Articles by Alex Boutilier

May 24 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The Canadian government is not ready to handle an increasingly dangerous national security environment, a report by former senior national security officials warn. It’s the latest in a series of increasingly vocal warnings that Ottawa’s national security framework is not prepared to deal with the challenges of modern security threats, including economic espionage, foreign interference […]

May 20 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government’s long-delayed decision to ban Chinese telecom Huawei from wireless networks will keep Canadians “safe and secure into the future.” Trudeau, taking questions in Sept-Îles, Que., Friday, defended his government’s decision to ban the telecom equipment provider on national security grounds.

May 12 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The six candidates for the Conservative leadership squared off in Edmonton Wednesday night in a debate that showcased their differing visions for the future of the party, and also what they’re currently watching on Netflix. After a fractious unofficial debate in Ottawa last week, the Conservative party used the leadership contest’s single English-language debate to […]

May 6 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Extremist actors viewed the 2021 federal election as an “opportunity” to plan “acts of violence,” Canada’s domestic intelligence service said Friday. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service revealed that it briefed government agencies on threats to the federal election, including “ideologically” motivated “actors who viewed the election as an opportunity to discourage Canadians from democratic participation […]

May 5 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The Conservative party is on pace to hit as many as half a million members as leadership candidates furiously scramble to sign up supporters, three sources tell Global News. That number would almost double the roughly 269,000 eligible voters in the party’s 2020 leadership contest, which saw Erin O’Toole narrowly upset Peter MacKay to lead […]

May 5 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Conservative leadership candidate Roman Baber would allow MPs to bring forward legislation amid the renewed debate on abortion access in the U.S. In a statement obtained by Global News, Baber said he would not “stand in (the) way” of MPs introducing legislation or “force” caucus to vote the party line on matters of conscience.

May 4 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Joel Etienne is demanding an appeal to the Conservative party’s decision to disqualify him from the leadership race, saying the party accepted the money he raised but left him off the ballot. In a nine-page letter obtained by Global News, Etienne’s campaign accused Conservative party brass of “disenfranchising” the party members who supported his campaign, […]

May 1 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Conservative leadership candidate Roman Baber said it would be an “error” to suggest his Conservative leadership bid is all about COVID-19 and lockdowns. The former Ontario PC MPP – ousted from Premier Doug Ford’s government over his opposition to pandemic public health measures – is instead framing his campaign around what he called an “erosion” […]

Apr 24 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada needs a vision to take the party — and the country — forward through turbulent economic and geopolitical times, according to two conservative stalwarts. Speaking to West Block guest host David Akin, former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said whoever ends up the next Conservative leader needs […]

Apr 19 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Pierre Poilievre’s camp is claiming to have sold memberships in all 338 federal ridings, hinting at broader appeal across the Conservative base than the former cabinet minister might be expected to pull. The Poilievre campaign refused to give specific numbers, but said on Tuesday they had managed to sell memberships — which means eligible voters […]

Apr 12 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Pierre Poilievre is raising concerns over potential “fraud” in the Conservative leadership race, demanding the ban of pre-paid credit cards to purchase memberships. In a letter sent to the party Tuesday, obtained by Global News, a lawyer for the Poilievre campaign suggested the use of pre-paid credit cards to purchase memberships violated party rules.

Apr 8 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The Liberals’ proposal to set up a new law enforcement body to tackle financial crime is raising questions about the RCMP’s role in investigating money laundering and organized crime. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s 2022 budget, released Thursday, included a passing mention of plans to set up a Canada Financial Crimes Agency. The new law enforcement […]

Apr 7 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — Canada’s cyber security agency and government efforts to curb state-backed misinformation are poised to receive an influx of cash as part of the Liberals’ 2022 budget. The spending program laid out plans to significantly boost spending at the Communications Security Establishment – Canada’s cyber security and espionage agency – while also spending millions on combatting […]

Apr 4 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The Conservative party is moving to restrict their national councilors’ interactions with reporters and posts on social media after a high-profile permanent suspension of one of their members. But party president Rob Batherson said the new policy pre-dated former national councilor Bert Chen’s departure from the board, and is not meant as a veto over […]

Mar 24 2022 — Alex Boutilier — Global News — The Parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the emergency powers used to address last month’s convoy protests is divided on the scope of their study. The Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency is scheduled to hold its second meeting Thursday evening, and sources with knowledge of the deliberations tell Global News the biggest sticking […]