Ford breathes easier today
OTTAWA—An Ontario provincial court judgment just muzzled Doug Ford’s greatest opposition voice. Working Families, an anti-Conservative coalition of public and private-sector unions and individuals, failed to overturn legislation reining in third-party capacity to advertise. Previous restrictions on third-party advertising had been thrown out by the courts on the grounds that they violated the Canadian Charter […]
Doug Ford’s political porn cheapens Ontario democracy
OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who will face voters next June, wants to run against former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne again. Eight months before the election, Ford and his Stephen Harper brain trust have released a series of ads trying to tie the current provincial Liberal Party to the unpopular Wynne government. This early, misogynistic re-election […]
O’Toole has friends in high places
OTTAWA—Erin O’Toole has friends in high places. And now, Ontario and Quebec provincial governments have taken a page from the O’Toole playbook. They claim to support the need to vaccinate all Ontarians, but have exempted those who work in health-care settings from mandatory vaccinations. Notwithstanding the sage advice of his former leader that all Conservative […]
Politics This Morning: Innovation Minister in Washington to discuss unblocking supply chains
Good Thursday morning! Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry FRANCOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE is in Washington, D.C. today for his second and final day of meetings. His goal? Unblocking North America’s currently buckling supply chains and making them more resilient to outside shocks. Quite the tall order. According to a press release, Mr. Champagne will speak with […]
Politics This Morning: Conservatives oppose mandatory House of Commons vaccination policy; Trudeau consults with opposition leaders
Good Thursday morning, The Conservatives have come out in opposition to the new mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy announced by Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota earlier this week. The decision to implement a vaccine mandate was made by the Board of Internal Economy, a cross-party committee of nine MPs in House leadership roles, […]
What’s ahead for small government crusaders in the wake of COVID-19?
OTTAWA—Sometime last year, people started joking about the “before times” and “the after times” of COVID-19. Now, with the second anniversary of the arrival of the virus coming into sight at a time when the fourth wave is far from under control, the concept of a return to post-pandemic reality continues to recede. On the […]
Canada’s vaccine passport challenge a chance for international co-operation
The past 18 months since the outbreak of the COVID-19 have been a bumpy ride for Canada, but with ingenuity and resilience, Canadians have emerged from this pandemic to stimulate reforms, enhance collaboration, and force the federal parties to embrace bold and decisive ideas—the results of which are evident in their respective platforms. If there […]
Politics This Morning: Liberals release election platform, leaders face off in first debate
Good Thursday morning! The Liberal Party has released its re-election platform, which proposes $13-billion in spending this fiscal year and $78-billion in new spending over the next five years. The 53-page document proposes to invest more in Liberal priorities, such as fighting climate change, Indigenous reconciliation, and the arts and cultural sector, and promises tighter […]
Léger poll on eve of first French debate shows O’Toole gaining momentum in Quebec
As party leaders prepare for the Sept. 2 TVA debate—a crucial event for reaching many Quebec voters—a new poll from Léger Marketing suggests the Conservatives are on the rise in the province. “The reason why this poll is this really important is over the past two years, ever since the 2019 election, we’ve never had […]
Vaccination passports should be an election issue
Inoculate but keep it secret. That seems to be the vaccination position of the premiers of Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. It is hard to understand how conservative values align with putting people’s health at risk in a global pandemic. But in the tug-of-war between collective and individual rights, for Doug Ford, Scott Moe, and Jason […]
