Jun 7 2023 — Lorrie Goldstein — Sun Media — For me, the three hours of testimony by David Johnston — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “independent special rapporteur” on foreign interference — before a House of Commons committee, jumped the shark an hour into the proceedings.

Jun 7 2023 — Althia Raj — Toronto Star — It’s tradition, some might say politeness, that when a witness appears before a parliamentary committee, MPs welcome the witness. They shake hands and thank them for coming. So perhaps it was a sign of things to come — or perhaps a sign of declining times — when all but one Conservative (Wellington—Halton Hills MP Michael […]

Jun 7 2023 — Paul Wells — Paul Wells Newsletter — I’m amazed by news that the new director of the National Gallery of Canada will be Jean-François Bélisle. In important ways the appointment of Bélisle, who had lately been running the art museum in Joliette, northeast of Montreal, is a repudiation of a management style that had rocked the Ottawa-based national art museum. Expect nobody […]

Jun 7 2023 — Peter Mansbridge and Bruce Anderson — The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge — As the smoke from Canadian wildfires descends on major parts of the United States the debate intensifies about the impacts of climate change. Bruce is by with his thoughts on that plus the David Johnston affairs, and is Donald Trump about to shed whatever is left of his Teflon image?

Jun 7 2023 — Andrew Coyne — Globe and Mail — The end of another debt-ceiling debacle, with the United States just days away from defaulting on its debt before an agreement was reached authorizing new borrowing, has elicited the usual relieved sighs of “let’s never do that again.” Alas they surely will do that again – the current deal expires in 2025 – not just […]

Jun 7 2023 — Kennedy Stewart — Policy Options — COVID-19 was a tough stress test for Canada’s federal system of government. Our largest cities continue to suffer significant pandemic-related economic and social damage, in part due to provincial governments sweeping constitutional responsibilities they wish to avoid onto municipalities. These “creatures of the province” have become rugs provinces use to hide their problems. COVID-19 lifted […]

Jun 7 2023 — Sun Media — This is all you need to know about Ottawa. This is all you need to know about what’s wrong with Ottawa. It is so bad, in the cocoon of the capital, acting students seeing the surreal spectacle would consider it a clumsy example of theatre of the absurd led by, of all people, a former […]

Jun 7 2023 — Les Whittington — Hill Times — As the next federal election draws nearer, Canadians will be hearing a continuing refrain from the Conservatives on the need for tax cuts to reduce the tax burden and help spur economic growth. Party leader Pierre Poilievre is already playing this card, as has every leader of Canada’s main right-wing party going back 40 years. […]

Jun 7 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — It was a big day in New Brunswick history with the election of Bernard Lord and his Tories on June 7, 1999. Theirs’ would be the first PC government since the legendary Richard Hatfield held office in the 1970s and 1980s. Lord, 33 when he was sworn-in, making him one of the youngest First Ministers […]

Jun 6 2023 — Susan Delacourt — Toronto Star — Former governor general David Johnston has revealed he’s been using not one, but two reputation-management firms to do his work looking into foreign interference in Canada’s democracy. He might need a couple more. For more than three hours on Tuesday, Johnston was plunged into the politics he’s tried to stay above during his long career […]

Jun 6 2023 — John Ivison — National Post — A recent episode of the excellent podcast The Rest is History explored the world of freemasonry, debating whether the masons are “a secret cabal of devil worshippers that run the world” or a “fraternity of like-minded individuals who enjoy eccentric rituals.” As with most conspiracy theories, the truth tends towards the banal. However, the appearance […]

Jun 6 2023 — Tasha Kheiriddin — National Post — With all the issues swirling about Ottawa these days, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. What could crater the Liberals’ approval numbers? What could topple the government? What could be the ballot question? Clearly, no one has figured that out. The latest Leger poll has the Liberal Party at 32 per cent, […]

Jun 6 2023 — Arthur Milnes — National Newswatch — It was a big day in Kingston on this date in 1878 with both Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Charles Tupper making a joint appearance in the Limestone City. Both these Fathers of Confederation would soon be leading their party back to power in that year’s general election. Before the main speech, Kingstonians read […]

Jun 5 2023 — Robin V. Sears — Toronto Star — If you have interviewed many candidates in recruitment or in politics you probably came anyway with this insight: character should always outweigh credentials. Character is usually strengthened over time and has meant showing great courage against long odds. In politics character is often revealed by supple coalition-building skills and the ability to maintain a sharp […]

Jun 5 2023 — Fred DeLorey — Substack — Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has recently remarked that Pride month is about freedom. However, when asked if he would attend a Pride parade to show his support for this freedom, he offered no commitment. This reluctance strikes a dissonant chord, especially given his readiness to not only voice his support for a trucker convoy […]