‘We needed something and someone to cheer for’: MPs honour David Ayres’ unthinkable win
After David Ayres‘ unlikely victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto-area MPs honoured the netminder’s Cinderella night. “David Ayres will not win the Vezina Trophy, but he captured the country’s imagination at a time when we needed something and someone to cheer for,” Conservative MP John Brassard said in the House on Feb. 24. Mr. […]
‘Concise, original, well informed, and fearless’: Craig Oliver’s prolific life in journalism
He’s known half of Canada’s prime ministers, covered every Canadian election since 1957, and spent nearly a decade in Washington, but Craig Oliver remains remarkably humble for someone who’s borne witness to the peaks of power for so many years. But for someone who’s quite literally seen it all—from rancorous leadership and election campaigns, to […]
Raptors boss Masai Ujiri joins Trudeau on Africa trip
The president of the defending NBA champions has joined the Canadian prime minister for a trip to Africa where Justin Trudeau hopes to win votes in Canada’s bid for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. The Toronto Raptors’ Masai Ujiri joined Mr. Trudeau on Can Force One as it headed from Ottawa […]
Wooden mace used in House to mark 104 years since Parliament fire
A mace that was used after the original one was destroyed in a devastating 1916 Parliament Hill fire was again spotted in the House of Commons. Since 1977, a wooden mace has been used every year on Feb. 3 to mark the anniversary of the fire. Although the Senate mace was saved from the fire […]
Journos-turned-MPs applaud CBC’s decision to drop The National’s four-host format
With one Conservative MP and former broadcast journalist suggesting CBC The National’s four-host format was “doomed to fail” and a “disaster” the day it was rolled out, CBC executives acknowledge they took a chance in the face of “fast and furious” changes in audience—and that they stand by the decision to try to “reimagine what […]
Gov. Gen. Payette to visit Auschwitz and Israel to mark 75-years since death camp’s liberation
Governor General Julie Payette is in Israel and later this week, on Jan. 27, will travel to Poland to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. During the Second World War, from 1940 to 1945, 1.3 million prisoners were sent to Auschwitz, of whom 1.1 million were killed at the […]
Canada-China Relations House Committee members announced, to meet to decide chair
A House committee that was formed in the first Commons vote since the federal election will meet on Jan. 20 to elect its chair. Its members were announced on Jan. 15. The special committee has six Liberals MPs and six opposition MPs to deal with Canada’s troubled relationship with China. Its government members include Liberal […]
The enduring value of journalism in a complicated world
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—At the end of the old year, I attended the funeral of my former Carleton journalism professor, David Van Praagh, who was a mentor and friend to many students over the years he taught there. As burial in the Jewish religion is a swift process, the ceremony at the cemetery in Greely drew only […]
Happy Trails: Craig Oliver and John Geddes bid adieu to the Hill
When Hill life resumes following the holiday break, some notable press gallery stalwarts won’t be around, including long-time CTV reporter Craig Oliver and veteran Maclean’s Ottawa bureau chief John Geddes. A reporter since 1957, Mr. Oliver has been around the Hill since 1974, starting during Pierre Trudeau‘s first Liberal government. Over the years, he served […]
CTV’s Don Martin delivers barn burner speech, brings the house down at farewell shindig
Last week’s Party Central column contained an egregious, though hopefully not unforgivable, error. It was written that Toronto Star Ottawa bureau chief Susan Delacourt was not wearing red shoes. Party Central has since learned that for Ms. Delacourt not to wear red shoes is akin to outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer giving a straight answer […]
