Articles by Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer

Jan 23 2016 — Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer — National Post — Canadian conservatives were pleased to see 2015 come to an end. The year was marked by a disappointing election result and closed with the fawning reception of our new, young prime minister. But time and distance brings fresh perspective, especially today, on the 10-year anniversary of the modern Conservative Party of Canada’s‎ first electoral win. […]

Jan 18 2016 — Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer — Maclean's — Former Harper advisers say business tycoon needs less Ayn Rand and more Edmund Burke. The next year-and-a-half could be one of the most ‎important in the contemporary history of the Canadian conservative movement. It might compare only to the period between the Conservative Party of Canada’s creation in December 2003, Stephen Harper’s selection as party […]

Dec 7 2015 — Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer — Globe and Mail — The dust has finally settled following the 2015 federal election. A new government has been sworn in. Outgoing parliamentarians have departed. A leadership race to select the permanent Official Opposition Leader will soon commence. Ottawa is gradually returning to post-election normalcy. Yet, after nearly 10 years as prime minister and more than 25 as a […]

Dec 2 2015 — Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer — Maclean's — There are few areas in which the Right Honourable Stephen Harper reshaped Canada more significantly than federalism. Federalism has been at the heart of his conservative vision from early intellectual development. He came to see it as the basis to reduce the size of the federal government, to accommodate different regional interests and priorities (including […]

Dec 1 2015 — Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer — IRPP — The dust has finally settled following the 2015 federal election. A new government has been sworn in. Outgoing Parliamentarians have departed. A leadership race to select the permanent Official Opposition Leader will soon commence. A Speech from the Throne is expected for early December. Ottawa is gradually returning to post-election normalcy. Yet, after nearly ten […]

Oct 30 2015 — Ken Boessenkool and Sean Speer — Maclean's — Earlier this‎ month Canadians went to the polls to select a government and a Prime Minister. It was the first federal election in more than twenty years contested on fiscal policy and conservatives lost. The result ought to prompt a moment of introspection and rediscovery. The post-election analysis thus far has tended to characterize the […]