Ian Campbell is a reporter and the deputy digital editor for The Hill Times, covering party politics, finance, health policy, federal-provincial relations, and the impact of new digital technologies on democracy. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Carleton University, and has previously worked as an online reporter with CBC Newfoundland & Labrador. Campbell has also worked as a theatre producer, director, and educator. You can reach him at icampbell@hilltimes.com.
Over nearly a decade in power, Justin Trudeau used bilateral deals, federal dollars, and strings attached to a much greater degree than past PMs to enact a federal policy vision in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
The Hill Times reached out to all provincial and territorial governments asking if they would adopt Nova Scotia’s proposal. Most did not reply, and none of them offered a clear ‘yes.’
If exporters are given accessible information about the upsides of these deals with the European Union and Trans-Pacific partners, ‘they will take the opportunity if it is to their advantage,’ says former Harper trade adviser Andrea van Vugt.
New videos ads from the Grits and Tories are an ‘opening salvo’ as both parties look to ‘make sure their voice is heard’ between now and when a new Liberal leader is chosen, says former Liberal PMO staffer Dan Arnold.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and 51st-state remarks are ‘actually strategically and politically good’ for the Liberals, says former Grit staffer Jeremy Ghio.
Donald Trump has done something that many Canadian federal politicians failed to achieve in recent years: ‘reignite the patriotic fibre of Quebecers,’ said former Liberal staffer Jeremy Ghio.
Some regions face ‘unique geographic, environmental, or industry-specific challenges’ making ‘full harmonization difficult,’ said Northwest Territories Minister Caitlin Cleveland.
‘Even being mentioned in the same breath as China on trade relations is beyond bizarre,’ says former foreign minister Peter MacKay.
The concession comes in the wake of a Jan. 22 PBO report that found ‘a significant portion’ of that money ‘was included in the fiscal framework at the time of Budget 2024.’
Canadians 20 to 30 years down the line ‘shouldn’t be paying off the debt that we incurred’ to weather an economic downturn, says C.D. Howe’s John Lester.
It’s not uncommon for leadership races to end with a much narrower field of candidates than began the contest.
Mark Carney’s early entry and growing support are good for his membership sales, says ex-Liberal staffer Alex Kohut. But many of those insider backers could be a drag on him in a general election, says veteran Tory leadership campaigner Fred DeLorey.
Carleton University business professor Ian Lee says a November 2024 paper by Donald Trump’s incoming economic adviser sheds insight into the U.S. president’s thinking.
Liberal MP Ken Hardie says it was a ‘mistake’ not to adopt the Reform Act, and caucus has ‘learned a very valuable lesson,’ but political scientist Jonathan Malloy doubts MPs will act next Parliament to make changes.
The carbon tax remains a non-starter in the region, says Abacus Data’s Kelly Bennett, as it’s become ‘a symbol of broader discontent, and misunderstanding of Atlantic Canadians.’
It’s difficult to ‘firebomb’ the Trudeau legacy during the leadership campaign when many party members still approve of the prime minister, says pollster David Coletto. But this leadership race is ‘the first act of the general election,’ and candidates will have little time afterwards to ‘pivot,’ says former Liberal staffer Dan Arnold.
