In praise of Ford’s snow theatrics
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Ontario Premier Doug Ford was sharply criticized in some circles recently for doing a good deed. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so much a “good deed,” as it was a brilliantly planned public relations performance. I’m talking, of course, about how, the morning after his province got walloped by a massive winter storm, Ford was […]
COVID’s very real demands taking a toll on purveyors of populist flimflam
OTTAWA—Boris Johnson’s troubles have ballooned to the point of creating a moment of truth for the British prime minister. By the weekend, his ability to hang onto his job was dangling in the balance, as Johnson tried to fend off attacks on his integrity from across the political spectrum. One of the most successful politicians […]
Take a look in the social media mirror before casting the first snowball
OTTAWA—Doug Ford fascinates me. Maybe I am a COVID long hauler, and I am suffering some sort of pandemic-induced delusion. Maybe my Atlantic-Canadian, Red Tory soul is opening to Ontario populist Tories. Maybe I was blind all along or maybe I just need something different to write about. Who knows? You be the judge. Where […]
Vax tax, or not to vax tax, that is the question
OTTAWA—To vax tax, or not to vax tax, that is the question. Once again, the Government of Quebec appears to be at the head of the pack when it comes to new public health policies. Whether the proposed vax tax is actually brought to fruition remains to be seen. Reaction to the tax proposal ranges […]
Ford breathes easier today
OTTAWA—An Ontario provincial court judgment just muzzled Doug Ford’s greatest opposition voice. Working Families, an anti-Conservative coalition of public and private-sector unions and individuals, failed to overturn legislation reining in third-party capacity to advertise. Previous restrictions on third-party advertising had been thrown out by the courts on the grounds that they violated the Canadian Charter […]
Doug Ford’s political porn cheapens Ontario democracy
OTTAWA—Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who will face voters next June, wants to run against former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne again. Eight months before the election, Ford and his Stephen Harper brain trust have released a series of ads trying to tie the current provincial Liberal Party to the unpopular Wynne government. This early, misogynistic re-election […]
O’Toole has friends in high places
OTTAWA—Erin O’Toole has friends in high places. And now, Ontario and Quebec provincial governments have taken a page from the O’Toole playbook. They claim to support the need to vaccinate all Ontarians, but have exempted those who work in health-care settings from mandatory vaccinations. Notwithstanding the sage advice of his former leader that all Conservative […]
Politics This Morning: Innovation Minister in Washington to discuss unblocking supply chains
Good Thursday morning! Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry FRANCOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE is in Washington, D.C. today for his second and final day of meetings. His goal? Unblocking North America’s currently buckling supply chains and making them more resilient to outside shocks. Quite the tall order. According to a press release, Mr. Champagne will speak with […]
Politics This Morning: Conservatives oppose mandatory House of Commons vaccination policy; Trudeau consults with opposition leaders
Good Thursday morning, The Conservatives have come out in opposition to the new mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy announced by Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota earlier this week. The decision to implement a vaccine mandate was made by the Board of Internal Economy, a cross-party committee of nine MPs in House leadership roles, […]
What’s ahead for small government crusaders in the wake of COVID-19?
OTTAWA—Sometime last year, people started joking about the “before times” and “the after times” of COVID-19. Now, with the second anniversary of the arrival of the virus coming into sight at a time when the fourth wave is far from under control, the concept of a return to post-pandemic reality continues to recede. On the […]
