Facebook’s global data breach unsurprising, but calls for Zuckerberg’s head puzzling
OTTAWA—Facebook’s global data breach is anything but surprising. What is surprising is the sturm and drang from all corners demanding Mark Zuckerberg’s head. Surprise: companies are mining data to sell you stuff, even get inside your head to influence your voting patterns. Hello. Forget about Facebook. One just has to scroll the internet to be […]
Italian-Canadian MPs frustrated none in Trudeau’s cabinet, says Liberal MP Di Iorio
There were 11 Italian-Canadian MPs elected in 2015, but two-and-a-half years into the Liberals’ four-year mandate, none have been included in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, and one Italian-Canadian backbencher says there’s frustration in the community across the country and among Italian-Canadian MPs. Rookie Liberal MP Nicola Di Iorio (Saint Michel-Saint-Léonard, Que.), who was elected […]
Finally CRA obeys the law
OTTAWA—Since 2012, the parliamentary budget officer (PBO) has been trying to fulfil my request to measure the tax gap, the difference between what is owed in taxes and what has actually been collected, but has been stonewalled by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and its refusal to release the required statistical data. Therefore, the announcement […]
NDP analyst Capstick leaving world of political punditry
Longtime NDP political analyst and former NDP press secretary Ian Capstick announced in a Facebook note last week that he’s signing off from the world of political punditry. The founder of Media Style public affairs agency who had been a commentator on CBC’s Power & Politics for eight-and-a-half years, said he has been dealing with […]
Singh’s bad first impression
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Years ago, when I was working on a Republican senatorial primary campaign, my communications team found itself dealing with a bit of a crisis. What happened was, news got out that our candidate—a Republican—had once attended a Democratic fundraising event. And yes, as innocent as that might sound, his attendance at that event actually […]
Equal Voice marks one-year anniversary of Daughters of the Vote by celebrating two political game-changers
OTTAWA—On International Women’s Day, Equal Voice marked the one-year anniversary of Daughters of the Vote by recognizing the accomplishments of two very different politicians, Progressive Conservative Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Daughters of the Vote (DoV) was Equal Voice’s historic and ambitious Canada 150 initiative, which brought 338 diverse and dynamic […]
Grit MP Casey says party conditions to avoid nomination challenges for incumbent MPs ‘fair,’ but he can’t meet them by deadline
One Liberal MP says his party’s conditions for incumbent MPs to avoid nomination challenges are “fair” but will be “impossible” for him to meet by the Oct. 1 deadline, and has “no problem” facing a nomination challenge. “I’m open to a challenge but I still think the rules are fair,” said two-term Liberal MP Sean […]
PMO’s Maka exits to become director to Social Development Minister Duclos
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently bade farewell to one of his political aides, Mike Maka, who left his job as senior planning manager in the office’s communications and planning unit to join Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos’ office. Mr. Maka had been working in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) since the beginning, starting […]
Liberal backbenchers in safe rural ridings say they can sell Goodale’s gun bill, other Grits laying low
Liberal MPs from safe rural ridings say they can sell the government’s new gun safety bill to their constituents, while some country Grits who won by slim margins have kept quiet so far about the legislation that two weeks ago scared “the hell” out of the party’s rural caucus. The NDP will likely support the […]
As Bill C-33 gathers dust, opposition MPs want to know why ‘critical’ election law changes haven’t moved since first reading
The Liberals’ promised changes to Canada’s elections laws have been gathering dust since November 2016 when Bill C-33 was first introduced, but with the next election in October 2019, opposition MPs want to know why the government hasn’t moved on the “unloved” bill. “There’s a lot here [in Bill C-33] that’s critical to a healthy, functioning […]
