Dec 5 2018 — Michael Coren — iPolitics — Sometimes mailing lists can be worryingly out-of-date and inaccurate. This weekend, I received an emailed letter from Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College, addressed to “Pastor Michael.” (No, I haven’t suddenly been elevated to clerical status.) “I want to extend a personal invitation to you and your pastoral staff to come to the platform […]
Dec 4 2018 — Marieke Walsh — iPolitics — When the top job with the Ontario Provincial Police was posted in October, Ron Taverner couldn’t apply, because his rank was too low. Two days later, the job requirements were changed — paving the way for the Ford family friend to apply. He got the job. The job postings were obtained exclusively by iPolitics late […]
Nov 28 2018 — Kelsey Johnson — iPolitics — A decision by General Motors to close five North American auto plants — including one in Oshawa, Ont. — is causing new uncertainty about the future of Canada’s trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico, former interim Conservative Party leader Rona Ambrose warned Wednesday. Speaking at the Grow Canada conference in Ottawa, Ambrose said GM’s […]
Nov 23 2018 — iPolitics — Health Canada paid Facebook $40,000 to run a video advertisement for two weeks that explains the proper way to cook chicken nuggets. The video, produced in 2016, shows someone with a plate of frozen breaded chicken nuggets pause before putting them in the microwave, after being warned not to. The ad then says to: read […]
Nov 23 2018 — Marco Vigliotti — iPolitics — Maxime Bernier’s path to the 2019 leaders’ debates is suddenly less clear. On Thursday, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould suggested to iPolitics that Bernier would qualify as a People’s Party MP under new eligibility criteria for the debates introduced by the governing Liberals last month. She made the remarks after she was asked to clarify […]
Nov 23 2018 — iPolitics — The chief government whip is telling Liberal MPs not to publicly discuss outgoing MP Raj Grewal’s resignation. “I would ask that you please refrain from speculating or commenting publicly about Raj’s announcement,” reads an internal memo sent by chief government whip Mark Holland. “You can also refer any media questions to my office.” The Liberal […]
Nov 22 2018 — Marco Vigliotti — iPolitics — Maxime Bernier would be eligible to appear in the 2019 leaders’ debates if his upstart People’s Party successfully nominates candidates in at least 90 per cent of ridings, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould said Thursday. Under the eligibility criteria introduced by the Liberals last month, political parties must satisfy at least two out of three […]
Nov 21 2018 — L. Ian MacDonald — iPolitics — Bill Morneau’s fall economic statement was, predictably, less an update on the economic and fiscal outlook than a Liberal scene-setter for next October’s election. “We have delivered real progress for the middle class, and for people working hard to join the middle class,” the finance minister told the House as markets closed on Tuesday. Morneau […]
Nov 15 2018 — Marieke Walsh — iPolitics — Amid a pile of sweeping changes released Thursday, the Ford government is also reopening the door to cash-for-access fundraising in Ontario. The former Liberal government got rid of the practice last year after falling under a mountain of criticism. The Liberals banned ministers, MPPs, ministerial chiefs of staff and all staff in the premier’s office […]
Nov 14 2018 — Marieke Walsh — iPolitics — The provincial NDP is calling for Finance Minister Vic Fedeli to be removed from cabinet due to allegations levelled against him by former Tory leader Patrick Brown. On Friday, Brown is expected to released his tell-all memoir, which is being dismissed by the Ford government as full of “lies” and an attempt to exact revenge. […]
Nov 14 2018 — L. Ian MacDonald — iPolitics — As Bob Lewis recalls, he was a kid fresh out of college with clippings from the Loyola News student newspaper, when he was hired by the Montreal Star to work during the summer on the police desk for $50 a week. Nine months later, he was assigned to the Star’s bureau on Parliament Hill. He […]
Nov 14 2018 — Marieke Walsh — iPolitics — It appears former Ontario transportation minister John Yakabuski only disclosed a conflict of interest after he was appointed to his post in June. Asked on Tuesday when he disclosed that his sister was the head of a major association that lobbies the transportation department, Yakabuski told reporters he did so only once he was sworn […]
Nov 8 2018 — Michael Harris — iPolitics — Though he may not know it, Tony Clement is roadkill on the information highway. This high-ranking, veteran Conservative politician is making the same mistake that Democratic U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner made: deluding himself into thinking that he doesn’t need to resign from public office after getting caught sexting. He does. It took Weiner a full […]
Nov 7 2018 — Marieke Walsh — iPolitics — The transportation minister, whom Premier Doug Ford abruptly shuffled to a different cabinet post, has a sister at the top of a key stakeholder and lobby group for the ministry of transportation. On Monday, Ford shuffled then-transportation minister John Yakabuski to the natural resources and forestry file. So far, the government has given no explanation […]
Nov 6 2018 — Marieke Walsh — iPolitics — Ontario’s official Opposition is accusing the Doug Ford government of misleading the public about the circumstances of a senior minister’s departure from cabinet. Late on Friday, the premier’s office announced then-trade minister Jim Wilson’s resignation from cabinet and caucus, citing his need to get treatment for an addiction. However, on Monday, Global News and the […]