Staffers hit campaign trail to fight for parties, jobs
The majority of staff on Parliament Hill, in both MP offices and ministerial ones, will soon be hitting the campaign trail in one form or another to fight for their party—and, often when it comes down to it, for their jobs—a gruelling, marathon-like experience that many say is also valuable and irreplaceable. “I don’t think […]
NDP whittles away at the Conservatives’ voting coalition
The voting coalition that propelled the Conservatives to a majority victory in 2011 was a formidable one. It combined the party’s traditional stronghold of the West with voters in rural and suburban Ontario, with a strong emphasis on new Canadians. It united the fastest growing parts of the country, leading many to argue that the […]
Debate over third-party ads continues, with Conservatives critical of union-backed groups
The Conservative government has criticized third-party advertising in the pre-writ period and caused the shutdown of HarperPAC, suggesting new regulations could be introduced, but former Harper strategist Tom Flanagan says it’s noteworthy no similar criticism has been leveled against other right-leaning groups already advertising. “Trouble is you can’t shut down the left-leaning groups without shutting […]
DeLorey and Ryan seeking Conservative nomination in coveted Central Nova riding
A senior Conservative Party official and a retired high school principal are competing for the chance to replace Justice Minister Peter MacKay as the Conservative candidate in the coveted Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova. Fred DeLorey, the Conservative Party’s director of political operations who is now on a leave of absence, and Jim Ryan, […]
Tories raise $20.1-million in 2014, 11 per cent increase
The Conservative Party raised $20.1-million in 2014, the most of all parties, and an 11 per cent increase from the previous year, according to its annual financial transactions report filed with Elections Canada. The Conservatives received donations from 91,736 individual contributors in 2014, almost 11,500 more than the previous year. The Liberal Party made the […]
Politics This Morning: What is government good at?
“Parliamentary democracy is sick, tattered and needs help.” That’s according to an anonymous sitting MP, quoted in Université de Moncton professor Donald Savoie’s new book, What is Government Good At?: A Canadian Answer. “MPs have all but abandoned their roles other than to represent their constituents by promoting local projects in Ottawa and to support […]
Questions raised over third-party advertising in Canada as one group bows out
The conservative third-party group HarperPAC shut down just days after its launch last week, but it raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and put a spotlight on the role of third-party advertising in the long lead-up to the Oct. 19 federal election. The group’s sudden arrival and departure on the political scene generated speculation last […]
NDP battle with BOIE could hurt upcoming campaign
With MPs’ expenses still accumulating in their ridings during the summer recess and the House administration reportedly set to reject claims starting July 1, sources say the Board of Internal Economy’s battle with the NDP could hurt the party’s finances as well as its messaging in the upcoming election campaign. “If the Board of Internal […]
Independent MP Andrews slams Trudeau for ‘unprofessional’ sexual harassment investigation
Liberal-turned-Independent MP Scott Andrews, who was accused of sexual harassment by an unnamed NDP MP last year, sent out a letter to his constituents slamming Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for investigating his case “unprofessionally” and denying him the presumption of innocence. “Mr. Trudeau’s actions from the beginning were unprofessional and any number of alternative solutions […]
Duceppe’s return changes dynamic
By the looks of it, the long-awaited NDP-Liberal battle for Quebec next fall is on ice. With Gilles Duceppe back in the game, the upcoming federal campaign is turning into a replay of the 2011 fight between the Bloc Québécois and the NDP. A CROP survey published last weekend gave the NDP (38 per cent) […]
