First ministers’ meetings have gone from Kumbaya to Welcome to the Jungle

The political theatre they generate can work in the PM’s favour. But as a tool to achieve tangible results for Canadians, they are as useful as Stéphane Dion’s leadership of the Liberal Party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened the fourth first ministers’ meeting of his mandate in Montreal on Dec. 7. Photograph courtesy of CanadianPM Twitter

Opinion

BY TIM POWERS

December 12, 2018

OTTAWA—Lightning has struck. Time is standing still. Former prime minister Stephen Harper might have been right by suggesting first ministers’ meetings (FMM) are generally a waste of time and the only benefit is for fans of theatre. Last week the current prime minister, Justin Trudeau, convened...

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