Overview for canada

Canada's Senate Needs an Overhaul

PM Stephen Harper is being criticized for appointing defeated MPs to the Senate. But the blame is unfair especially since his efforts for reform have been rejected. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being roasted these days for appointing a bunch of Tories to the Senate who recently failed to get …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday May 23, 2011

Canada's Worn-Out Military

Canada's Afghan mission has so depleted its armed forces that they may need a full year to recover before being able to deploy again overseas. As Canada prepares to leave Afghanistan, a weakness in our military is inadvertently revealed in comments by Lt.-Gen Peter Devlin, Commander of the …

Written by Peter Worthington on Wednesday May 18, 2011

What Congress Really Thinks of Canada

A new study looked at the Congressional record to find out what representatives and senators really think about our neighbor to the north. What do American members of Congress really think of Canada? Well, it depends on the issue. Indeed, a Fraser Institute study examining 1,830 mentions of …

Written by Tim Mak on Thursday May 12, 2011

What the GOP Can Learn from Canada's Conservatives

Canada's right wing won control of parliament this month — but their strategy on immigration and Tea Party-types wouldn't work in the United States. American conservatives are looking at Canada's Conservative Party election win for lessons. But as my latest column for The Week points out, it's …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 11, 2011

The Guardian's Make-Believe Canada

Heather Mallick's columns regularly depict Canada as a land of demented plebes living under a near-”Stalinist” dictator. How do her rants get to run in The Guardian ? Here’s a letter I fired off to The UK Guardian newspaper this afternoon: My name is Jonathan Kay. I run the op-ed pages of …

Written by Jonathan Kay on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Can Harper's Agenda Match His Victory?

Last evening, Canada's Conservatives won their first majority government since 1988. But is the party's agenda ambitious enough to take advantage of this opportunity? Last evening, the Conservative Party of Canada won their first majority government since 1988 – a welcome accomplishment. But as …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Harper Wins Big

It should have been clear from the moment Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff forced an election, that there was no logical reason for Canadians to reject the Tories. Everyone -- well, almost everyone -- is surprised at the results of the general election; but what do they mean for Canada? Mark …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Canada's Election Wild Card

When reading Canadian polls 48 hours from an election, remember that Canadian party loyalty is much weaker - and Canadian opinion therefore more volatile - than in the US. When reading Canadian polls 48 hours from an election, remember that Canadian party loyalty is much weaker - and Canadian …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

Canada's Liberals Face Post-Election Shake-Up

The Liberals are unlikely to lose as badly in 2011 as the old Progressive Conservatives lost in 1993. But they may be facing the same kind of identity crisis. Polls are sometimes wrong. Voters sometimes - often, actually - change their minds during the final weekend of a campaign. That said: …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

The Liberal Party's Real Israel Policy

When they speak about the Middle East, Canada's Liberals double-message: professing friendship for Israel while signaling to anti-Israel voters. Bob Rae’s letter to the editor of the National Post about the Liberal Party’s Israel record is a shabby document. When I say the letter is shabby, …

Written by David Frum on Friday April 29, 2011

Why Canada Should Vote Conservative

Canada faces some crucial challenges and the Conservatives are the one party with a serious response to the issues ahead. Which Canadian leader and which Canadian political party will best respond to the challenges of tomorrow? Let's see if we can peek around the corner and discern what those …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 23, 2011

Ignatieff's Wink to Anti-Israel Voters

Liberal candidate Michael Ignatieff may not have mentioned Israel in this week's debate, but those who follow the issues closely saw signals of a return to Canada's old Mideast policies. Michael Ignatieff used this week’s English-language leaders debate to send dog whistle signals to anti-Israel …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 16, 2011

Election Majority is Harper's to Lose

With the election two weeks away, a majority government seems not only within Harper’s grasp but, judging from polls after the leadership debates, virtually a sure thing. Regardless of media opinions as to who won the debates, there’s little indication that many minds have been changed. …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday April 14, 2011

Face to Face with the Anti-Israel Young

Last week, after my lecture at Montréal University, bodyguards who rushed me through a backdoor and away in a speeding car. The reason for the drama? I'm Israeli. Last week, Montréal University (l’Université du Québec à Montréal, or UQÀM) made me feel good: After I delivered my lecture there, …

Written by Emmanuel Navon on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Pawlenty: Big in Canada

Canada's Liberal Party claims that a new Stephen Harper campaign ad bears a strong similarity to a recent Tim Pawlenty commercial. The Globe and Mail writes this morning that "a slick new Conservative television ad that seeks to present Stephen Harper as a statesmanlike leader bears an unusual …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Calgary's Muslim Mayor Goes Green

It turns out Calgary's mayor is a Muslim revolutionary: revolutionary because he's trying to persuade the people of Canada's oil capital to ride public transit. My friend Chrystia Freeland at the International Herald Tribune has a profile up today of Calgary's new mayor. It turns out he is a …

Written by David Frum on Friday April 1, 2011

The New Stealth Fighter Canada Doesn't Need

With Canada’s election campaign underway, the parties are fighting over the cost of new F-35 fighter-bombers. But their are bigger problems than just the price tag. Now that Canada’s federal election campaign is underway, it’s inevitable the issue of new F-35 stealth fighter-bombers will become …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday March 31, 2011

Ethnic Voter Outreach: Canadian Style

Canada's Conservatives have launched new ads in ethnic languages like Mandarin. They provide an important lesson to a GOP still unable to connect with minority voters. In the ongoing Canadian election campaign, we’re seeing a lot of examples for ethnic outreach done right – especially with the …

Written by Tim Mak on Tuesday March 29, 2011

Who Will Lead Canada's Economic Recovery?

Canada faces one question: Who should be trusted to manage the economic recovery? Those who want government to spend more or those who want government to tax less? Every Canadian election is built upon a question. Should the sponsorship scandal be punished? (2006) Shall Canada have free trade with …

Written by David Frum on Saturday March 26, 2011

Honor Killings are Always "Barbaric"

On Tuesday, Canadian MP Justin Trudeau took issue with describing honor killings as "barbaric." He's backtracking now, but it's too late to hide his goof-up. Even if one tries, it’s pretty hard to see Justin Trudeau as anything but something of a jerk. Yes, he’s an MP, but that’s no …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday March 17, 2011