Poor journalism proved costly to Andrew Potter
It was shoddy journalism, not a debatable take on Quebec society, that cost former Ottawa Citizen editor Andrew Potter his “dream job” as the head of McGill University’s prestigious Institute for the Study of Canada this week. He failed to let the facts get in the way of a good rant. Potter wanted to make […]
Politics at its worst in political parties
OTTAWA—Politics is at its worst in political parties. Internal decisions are usually made in secret with little recourse to the rules of due process that apply to normal business decisions. That may change, as a disgruntled New Democrat took his case to the courts last week after his party would not allow him to run […]
Manitoba premier calls for action from Trudeau on asylum seekers from U.S.
Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in New York City where he addressed the audience of and took in a Broadway performance of Come From Away, the musical about Newfoundlanders accommodating thousands of American airline passengers stranded in Gander after 9/11. While Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) was hamming it up for a crowd that […]
Ottawa must stop meddling in health care
Refusal to negotiate, ultimatums and threats: when it comes to health, the federal government behaves like a bully. But beyond the appalling attitude, what is at stake is of utmost importance. If health transfers don’t rise at the same pace as health costs, there is a real possibility that the health system implodes. In its […]
Meet Gérard Deltell, the rising-star Quebec MP whose leadership endorsement will be one to watch
He may be a rookie in the House, but rising-star Conservative finance critic Gérard Deltell is a known entity in Quebec, where his upcoming endorsement in the Conservative leadership race is expected to be significant. The 52-year-old (Louis-Saint-Laurent, Que.) has garnered attention since arriving on the Hill last year. Though his name is recognized in […]
Trudeau will have a close eye on B.C.’s spring election
VANCOUVER—With all hands on deck on Parliament Hill to keep Canada/United States relations on as even a keel as possible, the last thing Justin Trudeau needs is a political storm in British Columbia. With the province heading to the polls this spring, there are clouds on the horizon. Donald Trump’s presidential victory has already forced […]
Five byelections will be first real test for Liberal government
OTTAWA—Five byelections across three provinces will be the first real test for the Liberal government. With vacancies in former Liberal ridings, the pressure will be on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to grow his majority. Whatever happens, the outcome will likely result in a rise in diversity, as all ridings were formerly held by white men […]
Want to stop populism? Try universal basic income
LONDON, U.K.—There’s a new idea that might be the solution to runaway populism. Well, it’s not that new, really—it has been kicking around in left-wing circles for a least a quarter-century—but it has suddenly gone mainstream. It’s called universal basic income (UBI), and pilot programs to see if it really works in practice are being […]
The good and bad of family dynasties in politics
OTTAWA—While elements of the American and British electorate seem repulsed by elites in politics and empowered by their rejection the Canadian environment is still different. If anything, political dynasties remain very much alive in Canada. A second Trudeau is our prime minister and another man named LeBlanc is a senior minister in his government. We […]
Census takeaways: influx and integration key
MONTREAL—The population of every province west of Ontario is growing at a faster rate than the national average. The reverse is true of the five provinces east of Ontario. In the case of Atlantic Canada, the demographic shortfall is acute. New Brunswick’s population shrank between 2011 and 2016 and the population of Nova Scotia’s increased by a mere fraction of a percentage point. The region is in the eye of a perfect storm. Its population is aging; it is losing people to more prosperous provinces; it does not […]
