How Pierre Poilievre Made the Conservatives Mainstream Again

 It was a passionate, factual, riveting and heartfelt speech that cut like a knife through the incomprehensible incompetence and corruption that has come to define the Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh coalition government. Member of Parliament for Thornhill, Melissa Lantsman, spoke with authority and conviction about the alarming rise of

“The Right Path” on a winding road.

 The Right Path: How Conservatives Can United, Inspire and Take Canada Forward Author: Tasha Kheiriddin Published by: Optimum Publishing International ISNB - 13: 9780888903310 The Conservative Party of Canada’s third leadership race in six years will be decided on September 10th. The winner of what has been, at times, a very nasty

The Right Honourable John Turner — A life well lived

 Above: (Clockwise from left) Paul Martin, Joe Clark, Jean Chretien, John Turner, Justin Trudeau at John Turner's 90th birthday celebration. (credit: Jean-Marc Carisse) Former Prime Minister John Napier Turner passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday surrounded by family. He lived a meritorious and principled life and was one of Canada’s most respected parliamentarians.

Charisma has failed us — and winter is coming

 “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.” ―  Margaret Thatcher The next prime minister of Canada will be the most hated person in the country for years to come. Whether Liberal,Conservative on NDP, he or she will have to deal with the financial mess

Trudeau on taxes: What has changed since Harper

 Since coming to power in 2015, the Trudeau government has touted their commitment to middle class Canadian families. Trying to tie together low income and secure households, they have made sweeping changes as part of their overall campaign on tax reform. So what has really changed since the Harper government?

Justin Trudeau and the Peter Principle

 Photo credit: Adam Scotti (PMO) The former Stephen Harper government was very competent but lacked a soul. After nine years, Canadians tired of this prickliness and wanted change. Justin Trudeau was the change. The son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, one of Canada’s most transformative prime ministers whose 1982 Charter of

Ottawa Honours Community Builders at Annual United Way Gala

 Photos by Andre Gagne They say it takes a village but once you have that you’re going to need a community. It’s the lifeblood that runs through that village and, often unseen, greatly impacts so many lives on a day to day basis. Here in Ottawa, The United Way Community

Canada Remembers Colonel Atilla Altikat

 More than 30 years ago, a husband and father of two got up in the morning and got in his car to go to work. When he stopped at a red light at the corner of Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and Island Park Drive in Ottawa, he was shot

Society Salon Celebrates Grand Opening

 The newest blow dry bar and salon to come to downtown Ottawa celebrated their grand opening in front of city officials, longstanding clientele and friends on Tuesday. Standing outside the Sparks Street location, Society Salon owner Stefania Capovilla unveiled the new blow dry bar featuring two blow dry chairs and

Remembering Gil Levine with the Power of Song

 Photos by Andre Gagne A child of Jewish immigrants born into depression-era Toronto, Gilbert Levine (February 3, 1924-Novembr 16, 2009) has been called one of the most influential labour leaders of his time.  As the first Research Director of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), he was a pioneer

Give Pierre a Chance

 With new cabinet responsibilities, Pierre Poilievre has the opportunity to prove his worth The new minister responsible for the National Capital Commission isn’t without his critics. Pierre Poilievre, who has served as the minister of state for democratic reform since July 2013, has gained what seems like an unending supply

The 2015 Federal Election is a chance to put the disastrous Harper era behind us

 ABOVE: The Conservative Party led by Stephen Harper won a majority in the 2011 federal election. (PHOTO: CBC) By Paul R. Meinema After nine years of scandals and cynical policies from Stephen Harper's Conservative government, it is clear that Canadian voters have grown weary of the Conservatives' ideological, secretive, and

How We Lead: Canada in a Century of Change by Joe Clark

 In HOW WE LEAD: Canada in a Century of Change, former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark launches an impassioned argument for Canada to reassert its international position as an agent of change, diplomacy and peace. Drawing on our history, successes, and the unique qualities that we possess today, Clark describes

Political Power Brokers of the National Capital Region

 "It would not take long for a future tax-and-spend government to imperil the economic stability Canada enjoys": An Interview with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre (Nepean-Carleton) As told to Harvey F. Chartrand Pierre Poilievre is the 34-year-old Minister of State (Democratic Reform) and four-term Conservative Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton. After

No More Mudslinging: Deeper Focus on Accountability Needed on the Hill

  Senate spending scandals shouldn’t be an excuse for pointing fingers, but an opportunity to improve accountability across the board in the Canadian government.  The latest investigations into the expenses of Conservative and Liberal Senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, Mac Harb and Pamela Wallin, have proven troubling. After being reviewed by

Pipeline Update

 Proponents for the Northern Gateway Pipeline are likely breathing a small sigh of relief now that Christy Clark has kept her job as Premier of British Columbia. Had the NDP won, chances are the Pipeline would have been dead in the water. That said, smooth sailing is by no means guaranteed. However, the fact that the focus of the

Democracy Watch Unloads on Harper Government for Chronic Lack of Accountability in Series of Cover-ups

 According to Democracy Watch, "biased, lapdog investigations mean cover-up of Senate scandal most likely outcome and public inquiry will be needed – Wright, Duffy should be found guilty of violating ethics rules, and possibly other laws "Ethics Commissioner has covered up twice already for Nigel Wright, Senate Ethics Officer is

Closing Doors on Canada’s History

 On June 19, 2012, David McGuinty, Liberal Member of Parliament for Ottawa South, rose during Question Period to ask which federal departments or agencies have closed or will be closing their libraries and what is the rationale for such closures. In posing these questions, McGuinty spotlighted a development that has

Stephen Harper’s Assault on Democracy

 Last November, hundreds of delegates from across Canada gathered in Ottawa for the 93rd Annual General Meeting of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). Discus- sions focused on the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ongoing cuts to programs and services that continue to jeopardize the

Time to Refine? Should Canada Refine its Own Oil?

 By Anna May Burke For decades, Canada has worried about its image abroad as a country that merely exploits its precious natural resources, exporting its raw commodities. And yet, at the same time, going back at least to Premier Peter Lougheed days in Alberta in the 1970s, there has also

A ”Less Is More” Approach to Canadian Health Care: Reformulating the Canada Health Transfer

  Change has come to Canada’s health-care funding model. In December 2011, federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty announced that the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) – the legislative vehicle through which much of the funding (some $29 billion for the 2012-2013 period alone) for Canada’s provincial and territorial health-care systems is

Looking down from Canada: The most important leader in the free world: Stephen Harper

 Michael Moriarty is now a regular columnist in our pages, offering his incisive, visionary, and sometimes controversial observations of the passing political scene in Canada and the United States. Mr. Moriarty believes these two nations sharing a common border are headed in opposite political directions, a subject he will explore

Innovation in Canada’s Science and Technology Sector: Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s New Strategy

 Governments do not create prosperity. It's created by business and the best thing government can do is mitigate any unnecessary interference with companies as they do their business. Canada has the world's fifth-largest aerospace industry with world-beating companies, such as Bombardier and CAE, and with the workhorse of NASA —

The Kyoto Protocol in Canada: Legacy or lunacy?

 By Hank Reardon Prime Minister Jean Chrétien says he will put the Kyoto Protocol on climate change before Parliament for a ratification vote before year-end 2002. The announcement of the Kyoto Protocol ratification vote comes before an implementation plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) has been finalized and before

In opposition against “a Phantom Prime Minister”: An interview with Stephen Harper

 By: Peter Gill Ottawa Life Magazine: If you were Prime Minister, how would you deal with Canada's declining military? How much money do you think needs to be invested in it? Stephen Harper: A lot. Numbers have been thrown around by various groups. The consensus seems to be you need