Jun 18 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — Postmedia — During a visit to Ottawa this week, Tibet’s exiled political leader was warning Canada not to fall into a trap as its trade relationship with China deepens. Especially amid recent uncertainty with Canada’s biggest trade partner, the United States, it makes economic sense to engage with China, said Lobsang Sangay, president of the Central Tibetan […]
Jun 13 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — As she accepted an award from magazine Foreign Policy for being “diplomat of the year” in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, Canada’s foreign minister Chrystia Freeland was set to deliver a striking rebuke of United States policies under President Donald Trump, and a clear warning that democracy in the world is under threat. The text of the […]
Jun 1 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — From Jason Kenney to Brad Wall, Scott Moe to James Moore, many of Canada’s most prominent conservative politicians and ex-politicians voiced public support of Justin Trudeau Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped Canada, Mexico and the European Union with new steel and aluminum tariffs. There was some consensus, it seemed, that this was a […]
May 25 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — It was open rebellion from the opposition as the House of Commons erupted in yelling and desk-slamming Friday morning with MPs protesting the speaker’s decision to cut off a point of order about the Liberal government’s alleged “slush” fund. The extremely loud and unusual ruckus began as opposition MPs rose in solidarity with NDP MP […]
May 17 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — The federal ethics watchdog is opening a formal investigation into Liberal MP Raj Grewal after he invited an employer to attend receptions in India during the prime minister’s trip in February. “I have determined that an inquiry under the (Conflict of Interest) Code is warranted,” Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said in a “confidential” letter to […]
May 16 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — The political gods have handed the federal Conservatives an opportunity in Quebec and, at a tempo yet unseen under Leader Andrew Scheer, the party faithful are mobilizing to try to seize it. On the whole, Tories could be accused of being passive, reacting more to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government than promoting Scheer as an […]
May 11 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper is writing a book, several sources have told the National Post. The book will focus on populism and the future of the conservative movement, according to multiple people with knowledge of the project. It is expected to grapple with the question of how to handle right-wing populism and take […]
May 11 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — The Liberal government is pushing back against the Senate after its near-unprecedented move to insist on amendments to an omnibus transport bill, adding to delays for the legislation. Last week, MPs had accepted some but rejected a majority of the Senate’s amendments to a bill making big changes to Canada’s transportation laws. On Thursday afternoon, […]
May 11 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — In what will be remembered as a historic precedent, the Senate is defying the House of Commons and insisting to amendments on an omnibus transportation bill. It’s been 12 years since the Senate went this far in disagreeing with the Commons. But Thursday marked the first time that a chamber populated by dozens of new […]
May 2 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — One of Canada’s newest senators took a moment Tuesday — on the record, in the Senate chamber — to bemoan how American commentators are ruining hockey. Sen. David Adams Richards, who recently quit the Independent Senators Group because he said he’s used to being alone, shared his thoughts on the pitfalls of Yankee slang such […]
Apr 17 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — Federal opposition parties are raising alarm bells about a new $7-billion envelope — which they call a “slush” fund — in the main budgetary estimates that Liberals introduced to Parliament on Monday. Worried that Liberals are giving themselves billions of dollars worth of wiggle room right before an election year, Conservatives are asking for assurances […]
Apr 17 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — A legal battle between the Royal Canadian Mint and its counterpart in Australia is heating up as Canada cries foul over “Possum Magic” coins. The Canadian Crown corporation is alleging the Royal Australian Mint stole its method for printing colour onto metal, and has expanded a December lawsuit over red poppies on a run of […]
Apr 12 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — Postmedia — An audit of Canada’s embassy in Egypt has found serious examples of mismanagement, including the loss of $81,000 in unrecoverable taxes and a decision to buy 20 high-quality televisions, then abandon them for months in a warehouse. The details are revealed in a newly-released report, part of a multi-year review of which Canadian embassies are […]
Apr 12 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — For a new, annual “active shooter drill,” the Canadian government is asking some of its employees to pretend to be gunmen hunting down their colleagues at the office. Documents obtained by the National Post show elaborate planning, over the past five weeks, for a drill at a major government building in Gatineau, Que., on April […]
Apr 11 2018 — Marie-Danielle Smith — National Post — The federal ethics commissioner may investigate Liberal cabinet minister Seamus O’Regan for failing to disclose a vacation to the Aga Khan’s private island. In December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was found to have violated federal conflict-of-interest and ethics rules by accepting an all-expenses-paid vacation to a Bell Cay, a private island in the Bahamas owned […]