Articles by Abbas Rana

Nov 28 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — In his quest to become prime minister, Pierre Poilievre faces two vulnerabilities from outside the federal Conservative Party: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and former U.S. president Donald Trump. Smith’s musings about a two-tier health-care system, and renewed attention on Trump’s populist style of politics as he runs for the Republican Party presidential nomination again could […]

Nov 21 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — The internal deadline of March 1, 2023, for incumbent Liberal MPs to meet nomination conditions without facing a challenge for the next election is making Conservatives nervous, and causing them to make their own preparations just in case the Liberals surprise them with a spring election, say some Liberal and Conservative insiders and MPs. The […]

Nov 14 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — Some federal ConservatiSome federal Conservatives are concerned that Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s ongoing labour dispute with CUPE education workers is negative portraying federal Conservatives, and putting them at a disadvantage in the upcoming Mississauga-Lakeshore byelection, say some Conservatives. “The strike and the notwithstanding clause is going to create a perception that these Conservatives are black-hearted […]

Nov 7 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — After announcing his 80-member shadow cabinet in October, Pierre Poilievre has been busy putting together a team of senior political aides to prepare the party for the next federal election which the Conservatives think is theirs to lose. In an effort to stitch together a team of top-notch staffers, Poilievre (Carleton, Ont.) has been relying […]

Oct 24 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — At least three Liberal MPs and one former Liberal MP who is now an MPP in the Ontario legislature are testing the waters of the Ontario Liberal Party leadership race. The incumbent MPs considering running include Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre, Ont.), Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches-East York, Ont.), and Michael Coteau (Don Valley East, Ont.). Ted Hsu, […]

Oct 17 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — By putting visible minority MPs in top caucus leadership posts, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is targeting swing ridings in major urban centres—traditionally Liberal territory—which could determine the outcome of the next federal election, say political insiders. “If the Conservatives under Poilievre want to have a chance to form a majority government, those bellwether ridings in […]

Oct 10 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet ministers’ upcoming appearances before the public inquiry into the government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to end the Freedom Convoy back in February is politically risky, say political players. “It’s going to be grinding on the government, I would say,” said Darrell Bricker, vice-president of Ipsos Public […]

Oct 3 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s growing support in public opinion polls is making some Liberals nervous, saying it should be a “wake-up call” to the party, while other Liberals say it’s a normal bump for any new leader. “The Liberals need to get off their asses,” said one former senior Liberal who spoke to The Hill […]

Aug 29 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — Should Pierre Poilievre win the Conservative leadership race next month as expected, political insiders say he won’t make an easy opponent for the Liberals. Poilievre (Carleton, Ont.) has already been blasting the prime minister and the government day-in and day-out, and has been gaining traction with Canadians. But the Liberals have done little to respond […]

Aug 22 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — The issue of Alberta sovereignty will be the first “huge” political hot potato for Pierre Poilievre should he win the Conservative leadership this September, particularly if Danielle Smith also wins the leadership of the United Conservative Party in Alberta, say political players. Smith, the UCP leadership contest front-runner, has proposed the “Alberta Sovereignty Act” that […]

Aug 15 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — The Conservative Party will elect a new leader on Sept. 10, but already one Quebec Conservative MP is warning that the results could cause him to re-evaluate his future with the party. The unity of the Conservative Party after the leadership election will depend largely on the direction the new leader decides to take, says […]

Aug 8 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — If Pierre Poilievre wins the leadership on Sept. 10, Conservative MPs are unsure if they will get a leader who will moderate his views and make a sincere effort to bring the party together, or one who will “double down” on his campaign rhetoric and his hard-hitting leadership style, say some Conservative MPs and senior […]

Jul 22 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — Former Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca, former federal Liberal cabinet minister Deborah Schulte, and incumbent deputy mayor of Vaughan Mario Ferri are each considering running for the city’s top job in the fall municipal election. “I have not decided yet, but I am certainly considering it,” said Schulte, in an interview with The Hill […]

Jul 18 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — With three current and former MPs, all known for their organizational and fundraising prowess, expected to duke it out in Surrey’s coming mayoral contest, the race is shaping up to be the “mother of all battles” taking place municipally in British Columbia this fall, say senior B.C. political insiders. “I don’t know of any other […]

Jul 13 2022 — Abbas Rana — Hill Times — Deputy Government Whip Ruby Sahota is considering a run to become the mayor of Brampton, Ont., in a race where she could face off against incumbent Patrick Brown and her former Liberal caucus colleague Ramesh Sangha. In a telephone interview with The Hill Times, Sahota said that a significant number of people from Brampton have […]