Jun 29 2022 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — As Canada Day 2022 comes upon us, hopefully a summer of relief and escape awaits. But such optimism may be misguided. Trust me, I hate being dour and discordant, but it is hard to not to feel like we are stuck in a swamp buried under multiple layers of muck. Serious war rages in Ukraine. […]
Jun 8 2022 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — What is in a number? For example, the number 600,000—the unconfirmed and yet-to-be-denied figure that could represent the people who have signed up to be members of the Conservative Party of Canada for the forthcoming leadership vote. Since hearing the 600,000 figure, I’ve thought often of Saddam Hussein’s legendary information minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, a.k.a. […]
May 25 2022 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — Prior to the pandemic, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was arguably the most powerful and influential conservative leader in Canada. Andrew Scheer, when he was federal opposition leader, had Kenney campaign for him in Ontario, while at the same time staying away from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. When Erin O’Toole was seeking to replace Scheer, he […]
May 11 2022 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — Apologies. Yet another commentator is going to wade into last week’s Conservative leadership debate hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly the Manning Centre. While its dramatic appeal may have been its very raw nature—and some partisans love that—it came across as one of those old, then-named World Wrestling Federation mega events. You […]
Mar 30 2022 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — Many, many years ago, when I was a young political staffer, I had to travel to Alberta to get then-Progressive Conservative premier Don Getty to sign an important document. Worn down from travel and not fully alert, I did not notice that I had uncapped the pen that would be used to sign the material […]
Feb 2 2022 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — An open letter to the Conservative caucus: The vast majority of you are well meaning, decent, and enthusiastic public servants. You always do the best you can for the people you represent. As the official opposition, you work hard to hold the government to account and offer different options to Canadians. So, it is with […]
Nov 3 2021 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — It has been a busy two weeks on multiple political fronts. Over the past 14 days, we have seen two successful former prime ministers return to the national stage to, among other things, offer commentary and advice to those who now lead their party or version of their party. And when Jean Chrétien and Brian […]
Sep 22 2021 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — Quick. What does $600-million get you? A doppelganger Parliament. Some 36-plus days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called an election, it has ended with an outcome almost identical to when the race began. Canada now has its second consecutive Liberal minority and fifth already of the 21st century. Major political leaders may like majorities, Canadians […]
May 27 2020 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — On the surface, it is symbolically stupid for Canadian political parties—including the federal Liberals, Conservatives, and New Democrats—to be claiming the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). While they are eligible to receive this support because they are classified as not-for-profit organizations and therefore able to get assistance, it just smells wrong. Why? While this likely […]
May 20 2020 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — A key date has been passed in the Conservative Party’s leadership race. Friday, May 15 was the last day for people to join the party to vote in the contest. Peter MacKay’s team claims to have out-done his competitors in signing people up. While it is hard to verify the accuracy of the campaign’s assertion, […]
Apr 29 2020 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — Tiresome is a sentiment that has more potency in this time of COVID-19 containment. Many of us are tired of our house-bound routine and desire some return to what we had seven weeks ago before the new normal set in. Most of us get that there is still a way to go, and diligence is […]
Apr 22 2020 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — Normally it is not my wont to quote leaders of the Bloc Québécois, but I must admit a bit of personal fondness for Yves-François Blanchet. He just comes across as likeable and can be funny. He nailed the sentiment of many of us this week when he described the days of negotiating over the return […]
Apr 1 2020 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — The Leadership Election Organization Committee (LEOC) of the Conservative Party eventually made the right decision last week in deciding to postpone the leadership vote originally scheduled for June 27. The official reasoning the party provided was that staff resources and logistical challenges made it impossible to continue. It is right the party is making the […]
Feb 5 2020 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — It was disappointing, but not surprising, that the leading candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party came out with the predictable language about tearing up “Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax.” Both Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole were quick to make this point. Clearly, they are taking the view that in order to win the current […]
Jul 3 2019 — Tim Powers — Hill Times — While enjoying Canada Day 2019 this week I was left to ponder what Canada’s federal political and policy landscape will look like a year from now. Will more things change or will they remain the same? Recent provincial elections have taught us that there is a bit of a disruptive mood in the land that […]