Abbas Rana

Abbas Rana is the assistant deputy editor at The Hill Times. He reports on parliamentary caucuses, nomination contests, party leadership campaigns, the 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. Rana won the 2025 Ontario Community Newspaper Award for Best News Story (circ. over 8,000) for his story on Conservative nominations in that year’s election. Born and raised in Pakistan, Rana speaks English, Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. Contact him at arana@hilltimes.com.

Escalating Canada-U.S. trade war likely to help federalist side in Alberta referendum, say political players

The Alberta separation referendum question on Oct. 19 will ultimately be decided by voter turnout and which side has the better ground game, says Duane Bratt.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | September 14, 2026

Conservative candidate who ran against Carney in last election, eyeing Carleton, Ont., for next one

Barbara Bal is the candidate of record for Nepean, Ont. She lost the April 2025 election to Prime Minister Mark Carney, after he won nearly 66 per cent compared to Bal’s 33 per cent.

news | BY ABBAS RANA, RIDDHI KACHHELA | September 13, 2026

A B.C. Conservative riding association proposes a ‘loyalty agreement’ to require floor-crossing MPs repay campaign costs

The only way to prevent floor crossing is for Parliament to pass legislation requiring MPs who switch parties to resign their seats and run again in a byelection, says former Conservative Senate leader and party president Don Plett.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | September 7, 2026

Two Conservative nomination hopefuls are campaigning in Poilievre’s old Ottawa-area riding

Although Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lost his Carleton seat in the 2025 general election, he continues to be well-liked in the riding, say nomination candidates Sukhu Sekhon and Goran Samuel Pesic.

news | BY RIDDHI KACHHELA, ABBAS RANA | September 6, 2026

‘Very frightening’: Liberal MPs back Carney’s pause in U.S. trade talks, but worry about impacts

The ongoing trade dispute with the U.S. is an ‘existential threat’ for the Canadian economy, and Prime Minister Mark Carney should consider starting this fall’s parliamentary sitting with a Throne Speech, says former Liberal MP Joe Jordan.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | August 31, 2026

A local pastor and a financial planner add their names to the candidacy list for future byelection in Brantford, Ont.

Liberal nomination hopeful Joy O’Donnell says the riding of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations is a ‘manufacturing community’ that needs a voice in the House during Canada-U.S. trade talks.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | August 31, 2026

Rival candidates and a Liberal MP call out Conservative MP Au for advising four municipal candidates in Richmond, B.C.

A brochure for four Richmond, B.C., candidates running in this October’s municipal elections identifies Chak Au as a policy adviser. Until last February, Au had served as a municipal councillor in the city while also holding his federal seat.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | August 17, 2026

Carney Liberals eye Conservative strongholds in upcoming high-stakes byelections

At a time when Canada is engaged in a trade war with the U.S., Canadians are standing behind Prime Minister Mark Carney, which is giving an edge to the governing party in the polls, says Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | August 17, 2026

After PMO shakeup, Carney brings in capable professionals, but some Liberals and pundits say the new hires lack the political organizational experience needed for party’s success

Maia Johnson is emerging as a rising star who is said to have played a key role in the recent staff changes, and is already ‘making her mark by streamlining processes’ within the Prime Minister’s Office, say Liberal sources.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 27, 2026

Alberta’s referendum vote could trigger a new Reform-Bloc-style party for Western Canada, say high-profile, pro-independence advocates

If a new Western political party were to start, it could take the form of a revived Maverick Party, says former federal Conservative cabinet minister Jay Hill.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 27, 2026

Infighting among senior Conservatives leaves caucus, staff, and volunteer morale ‘in the absolute shitter,’ say MPs, veteran party members

Some Conservatives are hoping the infighting between Leader Pierre Poilievre and prominent party members will ‘die in the high temperatures of July and the slow broil of summer,’ but others think it’s too deep and could be damaging for the leader.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 20, 2026

Carney adviser Breitkreuz briefs Alberta Liberal MPs weekly as Ottawa co-ordinates response to separation movement

The Alberta Liberal caucus holds weekly Zoom meetings with PMO senior adviser Morgan Breitkreuz about the fall separation referendum and other key issues related to the province, says Liberal MP Corey Hogan.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 19, 2026

Corporate CEOs in Alberta seek briefings from political consultants, pollsters, and auditors on what fall referendum means for business

Uncertainty over the separation referendum is adding a risk premium to business and investment decisions across Alberta, says Deborah Yedlin, CEO of Calgary Chamber of Commerce. And Alberta political consultant Stephen Carter says the remain side has to get ‘off of our asses and actually do the work’ to keep Alberta.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 13, 2026

Senior PMO staff shakeup further fuels ongoing cabinet shuffle speculation

Following PMO principal secretary Tom Pitfield’s Senate appointment and expectations that deputy chief of staff Braeden Caley will step aside for a byelection run, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to change his team in the PMO and the front bench.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 13, 2026

With about 40 Liberal MPs and cabinet ministers heading to the Stampede, Conservatives say they see election strategy behind Calgary presence

Of the 40 Liberal caucus members expected to attend the July 3-12 Calgary Stampede, 11 are cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and five secretaries of state, according to Liberal sources.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 6, 2026

Carney’s move to restore 24 Sussex ‘politically risky,’ but the right thing to do, say political players

Given the political landscape and public mood right now, Prime Minister Mark Carney is best-placed to launch the restoration of 24 Sussex Drive, but if the costs spin out of control, there will be a political risk, says pollster Darrell Bricker.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | July 6, 2026