Alberta Digest: A Very Albertan coup

The latest installment in the dump the leader phenomenon arrived this week, this time moving across the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia into Alberta, where the surprise announcement of Tuesday that Alberta's Premier  Ed Stelmach had been handed his walking papers by his Progressive Conservative compatriots.

The announcement which seems to have captured not only Alberta but the rest of Canada by surprise, highlights the growing instability in party politics in the country, as just the whiff of fear of moves from the other side can send a party into a whirlwind.

Prior to the drama in usually staid old Alberta, the poster child of political mystery had been British Columbia, where not one but two parties are currently engaged in leadership campaigns, the opposition NDP having removed their leader with just the thought that the Liberals were about to choose a new leader.

Though considering the volatility of BC politics over the years, there wasn't all that much surprise at the dramatic developments engulfing both of the major parties.

But for Alberta, where lately governance seemed to be the divine right of the Conservatives, the removal of their leader in such a rather bloody affair is certainly something to talk about.

And talk they do, below some of the commentary from the Stelmach coup and what may come next in the latest member of the League of surprising developments.

Edmonton Journal-- Alberta's political landscape set for massive change
Edmonton Journal-- Welcome to unpredictable politics
Calgary Herald-- Who will lead?
Calgary Herald-- Negativity did in Ed, but can leaving save the party?
Globe and Mail-- Alberta Conservatives show Stelmach the exit
Globe and Mail-- Stelmach the latest casualty of resignation by coup
Globe and Mail-- A nice guy finishes in Alberta
Globe and Mail-- Conservative showdown prompts Stelmach resignation
National Post--  Life after Ed Stelmach
National Post-- With Stelmach's fall, Ted Morton is the man
The Economist-- Prairie fire
Toronto Star-- Alberta's falling star
Toronto Sun-- Alberta Tories downplay rift rumours

Gilles Duceppe's Dr. Evil moment

Many have called the happenings on Parliament Hill nothing but theatre, and no doubt there is a theatrical theme to the place from time to time, our MP's taking to their roles with relish, some over reaching at times, others grasping the material and making it their own.

This week it seems that auditions are being taken for the spring theatre presentation of  Austin Powers: The Pols Who Shagged Us , a melodrama featuring a cast of hundreds and one perhaps providing Gilles Duceppe with perhaps his greatest role, as none other than Dr. Evil.
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Mr. Duceppe's declaration that unless the government of Stephen Harper comes up with FIVE BILLION dollars in budget goodies for the home province, (certainly not the first time that he's expressed such a sentiment) has elicited the usual quotes and observations.

Among all the chatter around this latest move by the Independiste minded Bloc, the Conservatives on the Hill face the prospect  that the Bloc leader will set loose the Death Ray of this current parliament.

A move which despite their apparent anger of the moment, may prove to be helpful at election time depending of course how they handle the rather bold faced bit of extortion.

Needless to say, the financial demands of the Bloc isn't receiving the warmest of welcomes from the government ranks at the moment.

Globe and Mail-- Tories blast Duceppe's attempt at budget blackmail
Globe and Mail-- Bloc challenges Tories: Give Quebec $5 billion or the budget dies
National Post-- Don't give Quebec a nickel
National Post-- Bloc support for Harper will cost $5B,  Duceppe says
Montreal Gazette-- Bloc seeks $5 billion for Quebec in federal budget
Toronto Star-- We'll support federal budget... for $5B


Rehearsals for these Parliament Hill players will continue on through till February and the budget.

And while the kids continue to work on their lines, it really won't be known until after the Finance Minister delivers his financial prospectus that we'll all learn if they're all ready for Prime Time.

It's at that point that we'll hear the news if the big show is coming on the road for a spring run and set to appear at a community centre near us.

Alberta Digest: Seeking out the centre

Alberta politics are perhaps one of the most fluid in Canada, causes and parties sprout and disappear at a regular pace, offering up new themes on old ideas and with new faces for a new era.

The province that in the past brought us the days of government of Social Credit and such movements as the Reform Party and Western Canada Concept to name a few, has yet another new political project on the horizon, eager to offer up yet another option for Albertans to give thought to.

The latest addition to the Alberta political landscape is something called the Alberta Party, fashioned we imagine to a degree on neighbouring Saskatchewan's party with a similar moniker.

A home for the disenchanted with the status quo, hopeful that their offerings will find political acceptance among the electorate. It's into that space that the Alberta Party joins the debate in quest of some of those 83 legislature seats and a chance to shape the agenda of the province.

Independent MLA Dave Taylor has provided for the first bit of name recognition that the party has received, signing on with the Party on Monday and instantly touted as a possible leader of the fledgling movement.

With the more traditional Liberals and Conservatives still a force and the right of centre Wildrose Alliance making much noise these days, it would seem that the Alberta party is seeking to hold the centre, attracting dis-satisfied Liberals and Conservatives that aren't quite ready to lurch too far to the right side of the political spectrum.

Some of the background on the new movement in Alberta can be found below.

Globe and Mail-- In Alberta, a change in the political wind
Edmonton Journal -- Taylor's motive for switch still murky
Edmonton Journal-- Taylor gives heft to Alberta Party
Edmonton Journal-- MLA Taylor's switch to Alberta Party will 'hurt the Liberals,' prof says
National Post-- Former Liberal MLA joins fledgling Alberta Party
National Post-- A mixed blessing for Alberta's left
Calgary Herald-- Tories losing traditional political consensus
CHQR-- Professor says Alberta Party should look for disgruntled Tories

The Friends of Mr. Falcon

The British Columbia Liberal Party leadership race is starting to see a little pack separation, with Kevin Falcon joining Christy Clark as the perceived front runners in the race to replace outgoing (slow as it seems to be going) Premier Gordon Campbell.

When Ms. Clark entered the race she immediately seemed to grab the majority of the media attention and with it moved to the top of the list of potential replacements, since then only George Abbot and Kevin Falcon have found frequent mention for their efforts, trying to wrestle some of that media spot light away from the Clark campaign.

To that end, Mr. Falcon seems to be succeeding quicker than Mr. Abbot, Monday Falcon gained some valuable support from two Campbell cabinet ministers, Shirley Bond and Pat Bell, two northern based ministers who now provide a wider reach for the Falcon campaign and the appearance of support from the party establishment.

Vaughn Palmer of the Sun explains how Falcon has become the choice of the party loyalists, including it seems the choice of Premier Campbell though we imagine that isn't something that is going to appear on any Falcon campaign literature.

The latter point may be the Achilles heel in the Falcon campaign, if the party has heard the call from British Columbians for change that brought upon this leadership campaign in the first place, it would seem rather counter productive to select a candidate who perhaps best stands for the status quo and is associated, not to mention supported by the architect of the current state of distrust that the party finds itself in.

It may provide the hardest balancing act in politics, seeking to replace an unpopular leader by attracting his or her base, while creating the image of having your own agenda.

In fact in an earlier musing from Palmer,  the efforts that Falcon has gone to in order to try and put some distance between himself and the Premier were outlined.

Still despite the apparent desire of the inner circle of the Campbell cabinet to see Falcon rise to the top of the pack, down where the delegates sit the direction may yet be to go in another direction. Which is exactly where candidates Clark and Abbot seem to be staking out their turf.

Sometimes the tidal wave of support from within can end up washing a candidate out to sea when the tide moves back out.

Mr. Falcon is on the crest of that wave at the moment but the timing will be to secure the leadership bid and grab some solid permanent turf of his own before the political waters move out.

Victoria Times Colonist-- Bond, Bell endorse Falcon for leadership of BC Liberals
Vancouver Sun-- Candidates spar over MLA endorsements
Vancouver Province-- Candidates line up supporters
Vancouver Province-- Falcon's image fractured in search for fans
Vancouver Sun-- Business community support gives Falcon his wings
CKWX-- Falcon may be too cozy with business community
Globe and Mail-- Kevin Falcon adds two more ministers to his supporters

Quebec Digest: A few good days for Mr. Charest

With the retired Supreme Court Judge Michel Bastarache releasing his findings this week into the questions of influence peddling in Quebec's political sphere, the signal has been sent that in his opinion Premier Charest committed no fouls in the pursuit of judicial appointments. Lifting a weight off of the Premier's shoulders that had been pressing down on him for the last year.

The accusations of former justice minister Marc Bellemare painted much of the political portrait for politics in Quebec in the last year, casting much suspicion on the long running government of Charest and buoying up the forces of the Parti Quebecois who were making some political hay at the odour of scandal and visuals of a tired government that was dominating events from the Quebec National Assembly.

With the rejection of patronage accusations by the retired Mr. Justice Bastarache, the Quebec political scene continues to percolate over the state of the Liberal government, the ambitions of the PQ to make a return to power and indeed what may be the future of Premier Charest now that there is the perception that vindication as his to claim.

Though as some reports detail, all apparently is not accepted, nor necessarily forgiven in Quebec at the moment, making for for yet more interesting times for the province.

Some of the reviews from a busy week can be found below.

Montreal Gazette-- Bastarache unlikely to sway public opinion
Montreal Gazette-- Charest breathes sigh of relief
Montreal Gazette-- Bellemare hits radio circuit to bash Bastarache
Globe and Mail-- Premier Charest is vindicated
Globe and Mail-- Polls suggest Quebeckers don’t accept corruption inquiry findings
Toronto Star-- Charest can now exit with some grace
CBC-- Bastarache report mandate flawed: PQ leader

British Columbia Digest: On the plus side they're not making new mistakes

Les Leyne of the Victoria Times Colonist provides the most apt description of the pursuit of good governance in British Columbia these days, with a column in the Times Colonist that explains that with the two main political parties currently engaged in leadership campaigns, the government itself seems to be running quite smoothly on its own, benign neglect apparently a good thing.

Or as he puts it so brilliantly in his column " on the plus side they're not making any new mistakes", though he does add the caveat that they're not necessarily fixing any of their old ones either.

His review of what passes for the day to day operation of the British Columbia government these days can be found here, and is well worth a read.

Electoral rumblings roll out of Ottawa

Perhaps MP's are anxious to escape the coldest portion of an Ottawa winter, ready to trade in slushing through the snow of their home riding's in a quest for a return engagement in Canada's sometimes theatre of the absurd.

And while the hints of this week may not lead to an election campaign any time soon, it does seem that all of the federal parties are preparing their troops for what now seems like an inevitable 2011 election campaign.

And while we probably won't be battling the snowdrifts (or monsoon like rains for the West Coasters) on the way to cast a vote, the most likely period of time for a national vote being bounced around has Canadians making the trek to the polling booth sometime this Spring.

As we examined on the blog earlier this week, the hints first started with the debut of some Conservative attack ads which rehashed the theme of Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff as but a wandering traveller of the Canadian political landscape, ready to bolt back to the welcoming arms of academic life in but a moment's notice.

The ads had barely had their first cycle of the nation's television options when we learned of an internal NDP memo which put the party's workers on alert that the writ could be dropped any day and it was best to be prepared.

Today it was the turn of the Liberals to show that there's no moss gathering under the toes, as they launched their own advertising blitz highlighting the theme of the day being a question "if this is your Canada or Harper's?" 


Even the Bloc Quebecois is feeling the election fever, providing their own talking points of an anticipation of holding onto their domination of the Quebec electoral count in the next federal election.


All in all a process that offers up a thought that this minority government may be heaving its final gasps of breath, providing for the prospect of "an election if necessary, but not necessarily an election".

Some of the political commentary on the latest excitement from the Hill can be found below.

Globe and Mail-- NDP girds for next possible election window
Globe and Mail-- Spring election? How the Quebec factor might play out
National Post-- Liberals position themselves to the left of NDP
National Post-- Liberals, after decrying attack ads, launch their own
Toronto Star-- Harper fixated on keeping Liberal enemy in sight
Toronto Star-- How about a Harper-Layton coalition?
Toronto Star-- Leaders racing through red election lights
Toronto Sun-- Stephen Harper winning pre-election bouts
Toronto Sun-- New Tory ads flunk the feeling test
Toronto Sun-- Coalition called out
Macleans-- How to translate double-talk
Macleans-- Ignatieff's new target

National Capital Digest: And now a word from our sponsors

The political rhetoric out of Ottawa is bound to heat up now that the Conservatives have brought to the airwaves that take on the leaders of the other parties.

The ads, which have the tone of an election campaign to them, are as the Conservatives put it "drawing attention to the intention of Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to force an election", not to be left out of the on air barbs is NDP leader Jack Layton, who the Conservatives suggest is "desperate for power".

The National Post reviews the ads and the background behind them, as well as a link for those that wish to review them for themselves.

Paul Wells at Macleans and Jane Taber at the Globe and Mail also provide a window into the world of the attack ad.

We imagine that television advertising firms and network ad salesman are giving them two thumbs up, that is when they aren't busy counting the cash that is surely to stream in from a full scale ad war between the three parties.

Calling for Mr. Cullen

While the British Columbia NDP continue to accept resumes for the position of leader for the party, a federal MP from the province is feeling some pressure from back home to step into the contest.

Nathan Cullen, the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley has been busy these last few days answering phone calls and receiving e mail requests that he change his political compass to Victoria from Ottawa.

In his home riding local media has been quick to pick up on the theme of Cullen returning home to take a shot at the NDP leadership in the province, the Terrace Standard offered up this review of the efforts to bring him home thus far. 

While the regional TV station CFTK provided this look at the draft Cullen plans, over on Haida Gwaii, the QCI Observer made note of the push to have Cullen come back to the province as well.

The idea of Mr. Cullen entering the race was first floated in the days following the political coup launched by the dissidents of the NDP, at the time Cullen offered up the thought that while flattered he still had work to do in Ottawa.

At the time he provided these talking points for CFTK, the Terrace Standard and Prince Rupert's Northern View.

However, as the last month has evolved, he seems to be softening his stance on the provincial leadership race, leaving open perhaps a crack in the door for his entry.

A few observers of the current troubles of the NDP have suggested that an entry by Mr. Cullen, distanced as he is from the recent coup of the dissidents, he may be the one political move that will bring the fractious NDP back into a cohesive unit able to take on whichever Liberal comes out of that party's current leadership process.

Update: Mr. Cullen it seems is sticking with his original plan, in a press release provided through his website on Monday afternoon, the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley advises that he's going to stick with his Federal ambitions.


The Terrace Standard offered up this review of events.

Nova Scotia Digest: Please make the following change in your Legislature program

A walk across the floor is in store for political observers in Nova Scotia today, as well known Conservative MLA Karen Casey heads over to the Liberals.

The one time interim Conservative Party leader, who held the position of Minister of Education and Health during her time with the government has apparently found the policy briefings of the Liberals more to her liking in this new year and joined the Liberals.

The Chronicle Herald provides some background on today's change in name plates.

National Capital Digest: Ideas, Ideas anyone have some ideas?

With a budget on the horizon the Harper Conservatives will soon be seeking the opinion of Canadians as to how to best spend those federal dollars.

MP's have been tasked to continue on with the process started by cabinet, of looking for ways to continue to implement the government's Economic Action Plan, though without any grand injection of government funding to get whatever results may be desired.

The Globe and Mail reviews the Harper blue print of consultation here.

Seeking votes one yard at a time with Larry Smith

Much is being made in the Quebec press the last few days about the bid by recently named Senator Larry Smith to seek a seat in Parliament, a potential chink in the Liberal wall of West Montreal that has been the domain of the Grits through the modern era of Quebec politics.

Conservatives, and Prime Minister Harper in particular are hopeful that the public image of Smith, his past association with the Montreal Alouettes and time at the helm of the Montreal Gazette may translate into a starting point for a larger expansion of the Conservative base in the province.

It was pointed out, that  this time Mr. Smith will be seeking office without the benefit of a cabinet post,  unlike the last unsuccessful attempt that saw a Conservative Senator seek office by way of Cabinet placement  of the upper chamber, a situation where things didn't quite work out the way it was planned (bonjour Monsieur Fortier!).

The message as pointed out by Eric Duhaime of the Sun newspaper chain, being that political reward and clout could arrive by the ballot box.

Much like that which voters north of Toronto gained with their election of Julian Fantino in  a by-election last month, a possible replay could be in the cards should Mr. Smith's message resonate with the voters of Lac St. Louis.

Though he may need to provide a bit of refinement to that message if the reaction to his opening salvo of campaigning  is any indication, in particular his rather ham handed declaration of the financial sacrifice he is making to serve the public.

A missive that is never a popular talking point, especially considering the serf like wages that perhaps Mr. Smith feels he will be making, still would make for a pretty rewarding payday for most Canadians.

Of course, the process of putting Mr. Smith into a desk on the Hill will have to wait until the next federal election, though judging by all the flurry of activity in some key riding's across the country, the campaign trail may beckon sooner than later.

Some of the observations on his candidacy can be found below:

Montreal Gazette-- A gift to us from Stephen Harper: Larry Smith
Montreal Gazette-- Quebec's right wing welcomes Smith run
CTV.ca-- Liberals ready for challenge in Montreal stronghold
West Island Chronicle-- Larry Smith to run for Tories in Lac St. Louis 
Globe and Mail-- Tories hope Smith's star appeal will bring victory in Montreal
Globe and Mail-- Harper’s Great Quebec Hope: ‘Parties and people can make errors’

British Columbia Digest: Harry Lali for the old guys

Harry Lali, launches his bid for the BC NDP Leadership and takes a swipe at the NDP's gender equity policies, positioning himself as the champion for aging males feeling a little left out of the new era of NDP philosophy.

Some of the quotes and reactions below.

I'm just wild about Harry
Lali promises a voice to "older white males" as he enters the NDP race
Lali takes aim at equity quotas in declaring candidacy for NDP leader
NDP's Lali defiantly enters leader's race
Harry Lali says he's standing up for "older white males"

Shuffling across the 905

Tuesday's Federal cabinet shuffle, seems to be setting the stage for political battle in the vote rich 905 area of Southern Ontario.

A sprawling patch of the political landscape which has frequently been the domain of the Liberals, but one which the Conservatives believe is ready to be claimed.

To that mission they have promoted recently elected MP Julian Fantino to the Harper cabinet, shoring up the ever popular law and order message of the Conservatives and providing instant results for voters of the region who sent Mr. Fantino to Ottawa.

The long time police chief of a number of Ontario forces, will provide the face for the reinforcement of the justice agenda of the Conservatives, while his actual cabinet duties will be as a minister of state for seniors, a core group for Conservative support across the country.

Mr. Harper also promoted Peter Kent, the former broadcaster who had a deputy position as a minister of state for foreign affairs and now moves into the starter's rotation. Mr. Kent will be taking on the Environment portfolio, a position that has been somewhat of a lost cause over the last few years, owing to the Conservatives mixed messages on that front.

Mr. Kent, it is anticipated, will provide that Ministry with a higher profile and provide Toronto area residents with another seat around the cabinet table and according to some political observers will be the point man in the battle orders for Ontario whenever an election comes about.

The twin Ontario moves offer a higher profile for the Greater Toronto Area in Ottawa, bringing the total to six cabinet ministers for the immediate region, another chip away at the Liberal grasp of the GTA, while concentrating on the vast acreages of suburbia that have developed north of the city over the last few decades.

As the minority government of Mr. Harper moves into yet another new year, the annual whispers of a potential spring election are starting to circulate around Parliament Hill.

If nothing else, the minor shuffle of this week will offer up a sign to Toronto area Conservatives that the party believes there is a chance to take more seats from vote rich southern Ontario.

Decidedly focusing their gaze on those areas where they suspect they'll have the best success, hopeful that some of those efforts may have a spillover effect on swing riding's in the region that will be in play whenever the writ is eventually dropped.

Some of the reviews of the shuffle can be found below.

Globe and Mail-- Harper's shuffle makes sense both inside and out
Globe and Mail-- A changing climate - just not in cabinet
National Post-- Stay the course
National Post-- Kent's deft touch will be an asset
Toronto Star-- Cocky federal Liberals may lose T. O.
Toronto Star-- Cautious Harper shuffles cabinet, holds card
Toronto Star-- Harper's cabinet shuffle a major boost for Toronto
Toronto Sun-- Don't fear PM's agenda
Toronto Sun-- Tories see glory in Toronto's 905 region
Edmonton Journal-- Harper woos Toronto
Montreal Gazette-- Harper chose to tweak rather than shuffle his cabinet

Potheads and Pinheads?

With apologies to Bill O'Reilly for the near appropriation of his recent book title...

When Jenny Kwan and her merry band of dissidents, unleashed Operation dump the leader, we wonder if they had visions of a leadership race that seems to be attracting more in the way of chuckles than the prospect of voters.

When Ms. Kwan and her twelve fellow MLA's declared that Carole James had to go, perhaps it might have been a good idea to have an actual plan in place as to who might lead the NDP into the new era of enlightenment.

Or at least maybe have a few legitimate names for the short list.

As it is, thus far in the debate over where the NDP is going to go, the agenda seems to be the domain of proponents of marijuana and an MLA who it would seem has a pretty short fuse and a less than conciliatory attitude.

Two candidates have come forward so far to suggest that they have the vision to lead the party in its new direction, Marijuana advocate Dana Larsen, who while not particularly well received by NDP officials has found a rather formidable advocate for his candidacy having been endorsed by Tommy Chong, which should be helpful for celebrity endorsements.

Nicholas Simons, one of the dissident 13 of December has also entered the race,  making his campaign debut with a two part review on You Tube, see here and here, offering what he describes as a new voice for the party and province and wishing to put all that hullabaloo of the last month behind him.

His entry to the race has been documented by Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun, who outlines how his wish to put the past behind him may be but wishful thinking, especially considering the apparent combative nature he has provided in that past.

The two candidacies so far, weird as it all may seem, may actually be just the sideshow to a larger issue for the NDP, that being it's own constitutional rules, which as David Schreck points out will limit the leadership campaign to the female gender, unless they remove one of the two higher party officials in place at the moment who are men.

The entire leadership turmoil has clearly taken the heat off the Liberals, who up until the palace coup of December were becoming the poster children for political dysfunction, what with a Premier who was leaving but not too fast and the anchor of the HST draining away their credibility with would be voters.

But shazam and wham, the NDP 13 went all Soprano's on Ms. James and now have left the NDP to travel the path of dysfunction, leaving former leader Mike Harcourt (he himself the victim of one of these semi frequent leadership cannibalism sessions) to urge the faithful and any would be newcomers to the party to stay the course, as the "heavies are about to enter the race".

The "heavies"had best hurry, the Liberals are taking much of the media file these days with a rather energetic leadership campaign, offering up at least three serious candidates who all at the moment are providing a variety of policy options.

By the time the NDP finally gets its act together to offer up some kind of policy direction, it may already be too late.

The damage having been done, by political miscalculation and ego. Providing for an unnecessary bit of theatre that may very well banish them to the opposition benches for another four year term, and delivering an even worse fate for MLA's and candidates caught up in the discombobulation.

Vancouver Sun-- NDP renewal faces rocky road
Victoria Times Colonist-- NDP race off to stumbling start
The Tyee-- Candidates joining leadership race

Electronic listening post

Links to audio archives, podcasts and such pertaining to the political events of the nation.

National

CBC Television (audio feed, video feed)

Cross Country Check Up-- CBC Radio
The Current-- CBC Radio
As it Happens-- CBC Radio
The House-- CBC Radio
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight -- CBC Radio
At Issue Panel -- CBC Television
The Insiders -- CBC Television
Mansbridge One on One-- CBC Television

Charles Adler Tonight -- Corus Radio
The Agenda With Steve Paikin -TVO Ontario


British Columbia

John McComb Show -- CKNW
Simi Sara Show -- CKNW
Steele and Drex -- CKNW
Jill Bennett -- CKNW
Money Talks -- CKNW

Martin Strong -- Roundhouse Radio
Sense of Place-- Roundhouse Radio
Business in Vancouver -- Roundhouse Radio
Live from Railtown -- Roundhouse Radio
Janice and Cory -- Roundhouse Radio
Kirk Lapointe -- Roundhouse Radio

Al Ferraby -- CFAX Victoria
Adam Stirling -- CFAX Victoria
Joe Perkins -- CFAX Victoria
Pamela McCall -- CFAX Victoria
Mark Brennae -- CFAX Victoria


Early edition-- CBC Radio One British Columbia
BC Almanac-- CBC Radio One British Columbia
On the Coast-- CBC Radio British Columbia
Daybreak North -- CBC Radio Prince George-Prince Rupert
Daybreak Kamloops -- CBC Kamloops
Daybreak South -- CBC Okanagan
Daybreak On the Island -- CBC Vancouver Island

CFUV -- University of Victoria
CJSF -- Simon Fraser University
CITR -- University of British Columbia
Heatwave Radio -- UBC at Kelowna
CFUR -- University of Northern British Columbia
Evolution 107 -- British Columbia Institute of Technology

Voice of BC -- Shaw Community Cable


Alberta

Rutherford-- AM 770 CHQR (Audio Vault, 9 am to Noon)
Calgary Eyeopener-- CBC Radio One Alberta
Alberta@Noon-- CBC Radio One Alberta
The Homestretch-- CBC Radio One Alberta (Calgary)
Edmonton AM-- CBC Radio One Alberta (Edmonton)

Non traditional media commentators

British Columbia

Bill Tieleman -- 24 Hours/The Tyee
David Schreck-- Strategic Thoughts
Sean Holman-- Public Eye Online
Rafe Mair-- Rafe Mair Online
The Tyee -- The Hook Political portal

Political columnists

National


Christie Blatchford-- Globe and Mail
Jeffrey Simpson-- Globe and Mail
Lawrence Martin-- Globe and Mail
Margaret Wente-- Globe and Mail
John Ibbitson-- Globe and Mail
Adam Radawanski-- Globe and Mail
John Ivison-- National Post
Kelly McParland-- National Post
Diane Francis-- National Post
Matt Gurney--National Post
Monte Solberg-- Sun Media
Peter Worthington-- Sun Media
David Akin-- Sun Media
Eric Duhaime-- Sun Media
Mark Bonokoski-- Sun Media
Ezra Levant-- Sun Media
Warren Kineslla-- Sun Media
Mercedes Stephenson-- Sun Media


British Columbia


Vaughn Palmer -- Vancouver Sun
Barbara Yaffe-- Vancouver Sun
Michael Smyth-- Vancouver Province
Les Leyne-- Victoria Times Colonist
Tom Hawthorn-- Globe and Mail
Gary Mason-- Globe and Mail

Alberta

Graham Thomson-- Edmonton Journal
Capital Notebook-- Edmonton Journal
Don Braid-- Calgary Herald
Susan Martinuk-- Calgary Herald
Ian Robinson-- Calgary Sun
Rick Bell--Edmonton Sun

Saskatchewan

Doug Cuthand-- Saskatoon Star Phoenix
John Gormley-- Saskatoon Star Phoenix
Gerry Klein-- Saskatoon Star Phoenix

American Post Archives

Original items about American politics as posted to our D'Arcy McGee portal.

August 18-- The Stock markets' not the only thing that's volatile
August 17-- And the wheels on the bus go round and round
August 16-- But What about Ron?
August 14-- Well, they clearly like Randy Travis in Iowa

The International Scene Post archives

Original items about World Politics as posted to our D'Arcy McGee portal.

September 1-- There's honest opinion and then there's the ever loquacious Silvio...
August 17-- Nicky and Angie try herding cats

Quebec Digest: A few good days for Mr. Charest

Snapshots of newsmaking items for the province of British Columbia, items that we haven't fleshed out into full fledged blog items, but caught our attention.

January 22-- A few good days for Mr. Charest

From the National Capital

Original items about Federal politics as posted to our D'Arcy McGee portal.

September 1-- The fond farewell to a Social Democrat
August 22-- Cancer claims Jack Layton at age 61
August 18-- Jack Layton's absence to continue on into September
August 16-- Footsteps, Pierre is hearing footsteps
August 16-- Aye, Ready Aye, Captain!
August 15-- Hmmm, they may want to think over the optics of this one...
August 15-- Opportunistic, trumps idealistic every time!
July 17-- What Bob Rae did on his summer vacation
May 27-- Caretaker Bobby is on watch
May 10-- With new responsibilities comes the need for help
May 6-- Perhaps what they need is a missing person's bureau on the Hill
February 18-- As if we don't confuse our American friends as it is...
February 10-- Cheryl Gallant goes into the deep end and no one has a life preserver
January 27-- Gilles Duceppe's Dr. Evil moment
January 21-- Electoral rumblings roll out of Ottawa

Ontario Post archive

Original items about Ontario politics as posted to our D'Arcy McGee portal.

January 6-- Shuffling across the 905

National Capital Archives

Items of interest from the National Capital can be found below

Original items from D'Arcy McGee
National Capital Digest

Quebec Post archives

Original items about Quebec politics as posted to our D'Arcy McGee portal.

August 16-- Quand une porte se ferme, une autre s'ouvre
August 16-- Reports of Mr. Charest's demise are greatly exaggerated
January 8-- Seeking votes one yard at a time with Larry Smith

British Columbia post archives

Original items about British Columbia politics as posted to our D'Arcy McGee portal.

May 14-- Well, this could end badly
February 18-- Culling the Liberal herd in BC
January 25-- The friends of Mr. Falcon
January 17-- Calling for Mr. Cullen
January 6-- Potheads and Pinheads?

Alberta Digest

Snapshots of newsmaking items for the province of Alberta, items that we haven't fleshed out into full fedged blog items, but caught our attention.


February 1-- Doesn't anyone want their job anymore?
January 27-- A Very Albertan coup
January 25-- Seeking out the centre

British Columbia Digest

Snapshots of newsmaking items for the province of British Columbia, items that we haven't fleshed out into full fedged blog items, but caught our attention.

February 10-- Claws out at fifty paces
January 22-- On the plus side they''re not making new mistakes
January 7-- Harry Lali for the old guys

The Bookshelf

Books of note on the Political scene, both in Canada and Internationally.

Canada


Conservatives/Reform


The Longer I'm Prime Minister: Stephen Harper and Canada, 2006 -
Paul Wells (October 2014)

Party of One
Michael Harris (October 2014)

Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his think tank colleagues have transformed Canada
Donald Gutstein (September 2014)

The Big Shift: The Seismic Change in Canadian Politics, Business and Culture and what it means
Darrell Bricker, John Ibbitson (February 2013)

How Ottawa Spends, 2014-2015: The Harper Government- Good to Go?
Christopher Stoney, G. Bruce Doern

Harperland: The Politics of Control
Lawrence Martin

Rogue in Power: Why Stephen Harper is remaking Canada
Christian Nadeau (March 2011)

The Secret Mulroney Tapes: Unguarded Confessions of a Prime Minister
Peter C. Newman

Storming Babylon
Don Braid, Sydney Sharpe

No Holds Barred
John Crosbie

French Kiss: Stephen Harper's Blind Date with Quebec
Chantal Hebert (September 2008)


Liberals

Common Ground
Justin Trudeau (October 2014)

The Truth About Trudeau
Bob Plamondon (May 2013)

Extraordinary Canadians: Pierre Elliot Trudeau: A Penguin Lives Biography
Nino Ricci (September 2012)

Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Vol Two: 1968-2000
John English (September 2010)

Citizen of the World: The Life of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Vol One: 1919-1968
John English (August 2007)

Trudeau's Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Pierre Elliot Trudeau
Andrew Cohen/J. J. Granatstein (September 1999)

Hell or High Water: My Life in and out of Politics
Paul Martin

Straight from the Heart
Jean Chretien




NDP

Building the Orange Wave: The Inside Story Behind the Historic Rise of Jack Layton and the NDP
Brad Lavigne (October 2013)

Love, Hope, Optimism: An Informal Portrait of Jack Layton by those who knew him
Charis Wahl, James L. Turk (August 2012)

Inside the NDP War Room: Competing for Credibility in a Federal Election 
James S. McLean (October 2012)

Speaking Out Louder: Ideas That Work For Canadians
Jack Layton (September 2011)

The Good Fight
David Lewis

The Pursuit of Power
Judy Steed

The Life and Political times of Tommy Douglas
Walter Stewart

Under Siege: The Federal NDP in the nineties
Ian McLeod



Bloc Quebecois/Parti Quebecois


The Antagonist
Lawrence Martin

Rene Levesque and the Parti Quebecois in Power
Graham Fraser and Ivon Owen

Rene: A Canadian in search of a country
Peter Desbarats




General Overview

While Canada Slept: How We Lost Our Place in the World
Andrew Cohen (March 2015)

Rise to Greatness - The History of Canada
Conrad Black (Nov 2014)

The Morning After: The 1995 Quebec Referendum And the Day That Almost Was
Chantal Hebert

Irresponsible Government: The Decline of Parliamentary Democracy in Canada
Brent Rathgeber (September 2014)

Equal as Citizens: The tumultuous and trouble history of a great Canadian idea
Richard Starr (May 2014)

The Night Canada Stood Still
Robert Wright (May 2014)

Tragedy in the Commons: Former Members of Parliament Speak Out About Canada's Failing Democracy 
Alison Loat, Michael Mcmillan (April 2014)

Shopping for Votes: How Politicians Choose Us and We Choose Them
Susan Delacourt (September 2013)

Across the Aisle: Opposition in Canadian Politics
David E. Smith (May 2013)

Power Trap: How Fear and loathing between New Democrats and Liberals keep Stephen Harper in power
Paul Adams (September 2012)



American Politics


Hard Choices
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Decision Points
George W. Bush


True Compass: A Memoir
Edward M. Kennedy

The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House
Bob Woodward

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Barack Obama






World Politics


Midnight in Europe: A Novel
Alan Furst (March 2015)

A Journey: My Political Life
Tony Blair

The Downing Street Years
Margaret Thatcher

A New Ireland
John Hume

Beyond the Crash
Gordon Brown