Pipeline politics will keep Ottawa, Alberta divided
All is far from well between Rachel Notley’s Alberta government and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. With the prime minister in the eye of the storm over the failure to get more oil to tidewater, no federal gesture between now and next fall’s election is likely to really lower the temperature between the two capitals. The combination—within […]
Appealing to ‘the base’ may be a recipe for electoral failure
“It’s all about the base.” That was the refrain of the Conservatives under Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2015, when policies were examined through the perspective of right-of-centre Conservative partisans. Whether suppressing scientists from speaking publicly, changing the rules for the long-form census, supporting the Likud government in Israel, or cutting development funds […]
CAQ’s agenda could challenge federal parties
For the first time in 42 years, the curtain rose on the opening speech of a new party governing in Quebec’s National Assembly on Nov. 28. The circumstances could not have been more different than in 1976. Back then, the election of a Parti Québécois government had sent shock waves across the country. It propelled […]
Ford’s French-language smack down has just begun
OTTAWA—Premier Doug Ford’s French-language smack down has just begun. And if he thinks his problem is going to go away any time soon, he does not understand the deep roots and the strength of the francophone community in Ontario. The last time the provincial government moved to reduce services was when the government of Mike […]
NDP fundraisers need a darker tone
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes I get the sense Canada’s New Democratic Party doesn’t fully understand the urgency of its situation. And yes, the NDP’s current situation is pretty darn urgent—at least when it comes to the all-important task of raising political donations. Indeed, in that regard the NDP is badly trailing its political rivals. According to the […]
In talks to address cuts to francophone services, feds should not be so quick to cast first stone
Doug Ford’s purposeful neglect of Ontario’s francophone minority has sparked howls of outrage, especially from Ottawa. Without question, Ford’s recent decisions—even if he has walked back from them a bit—to relegate the standing of Franco-Ontarians to little more than an expense Ontario can no longer afford should be condemned in strong terms. But federal politicians […]
French is an asset to Ontario, the bigots be damned
OTTAWA—It has been a long couple of weeks for Franco-Ontarians and their supporters. It began with the announcement by Premier Doug Ford that the French language services commissioner would be eliminated and plans for a French-language university would be scrapped, both as cost-saving measures. Considering the Ontario government inherited a deficit from the Wynne Liberals […]
Liberals call Ford’s ‘interlaying’ with federal Conservatives ‘unprecedented,’ but say they’re not worried
The extent of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s public posturing against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and declaration that he wants to see Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer as Canada’s prime minister in 2019 is unprecedented and the rationale behind the strategy is unclear, say Liberal MPs, but Conservatives says Kathleen Wynne used the same strategy as premier […]
Trudeau’s extra-parliamentary opposition
CHELSEA, QUE.—It can change in a heartbeat, but the Trudeau government has been on the upswing lately—applauded for its delicate handling of Donald Trump, for a relatively stable economy and for last week’s artful fiscal update, which offered targeted help to businesses to offset recent Trump tax cuts for their U.S. competitors. You can tell […]
Ontario PCs taking notes from House of Cards, problematic practice of politicising the naming of legislation
TORONTO—In the latest season of house of cards there is a scene in which the vice president is sitting with members of his staff deliberating what they should name their newest act. Should we call it the “Comprehensive Safety Act, or the Comprehensive Chemical Safety Act?” Then the secretary of state pipes up and says […]
