Author: Cam Holmstrom

I love to write this blog, it’s something I enjoy and it’s something I’m so glad I was able to bring back into my life after a decade on the Hill. But there are sometimes when I just get the feeling inside that I don’t want to write about a

Yesterday I joined Kristy Cameron on CFRA’s “Ottawa Now” along with Lindsay Maskell & Kate Harrison for “Political Heat” panel. We talked about Canada’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, the message that might have been sent while doing so, whether provincial governments should be considering vaccine passports, the

We are living in crazy days folks. I’ve seen a lot in my career in politics, but it seems that this year things keep happening that manage to catch me off guard. Sadly in 2021 we’ve seen too many thinks that we never thought we’d see in our part of

This site has been relatively quiet over the past week or so as I’m back home trying to take some slower time with my family while working at a distance. As a result, I haven’t written as much as I’ve been recharging my batteries after a year that has been

On Wednesday I joined Rob Snow on CityNews Ottawa radio’s “The Rob Snow Show” along with Jason Lietaer for the “Political Fix” panel. We talked the current state of the horse race in Federal politics, the polling struggles of Erin O’Toole’s and the Conservatives, what it could mean for the

This morning I joined Arlene Bynon on “The Arlene Bynon Show” on Sirius XM’s Canada Talks 167, along with Lisa Kirbie. We discussed this years Canada Day, how it felt different from past years, does this mark a moment for hope for positive change, the burning of some Catholic churches

Yesterday I joined Kristy Cameron on CFRA’s “Ottawa Now” along with Lindsay Maskell & Kate Harrison for “Political Heat” panel. We talked about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s comments on the need for the teaching of Residential Schools, how his past actions hurt that very thing, the discussion about what to

This morning I joined Arlene Bynon on “The Arlene Bynon Show” on Sirius XM’s Canada Talks 167, along with Alise Mills. We discussed the sudden decision of Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna to not run in the next election, what it might mean for the Liberal Party, why McKenna’s decision was

On Thursday I joined Kristy Cameron on CFRA’s “Ottawa Now”. We talked about Crown/Indigenous Relationships Minister Bennett’s text to MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, why it was so offensive and hurtful, why Bennett’s apology rings hollow, why this Prime Minister won’t likely punish Bennett, how this story cannot be separated from recent

Late yesterday Canada was given notice that a press conference would happen this morning hosted by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations in Saskatchewan. We were all told that the press conference would be regarding a finding near the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, involving hundreds of unmarked

As we move further along through the COVID pandemic, we’re starting to see progress. More and more Canadians are getting vaccinated, things are slowly opening up and case numbers are going down. We’re progressing in the right direction yet still we’re seeing anti-vaxxers causing troubles and just, well, being their

This is the last week of this Parliamentary session and is most likely the last week of the 43rd Parliament. If the election comes as expected, this week is really all about clearing the decks and trying to wrap up any important outstanding legislation, so it doesn’t die when the

Yesterday I joined Kristy Cameron on CFRA’s “Ottawa Now” along with Lindsay Maskell & Kate Harrison for “Political Heat” panel. We talked about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet shuffle, what it says about what the government is thinking and what it says about the depth of their caucus, the first

This morning I joined Arlene Bynon on “The Arlene Bynon Show” on Sirius XM’s Canada Talks 167, along with Will Stewart. We discussed the roll-outs of COVID re-opening plans, the pressures to re-open faster, the risks involved in doing it too soon, the politics behind it all, is this National

On Friday I was happy to record the latest episode of Bluesky Strategy Group’s “What You Need to Know: A #CdnPolicast” with my colleagues Susan Smith, Neil Brodie and Alyson Fair. We talked about the end of the spring session of Parliament, how silly season is playing out, what people

We are a year out from the next provincial election in Ontario and the parties are all starting to look ahead to that campaign. Everything is starting to look through that lens and planning is afoot. We’re seeing candidate nomination announcements taking place all over. Fundraising is happening with some

When I sit down to write, I tend to lean heavily on my lived experience and instincts. It’s just who I am and it’s always what just seemed to make sense to me. In the past couple of weeks, doing that has brought me to lean on some of my

As a total political nerd, I can’t help but watch what others do abroad and how some trends in political culture might morph or translate into our own here in Canada. Given that the United States is such a close partner and ally of ours, naturally a lot of things

Today was a very busy day on Parliament Hill, and that went well beyond the extended sitting hours in the House of Commons. We’re full on into silly season in Ottawa and while naturally the eyes of politicos would want to be gazing to the House, it’s the drama playing

It was just last week that I wrote about the defection of former Green MP Jenica Atwin to the Liberals. At the time, I described the move as “devastating” for the Greens, pointing out that she was “exactly the kind of MP any party would want in their caucus” that