Abbas Rana

Abbas Rana is the assistant deputy editor at The Hill Times. He reports on parliamentary caucuses, nomination contests, party leadership campaigns, Prime Minister’s Office, and cabinet. Rana loves to chat with sources on the record or on a not-for-attribution basis, especially when they have verifiable story tips that could be followed as news stories. Born and raised in Pakistan, Rana speaks Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. You can reach him with news tips or comments at arana@hilltimes.com.

In a ‘true Liberal-Conservative battleground,’ potential Grit candidates lay groundwork for nomination election in Cloverdale-Langley City, B.C.

Given current polling trends, if an election were to happen now, the Liberals would win the B.C. riding of Cloverdale-Langley City, says pollster Greg Lyle.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | May 25, 2026

Carney’s remarks on Alberta referendum ‘on point,’ but pollsters say Albertans would like to see concrete results, and caution PM and Poilievre against inflaming tensions

By taking concrete action on key issues for Albertans, PM Mark Carney is trying to send a message that he wants the federation to work better for Alberta, says pollster Janet Brown. Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he and his MPs will campaign for Alberta to remain part of Canada.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | May 25, 2026

High-profile Ontario Liberals return fire, say Erskine-Smith’s style of politics rubs them ‘the wrong way’

A three-member Ontario Liberal Party arbitration committee is scheduled to meet May 20 to review Nathaniel Erskine-Smith’s appeal against the provincial Scarborough-Southwest nomination election result, according to Liberal sources. In the meantime, Ontario Liberals are pushing back.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | May 18, 2026

‘Risk-averse’ Carney avoiding stronger stance on Iran war over fears of Trump backlash and CUSMA fallout, say some Liberal MPs

Most caucus members are not pressing the issue, recognizing that Canada has limited leverage and little ability to meaningfully influence the U.S. position, say some Liberal MPs.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | May 4, 2026

Conservative Yorkton–Melville, Sask., riding members demand nominated candidates promise not to floor-cross, and resign if they do

Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall announced last July that this will be her final term as an MP. The deadline to submit nomination papers and to sign up new members eligible to vote in the nomination election is May 15.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | May 4, 2026

‘Rushed return’: with Liberals now in a majority, former cabinet staffers and past Grit MPs ‘want back in’

Former B.C. Liberal MP John Aldag wants the party to begin nominating candidates as soon as possible so they can start campaigning.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 27, 2026

After Terrebonne byelection win, Carney Liberals eye Quebec’s lone NDP riding when Boulerice exits for provincial run

With ongoing momentum and the Conservative and NDP vote collapse in Terrebonne, pollster Greg Lyle says the Liberals have a good shot at winning in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, a riding represented by the same NDP MP for the last 15 years.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 25, 2026

‘Breaking down the doors’: Carney’s Liberals draw strong nomination buzz, but critics flag appointment trend

Mark Carney’s Liberals risk repeating the Pierre Poilievre Conservatives’ past mistake by bypassing contested nominations, say Liberal sources.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 20, 2026

While Carney’s Liberals face backlash over floor-crossings, political players say switching sides is not new

In the past, the Conservatives welcomed Liberal MPs crossing the floor, but are now criticizing the same moves as Conservatives join the governing Liberals, says former MP Bill Casey.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 20, 2026

Carney’s high-speed rail ‘very perilous territory’ for Liberals, say some pundits and pollsters

The government should instead focus more on transit in major urban centres as it would address residents’ immediate concerns about traffic while also delivering electoral benefits, says Innovative Research president Greg Lyle.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 13, 2026

Winning close ridings comes down to a strong ground game, effective constituency work, and early get-out-the-vote efforts, say Liberal MPs

To energize campaign volunteers and voter base, candidates must point out what’s at stake and show how their efforts can directly influence the election outcome, says Liberal MP Corey Hogan.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 11, 2026

Terrebonne no longer ‘determining’ factor for a majority, but Carney Liberals still going ‘all in’ to win the riding

In the final two days before the byelection, the focus shifts chiefly to get-out-the-vote efforts, which will ultimately determine the outcome, says Health Minister Marjorie Michel.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 10, 2026

Welcome to the Carney-val

Reporters’ Notebook: Amid selfies and glowing smiles, the question dominating conversations among Liberals at the party’s policy convention is whether they will secure a majority before Prime Minister Mark Carney takes the stage Saturday afternoon.

feature | BY MARLO GLASS, ABBAS RANA, STUART BENSON, RIDDHI KACHHELA | April 10, 2026

‘We’re an open party’: Liberals kick off Montreal convention praising floor crossers and eyeing a majority

‘The fact is, we’ve had people from different parts of the political spectrum join our party at this particular moment, and there’s energy and excitement’ for a ‘big tent’ Liberal Party, says MP Vince Gasparro.

news | BY STUART BENSON, MARLO GLASS, RIDDHI KACHHELA, ABBAS RANA | April 9, 2026

After April salary boost, Carney now earns $435,400, Poilievre $321,300, and Blanchet $291,100

Conservative MP Mike Dawson is continuing his fight against accepting the annual pay raise, and says the issue will be discussed at this month’s Commons Board of Internal Economy meeting. Meanwhile, former Liberal MP Joe Jordan says competitive salaries are critical to attract top talent to Parliament.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 7, 2026

Grits ‘throwing everything at that seat’ as 48 candidates and ‘adapted ballot’ could influence result of nail-biter Terrebonne byelection, say pollsters and Liberal sources

Two weeks before byelection day, pollsters Nik Nanos and Quito Maggi are predicting a Liberal advantage in the riding of Terrebonne, Que.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | April 6, 2026