Will the populist bandwagon roll on in Canada?
OTTAWA—Populism in its various modern forms has been altering the global political picture for several decades. Its presence has grown rapidly in the last 20 years and has recently been the modus operandi of powerful office holders in about two dozen countries, according to a study by the Institute for Global Change. Once a phenomenon […]
Ford should do the right thing, show people he cares
OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford should do the right thing and show people he cares. He should reconsider cuts to French-language services affecting Ontario’s 600,000 francophones, including the cancellation of plans to create Ontario’s first French-language university in Toronto (a promise he renewed during his recent election campaign) and the rescinding of a $3-million grant to Ottawa’s French theatre company, “La Nouvelle Scene.” […]
Polls show tight race between Grits and Tories in Ontario to start 2019, with 905 set for another election showdown
The Liberals and Conservatives start 2019 in a “horse race” in Ontario, pollsters say, as some end-of-2018 polling showed the Tories slightly ahead of the Grits and possibly headed towards an electoral showdown in key suburban ridings outside of Toronto come October. Weekly Nanos Research polling throughout December 2018 found Conservative support had swung ahead […]
Political winners and losers in 2018
TORONTO—The year-end political winners and losers column is as clichéd, hackneyed and overdone as it gets. But no one ever accused this writer of being, you know, original. So, heretofore and herewith, 2018’s political winners and losers, all jumbled together. Some are found in both categories, so pay attention, Virginia. Justin Trudeau: winner and loser. Canadians still […]
What Santa ought to bring party leaders this Christmas
OTTAWA—The Christmas and holiday season is upon us. Many, including me, will be thankful to have a little break from all things politics as well as commenting on the same. Relaxation and recharging are in order. But before checking out for a couple weeks, how about some Christmas wish lists for our main national party […]
Politicians might not be keen for 2019
This year was a bad year for provincial incumbents in Canada. In Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, voters fired their premiers after single terms in office. Year-end polls suggest the same fate could await the premiers of Alberta and P.E.I. in 2019. In just the past six years, Quebec has disposed of three premiers. None […]
This just in: a carbon tax won’t kill jobs
CHELSEA, QUE.—How does the old expression go? A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on in the morning. With social media, as we see every day, the lie travels even farther and faster. One of the most dangerous current lies—although it has been around at least a decade—involves the […]
Is Hillary right? Do progressives need to back away from some principles?
OTTAWA—“I think Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame,” Hillary Clinton recently said in what is perhaps the most important message to progressives by any senior progressive leader in recent times. In other words, rethink your progressive principles, or you run the risk of not only losing […]
For politicians, reverting to the default position is the easy way out
In politics, there is usually a stark, very noticeable, default position. The term “default position” refers to a belief (or lack of belief) that is preferable prior to debate or before any evidence is considered. Many people claim that some beliefs (or lack thereof) are default positions, so everyone who disagrees with those positions has the […]
First ministers’ meetings have gone from Kumbaya to Welcome to the Jungle
OTTAWA—Lightning has struck. Time is standing still. Former prime minister Stephen Harper might have been right by suggesting first ministers’ meetings (FMM) are generally a waste of time and the only benefit is for fans of theatre. Last week the current prime minister, Justin Trudeau, convened the fourth FMM of his first mandate. When he […]
