Yes, it really was 2015
What a year it has been for women in politics in Canada. The developments have been dramatic in some cases, lacklustre or downright disturbing in others. While generally there’s been progress, the devil is in the details. Here’s a summary of the good, bad and ugly from 2015. Back in June, when the leader of the fledgling […]
Some 65 Liberal seats across country in deep trouble: Grits need 44% to win and that’s just not in cards right now
Toronto–Here’s the thing. If the Canadian Alliance and the former Progressive Conservative Party were actually united in the 2000 federal election, the Liberals would have lost 34 seats. At that time, the Liberals won a majority government with 40 per cent of the popular vote. But this time it’s not enough: in order to win […]
You haven’t come a long way, baby: Nominations over June 9, and fewer women stepping up to the plate in election 2004
We wish the best of luck to the brave 199 women who are standing so far for election across Canada. You can read their names in the list of women candidates which accompanies this article. Our list was compiled for EqualVoice, our advocacy group for the election of women, by Nikki Macdonald, who also tracked […]
Martin tries to be all things to all people
Paul Martin wants the title but not the job. The Prime Minister’s position would be a symbolic one under Paul Martin akin to the monarchy and the role of the Queen. Being the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada requires that the person lead. A leader must be able to listen, and mediate but […]
‘I don’t want to be anybody’s hero’: Three-term Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish pushes highly-dramatic vote in House
It was sex, in a manner of speaking, that got Mississauga Centre Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish started in politics. Two weeks ago, the three-term MP set off a rip-roaring controversy that resulted in the biggest parliamentary embarrassment to Jean Chretien from his own benches in nine years, with serious Liberal leadership implications. Ms. Parrish did […]
Searching for alternatives to usual government spin cycle [Presentation of Canadian Policy Research Awards]
[Not Transcribed] Cram 800 of the country’s leading policy wonks into the cavernous Ottawa Congress Centre and the one thing you don’t expect to hear are a lot of laughs. But there were a few quite amusing moments at last week’s dinner presentation of the Canadian Policy Research Awards. The best laugh of the evening […]
Blight of today’s “news for profit”
[Not Transcribed] Bruce Hutchison, once Canada’s pre-eminent political observer, lamented to his colleague Grant Dexter of The Winnipeg Free Press that “a lousy press is this nation’s worst weakness.” The language was not typically Hutchisonian nor, for that matter, was the thought. The genesis of the complaint arose from journalism’s failure of expectations as to […]
Staffers gain leverage: HR commissioner
Parliament Hill staffers will be more likely to report human rights violations following last week’s landmark Federal Court decision, says the chief of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. “I think that many employees on the Hill thought that that legislation didn’t apply to them and I think it’s important that they should know that they […]
