Carney should be careful. We all know what happens to Trudeau's friends
As if former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney’s resume wasn’t long enough, he has added a new title: Special Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On Monday, Trudeau appointed him as Chair of a Leader’s Task Force on Economic Growth, to “develop new ideas for the next phase of Canada’s strategy for near-and longer-term economic growth and productivity.” Carney will hold “meetings and events to hear ideas from Canadians in the weeks and months ahead” including “foremost experts in the business community, labour movement, Indigenous economic leadership, innovators, and more.” He will then report on these to the leader and Liberal Party Platform Committee.
Kamala Harris, Populist
Watching this week’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention, three things stood out. The first was the endless loop of Beyonce’s song Freedom (and no, despite the hype, Queen Bey did not make an apperance). The second was Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz declaring that the government should "mind (its) own damn business" on issues like reproductive rights. The third was the mind-numbing repetition of the phrase “Kamela Harris, for the people”, including by Presidential nominee Harris herself.
Trudeau's 'independent' Senate is a sham
Who knew Canadians cared so much about the Senate? Congratulate an old friend on his appointment to the Upper House, as I did to veteran broadcaster and newly named Senator Charles Adler, and you unleash a volley of cheers — and a torrent of vitriol. The most recurrent slurs were “Liberal” and “hypocrite,” referencing Adler’s trenchant criticism of the Conservatives, anti-vaxxers, and the institution he is now joining. The implication is that appointees must curry favour with the prime minister, and that if you say a bad word about the Red Chamber, you shouldn’t accept an appointment there.
Trudeau Liberals face ruin in upcoming byelections
What’s in a byelection? These days, a lot. The Liberals’ loss in the supposedly safe seat of Toronto—St. Paul’s in June sent shock waves through the party. The riding had been Liberal red for decades, most recently under cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett who held it for 27 years with an average margin of 30 per cent. This time, Conservative candidate Don Stewart eked out a win by 633 votes, or 1.71 per cent, prompting intense speculation on the future of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and some of his key players, including Deputy leader Chrystia Freeland.
China aims to keep Mélanie Joly in line — is she even aware?
Whenever a Canadian politician travels abroad, it’s always useful to see how the foreign press reports on their trip. It helps one gain insight into how the host country really sees Canada, and whether we are accomplishing anything, or just shooting ourselves in the foot. Case in point: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ill-fated jaunt to India in 2018, which was panned by the Indian media for his Bollywood cosplay and photo ops with Sikh extremists. Not exactly a shining moment on the world stage.
Trump Shooting must unite America
Saturday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump has provoked a gamut of reactions. Shock, horror, and grief for the victims top the list. Trump was wounded and missed death by a split second; had he not turned his head, the bullet would have pierced his skull, not his ear. Corey Comperatore, former fire chief of Buffalo Township, was shot and killed as he shielded his wife and daughters from the would-be assassin’s bullets. Two other unnamed individuals were critically wounded in the attack. To all of them, the world has extended sympathy and support.
J.D. Vance heralds a tsunami of North American populism
Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump had a hell of a weekend. Over the course of 48 hours, he survived an assassination attempt, saw a federal judge dismiss another criminal case against him, and picked a Vice-Presidential running mate who once compared him to Hitler. Netflix couldn’t script a wilder political rollercoaster, one which will profoundly impact not only American politics, but Canadian politics as well.
Liberals want Canadians in the dark about China threat
Who calls the shots in Canada, Ottawa or Beijing? It’s becoming harder to tell, especially after this week’s shameful performance by the House of Commons Ethics Committee.
Brian Mulroney, the last gentleman prime minister
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney will be remembered for many things. He won an election on free trade and opened new economic opportunities for Canadians. He convinced U.S. President Ronald Reagan to sign the acid rain treaty to curb industrial emissions that were devastating Canadian forests. He convinced U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to take...
Trudeau brings in substandard pharmacare to stay in power
Is pharmacare doomed to fail? Last week, Quebec announced that it would opt of the Liberal-NDP plan for a national pharmacare program. This week, it was Alberta’s turn. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange blasted the lack of provincial consultation and accused the federal government of overstepping its jurisdiction. “We’re not going to allow Ottawa to…
Liberals denigrate Canada, no wonder the military can't recruit
Who will fight for Canada? With all the sabre-rattling happening around the world, and the possibility of an isolationist president south of the border, it is a question Canadians must start asking themselves. For decades, we’ve blithely basked under the U.S. defence umbrella. But should that shelter be withdrawn, we and other nations in...
ArriveCAN could be the nail in the Liberals' political coffin
By the numbers, the federal government’s ArriveCAN app is a disaster. Designed during the pandemic to pre-screen travellers to Canada, its cost ballooned from $80,000 to $59.5 million — and possibly more. Over $12 million worth of invoices for work done on the project was potentially unrelated to it. Over 10,000 people were told…
Poilievre's promised car thief crackdown a reckoning for Trudeau
Justin Trudeau stole your car. Did that get your attention? It’s not true, of course: the prime minister has a driver and is likely not interested in your aging non-hybrid subcompact. But it’s the subtext of a very slick social media campaign by the Conservatives. “105,673 cars stolen in 2022 under Trudeau.” “After eight...
Poilievre is leaving Trudeau in the dust — here's how to keep it that way
It was a banner year for the federal Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre. They amassed a commanding lead at the polls, thanks in part to a prime minister who is past his best before date. But surfing a wave of discontent is one thing; slogging it out for a year until the next election...
Liberals put all their bets on campaigning against ... Donald Trump
It’s retreat week for two of Canada’s top three political parties. The Liberal cabinet is hunkered down in Montreal, talking housing, cost of living, and Donald Trump. The NDP caucus is assembled in Edmonton, strategizing on how to squeeze their priorities into the Liberals’ upcoming spring budget. And the Conservatives? They’re just sitting pretty...
If Trudeau really cared about the ICJ, he'd join Israel's side in court
As South Africa’s case accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza comes before the International Court of Justice, many nations have joined the fray. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Morocco have voiced support for the charges, as have Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Bolivia, The Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, Colombia and Brazil. Some nations, like Ireland, say…
Liberals blind as aggressive immigration damages economy
Canada’s immigration policies are damaging the economy. That’s the finding of Canada’s top bank economists, who issued a dire warning to the federal government. By admitting 455,000 new permanent residents and more than 800,000 non-permanent residents last year, Canada is on the brink of a recession, or worse. “I’ll put it bluntly: We’ve fallen…
Shadows of elitism, luxury vacations haunt Liberals into 2024
Settle in, voters of Canada: the next federal election likely won’t be until 2025. That’s an eon away in political terms, and anything — literally anything — can happen in that time. If you had said in January 2023 that one year later, the Middle East would be a warzone, the federal government would...
New year, same problems, same inept leadership from Justin Trudeau
The year is only a few days old, yet it feels like we’re stuck in 2023. Russia remains at war with Ukraine. Hamas is still at war with Israel. China is meddling in Taiwan’s election. Artificial intelligence is eating our jobs. Social media is filled with rage about inflation, Palestine, trans rights and Donald...
Anti-Israel propaganda is everywhere and the Liberals are benefitting
What happened to Canadian youth’s love-in with the Conservative Party? Last month, Gen Z couldn’t get enough of the Tories: an Abacus poll taken in late November found that 36 per cent of voters aged 18-29 would vote Conservative, compared to 24 per cent who would vote Liberal. This month, the bloom is off the rose: the latest Abacus poll shows Conservative voters bleeding to the Liberals in all age categories, but most noticeably among 18-29 year olds. Today, only 24 per cent of them would vote Conservative, compared to 32 per cent who would vote Liberal, a near total reversal.One poll an election does not make, but the numbers are still concerning for the Opposition. Overall, the Tories are now at 37 per cent of the popular vote, down five per cent, while the Liberals garner 27 per cent, up by four per cent. Momentum matters, and there is fear in Conservative circles that the party could peak too early. Thanks to the NDP propping up the minority Liberal government, the election could still be a year away — and in a year, anything can happen.But why the sudden slide?