Trudeau Liberals risk leaving ideological centre open by tilting further to the left in Throne Speech, say some Grit MPs
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are expected to tilt further to the left in their high-stakes Sept. 23 Throne Speech, but some MPs and former candidates say they’re nervous that would leave an opening in the ideological centre, home to most Canadian voters and where the Conservatives can make gains in the next federal election. […]
Key chapter in Canada’s COVID story begins as kids return to school
OTTAWA—Yes, yes, the speech from the throne coming on Sept. 23 is fast approaching and we will see if, somehow, we get catapulted into an election. I still rate the odds of that slim, but 2020 has been the year when normal thinking does not apply. Speaking of normal, how intimate will it be for […]
O’Toole, other leaders to be tested in historic COVID-era political showdown
OTTAWA—The Conservatives have anointed a new leader at a moment when the currents of history are coalescing into a dramatic turning point for Canadians. Erin O’Toole and the heads of all federal parties will be put to the test over the next several months as the country comes to grips with Canada in the age […]
SoCons, alienated western Conservatives settle for O’Toole rather than MacKay
OTTAWA—Peter MacKay is no doubt very disappointed about losing the Conservative leadership race. But maybe he should actually be relieved. He at least will not be stuck trying to build a compelling, centre-right election case on an urgent basis for a party with apparently little or no interest in anything remotely progressive and beholden to […]
Promised confidence vote a ‘golden’ opportunity for NDP, but can’t be seen as ‘blank cheque,’ say strategists
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to couple a confidence vote with a throne speech is a “golden opportunity” for the NDP to make some gains, say strategists, who warn propping up the government can’t be seen as a “blank cheque.” The NDP is the only party that has the balance of power that has said […]
Parties yet to discuss throne speech, confidence vote plan as pandemic puts wrench in usual pomp and circumstance
With less than a month until the Liberals put forward a new plan for governance, the parties have yet to deliberate on how a confidence vote on that plan can occur in the midst of a pandemic. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) stated his intention to have a vote on the throne speech when […]
‘Prudent, gradual, and phased-in’: public servant return-to-worksite plan slowly unfolding seven weeks in, but ‘no single date’ yet pinned down
Nearly seven weeks after the federal government first addressed how and when Canada’s federal public servants will return to physical worksites, the Treasury Board Secretariat says the government’s approach will be “prudent, gradual, and phased-in,” with “no single date for a return to worksites across the government.” The government’s approach will follow guidance on workplace safety […]
Introduction of remote voting in the House could come without unanimous support
The House Affairs Committee recently recommended the Lower Chamber adopt a system of remote electronic voting for use in exceptional circumstances, requiring changes to the Standing Orders, but enduring Conservative opposition could see the government move ahead without unanimous support this fall. While it’s seen as good form and tradition for amendments to the Standing […]
Oversight for ministers’ regional offices changes hands from PSPC to PCO
Some internal restructuring has taken place within government, with oversight of the 16 ministers’ regional offices having been transferred from Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand to the Privy Council Office at the end of June. “The transfer, which occurred in June 2020, is in keeping with the mandate letter for the Deputy Prime […]
Opposition MPs decry lack of transparency around government’s COVID-19 advertising spending
Opposition MPs from the Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois condemned the government’s spending plan for advertising related to the COVID-19 pandemic last week, following the allocation of an additional $48-million for the ad campaign in the most recent round of supplementary estimates. The government has already spent tens of millions on communications and […]
