Calgary Grit

MONTREAL – Liberal stalwart Denis Coderre has resigned as the party’s Quebec lieutenant and defence critic. He says he will remain a member of Parliament but no longer believes he has the confidence of his leader, Michael Ignatieff. Coderre has expressed support for the leader, but fired a shot in Ignatieff’s direction at a news […]

I took in the MacLeans Democracy Roundtable on Wednesday, and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were at least half a dozen ideas and points raised that would make good blog post subjects in their own right, but rather than elaborate on each of them, I’ll just throw up a bunch of random musings from the event: […]

I like following leadership races, maybe even more than general elections. The candidates are less well know, the dynamics are more intriguing, and the results are less predictable. It’s great when the winner of the race has a legitimate shot at one day forming government, but there’s also something to be said for the characters […]

Hat Tip – Wells

David Miller won’t for re-election next year. Presumably, the early line would have John Tory, George Smitherman, and Karen Stintz as the favourites.

An open nomination in Outremont, involving the guy who held the riding for over a decade. Ignatieff’s star candidate gets the much more winnable Jeanne-Le Ber riding, where the local riding association (presumably) won’t resent her appointment. [UPDATE: Le Prohon will run in an open nomination in JLB too. Even better!]

1. Tory 10-percenters are mean. They’re inaccurate. But, they’re rarely stupid. Well, I said “rarely”: A Liberal MP says the latest taxpayer-funded mail-out to his district promoting federal Conservative policies has gone totally off track. Avalon MP Scott Andrews says the Conservatives sent a so-called “10-per- center” to his riding promoting the Harper government’s work […]

Stephen Harper has received some flack for his decision to skip Barack Obama’s address to the UN on climate change, in favour of a photo op at the Tim Hortons Innovation Centre. I know, I know. Donuts over diplomacy. It doesn’t look good. It makes Harper look like a leader who doesn’t give a rats […]

Lobster aid info hotline actually a sex line HALIFAX: Maritime lobster fishermen in need of financial help are getting a lift of another kind. A toll-free hotline number announced today by federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea for fishermen is actually a sex line. The hotline is supposed to offer details about a short-term assistance program. […]

Since everyone has been clamouring for Ignatieff to let Canadians know a bit more about his vision for the country, it’s great to see him giving speeches like this. Here are the Coles Notes: Champion Canadian business and technology• Improve upon Canada’s 13 out of 30 ranking in research and development by driving strategic investment […]