National Newswatch

Today in Canada’s Political History: Happy anniversary Robert and Laura Borden!

Sep 25 2023 — Arthur Milnes — Canada’s future Prime Minister, Robert L. Borden, was married on this date in 1889. His bride was his fellow Nova Scotian, Laura Bond. Prime Minster Borden’s biographer, Robert Craig Brown, gives this description of the woman who would become Lady Borden. “She was seven years younger than Robert, a bright, attractive, strong-willed young woman,” he […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pays tribute to the late John Turner

Sep 24 2023 — Arthur Milnes — Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister paid tribute to the 17th Prime Minister on this date in 2020 in the House of Commons. John Napier Turner, a cabinet minister under Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, who served as PM in 1984, had passed into history only a few days before. You can read Justin Trudeau’s tribute below. Arthur Milnes is […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Sir Wilfrid Laurier labels Germany an “Imperial bully” in Ottawa address

Sep 23 2023 — Arthur Milnes — It was a tough-talking Sir Wilfrid Laurier who spoke to a gathering of the  Methodist General Conference being held in Ottawa on this date in 1914. The First World War had started a month previously with the German invasion of Belgium. Germany’s attach was in violation of the Treaty of London, which guaranteed the neutrality […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom addresses Canada’s Parliament

Sep 22 2023 — Arthur Milnes — A distinguished visitor arrived in Ottawa on this date in 2011 in the person of David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The highlight of his trip to Ottawa was the speech he delivered to a joint-session of Canada’s Parliament. “The relationship between Britain and Canada is deep and strong,” Cameron said. “At the Chateau […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Her Majesty the Queen’s State Funeral held in London

Sep 19 2023 — Arthur Milnes — The eyes of the Commonwealth and the entire world were on London one-year-ago today as the funeral for Her Majesty the Queen took place. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau graciously invited his colleague past Prime Ministers to represent Canada with him at the historic gathering in London. Former PMs Campbell, Chrétien, Harper and Martin were able […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: Robert Borden is heartened by a framed motto found in a Red Deer supporter’s home

Sep 17 2023 — Arthur Milnes — Federal Tory leader Robert Borden started on a journey through Western Canada on this date in 1906. His mission was to rally the Tory troops and prepare them to do electoral battle against the Laurier Liberals in time for the next election. While in Red Deer, Alberta, he was entertained at home of a Conservative […]

Today in Canada’s Political History: A young Pierre Trudeau describes the impacts of the outbreak of World War II already visible in Montreal

Sep 12 2023 — Arthur Milnes — The Second World War was only two-days-old (for Canada) when 19-year-old Pierre Trudeau, in a letter to his then American girlfriend, described the impacts on daily life in Montreal visible in the aftermath of Canada’s entering the war against Germany and Italy. “Soldiers guard the Jacques Cartier Bridge; airplanes often survey the city,” he wrote. […]

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