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.

Carney’s high popularity, referendum win, and a new right-of-centre party could help Liberals win 10-15 more seats in Alberta in next election, say some politicos

In the current Alberta political landscape, all 11 Edmonton ridings and five Calgary area ridings are in play, says political strategist Stephen Carter.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 26, 2026

Long shot for Conservatives to win Scarborough North byelection, but EDA president aims to turn the riding blue

Whether or not there’s a byelection, riding associations should be ‘comparing notes and exchanging advice regularly,’ says Mark Johnson, a former Conservative candidate in Scarborough-Agincourt, Ont.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 19, 2026

‘You’re paid well, do your damn job’: House rules should stop backbench MPs from ‘moonlighting,’ say current and former MPs and experts

Both Conservative MP Roman Baber and Liberal MP Angelo Iacono hold paid positions at law firms, and both have told The Hill Times that they are in compliance with parliamentary rules. But some are now saying the rules should be changed to stop MPs from working side jobs.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 19, 2026

Quebec Liberal MP Iacono’s second gig as a strategic adviser at a Montreal law firm raises eyebrows

Some Liberal MPs say Liberal MP Angelo Iacono’s second job doesn’t pass the ‘smell test,’ but the Montreal MP says he only accepted the position after consulting the federal ethics commissioner.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 12, 2026

‘The country is at stake’: dealing with PQ government will test Team Carney’s political skills, say politicos

Newly elected Quebec premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says he won’t hold a referendum until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office, but it’s unclear whether he will keep his commitment if conditions become favourable for a victory, says pollster Darrell Bricker.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 12, 2026

Support for Alberta separation ‘remarkably stable’ and low federalist turnout could make final referendum outcome closer than expected, say politicos

About 658,000 Albertans have requested special mail-in ballots and a vast majority of these are likely to vote for the ‘stay’ side, says Duane Bratt. But pollster Janet Brown says separatist support remains ‘remarkably stable,’ and ex-MP Jay Hill says that side wants to send a strong message to Mark Carney.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 5, 2026

Some lobbyists, stakeholders blame ‘risk averse’ ministerial staffers and non-stop cabinet shuffle speculation for reduced access to top officials

The advocates and public affairs consultants facing access issues are probably trying to lobby on issues that are not on the government’s priority list, says Brian Klunder, a partner at Temple Scott Associates.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | October 5, 2026

Poilievre’s move to appoint candidate in Brantford makes high-stakes byelection more ‘challenging’ to win, says former Conservative MP McColeman: ‘that’s really the gut punch’

Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis has been appointed as the Conservative candidate in the yet-to-be-called byelection in Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations. The Liberals are not saying if they will choose their candidate through a nomination election or will appoint one. Joy O’Donnell ran for the Liberals in 2025, and wants to carry her party’s banner in the next election.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | September 28, 2026

Trump’s a ‘tough hand to play,’ but Carney should not accept any trade deal that’s ‘politically difficult’ to sell in Canada

Businesses—not governments—conduct trade, and now it’s up to the business community to capitalize on the opportunities created by Prime Minister Mark Carney with his diversification efforts, says ex-Canadian diplomat Roy Norton.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | September 28, 2026

As Carney rides high in the polls, some Liberal MPs say they don’t have any one-on-one access to him

But the PMO says Mark Carney keeps in ‘close and regular contact’ with MPs, and holds caucus coffee chats and meals with MPs while travelling in their regions. And another Liberal MP says those frustrated by the lack of direct access to the PM want to ‘audition’ for a promotion to cabinet.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | September 21, 2026

Liberals enjoying strong public support over Canada-U.S. trade war, but final deal will determine Grit fortunes, say political players

The success or failure of any potential trade deal with the U.S. will depend on the reaction of provincial premiers, especially Ontario and Quebec, says pollster Nik Nanos, who also says Mark Carney’s strategy right now is like Muhammad Ali’s ‘rope-a-dope’ boxing strategy: he’s absorbing pressure from Washington and will push back when the timing is right.

news | BY ABBAS RANA | September 21, 2026

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

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