Political parties facing emotional trauma: Nicholls
OAKVILLE, ONT.—We’re so used to thinking of political parties as rational actors, which strut and fret their hour upon the electoral stage, that we sometimes forget they’re really just associations made up of people. And the people who make up political parties—the partisans, the politicians, the consultants—can be just as prone to irrationality as the […]
It’s Harper way, or the highway
The Prime Minister’s Office has for decades assumed an increasingly central role in the operation of the federal government. But anyone who has observed the government up close in recent years would have to agree that Stephen Harper has broken new ground in the re-orientation to accelerate the shift of power away from elected Members […]
‘I remember on the way home phoning Raymond again and saying simply, ‘Forty per cent. We’re going to get 40 per cent in Jonquière-Alma’: Mulcair
When the new year began we were putting the finishing touches on our plans for our most ambitious campaign in the party’s history. We knew that the election could come as early as the spring, and we needed to be ready. Since becoming leader in 2003, Jack had kept his promise to make Québec a top […]
Harper never had much of a Plan B for Canadian economy: David Crane
TORONTO—The Harper government never had much of a Plan B for the Canadian economy and we are now paying the price. Its priority from the start has been to make Canada an “energy superpower,” relying on aggressive development of the Alberta oil sands and pipelines to carry rising volumes of oil to U.S. and Asian […]
Long election campaign offers chance to put digital policies in spotlight
OTTAWA—Media reports indicate that Canadians may imminently find themselves in an election campaign. With the actual vote still eleven weeks away, the long campaign will provide numerous opportunities to contrast the various political parties on key issues such as economic policy, security, ethics, the environment, and health care. Digital policies will also deserve some time […]
Who and what are Canada’s ‘second class citizens?’
TORONTO—A new term has entered the lexicon of current Canadian politics. Critics of what the government terms the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act have charged that it creates “second-class citizens.” The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association among others scorns the Act because it provides for stripping the citizenship of and deporting dual citizens convicted of treason […]
Adams’ nomination loss is good news, bad news for Liberals
TORONTO—The good news for the Liberal Party is that Eve Adams lost. The bad news for the Liberal Party is that Eve Adams lost. Confused? Don’t be. The crushing defeat of the former Conservative MP in Eglinton-Lawrence a week ago is simultaneously good and bad. It is good because it showed that the Liberal Party’s […]
All eyes will be on Vaughan and Chow
OTTAWA—There are 338 ridings up for grabs in October and it’s a safe bet that an overwhelming majority of them will be decided solely by the prevailing national winds. There will be national issues, there will be regional issues and, most importantly, the performance of the national party leaders. Very few of these races will […]
Stephen Harper’s mixed legacy
LONDON, ENGLAND—When discussing the policy legacy of the Harper government, many concentrate on specific milestones, such as the completion of this or that free trade agreement. Yet the trends and precedents that will ultimately outlive his premiership also merit consideration, and on this front our national conversation tends to be somewhat normative and strategically blind. […]
Most believe election has already started, says poll
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to trigger the federal election on Sunday, Aug. 1, but most believe it’s already started. Some 55 per cent of Canadians believe the election has already begun, according to a random sampling of public opinion among 1,397 Canadian voters, conducted by Forum Research on Monday and Tuesday. Some 34 […]
