Conservative MPs, strategists unpack the ‘undoing of Jason Kenney’ in Alberta
Conservative Alberta MPs are blaming the tough pandemic political climate for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s splintered internal support and say his announced resignation was a result of a “no-win situation” and “an unforgiving political culture” that allowed United Conservative Party divisions to grow. But Conservative strategists say Kenney’s leadership style and caucus management played a […]
Heading backwards in Ontario
OTTAWA—Call him the Highwayman. Ontario Premier Doug Ford appears to have staked his party’s re-election on the perception that the province’s commuters want more, ever-bigger roads, regardless of the environmental consequences. It might have been a miscalculation, seeing that just overnight driving went from being a somewhat costly necessity to an outright luxury. But so […]
Map quest: four provinces reach key stage of electoral redistribution process
Proposed new electoral maps are out for four provinces—British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island—including some significant boundary shifts, and local MPs are readying themselves to weigh in as part of the key, upcoming public consultation process. “There’s some ridings that kind of leave you scratching your head, other ridings that historically have […]
What the hell is a ‘historic anglophone’?
MONTREAL, QUE.—In the coming weeks, the Coalition Avenir Québec government of François Legault will pass Bill 96, a law allegedly intended to improve French in Quebec, but which is really an attack on English-speaking Quebecers. On May 14, about 10,000 people (including me) marched though downtown Montreal to express our opposition to the bill. When […]
Get used to it, Monsieur Legault: English is the international language
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—April 23 came and went without much fanfare this year, as it always does. If you had forgotten, it was St. George’s Day. It is odd no one notices, the given the chauvinism for other patron saints. On St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) everyone is Irish. St. Andrew’s Day (Nov. 30) is an opportunity […]
‘Inuit culture and traditions are not for sale’: why the government should not approve Baffinland expansion
POND INLET, NUNAVUT—I’m a hunter from Pond Inlet, Nunavut. My father is also a hunter and I grew up helping him, harvesting subsistence food. The hunters in our community are providers—they share their catch by going through radio or Facebook, asking if people want country food. Called the “Jewel of the North,” our Baffin Island […]
Guy Lafleur’s death has united Quebecers in grief
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—Steve Shutt summed up his teammate Guy Lafleur in an interview with Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette: “He didn’t put himself above everybody else. He was just one of the guys.” That certainly was my impression, having followed Lafleur’s career. I had been at the Forum in the fall of 1971 when “Flower” […]
Northerners think feds are ‘out of touch’ with the North, data suggests
Northerners say the federal government is “out of touch” with the North, does not meet their needs, and does not fairly represent them, according to a convenience sample study conducted by the Angus Reid Forum. The data, while anecdotal in nature, offers a glimpse into the frustrations and issues facing those living in Canada’s territories, […]
Regardless of Kenney’s fate, 2023 will be a decisive election for Alberta
After her 2019 election defeat, many Albertans wrote NDP Leader Rachel Notley off for good. Her 2015 victory was a fluke, they said. Alberta is as true blue as they come, they cried. Had conservative forces not been split, she’d never have gotten into office. And nor would she again: not after Jason Kenney triumphantly […]
Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help boost turnout, PROC hears
Directly or indirectly, including Indigenous languages on federal ballots could help to boost Indigenous voter turnout, argue witnesses appearing as part of the House Affairs Committee’s ongoing study into the prospect. But some suggest resources would be better allocated elsewhere. “Having the Inuit language on ballots would help in increasing the voter turnout,” Nunavut Languages […]
