Alberta cannot look to Quebec as a model for separatism—it’s not a fair fight
A new political party has entered the political arena in Alberta: the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta—a merger between the Freedom Conservative Party and Wexit Alberta. This new independence party reflects the mood that Albertans will always get a raw deal from Ottawa because federal governments have to cater to the golden triangle of Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa above […]
On the bubble: Atlantic Canada’s plan getting mixed reviews
OTTAWA—The premiers of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces are opening the region up for interprovincial travel among themselves this Friday, July 3. It could be the first step to opening Atlantic Canada to the rest of the country. But in the East, there is concern. Premiers Dwight Ball, Stephen MacNeil, Blaine Higgs, and Dennis King are […]
Quebec’s Dominique Anglade is a woman of many firsts
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Dominique Anglade heads a lot of lists: first person of colour to be an official opposition leader in Canada; first woman to lead the Quebec Liberal Party; and the first fluently multilingual, as in speaks more than four languages (Creole, French, English, German, Spanish), party leader anywhere in Canada. And, I point out, she […]
‘It’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good’: tourism in the time of COVID
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—The temperature was an unusually hot 30 degrees. The tide was in and the water temperature of the normally frigid Saint Lawrence River was 24 C. As I slipped into the waves, I looked to the west and could see large clouds of smoke blowing over the neighbouring villages. It didn’t look good. Indeed, […]
Social change depends on each of us doing our part
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—As many readers of this column know, I am not much of a monarchist, but I admire the Queen. And while it was a painful childhood duty to watch her annual Christmas message, this year’s resonates with me months later. Recounting the decades of her reign, she said, “positive things can be achieved when […]
Pandemic underlines need for better northern housing: Vandal
Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal has been busy during the pandemic. Phone calls start around 8 a.m. and stop whenever they stop. Mr. Vandal (Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, Man.) is the first person to hold the standalone title of Minister of Northern Affairs. Previously, the responsibilities for northern economic development and relations with Indigenous and territorial […]
Mr. Rajotte goes to Washington
It seems fitting, before discussing the intricate and somewhat frayed bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States, to first acknowledge the recent passing of Allan Gotlieb, an esteemed public servant, a visionary diplomat, and Canada’s longest-serving ambassador to the United States (1981-1989). And while the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War have long passed, […]
The 1980 referendum campaign: a shining Canadian moment
OTTAWA—Forty years ago today, I was standing in the Verdun Auditorium in south-centre Montreal, when a woman said to me in French, “This is proof we can be good Québécois and Canadians at the same time.” It was a key message of the tumultuous six weeks that led to the historic victory of the “No” […]
Push to reopen the economy fuelled by disinformation, political gaslighting
OTTAWA—Donald Trump’s gaslighting of America is rapidly turning into Canadian policy. This is being orchestrated through an aggressive disinformation campaign, controlled and co-ordinated by the White House. On May 11, thousands of children in Quebec returned to school after an eight-week absence as a result of measures undertaken to stop the spread of COVID-19. […]
Quebec CPC membership votes more important than low leadership donations, say politicos
All four Conservative leadership hopefuls have reported low fundraising numbers in Quebec to start the year, amounting to three per cent of all funds raised this race in a province that will be key to the next leaders’ coronation. That doesn’t mean they aren’t active and recruiting support in Quebec, suggest some Conservative politicians, who […]
