Conservatives ‘keen’ to make 2019 election about the economy, say observers
As parties square their sights on the 2019 election, expect Conservatives to spotlight the economy and related issues, like NAFTA renegotiations and the federal carbon-pricing plan, and to do so with “sharper” rhetoric and “a little bit more feistiness,” say observers. “The last year of Andrew Scheer’s leadership the focus has really been on trying […]
Former Chrétien-era minister to host ‘last supper’ at Parliamentary Restaurant
Former Liberal MP-turned-lobbyist Don Boudria wants to “pack” the historic Parliamentary Restaurant “to the rafters” just before it closes in December for at least the next decade. Mr. Boudria has been sending out invites to former and current MPs in the hopes that they’ll break bread with him for a “last supper”—possibly the last night […]
Politics This Morning: Singh to host housing roundtable; Bernier to hold presser on new party
Happy Friday, What’s on the go today: After a full slate of public events this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to spend Friday holding private meetings in Ottawa, according to his office. Quebec MP Maxime Bernier is expected to unveil the name of his new political party at 10 a.m. at the National Press Theatre in […]
LeBlanc ‘accepts’ ruling on his conflict-of-interest breach, but dodges further questions
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc ducked questions on his party’s familiarity with federal ethics rules in the wake of the ethics commissioner’s ruling on Wednesday that he was in a conflict of interest over his decision to award a lucrative contract to his wife’s first cousin. Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said in a report on Wednesday […]
New office in Ottawa to show Scotland is ‘open for business’ despite Brexit disquiet, says official
With Brexit looming and steady bilateral trade with Canada, the time is right for Scotland to open an office in Ottawa this month, according to its cabinet secretary for tourism. The launch is more than a year in the making. Since Scotland announced those ambitions in 2017, Fiona Hyslop said it’s been working with the U.K. Foreign […]
Canada can’t afford to sign renegotiated NAFTA without dispute resolution protections, say original NAFTA negotiators
Two top negotiators of the original North American Free Trade Agreement say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is right not to sign onto NAFTA’s renegotiated agreement if it does not include the Chapter 19 dispute resolution mechanism. “Without a dispute resolution chapter or mechanism, the agreement is worthless,” said Mickey Kantor, who led U.S. trade negotiations […]
Tribalism and identity politics dominate U.S. midterm campaigns, leaving policy snubbed, say New York Times scribes
Policy issues, including U.S.-Canadian trade, aren’t top of mind for the American electorate heading into November’s midterm elections, and instead tribalism and partisanship dominate discourse, say three New York Times reporters who were in Ottawa on Sept. 5 for a talk. “Politics now revolves more around your identification with the red or blue team, and less […]
NAFTA and Trump’s Great Game show
Sometimes, during those occasional moments when I remind myself that I didn’t become a journalist to end up parsing tweets written by Donald Trump or, more despairingly, by someone ghost-ranting in his name, I tell myself it could be worse. I could be Chrystia Freeland, who surely didn’t become a journalist to end up having […]
It was Trudeau’s bad week, but we may all pay for it
OTTAWA—Let me partially join the pile-on. Yes, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a bad week last week. Having United States President Donald Trump push Canada’s back, at least in public, against the wall on NAFTA negotiations, as well as the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision on delaying the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline, were […]
Mexico’s betrayal won’t be forgotten
TORONTO—As a narcissistic and vengeful bully, U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued a revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement based on false claims and the strongly protectionist goal of America First, accompanied by ugly personal attacks on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and bullying threats of severe economic punishment if Canada doesn’t do what […]
