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Mark Wegierski

Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based writer and historical researcher, published in The Ottawa Citizen and Calgary Herald, among others.

The longstanding Liberal hegemony in Canada, and the challenges to it

  • TORONTO—Since the federal election of 1896, when voters in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec switched their votes, en masse, from the Conservative to
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | October 17, 2022
Then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau; Guy Huot; then-Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau; and Robert Lapalme. Trudeau was prime minister from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. Photograph courtesy Gordon Beck/City of Montreal's Archives

The longstanding Liberal hegemony in Canada, and the challenges to it

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | October 17, 2022
  • TORONTO—Since the federal election of 1896, when voters in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec switched their votes, en masse, from the Conservative to

The longstanding Liberal hegemony in Canada, and the challenges to it

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | October 17, 2022
  • TORONTO—Since the federal election of 1896, when voters in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec switched their votes, en masse, from the Conservative to
Then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau; Guy Huot; then-Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau; and Robert Lapalme. Trudeau was prime minister from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. Photograph courtesy Gordon Beck/City of Montreal's Archives

‘Red Toryism’: The best and worst of Canadian conservative politics

  • There is now a big debate as to what conservatism now means in Canada. A uniquely Canadian conservative label is “Red Tory,” and it
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | August 31, 2022
Pierre Poilievre, left, and Jean Charest are currently battling it out in a leadership contest that many believe will be a defining moment for the identity of the Conservative Party of Canada. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

‘Red Toryism’: The best and worst of Canadian conservative politics

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | August 31, 2022
  • There is now a big debate as to what conservatism now means in Canada. A uniquely Canadian conservative label is “Red Tory,” and it

‘Red Toryism’: The best and worst of Canadian conservative politics

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | August 31, 2022
  • There is now a big debate as to what conservatism now means in Canada. A uniquely Canadian conservative label is “Red Tory,” and it
Pierre Poilievre, left, and Jean Charest are currently battling it out in a leadership contest that many believe will be a defining moment for the identity of the Conservative Party of Canada. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Do Conservatives want to finally change things, or continue being perennial losers? A response to Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin

  • TORONTO—Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin correctly note that the Conservative Party of Canada is going through an existential crisis. But, in this author’s opinion,
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | July 21, 2022
Brian Mulroney, pictured in Ottawa March 5, 2019, at the Prime Ministers Series, a partnership between the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute and the Canada School of Public Service. The Conservative Party of Canada is going through an existential crisis, which dates back to prime minister Mulroney, argues Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Do Conservatives want to finally change things, or continue being perennial losers? A response to Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | July 21, 2022
  • TORONTO—Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin correctly note that the Conservative Party of Canada is going through an existential crisis. But, in this author’s opinion,

Do Conservatives want to finally change things, or continue being perennial losers? A response to Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | July 21, 2022
  • TORONTO—Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin correctly note that the Conservative Party of Canada is going through an existential crisis. But, in this author’s opinion,
Brian Mulroney, pictured in Ottawa March 5, 2019, at the Prime Ministers Series, a partnership between the University of Ottawa Professional Development Institute and the Canada School of Public Service. The Conservative Party of Canada is going through an existential crisis, which dates back to prime minister Mulroney, argues Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberal-NDP alliance could have a profound impact on Conservative leadership race

  • TORONTO—The somewhat unexpected Liberal-New Democratic Party alliance might have a profound impact on the federal Tory leadership race. First, it will advantage those contenders
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | May 19, 2022
Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison, and Roman Baber. Should Charest win the leadership, there is the possibility that some small-c Conservatives will bolt to Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada. However, Charest’s supporters would argue that he would gain far more of centrist Liberal voters, than he would lose of hardcore conservatives. This would especially be the case in Ontario and Quebec, where Canadian elections are usually decided, writes Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Liberal-NDP alliance could have a profound impact on Conservative leadership race

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | May 19, 2022
  • TORONTO—The somewhat unexpected Liberal-New Democratic Party alliance might have a profound impact on the federal Tory leadership race. First, it will advantage those contenders

Liberal-NDP alliance could have a profound impact on Conservative leadership race

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | May 19, 2022
  • TORONTO—The somewhat unexpected Liberal-New Democratic Party alliance might have a profound impact on the federal Tory leadership race. First, it will advantage those contenders
Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison, and Roman Baber. Should Charest win the leadership, there is the possibility that some small-c Conservatives will bolt to Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada. However, Charest’s supporters would argue that he would gain far more of centrist Liberal voters, than he would lose of hardcore conservatives. This would especially be the case in Ontario and Quebec, where Canadian elections are usually decided, writes Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Advice to leadership contenders on key policy planks to win Canadian Conservatives

  • TORONTO—As the Conservative Party launches into another leadership campaign, it should start with an examination of the reasons for the party’s recent electoral failure.
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 3, 2022
Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen, pictured Oct. 21, 2020, on the Hill. Significant efforts should be directed towards enunciating and promoting a 'green conservatism.' Conservation issues and the defence of the environment should not be left to opponents of the Conservative Party, writes Conservative party supporter Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Advice to leadership contenders on key policy planks to win Canadian Conservatives

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 3, 2022
  • TORONTO—As the Conservative Party launches into another leadership campaign, it should start with an examination of the reasons for the party’s recent electoral failure.

Advice to leadership contenders on key policy planks to win Canadian Conservatives

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 3, 2022
  • TORONTO—As the Conservative Party launches into another leadership campaign, it should start with an examination of the reasons for the party’s recent electoral failure.
Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen, pictured Oct. 21, 2020, on the Hill. Significant efforts should be directed towards enunciating and promoting a 'green conservatism.' Conservation issues and the defence of the environment should not be left to opponents of the Conservative Party, writes Conservative party supporter Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservative inter-party conflict makes holding power a hard path

  • Conservatives are the most fractious people who make up Canada’s main parties, a dynamic found in most Western countries. Ironically, when a conservative is
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | May 27, 2021
It takes an astute leader to keep the conflicts between the various factions of the Conservative Party under control, writes Mark Wegierski, but it’s proven difficult for current party leader Erin O’Toole, pictured from left, former leader Andrew Scheer, and Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Conservative inter-party conflict makes holding power a hard path

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | May 27, 2021
  • Conservatives are the most fractious people who make up Canada’s main parties, a dynamic found in most Western countries. Ironically, when a conservative is

Conservative inter-party conflict makes holding power a hard path

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | May 27, 2021
  • Conservatives are the most fractious people who make up Canada’s main parties, a dynamic found in most Western countries. Ironically, when a conservative is
It takes an astute leader to keep the conflicts between the various factions of the Conservative Party under control, writes Mark Wegierski, but it’s proven difficult for current party leader Erin O’Toole, pictured from left, former leader Andrew Scheer, and Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Conservative Green philosophy is real

  • TORONTO—By all accounts, the grassroots of the Conservative Party embarrassed their leader, Erin O’Toole, by recently rejecting a resolution at their policy convention saying
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | April 14, 2021
Conservative party Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured on the Hill, is trying to appear serious about climate change and not just because pollsters show that the voters today are seriously concerned with global warming. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservative Green philosophy is real

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | April 14, 2021
  • TORONTO—By all accounts, the grassroots of the Conservative Party embarrassed their leader, Erin O’Toole, by recently rejecting a resolution at their policy convention saying

Conservative Green philosophy is real

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | April 14, 2021
  • TORONTO—By all accounts, the grassroots of the Conservative Party embarrassed their leader, Erin O’Toole, by recently rejecting a resolution at their policy convention saying
Conservative party Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured on the Hill, is trying to appear serious about climate change and not just because pollsters show that the voters today are seriously concerned with global warming. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Cancelling of Sloan shows Conservatives as beholden to liberal narratives

  • TORONTO—The cancellation of Derek Sloan has prompted mixed feelings in the ranks of Conservative grassroots as well as among better-known Conservative pundits. Some Conservative
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 4, 2021
Derek Sloan, pictured Oc. 21, 2020, was expelled from the Conservative party on Jan. 20, 2021, after it was revealed he had accepted a donation to his leadership campaign from white supremacist Paul Fromm. But Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said in a statement that Mr. Sloan was booted out 'not because of one specific event, but because of a pattern of destructive behaviour involving multiple incidents and disrespect towards the Conservative team for over a year. These actions have been a consistent distraction from our efforts to grow the party and focus on the work we need to do. Events of the past week were simply the last straw and led to our caucus making the decision it did today.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Cancelling of Sloan shows Conservatives as beholden to liberal narratives

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 4, 2021
  • TORONTO—The cancellation of Derek Sloan has prompted mixed feelings in the ranks of Conservative grassroots as well as among better-known Conservative pundits. Some Conservative

Cancelling of Sloan shows Conservatives as beholden to liberal narratives

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 4, 2021
  • TORONTO—The cancellation of Derek Sloan has prompted mixed feelings in the ranks of Conservative grassroots as well as among better-known Conservative pundits. Some Conservative
Derek Sloan, pictured Oc. 21, 2020, was expelled from the Conservative party on Jan. 20, 2021, after it was revealed he had accepted a donation to his leadership campaign from white supremacist Paul Fromm. But Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said in a statement that Mr. Sloan was booted out 'not because of one specific event, but because of a pattern of destructive behaviour involving multiple incidents and disrespect towards the Conservative team for over a year. These actions have been a consistent distraction from our efforts to grow the party and focus on the work we need to do. Events of the past week were simply the last straw and led to our caucus making the decision it did today.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Problems of current-day conservative thought

  • TORONTO—Conservatism today is, it could be argued, a bewildered philosophy, and an unwieldy morass of mutually incompatible, self‑contradictory, and amorphous ideas. Despite decades of
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 18, 2021
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured Oct. 28, 2020, on the Hill. Conservatism today is what might be described as 'forced,' without the luxury for doctrinal experimentation, lackadaisical stances, and its weak commitment to core ideas and programs, writes Mark Wegierski.

Problems of current-day conservative thought

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 18, 2021
  • TORONTO—Conservatism today is, it could be argued, a bewildered philosophy, and an unwieldy morass of mutually incompatible, self‑contradictory, and amorphous ideas. Despite decades of

Problems of current-day conservative thought

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 18, 2021
  • TORONTO—Conservatism today is, it could be argued, a bewildered philosophy, and an unwieldy morass of mutually incompatible, self‑contradictory, and amorphous ideas. Despite decades of
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, pictured Oct. 28, 2020, on the Hill. Conservatism today is what might be described as 'forced,' without the luxury for doctrinal experimentation, lackadaisical stances, and its weak commitment to core ideas and programs, writes Mark Wegierski.

The Scheer truth does not exist

  • TORONTO—I wrote, a while back: “One wonders what scandal, what new fact about the dismal leadership of Scheer, will come out tomorrow.” Since then,
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | July 6, 2020
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured Feb. 20, 2020, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The Scheer truth does not exist

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | July 6, 2020
  • TORONTO—I wrote, a while back: “One wonders what scandal, what new fact about the dismal leadership of Scheer, will come out tomorrow.” Since then,

The Scheer truth does not exist

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | July 6, 2020
  • TORONTO—I wrote, a while back: “One wonders what scandal, what new fact about the dismal leadership of Scheer, will come out tomorrow.” Since then,
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured Feb. 20, 2020, on the Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Articulation needed for ‘small-c conservatism’ in Canada

  • TORONTO—There is a big debate beginning about the shape and future of conservatism in Canada. “Social conservatism”—if narrowly defined as opposition to abortion and
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 9, 2020
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured at a caucus meeting on Dec. 4, 2019. It could be argued that it is only by contestation in the area of so-called first principles, that some kind of major intellectual and cultural shifts to societal presuppositions could be affected, which would indeed only later find an instantiation in concrete electoral victories and government policies, writes Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Articulation needed for ‘small-c conservatism’ in Canada

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 9, 2020
  • TORONTO—There is a big debate beginning about the shape and future of conservatism in Canada. “Social conservatism”—if narrowly defined as opposition to abortion and

Articulation needed for ‘small-c conservatism’ in Canada

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | March 9, 2020
  • TORONTO—There is a big debate beginning about the shape and future of conservatism in Canada. “Social conservatism”—if narrowly defined as opposition to abortion and
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured at a caucus meeting on Dec. 4, 2019. It could be argued that it is only by contestation in the area of so-called first principles, that some kind of major intellectual and cultural shifts to societal presuppositions could be affected, which would indeed only later find an instantiation in concrete electoral victories and government policies, writes Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Scheer’s mea culpa not forthcoming, and that’s the CPC leadership race’s problem

  • TORONTO—On Dec. 12, 2019, Andrew Scheer announced his resignation, said he had set a review of the 2019 election in motion, and had appointed respected
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | February 24, 2020
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who will be steppping down as party leader once the party elects a new one in June, says the party’s audit of his office’s unprecedented expenditures is 'private.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Scheer’s mea culpa not forthcoming, and that’s the CPC leadership race’s problem

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | February 24, 2020
  • TORONTO—On Dec. 12, 2019, Andrew Scheer announced his resignation, said he had set a review of the 2019 election in motion, and had appointed respected

Scheer’s mea culpa not forthcoming, and that’s the CPC leadership race’s problem

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | February 24, 2020
  • TORONTO—On Dec. 12, 2019, Andrew Scheer announced his resignation, said he had set a review of the 2019 election in motion, and had appointed respected
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who will be steppping down as party leader once the party elects a new one in June, says the party’s audit of his office’s unprecedented expenditures is 'private.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is the leadership race of one’s party more important than the general election?

  • TORONTO—”Joe Clark, Stéphane Dion, and Andrew Scheer walk into a bar…” What’s the punchline? “Everyone in the bar thought three other guys would be
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | February 3, 2020
Conservative leadership contenders Peter MacKay, Marilyn Gladu, and Erin O'Toole. The CPC has set the complicated bar for entry into the leadership contest high and with a $5-million campaign spending limit, every contender will need to enter the race with that goal in sight, writes Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Is the leadership race of one’s party more important than the general election?

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | February 3, 2020
  • TORONTO—”Joe Clark, Stéphane Dion, and Andrew Scheer walk into a bar…” What’s the punchline? “Everyone in the bar thought three other guys would be

Is the leadership race of one’s party more important than the general election?

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | February 3, 2020
  • TORONTO—”Joe Clark, Stéphane Dion, and Andrew Scheer walk into a bar…” What’s the punchline? “Everyone in the bar thought three other guys would be
Conservative leadership contenders Peter MacKay, Marilyn Gladu, and Erin O'Toole. The CPC has set the complicated bar for entry into the leadership contest high and with a $5-million campaign spending limit, every contender will need to enter the race with that goal in sight, writes Mark Wegierski. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Conventions, conventions, everywhere, and yet, little democracy to be found

  • TORONTO—Once upon a time, when there used to be a federal Progressive Conservative party, they had leadership conventions. And political cartoonists and editorialists loved
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 29, 2020
Conservative delegates vote on policy at the 2018 Conservative policy convention in Halifax. The Hill Times photograph by Samantha Wright Allen

Conventions, conventions, everywhere, and yet, little democracy to be found

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 29, 2020
  • TORONTO—Once upon a time, when there used to be a federal Progressive Conservative party, they had leadership conventions. And political cartoonists and editorialists loved

Conventions, conventions, everywhere, and yet, little democracy to be found

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 29, 2020
  • TORONTO—Once upon a time, when there used to be a federal Progressive Conservative party, they had leadership conventions. And political cartoonists and editorialists loved
Conservative delegates vote on policy at the 2018 Conservative policy convention in Halifax. The Hill Times photograph by Samantha Wright Allen

Scheer should resign now before he destroys the Conservative Party

  • TORONTO—Andrew Scheer won the leadership of the Conservative Party on the 13th ballot. All Conservatives must now be superstitious. Scheer has become the star
Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 3, 2020
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured on Dec. 5, 2019, on the Hill reacting to the Throne Speech, a month after Conservative MPs voted against giving themselves the power to boot Mr. Scheer out as party leader. On Nov. 27, 2019, a group of conservatives, 'Conservative Victory,' calls on Mr. Scheer to resign. On Dec. 12, 2019, Mr. Scheer announces he will resign as party leader but will stay on until the party chooses a new leader.

Scheer should resign now before he destroys the Conservative Party

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 3, 2020
  • TORONTO—Andrew Scheer won the leadership of the Conservative Party on the 13th ballot. All Conservatives must now be superstitious. Scheer has become the star

Scheer should resign now before he destroys the Conservative Party

Opinion | BY MARK WEGIERSKI | January 3, 2020
  • TORONTO—Andrew Scheer won the leadership of the Conservative Party on the 13th ballot. All Conservatives must now be superstitious. Scheer has become the star
Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, pictured on Dec. 5, 2019, on the Hill reacting to the Throne Speech, a month after Conservative MPs voted against giving themselves the power to boot Mr. Scheer out as party leader. On Nov. 27, 2019, a group of conservatives, 'Conservative Victory,' calls on Mr. Scheer to resign. On Dec. 12, 2019, Mr. Scheer announces he will resign as party leader but will stay on until the party chooses a new leader.
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