The latest Ipsos poll paints a rather dreary picture of Liberal fortunes, with what was once the natural governing party languishing more than 15 points behind both the NDP and the Conservatives. Of course, the NDP are in their post-leadership honeymoon, the Liberals don’t have a permanent leader, and a
Continue readingTag: Bob Rae
The Leadership Narrative
Way back when, a few months after the last federal election, I replied to the Susan Delacourt’s “Is the Liberal Party dead?” question, echoed ad nauseum in the nation’s press, with a warning to be wary of forcing Canadian politics to fit a certain narrative. That narrative presupposes the inevitability
Continue readingImpolitical: CRA’s impartiality raised
This exchange from Hansard yesterday on the impartiality of the Canada Revenue Agency is well worth paying attention to and keeping in mind: Hon. Bob Rae (Toronto Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, recently the Minister of the Environment referred to the “money laundering” activities of several registered charities in the country.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: An update on all the people MAYBE running for Liberal leadership
The expectation is that rules for the Liberal leadership race will come down in June, setting the stage for a summer of getting to know the men and women wanting to lead Canada’s third party. But while we won’t know the rules of the race for another month or two,
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The Race for Third
Back in February I asked readers of this blog who they thought would run for Liberal leader, and who they’d consider voting for. Admittedly, this is as far from a scientific poll as you’ll ever get, and I won’t pretend that the 500+ voters in this straw poll are all
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: Happy Anniversary!
One year ago today, Stephen Harper turned an “unwanted election” into his first majority government, Jack Layton and the NDP soared to never before seen heights, and Liberals spent the evening curled up in a fetal position sobbing in the corner. On political anniversaries, it’s tempting to give each party
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Happy Anniversary!
One year ago today, Stephen Harper turned an “unwanted election” into his first majority government, Jack Layton and the NDP soared to never before seen heights, and Liberals spent the evening curled up in a fetal position sobbing in the corner. On political anniversaries, it’s tempting to give each party
Continue readingCuriosityCat: My shortlist for permanent leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Speculation swirls around Bob Rae and his rumoured resignation as interim leader in order to throw his hat into the ring for permanent leader. Journalists give their views of which Liberals will be candidates. The party itself is preparing to enrol tens of thousands of Supporters, who – although not
Continue readingLeDaro: “Untrustworthy Tories, socialist NDP, bumbling Grits: Poll puts a pox on all”
An interesting headline in the Globe and Mail. I tend to agree with the poll results. All three parties need a new leader that people can trust. Read the story here.
Continue readingcenterandleft: I Am Not Afraid of an Abortion Debate
If we, as Canadians, believe a woman ought to have the right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy, why are we so afraid of having our views challenged? Why is it so frightening to open up debate on this socially contentious issue? If we are an open, democratic society,
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: NDP Liberal Merger Odds Now 0
The poll done by Toronto-based Forum Research Inc. this week shows the NDP was the choice of 36 per cent of decided and leaning respondents, with the Conservatives close behind at 33 per cent.If you were an NDP MP/head of a local riding association/rank-&-filer why would you not want to see if
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Whip It Good
Stephen Woodworth’s person-hood motion will not be defeated by Bob Rae’s whipping or not whipping his caucus against the measure. It will be defeated because Stephen Harper needs it to be defeated or he will see his real agenda–deregulation, rolling back environmental protections–go up in flames as he panders to the
Continue readingCuriosityCat: The Liberal Party and the role of Quebec in Canada: Bob Rae’s Views
With the possibility that Bob Rae will soon step down as interim leader of the LPC and so trigger the beginning of the race to select the next permanent leader some time towards the end of this year and early next year, we will find the candidates stumping for support.
Continue readingFinding Clarity: Bob Rae for Leader – Imagining the Debate
Personally, I am all for Bob Rae running for leadership. That said, I can just imagine some of the debates. "Of course I admire the efforts of my honoured adversary during his period as Interim leader. That said, leadership is a matter of character. Let's leave aside that he is
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Liberal Party of Canada needs to re-think its approach to Quebec
Our currentPrime Minister has an amazing take on the history of the repatriation of theConstitution, and is reluctant to celebrate our magnificent Charter of Rightsand Freedoms because he think’s it might upset some people in Quebec. The new NDPleader jumped on the same bandwagon that the separatists set rolling, buyinginto
Continue readingA BCer in Toronto: Liberals need to rethink their Quebec approach
Since the election of former Quebec cabinet minister Thomas “Tom” Mulcair as leader of the NDP last month, much attention has been paid to the political situation in Quebec and the consensus seems to be the Liberals are screwed in the province. Consolidating NDP gains in Quebec is certainly a
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Explaining the F-35 fiasco: the ‘Yes Minister Defence’
Yes Minister! Senior civil servants advise Defence Minister Peter MacKay, holding the Globe and Mail at right, on the F-35 purchase: “Confidentially Minister MacKay, everything you tell me about the F-35 is in complete confidence, so equally, and I am sure you appreciate this, and by appreciate I don’t actually
Continue readingFrom Orangutan: Dear Thomas Mulcair and Bob Rae,
Could both of you (and your NDP and Liberal parties, respectively), please stop trading insults? I believe many Canadians would appreciate you more if you came together to fight the current Conservative government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The more you argue, Messrs. Mulcair and Rae, the more power
Continue readingcenterandleft: Bob Rae’s Steep Climb
A Leger Marketing poll was conducted between April 2nd and 4th, and showed the NDP on top of the pack, with 33%, leading the Conservatives by 1%. The Liberals were far behind at 19%, the same level of support given in May 2011. Leger’s information confirms another poll done earlier
Continue readingImpolitical: Auditor General #F35 fallout
Terry Milewski’s report on yesterday’s remarks by the Auditor General and the reactions those remarks set off, above. It is helpful to see whose eyes are grave, whose eyes are dead and whose eyes are lit up. More on the AG’s remarks and DND apparently getting restless at holding the
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