reeves report
2011 Election
Globe columnist John Ibbitson talks politics and how the West has won
A standing room only crowd assembled last night at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto to hear Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson speak on the current state of Canadian political affairs. Ibbitson’s talk, it would seem, was convened to inform the assembled crowd of Toronto elite just how the consensus they historically had helped form … Continue reading
Are the NDP too dependent on Jack Layton?
I’ll be brief this time, because I know every pundit and their brother will be covering this story and making this speculation. But it’s worth asking – are the NDP too dependent on Jack Layton for their success? True, this success has been incredibly recent, and it is an exception in Canadian politics that the … Continue reading
Out on a Limb: In Defence of the (Political) Moral High Ground
This may be terribly naive of me (and I’m not ruling out that possibility, to be fair), but I am going to go out on a limb and make the following two statements: 1) the (political) moral high-ground is (often) worth defending; and 2) two wrongs do not make a right. I know, I know. … Continue reading
Canada’s divisive majority government
Who would have imagined that our first majority government in years would have the potential to be more divisive than any government containing separatist or regional-anger parties? Don’t believe me? Then don’t take my word for it – McGill professor and noted Canadian historian Desmond Morton wrote about it in today’s Ottawa Citizen. ‘A nation … Continue reading
And we thought the Liberals had soul searching to do…
And, to be fair, the Liberal Party of Canada certainly does. That the Bloc Quebecois is in an equally unenviable position – maybe even more unenviable, if that’s possible – does not take away from the steep uphill climb ahead of the Liberal Party and their growing membership base. But even the Liberal collapse is … Continue reading
Voter turnout by the numbers
The National Post took a look at how voter turnout played out across the country: who showed up last Monday to vote, and who stayed at home. The monumental task that will keep pollsters up to the wee hours of the morning for the next few months will be figuring out why those voters stayed … Continue reading
Dear Elizabeth: congratulations, but the real work lies ahead
Dear Elizabeth, You have done a lifetime’s worth of work already just to reach this moment, and on behalf of all Canadian citizens, whether they voted for you or not, thank you for the tireless work you have done – and will continue to do – on behalf of a grateful environment. Spearheading the breakthrough … Continue reading
Dear Gilles: why am I sad you’re gone?
Dear Gilles, Between friends – can I ask you something? You’re not a vampire, right? Some friends of mine have been saying you feast upon the blood of the innocent under the cover of darkness, and frankly, if that was true, I would have a small problem or two with that. So I just want … Continue reading
Dear Jack: Jesus tap-dancing Christ, right?
Dear Jack, Cancer and a hip replacement were the best things that ever happened to your political career. I mean…wow. I don’t know if what you were selling was that special, but man were Canadians buying it on Monday. And your love of nude shiatsu rubdowns in seedy Chinatown massage parlours only seemed to have … Continue reading
Dear Michael: Don’t Blame Yourself
Dear Michael, We never thought it would come to this. I mean, we knew it would be bad for you and for the Liberal Party last night, but I don’t suppose any of us thought it would be record-breakingly disappointing for you, your supporters, and the Natural Governing Party of this country. But politics being … Continue reading
