For those curious about what I’m up to these days, I chatted with Susan Delacourt about correspondence in the PMO this week. Also contains some fun stories about what happens when the Prime Minister starts cold calling Canadians who wrote in to him.
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Calgary Grit: 2015 Person of the Year
Every December, I name a “Person of the Year” – the individual who left their mark on Canadian politics over the past year, for good or for bad. This isn’t an award for the best or the most admirable politician – it’s someone who had an impact. Below is a list of recent choices: 2014: Kathleen Wynne 2013: Rob Ford & Naheed Nenshi 2012: Allison Redford 2011: Jack Layton 2010: Rob Ford & Naheed Nenshi 2009: Jim Flaherty 2008: Stephane … →
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The Census Returns!
Here’s what I wrote about the Census back in 2010: The debate focuses on the long form. Those trying to axe the Census argue these questions are an invasion of privacy. “Why the hell should the government know what time I leave to go to work?” they shout angrily on
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Ready
Three years ago, there were very real questions being asked about whether or not the Liberal Party would still exist after the next federal election. The party was in a death spiral, having fallen to just 35 seats in the previous election. I was still blogging regularly at the time
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The West is in
When I first started blogging over ten years ago, I wasn’t sure a night like tonight would ever come to pass. But, ladies and gentlemen, I present your first TWO Calgary Liberal MPs in over 40 years: And a very honourable mention to Matt Grant in Calgary Confederation, who ran
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Calgary Grits
For Calgary Liberals who have had doors slammed in their faces, who have been the punchline of countless political jokes, who have worked hard for great candidates only to see them in single digits on election night. For all of you, yesterday was truly gratifying. Seeing the Liberal Party leader
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Ready
Advance polls are open. Be sure to get out and vote.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The First Debate
Looks ready to me.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Politicians in Cowboy Hats 2015: Lassoing Votes, Stampeding to the Polls, and Other Puns
For a brief history of Stampede fashion, you can read the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 round-ups – or “100 Years of Bad Photo-Ops“ All eyes were on Calgary this weekend, as Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau, and Thomas Mulcair kicked off the pre-election BBQ circuit. Despite
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Almost Blue
These days, it must feel good to be Thomas Mulcair. The polls show he has a chance to become Canada’s first NDP Prime Minister, and the entire country has been engulfed in an orange afterglow since the Alberta election. But as Uncle Ben once said, with great polling comes great
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Alberta didn’t change – but its image will
The defeat of the PCs seemed unthinkable a few months ago. The notion they could lose to the NDP would have been laughable. But this is how politics in Alberta works. Every 30 or 40 years, a Chinook blows over the mountain and sweeps in a new government who has
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Alberta’s Gilligan’s Island Election
Math is difficult. The most difficult math at the moment is figuring out where Prentice finds the 40 seats he needs for a majority. My latest for the Post: The 2012 clash between Danielle Smith and Alison Redford was an epic battle between two gifted politicians. It was must-see-TV for
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Alberta Politics Explodes
Welcome to Wildrose country A month ago, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek Alberta political primer about Jim Prentice’s inevitable march to a landslide election victory. So how’s that working out for him? The Mainstreet Technologies automated phone survey of 3,121 Alberta voters conducted on April 13 shows the Wildrose and NDP
Continue readingCalgary Grit: A Beginner’s Guide to Alberta Politics II
Blogging has been sporadic of late, but with Alberta barrelling towards an election, now is likely a good time for another Alberta Politics FAQ. When will the next Alberta election be? Alberta’s fixed-ish election date legislation calls for a vote between March 1st and May 31st, 2016. Prentice, being a
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Communications
Here’s a fun exercise for aspiring communications directors out there. Complete the following sentence, in a way that isn’t offesnive: “I’m going to put this in terms of colours but it’s not meant to be about race…”. Now try that, using the words “whities” and “brown people”.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: 2014 Person of the Year
Every December, I name a “Person of the Year” – the individual who left their mark on Canadian politics over the past year, for good or for bad. Below is a list of recent choices: 2013: Rob Ford & Naheed Nenshi 2012: Allison Redford 2011: Jack Layton 2010: Rob Ford
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The Wildrose Shrivels
Prepare to be assimilated – resistance is futile. Danielle Smith joins the Borg. It’s being spun as a “reconciliation”, but if reports are to be believed, it’s very much the Wildrose rebels crawling back to their former comrades and begging for their political lives. In exchange for blowing up their
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Don Iveson will stand the test of time
Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor not a politician! Naheed Nenshi has built a reputation as Canada’s coolest mayor, at least among young progressives. He’s big on the Twitter. He’s hip (by politician standards). He’s funny (by politician standards). He shatters the (unfair) stereotype of Calgary as Canada’s redneck wasteland. However,
Continue readingCalgary Grit: The Rob Anders Rejection Tour Continues
Rob Anders, hard at work I know I said I wouldn’t blog much over the next year, but if I have to come on here every time Rob Anders loses a nomination, I’m going to run out of bandwidth. Here was Rob back in July, on his decision to seek
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