Conservative leadership campaigns in ‘white-knuckle’ mode as they await membership list, shift gears to direct voter contact and persuasion
The Conservative leadership campaigns are entering a phase of research, direct voter contact, and persuasion once they can “tear through” the membership list, but remain in a “white-knuckle” mode until that list is released—something several campaigns say should happen immediately. “The most important people on the campaign right now and for the next couple of […]
‘Diplomacy is all about being there’: former diplomats call for reassessment of foreign service global presence during GAC review
As Global Affairs embarks on a review of its foreign service work, former diplomats and experts say they want to see the concentration of envoys in Ottawa addressed in favour of more foreign service officers stationed in Canada’s missions around the world. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) and Foreign Affairs deputy minister Marta […]
Top court’s parole ruling a challenge to Harper’s legacy, say legal experts, who question proposed use of notwithstanding clause
Following the Supreme Court’s recent unanimous ruling that Alexandre Bissonnette, who killed six people in a Quebec City mosque in 2017, would be eligible to apply for parole after 25 years, Conservative MPs went on the attack against the top court. But some legal experts say the May 27 move was a repudiation of former […]
NDP, policy experts urge focus on renewable energy, clean tech to address Europe’s energy crisis
Canada is in no position in the short term to address the energy crisis in Europe, and should focus on greater investment in renewable energy to be more helpful in the long term, according to the NDP and environmental policy experts. “I don’t see that Canada is in a situation to do much,” said NDP […]
Trade Committee explores boons and perils of increased Indo-Pacific ties as wait for feds’ strategy grows
The House Trade Committee is hearing about the growth for Canadian businesses in the Indo-Pacific thanks to the start of a handful of trade negotiations with nations and groups in the region, but some have raised concerns for environmental and labour standards. The federal government has been working on a much-anticipated Indo-Pacific strategy after years […]
‘Patchwork approach’ to drug decriminalization ‘shameful,’ shows ‘lack of leadership’ from feds, say advocates, critics
Despite the federal government leaving the door open to expanding the decriminalization of small amounts of drugs in the future, drug policy and human rights organizations across the country are criticizing the temporary exemption approved for British Columbia on May 31 as a “patchwork approach” that will leave many Canadians behind. “It’s incredibly disappointing,” said […]
Federal spending up 6.2 per cent so far this year, with another $9.7-billion requested
Laying out a total of $9.7-billion in additional federal spending, the first supplementary estimates of 2022-23 are significantly lower than last year—an almost 77 per cent drop from the first supplementary estimates for 2021-22—but overall, federal spending so far this year is up by more than six per cent. Tabled by Treasury Board President Mona […]
Federal Conservatives should look to Ford’s Ontario campaign for a more pragmatic, open-minded approach, say strategists
Ontario voters responded to Doug Ford’s more collaborative, open-minded approach to politics by sending the Progressive Conservatives to a second straight majority, say both a Liberal and Conservative strategist, but it’s not clear if any of the leading contenders for the federal Conservative leadership are interested in following that model. Shakir Chambers, who worked under former […]
Five House harassment complaints filed against MPs in 2021-22
The number of harassment complaints filed with the House of Commons quadrupled between 2020-21 and 2021-22, from two to eight—a jump reps with the House’s human resources directorate say has much to do with increased awareness and fewer people working from home as a result of COVID-19. Five of the eight complaints involved an MP […]
Controversy over feds’ plan to use prison labour for goat milk production for export not going away
Questions are being raised again over the government’s controversial prison farm program at two facilities in Kingston, Ont., with apparent plans to use cheap prison-labour to produce goat milk to be exported to China for baby formula. Conservative MP Scott Reid (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Ont.) raised the issue during Question Period on March 22, when he asked […]
