Ontario PCs to elect new leader March 10
Members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party are choosing a new leader this weekend to replace Patrick Brown, who abruptly resigned in January after being accused of sexual misconduct. Former Member of Provincial Parliament Christine Elliott, ex-Toronto city councillor Doug Ford, PC candidate Caroline Mulroney, and social conservative activist Tanya Granic Allen remain in the running […]
Foreign Minister Freeland hires (another) Rhodes Scholar as policy aide
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland recently hired former University of Oxford Rhodes Scholar Joseph Singh to serve as a new policy adviser in her ministerial office. Mr. Singh officially started on the job on Feb. 26, and fills a gap left by former policy adviser Omer Aziz, who ended his time in the minister’s office […]
Left-leaning budget ‘big problem’ for NDP, reveals Liberal fear of fleeing progressive voters, say pollsters
Last week’s budget shows the Liberals are preparing to battle for left-leaning voters, trying to shore up gains made in 2015 from the NDP, who observers say should be worried as Grit policies leave little room for wedge issues to prove their progressive offer is any different. The budget is clearly aimed at taking a […]
Senator gets okay to hire lawyer advising on harassment policy, providing free legal advice to victims
The Senate’s Internal Economy Committee last week narrowly approved a request by Independent Senator Marilou McPhedran to hire a lawyer to advise her on research into the government’s sexual-harassment prevention legislation and the Senate’s harassment policies, with some Senators arguing her public comments about the contract didn’t align with its stated purpose. At the end of […]
Liberals lose, but Bloc breakup could be a boon to Conservatives, NDP: pollster
With the Bloc Québécois in crisis, the ridings it holds could flip to the NDP or Conservative Party, says Quebec pollster Jean-Marc Léger, but Liberals stand to lose the most in the tight three- or four-way races typical in ridings where the Bloc has had a chance. A fractured separatist vote would likely favour the Conservatives where […]
After last week’s epic fail, Team Trudeau may be in need of a refresh
OTTAWA—There was a federal budget delivered in Ottawa last week but you’d hardly know it, as the debate coming out of the House of Commons had more to do with the prime minister’s India trip than it did on the merits or demerits of gender-based analysis. The Trudeau government, normally very good at blowing past […]
NDP will pay leader Jagmeet Singh the same amount as an MP
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will soon be paid about $173,000, the same amount an MP gets paid. James Smith, Mr. Singh’s press secretary, confirmed that the party will pay Mr. Singh the salary, but he has not started receiving it yet. Mr. Smith added the party was in the process of making payment arrangements. Asked if the […]
Donald Trump’s tactical trade belligerence
Nobody ever said Donald Trump was subtle. But his lack of subtlety is easy to lose sight of, obscured as it gets by his belligerence, combustibility, and recklessness. We were reminded of his lack of subtlety last week when he tweeted “Trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Coming as it did March 2 during […]
Status of government bills
HOUSE OF COMMONS Second reading: C-5, An Act to Repeal Division 20 of Part 3 of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 C-12, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Reestablishment and Compensation Act C-27, An Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 C-28, An Act to amend […]
How many more rounds of tariffs must Canada endure before the Liberals take trade seriously?
Back in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared in front of the entire world: “Canada is back, and here to help.” More than two years later, the question I continue to ask is: “help who?” The Liberal government has promised to move Canada towards progressive and effective trade relationships; yet, Canadian industries have been taking […]
