Dalton McGuinty Transforms
October 23, 2012 | No Comments
It is interesting to learn that Dalton McGuinty has no plans to run for the federal leadership of the Liberal Party. That was the scuttlebutt upon his resignation last week, and it was the explanation that made the most sense. I have never been a huge fan of Mr. McGuinty (despite my desire for open [...]
Trudeaumania?
September 28, 2012 | No Comments
If you haven’t heard the news, Jusin Trudeau is running for the Liberal leadership. Naturally, this makes a lot of Liberals, as well as Canadians in general, quite happy. So happy, it seems, Trudeau is essentially Prime Minister-elect: The Forum Research phone poll, conducted for the National Post newspaper, said that if the 40-year-old member [...]
Do they really want him working that two extra years?
April 5, 2012 | 1 Comment
Recently, the federal government decided to make (eminently sensible) changes to Canada’s retirement age, raising it from 65 to 67. Apparently, though, that (eminently sensible) change isn’t going to affect the Prime Minister: All Canadian prime ministers who served at least four years in office are given a $100,000/year allowance beginning at the age of [...]
Liberals and marijuana
January 17, 2012 | 3 Comments
Allow me to echo the general sentiments of my colleague, Charles Anthony, and give the Liberal Party a quick cheer for their policy resolution to legalize and regulate marijuana (though we might disagree about the regulation part). I may peruse the rest of the rump party’s policy resolutions (or I may not – I don’t [...]
Is your refrigerator running? Does it have your vote?
December 1, 2011 | 1 Comment
The federal Conservatives have admitted that they have been calling residents of the riding represented by Irwin Cotler suggesting that there could soon be a by-election after the resignation of Mr. Cotler. There is, of course, no reason to think the MP from Mount Royal will be resigning (other than some random gossip that has [...]
Bob Rae made me eat my dog
November 16, 2011 | 8 Comments
Oh to be young and conservative in Ontario in the 1990s. Sure, you had to live through the Kim Campbell debacle, but then, after much incompetent rule, you could hop on the Common Sense Revolution and enjoy a couple of landslide wins as Mike Harris became the most (simultaneously) beloved and reviled Premier I can [...]
Should Liberals Celebrate or Blame Trudeau?
June 14, 2011 | No Comments
Twenty-seven years ago on this day, June 14, 1984, the Liberal Party of Canada opened its leadership convention to choose a successor for Pierre Trudeau, the party’s outgoing leader and the country’s retiring prime minister. (For a blast from the past, take a look at this short video clip featuring a 35-year-old Peter Mansbridge promoting [...]
Why We Should All Thank Michael Ignatieff
May 6, 2011 | 4 Comments
In every election there must be a pinata. That one candidate at which everyone takes a whack. The candidate who takes on the lion’s share of abuse from all corners. Opinions will vary from election to election about who the official electoral pinata is, but this time around there is little debate to be had [...]
Week in Review
May 2, 2011 | No Comments
It was the last week of the campaign; here’s the top four: Max: The Failure of Democracy Richard: Give Michael Ignatieff Another Chance Jon: Liberals can’t stop the bleeding Scott: A Different Kind of Change Election Happy Democracy Day!
The Rudderless Ignatieff
April 29, 2011 | 4 Comments
I don’t want to write the obituary for the Liberal Party just yet, but it’s pretty safe to suggest that the Liberals will experience monumentally bad election results on Monday. Personally, I think they probably need to get rid of Michael Ignatieff, though perhaps there’s some inside dope to which I’m not privy that would [...]