. Previously, Alexandre Deslongchamps was press secretary to the minister, but he was promoted last month to be director of communications, following the departure of Laurel Munroe from […]
Tories building on ‘large bedrock of support’ ahead of August convention: party president
As the Conservative Party prepares to huddle in Halifax at its end-of-summer policy convention, the party president is feeling buoyed by polling patterns and fundraising stats that he says put them in a prime position for the 2019 election. When the Conservatives’ three-day national convention begins in Halifax on Aug. 23, it will come on […]
