Politics-as-usual likely to return after COVID-19, but chance for change down the road, say politicos
Although politicians across the country are working across party lines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, pollsters and politicos are split on whether partisanship and politics will change much, if at all, as a result of the crisis. But some say the personal relationships formed between politicians during the pandemic could last and help in resolving disputes […]
Team Canada shows co-operation pays after 3M mask supply threatened
OTTAWA—As Canada’s COVID-19 containment enters its fourth week, with many weeks still likely to go, a bouquet to some of our political leaders for how they handled U.S. President Donald Trump’s initial efforts to limit 3M from providing N95 respirator masks to Canada. Late last week, in a time when the world needed—and still does—co-operation, […]
Trump administration’s demand for 3M to halt shipment of masks will ‘hurt’ Canada, U.S., Trudeau says
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that the Trump administration’s request demanding that manufacturing giant 3M stop exports of U.S.-made N95 masks to Canada will “hurt” both economies, but stopped short of saying if his government is considering retaliatory measures. Speaking to reporters on Friday from Rideau Cottage, Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) said that Canada has […]
This changes everything, for a while, at least
CHELSEA, QUE.—After the virus is gone—and it will go—will life, particularly political life, be any different? Will ideology, of any stripe, look like the clumsy, rigid tool that it is, wholly inappropriate for dealing with the mess of a real-life crisis? Will the shared sense of purpose, the empathy for those leading the response, hold—and […]
On the appeal of punching down
TEC DE MONTERREY, MEXICO—In her fantastic new book In The Ruins of Neoliberalism: The Rise of Anti-Democratic Politics in the West, philosopher Wendy Brown discusses Nietzsche’s well-known arguments about resentment and the slave morality. Nietzsche famously opined that for centuries Western civilization had been dominated by a Christian outlook which stresses that weakness, humility and poverty […]
Public patience wearing thin in labour dispute between Ontario government, teachers
OTTAWA—Another week goes by here in Ontario with another set of rotating strike actions by Ontario’s teachers, who are in a labour dispute with Doug Ford’s government. These groups have been out of sorts since the fall. To date, no full-on strike has occurred, but neither has a negotiated settlement been reached. For me, this […]
2019: the year of the unexpected
OAKVILLE, ONT.—One of the fun aspects about politics is its unpredictably. You just never know what’s going to happen next. And nowadays it seems, for whatever reason, politics is more unpredictable than ever. This is why I’ve decided not to write a “Here’s My Predictions For Next Year” column, since I’m sure 2020 will be […]
Premiers’ nuclear announcement a potential boon, but issues remain: experts
Canadian nuclear energy experts say the recent announcement by three provincial premiers of plans to develop small and modular nuclear reactor technology, which could provide large amounts of greenhouse gas-free electricity, but one environmental expert says serious issues with the technology remain. On Dec. 1, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and New […]
Will Scheer take one for the team?
OTTAWA—The main question about Andrew Scheer’s leadership is shifting from whether he can survive a party-wide review of his role in April, to whether he should quit now and let the Conservatives get on with choosing a new leader. Scheer turned in a middling campaign. He helped his party surpass the Liberals in the popular […]
Political leaders need to negotiate in good faith
With a strong minority government, negotiating will be the most essential skill for everyone. Every party needs to ponder how they’re going to get what’s needed to be done. Political players should pack up and put away their anger, frustration, dislike, and even hatred because these things won’t solve anything. Politicians should take baby steps, they […]
