‘It was a coordinated effort’: Patrick Brown discusses end as PC leader, grudges in new book
It has only been a few weeks since he won the Brampton mayoralty, but former Progressive Party of Ontario Leader Patrick Brown says the effort to have him ousted from the party’s top position was a “coordinated effort.”
Ford should focus on Ontario, not on replacing Scheer, LeBlanc says
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the Ford government should be unveiling its plan to combat climate change in Ontario, rather than resorting to gimmicks to criticize the federal plan. The provincial government is reportedly planning to use Thursday’s economic update — the first since Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives swept to power in June — […]
Jason Kenney says Carpay membership decision lies with UCP board, not with him
United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney says he doesn’t have the authority to expel members such as John Carpay, the Calgary lawyer who compared the Pride flag to a Nazi swastika, from the party. “It’s our board that deals with expulsions,” Kenney said Wednesday, after a noon-hour speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. “I […]
More than 20 child murderers have been transferred to Indigenous healing lodges since 2011, according to numbers from Public Safety Canada. At least 14 of those offenders were held in healing lodges while the previous Conservative government was in power.
Read MoreFive federal government workers in one department have been fired or reprimanded following complaints about their conduct made under whistleblower legislation. The misbehaviour occurred within Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) during the 2017-18 fiscal year, according to the department’s website. Under law, the department is required to make certain details of the wrongdoing public. […]
Read MoreOne of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s key promises on Indigenous rights — delivered on Valentine’s Day — won’t come to pass before the next federal election, CBC News has learned. The federal Liberal government won’t be tabling legislation to create its promised Federal Recognition and Implementation of Indigenous Rights Framework this fall as previously planned. […]
Read MoreAfter more than a year of wooing bipartisan support in the United States to ensure cross-border free trade did not collapse in a wave of protectionism and “America First” rhetoric, the Canadian government says it will stand back as the American debate over the new trade pact picks up steam. In Windsor, Foreign Affairs Minister […]
Read MorePresident Donald Trump’s new trade deal with Canada and Mexico needs changes to secure support from Democrats, according to a senior House Democrat in line to play a leading role on trade policy in the new Congress. There needs “to be not only changes in the legislation but more enforcement” if the Trump administration wants […]
Read MoreFormer New Brunswick premier Brian Gallant will be stepping down as Liberal leader, and asking the party to organize a leadership convention. The Canadian Press has learned from sources close to Gallant that he intends to remain as Opposition leader until the party chooses a new head. Gallant is scheduled to officially announce his intentions […]
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Maxime Bernier is still an answer in search of a problem
As he travels west in search of support for his breakaway conservative party, Maxime Bernier has taken to introducing himself as “the Albertan from Quebec.” Albertans will have to decide from themselves whether a leader who reflects their values would, among other things, have Canada turn its back on the global fight against climate change […]
The Tories’ vindictive streak is overpowering their good sense
Doug Ford’s governmenWhat do you do when the higher-ups have no impulse control, and no one has the will to stop them? That’s a bad situation to be in at the best of times; it’s even worse when you’re talking about a government that controls a budget of $160 billion in a province of 14 […]
TMX: To kill or not to kill? Please, don’t ask the court
If your boss is hell-bent on firing you, would you trust him to negotiate with you in good faith? Probably not. This is how some First Nations feel about the current consultations on the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Ottawa has vowed to get the pipeline built and they want it stopped. So, what’s there to talk […]
Mad Max is proving he’s a political force
Pity Andrew Scheer. The federal Conservative leader still lags Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the polls. He is having trouble in Quebec. And now Maxime Bernier’s fledgling People’s Party of Canada threatens to be a serious contender for the right-wing vote. Bernier, 55, is not always treated seriously. Nicknamed Mad Max, the Quebec MP […]
Neither left nor right should politicize Canada’s immigration system
The personal pronoun is best avoided, even by opinion columnists. In this instance it is necessary, to provide some context. I was in a sombre mood on Remembrance Day, having posted a tribute on Twitter to three generations of my family who wore a uniform so I didn’t have to.
Journalism is a pillar of democracy
I’m going to take advantage of you — my captive audience — if you’ll indulge me for a few minutes, to talk about journalism. You are all really smart, accomplished, successful business people. You know that journalism is a business, too. And it’s a business that is seriously under threat. The business model of the […]
Why the Senate needs external oversight over expenses
Few Canadians with an interest in the recent evolution of the Senate could credibly deny that the upper chamber is becoming a better place. Thanks to a new arm’s-length and independent appointment process, the Senate is slowly rebuilding its reputation. But it’s also true that the upper chamber continues to have a credibility deficit with […]
Book on history and practice of journalism on the Hill an enjoyable read
As Bob Lewis recalls, he was a kid fresh out of college with clippings from the Loyola News student newspaper, when he was hired by the Montreal Star to work during the summer on the police desk for $50 a week. Nine months later, he was assigned to the Star’s bureau on Parliament Hill. He […]
Traces of War
There was something deeply disturbing developing on a street in Paris this past Sunday, as world leaders came together to respect the fallen of World War One. They decided to walk together in solidarity down the Champs-Elysee as the church bells rang out at 11 a.m. to mark the moment the war ended in 1918. […]
Maxime Bernier goes to a dark place
Maxime Bernier wants to win the Canadian Trump vote. In a speech on Saturday at a conference hosted by the right-wing Rebel Media in Calgary, the leader of the new People’s Party of Canada questioned the science of climate change, pilloried the United Nations and insisted immigrants to Canada must embrace “Western civilization values.”
Maxime Bernier came to Calgary last week and it was clear he has lots of fans here. Lots of fans. About 400 people — 90 per cent male, and 99 per cent white — jammed into a hotel conference room on Friday night and enthusiastically applauded almost everything Bernier said. They praised him effusively during […]
Read MoreThe year is not quite over, but 2018 may well come to be known as the year of buyers’ remorse when it comes to politicians and social media. Justin Trudeau came to power three years ago as arguably the most digitally savvy prime minister Canada has ever seen.
Read MoreThe MP was privy to Canada’s national security secrets, and his scandal has exposed a failure by all parties to take risks seriously. A couple of weeks ago, when I was out with friends at a Thai restaurant in Ottawa, two of the women at the table started sharing stories about Tony Clement’s very online […]
Read MoreTens of thousands of Quebecers took to the streets this weekend to call for more decisive action on climate change. In Montreal alone, 50,000 took part in the demonstration. In the short space of a week, more than 150,000 signed a pledge that commits them to reduce their carbon footprints but also demands more proactive […]
Read MoreIt was an unusually sombre group of world leaders that gathered in Paris this weekend to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Any November 11 is a solemn occasion, of course, in remembrance of the millions of dead, not only in that terrible war but in wars since. But […]
Read MoreJustin Trudeau’s visit to the sub-continent earlier this year has become a political punch-line, even among Liberals. “India? We didn’t go to India,” is the response when the subject is raised internally. But Trudeau did — and there were substantive reasons why the visit went so badly. Trudeau was snubbed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, […]
Read More“Vile” is a mild word for John Carpay’s linking of the swastika and the hammer and sickle with the rainbow flag of Gay Pride. His comments at a Rebel gathering on Saturday were disgusting, demeaning and dangerous. Referring to totalitarianism, he said: “We gotta think about the common characteristics. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the […]
Read MoreA panel of strategists shares its take on the Tony Clement controversy and whether his political career is over.
Read MoreAs a professional newspaper columnist, it’s my job to detect and warn of malodorous currents threatening to despoil our political waters. It’s a time-consuming occupation. Take this Tony Clement mess, where he got kicked out of the Conservative caucus for his online lechery. Clement, 57, exposed himself to blackmail after he exposed himself in photos […]
Read MorePeople’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier was running late for his meeting with the Vancouver Sun and Province editorial board. His aide was the recently elected vice-president of a Vancouver Island constituency association, a voluble, stay-at-home mom who has never been involved in politics before. Wobbling off to try to locate her leader, I […]
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Alex Trebek says #MeToo movement is ‘scary time for men’
Alex Trebek is already imagining what his final show will look like. The longtime Jeopardy! host sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Vulture, opening up about practically every issue under the sun.
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