Farewell Rae; Harper has some decisions to make; and Nenshi charms Ottawa
OTTAWA—Bob Rae is leaving federal politics! This is not only a loss for the Liberal Party, but a loss for the House. Rae is a career politician who leaves with his head held high and his ethical reputation intact. He loved politics, was in for the right reasons, and, despite his difficult tenure as […]
It’s extreme politics in conservative circles
What’s going on in conservative politics these days across the country? Did the Conservatives really win a majority fair and square in the 2011 election? How long is that majority good for? The results of the 2011 election continue to be the subject of much debate; from the way it was carried out, to […]
Long form survey points to our increasing diversity
We have 130,000 young aboriginal children across Canada in foster care today. Cindy Blackstock points out that this means there are more aboriginal children removed from their families today than there were aboriginal children in residential schools at any given time going back in the early part of the last century. The head of […]
Trudeau’s plan to engage Canadians in developing party’s next platform could be successful
Lester B. Pearson became prime minister of Canada on April 22, 1963. Fifty years ago. His government is often credited with being one of the most progressive, activist, and effective in Canadian history. And yet it was over two minority governments that lasted all of five years. He proved two things that are relevant […]
B.C. Liberal document has similarities to federal Conservative strategy
While Christy Clark’s British Columbia Liberal government is getting slammed for its ethnic outreach strategy, it is not really all that different from what the federal Conservatives were doing in the spring of 2011, just months before the federal election. So what’s all the fuss about? It’s a combination of a bone-headed term, a […]
Time for Ottawa to embrace Idle No More
OTTAWA—“Idle No More movement fizzles out, analyst finds” declared a Calgary headline last week. Mark Blevis who bills himself as a digital public affairs strategist tracked the amount of digital traffic—on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, online forums and online news—and found an 84 per cent drop over four weeks. The thing is, that’s really […]
Dawson makes new guideline in Flaherty case
OTTAWA—So the ethics commissioner has ruled that a cabinet minister should not write to the CRTC in their role as a cabinet minister. The case involves Finance Minister Jim Flaherty who intervened on behalf of Durham Inc., owned by constituent Doug Kirk, in a competition of 13 applicants for a radio station in the […]
Conservatives have already started to define Trudeau: Cardozo
OTTAWA—What does Calgary Centre say about the future of the political parties? And what lessons can be learned from the American election? Lots, is the answer to both. Last week’s Calgary Centre byelection put the leaderless Liberals back in contention. Okay, not completely leaderless—Bob Rae is the interim leader, but he won’t be there […]
Is this the end of Liberalism or a large-scale renewal?
OTTAWA—There’s a lot of change taking place in the House of Liberalism these days. Either it’s the start of a large-scale renewal happening, or it’s a widespread shuffling of the deck chairs on the Titanic while the leaders have all jumped overboard. Liberals hope it’s the former, while other partisans are declaring it to […]
Liberals feel good about their leadership race
One thing is clear, the Liberals are looking for a saviour. The sense that they should not do so is bizarre. This is a party that has hit its lowest point and is looking for a leader to lead it away from the edge of the abyss. Why would Liberals not be looking for […]
