Leeds-Grenville byelection the Conservatives’ to lose, but Liberals putting up a fight, say strategists
The Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes byelection is the Tories’ to lose, say strategists of all stripes, but the Grits are mounting a solid campaign to take back the seat the party held from 1988 to 2004. The byelection set for Dec. 3 was triggered by the sudden passing of former Conservative MP Gord Brown, […]
Trudeau to call remaining byelections in January, to take place in February: feds
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to call three byelections—including a highly anticipated contest in Burnaby South, B.C.—in early January for the following month, The Hill Times has learned. “We will be calling all three byelections, all three remaining ones, in January—early, early new year—for them to all take place in February,” said a senior government […]
NDP court battle with BOIE wages on, as Parliament fights to keep courts out
The NDP’s unprecedented court battle with the House Board of Internal Economy continued last week, with the Federal Court of Appeal hearing arguments on whether or not two 2014 decisions by the board, ordering NDP MPs to repay roughly $4-million, are immune from judicial oversight. Reached by The Hill Times after the daylong hearing on […]
Rick Mercer talks about developing his show’s ‘pure Canadian universe’
Rick Mercer’s days as Canada’s ranter-in-chief may be largely behind him, but whatever you do, don’t say he’s retired. “Although I’m enjoying the break right now from being in the opinion business, I’m not saying I won’t be in the opinion business again. But right now, I’m okay,” the Canadian comedian said in an interview. […]
Questions remain over political party data practices after recent testimony, says expert Colin Bennett
Little has been learned and questions remains after the recent and unprecedented House committee appearance by representatives from Canada’s major political parties, who spoke about and took questions on parties’ collection, use, and protection of personal data, says University of Victoria professor and privacy expert Colin Bennett. “A lot of it [the testimony] was expected. […]
More than half of Liberal MPs nominated for 2019; Wayne Easter unsure he’ll run
More than 100 Liberal MPs have been nominated for the 2019 election after meeting thresholds the party set for incumbents to go forward uncontested, edging the party closer to the Conservative lead for official candidates. Of the 182 Grit MPs, “well over a hundred” have received a letter from the party confirming their nomination, said […]
Ministers Duclos, Joly hire; McKenna loses senior aide
Families, Children, and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos recently scooped up Jessica Eritou to fill the role of information manager and special assistant to the minister’s chief of staff, Olivier Duchesneau. Ms. Eritou arrives straight from Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan’s office where she’s spent the past year as executive assistant to the minister. Before […]
Trudeau plays waiting game with Singh
By sitting on a byelection call for the B.C. riding of Burnaby South, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is deliberately stalling NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s bid to enter the House of Commons. In so doing, the prime minister is merely using his prerogative to wait up to six months after a vacancy occurs to set a […]
Pondering Canada’s political future
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Lots of people are busily pontificating and speculating about the upcoming federal election of 2019. And that’s fine, but I’d like to try something a little more challenging; I’d like to try pontificating and speculating about the federal election beyond 2019, the one that might occur four years later in 2023. Sounds like fun, […]
Wilson-Raybould has a new policy adviser; Champagne hires a new adviser; Kavanagh bittersweet about leaving Hill after winning Ottawa city council seat
Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould recently welcomed a new policy adviser to her office. Benjamin Prud’homme started on the job on Oct. 22. Before then, Mr. Prud’homme was practising family, constitutional, and private international law as an associate with Robinson Sheppard Shapiro in Montreal. At the same time, he was a volunteer lawyer with the […]
