In this parochial country, do we have what it takes to unite in a crisis?
OTTAWA—There are moments embedded in our minds as Canadians that we remember so vividly that we can say where we were, what we were doing, and who we were with when they occurred. One of those moments was the winning goal scored by Paul Henderson in the Canada-Soviet Union hockey series, in the eighth game […]
‘This is something I’ve been fighting for now for two years almost,’ Indigenous language interpretation in the House important symbol for youth, says Liberal MP Ouellette
The federal Translation Bureau has been working to adjust to the new option for MPs to speak in Indigenous languages during House of Commons proceedings, a monumental change passed two months ago and one that Liberal MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette, who pushed for the change, calls “significant and very symbolic.” “This is something I’ve been fighting […]
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 […]
Conservatives lead in nominated candidates, a dozen former MPs among hopefuls
Ten months out from the next federal election, the Conservatives are leading in nominated candidates, with 186 named, including current MPs and a dozen former MPs. The Liberals are close behind with more than 160—the vast majority current MPs—while the NDP has 21 of 338 confirmed candidates, though it says its process is “following its […]
Scheer, Singh yet to dent Trudeau’s big Liberal lead in Quebec, polls show
The federal Liberals still hold a commanding lead among potential voters in Quebec, polls show, despite Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s courting of the province and its strategic importance for the federal NDP. A four week rolling poll by Nanos Research published on Jan. 4 showed the Liberals had 47.7 per cent support in Quebec, a […]
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 […]
Looking back, old teammates relive a turbulent time and a championship season
Over the weekend, I participated in an annual holiday ritual that reminds me of the bonds of the season. Each December, I drive to Montreal to have a meal with a diminishing group of friends with whom I share an indelible memory. We were the members of the 1970 Dawson College Blues football team. You […]
The Justinian Empire will strike back
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Since we’re approaching the end of 2018, it seems the right time to ponder what will take place politically in 2019. Yup, that means I’m about to make a year-end prediction. Of course, predicting the future is always a risky business, since things in politics can change quickly, especially in these crazy times. But […]
Time to unclog the pipes
Getting Canadian oil to market is a burning platform for policy-makers. With various well-publicized setbacks, increased pipeline export capacity has been kiboshed or delayed. Facing constrained transport, Alberta has moved on Band-Aid measures to address the stranded supply glut and price discount. However, for the medium and long term, the federal government must get the […]
Market (in)access for Canadian oil: lessons for other resource sectors?
The government of Alberta’s decision to impose production cuts in the oilsands in an effort to buoy prices is the latest surreal twist in the saga that has become the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. Getting Canadian oil to international markets beyond the United States has proven frustratingly elusive for producers. Are there lessons to […]
