Buoyed Conservatives and New Democrats claim there’s ‘not a riding in Ontario that’s beyond’ their reach federally in 2019
Buoyed by significant gains made in Ontario’s provincial election on June 7, the federal Conservatives and NDP say they can replicate the electoral performance in next year’s general election by targeting the same ridings they won from the Liberals and that there’s “no federal riding in Ontario that’s beyond” their reach anymore. Others say the new […]
Conservatives best placed to continue to benefit from Bloc’s demise
Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives are not going to allow Justin Trudeau to rebuild a Liberal fortress in Quebec without a fight: that’s just one of the messages from Monday’s Chicoutimi-Le Fjord’s byelection upset. And some of the other messages—in particular for the New Democrats—are more alarming than others. But first some essential electoral geography pertaining to […]
I covered the Liberals’ Laurier Club appreciation night, and didn’t even get to keep the lanyard
So there I was—a new(ish) Hill reporter, standing around with five or six other photographers and cameramen on June 18 at the War Museum at the Liberal Party’s Laurier Club Summer Reception and Garden Party. The massive orange media sign—which I’m told is standard procedure, although it was about half the size of a sheet […]
PMO adds new appointments aide as Kattar-Miller starts work in top office
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office recently grew by two, in part thanks to the recent hiring of a new special assistant for appointments, Nathalie Gahimbare. A graduate of the University of Alberta, Mr. Gahimbare was previously in Alberta working as a constituency assistant to Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, who was elected for the first time […]
House spring sitting most productive one for Trudeau government, 14 bills received royal assent in last six months
Thanks to a final end-of-sitting push, which included an extra week of late-night sittings, the Liberal government had its most legislatively productive House sitting yet, with 14 bills passed and granted royal assent over the last six months. “This sitting has been productive. I think we have advanced important legislation for Canadians, that’s going to […]
We have a big problem in Canada
TORONTO—We have a big problem in Canada. But our banks and insurance companies think they have found a way to help us. They are dipping into their capital—something they should have done many years ago—to the tune of $545-million to create the Canadian Business Growth Fund (and the promise of taking that up to $1-billion) […]
In politics, anger sometimes works
TORONTO—Anger is an energy. That’s a line from Public Image’s improbable 1986 hit single, Rise. The former Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten wails it, over and over, and it eventually makes a point worth pondering: that, sometimes, it’s advisable to get a bit angry. It’s not always a good idea to turn the other cheek and keep […]
Brodie’s most poignant observation: time is the most precious resource in Ottawa
ST. JOHN’S, N.L.—The position of chief of staff to a prime minister or premier is among the most powerful roles in government. Chiefs of staff have a unique perch at the top of the government hierarchy. They are the main intermediary with ministers and their staff. They perform a largely clandestine role, unknown to most […]
Trudeau’s comments on child separation built on deck of political realities stacked higher by Trump factor, say observers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday called the separation of migrant children from their parents as a result of the Trump administration’s new zero-tolerance policy as “wrong” and “unacceptable.” For some Canadians outraged after seeing children warehoused in cages with little more than thin space blankets, they got what they were hoping for, if only […]
Liberal seats flipped in Ontario election
In the 2018 Ontario elections, the Liberals saw their numbers of seats shrink from 58 to to seven, falling one seat shy of securing official party status, while the Conservatives captured 76 seats and the New Democrats locked in 40. The Hill Times took a closer look at which seats the Liberals lost in 2018 […]
