Calgary Grit: Canada Day Quiz

We all know him as “Justin Trudeau’s father” today, but there was a time when Pierre was just a lowly Justice Minister, needing 4 ballots to win the party’s leadership. Test your political skills with this 10-question quiz about the present – and the past – of Canadian politics. 1.

Continue reading

Calgary Grit: As Easy As 1-2-3

Something good happened at Toronto City Hall this week. I know, I know. I’m as surprised as you are. Councillors vote to seek end of ‘first past the post’ system in city elections Toronto city council took a significant step on Tuesday towards dramatically changing how the city elects its

Continue reading

Calgary Grit: Great Moments in Spin

I can’t wait to see the tourism brochures: Toronto mayor Rob Ford is still dodging allegations that he smoked crack cocaine, but now he seems to think there’s a silver lining to the international attention brought upon his city by the scandal over his (alleged!) drug use: tourism dollars. At

Continue reading

Calgary Grit: I Approve This Bill

Like Michael Chong’s QP reforms, which died in parliamentary purgatory, this is a worthwhile bill by Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, albeit one unlikely to ever see the light of day: Kevin Lamoureux, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg, wants all political party leaders to be forced to stand by the content

Continue reading

Calgary Grit: Cone of Silence

Rob Ford and Stephen Harper are about as different as two politicians can be, but the one thing they have in common is an uncanny ability to brush off scandals before they stick. Harper entered the 2011 election facing a “controversy of the day” – from Bev Oda’s orange juice,

Continue reading

Calgary Grit: Great Moments in Spin

The Onion Conservative Party reacts to their by-election defeat moral victory: As we know, majority governments do not usually win by-elections. In fact, Liberals have won the riding of Labrador in every election in history except for two, so we are not surprised with these results. What is surprising is

Continue reading

Calgary Grit: No Bull

I watched bits of the BC Leaders debate last night, mainly out of curiosity to learn about soon-to-be Premier Adrian Dix and see the man in action. I wasn’t overly impressed, but I don’t think the BC NDP need an overly impressive leader to win what looks to be essentially

Continue reading