The Oil Barons Are In Charge
The conventional wisdom, Linda McQuaig writes, is that ordinary people don’t understand the science of climate change: It’s we ordinary people, with our self-absorption or resistance to change, who are…
Owen Gray
Sheer Stupidity
The Harperites have always insisted that their principal virtue is competent economic management. But, recently, Christopher Flavelle has been making the point that their record tells a different story: When…
Love And Ambition
Taken separately, both are worthy pursuits. But, when combined with the catalyst of romance, they are an explosive compound. Consider the case of Dimitri Soudas and Eve Adams. Tim Harper…
A Sore Winner
In his most recent column at ipolitics, Michael Harris recounts observations from people who have had to deal with Stephen Harper: “You have to appreciate Orwell to get a feel…
All Is Not Well
Dimitri Soudas is gone. According to Paul Wells, it was not a graceful exit: Tonight, Hand-Picked Dimitri has become Ass-Kicked Dimitri, having resigned (CP’s first version) or been fired (CTV’s…
Next On His Hit List
Stephen Harper does not believe in creating a big tent. His political success has been based on wedges. He drives them between people and reassembles the pieces that fit his…
Collective Psychosis
The Harper government, Andrew Coyne writes, is far from normal: In normal times, under a normal government, the Fair Elections Act would have been withdrawn by now, or at least…
Following The Money
Mark Felt — alias Deep Throat — advised Woodward and Bernstein to follow the money. It was good advice forty years ago; and it’s good advice now. Consider the following…
It’s Madness
Andrew Nikiforuk writes that petropolitics are behind what is going on in Ukraine: Russia, a true petro state, sits on one-fifth of the world’s natural gas supply. About one-third of…
Has The Revolt Begun?
It’s beginning to look, Lawrence Martin writes, like the revolt has begun: Last week, the Supreme Court offered a declaration of its independence, reminding the Prime Minister that its power…
Harper’s Empathy Deficit
It’s no secret that Stephen Harper lacks people skills. What he really lacks, Tasha Kheiriddin writes, is empathy: But Harper displays little understanding of human emotions. And that’s where his…
Whither The NDP?
Murray Dobbin writes that our political system is ill equipped to deal with crises: Our political system’s greatest flaw is not the first-past-the-post voting system. It is the fact that…
The Young Could Be Game Changers
The Canadian Press reports that pollster Nick Nanos and former Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page are working on a project to increase youth turnout in the next election. Nanos has…
It Will Take a Revolt
Yesterday, Jeffrey Simpson writes, the Harper government got what it deserved: The Harper government figured it would teach the Supreme Court justices a lesson by appointing Marc Nadon to their…
The Curse Of The Honeypot
With the departure of Alison Redford, Andrew Nikiforuk writes, the honeypot has claimed another victim. Nikiforuk believes that petro states eventually become honeypots: American political scientist Terry Lynn Karl, an…
Full Blown Paranoia
Commentators are lining up to praise Jim Flaherty. Andrew Coyne is not among them. Under Flaherty, he writes, budgets ceased to have much meaning. They became masterpieces of obfuscation: Under…
Better To Reign In Hell
Jim Flaherty jumped ship yesterday. It came as no surprise. When he questioned the wisdom of income splitting, he signalled that he was heading for dry land. He had the…
Harper’s Mephistopheles
Politics has always been a nasty profession. But Stephen Harper has brought a new viciousness to the way it is practiced in Canada. That viciousness, Michael Harris writes, has been…
The Press Gallery Takes A Stand
Last week the parliamentary press gallery passed the following motion: “We as the Parliamentary Press Gallery reserve the right to ask questions in all photo-ops and availabilities with the prime…
Sabotaging Environment Canada
Minister of the Environment Leona Aglukkaq recently released a report setting forth her ministry’s priorities. They are: “conservation and restoration of landscapes, water and wildlife; information on changing weather patterns…