Quebec MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected as new House of Commons Speaker
Conservative MPs Chris d'Entremont and John Nater both put their names forward but withdrew on the House floor before the election began Monday morning.
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Global News
17 minutes ago
- Global News
Texas Democrat sleeps in House chamber in protest of GOP police escort
A Democratic lawmaker has vowed to stay in the Texas Capitol rather than accept an around-the-clock police escort that Republicans imposed to keep her and her colleagues from leaving the state again and further delaying the GOP's redrawing of congressional districts as President Donald Trump wants. State Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth said in an interview Tuesday she would sleep on the House floor until Labour Day if she had to, reports NBC News. As of Tuesday afternoon, she's remained in the room for more than 24 hours. It's a further act of resistance from Collier, who joined dozens of Texas Democrats in a two-week walkout after Democrats in California heeded Gov. Gavin Newsom's call to counter the GOP effort in Texas by redrawing districts there. And while the walk-out ended Monday, Collier vowed to sleep on the House floor, refusing to sign what Democratic lawmakers are calling 'permission slips' to leave the building and accept around-the-clock surveillance. Story continues below advertisement Collier described it as an attack on her dignity and an effort to control her movements. 'I don't want to bring that into my neighbourhood. I don't need to add any more law enforcement in areas that are already over-policed,' Collier told The Washington Post on Monday evening as she prepared to spend the night. 'My community has sent me here to be a fighter, and this is the way that I am fighting.' 'They're taking away our vote,' Collier added, referring to the GOP's redistricting plan. 'I'm not going to let them take away my voice.' It was very cold spending on the #txlege Floor! Rep. @VinceMPerez & I joined @NicoleCollier95 in support of making #GoodTrouble! We know this is a #riggedredistricting process. Democrats are not giving up! Thanks for the support, standing with @TexasHDC, & we have coffee! — Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) August 19, 2025 Republicans are trying to prevent a repeat of the boycott that denied the House enough members to meet and prevented it from doing any business. Dozens of lawmakers fled to Democratic-led states, including California, Illinois and Massachusetts, to stay out of the reach of Texas law enforcement officers trying to bring them back. Story continues below advertisement Collier told The Washington Post that legislative staffers offered to leave a Capitol bathroom unlocked for her and that her colleagues were bringing her food. She said she was allowed to visit her office with a police escort. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Early Tuesday morning, she shared a photo to X, claiming she spent the night sleeping upright in a chair on the House floor, complete with a bonnet, eye mask and several blankets and pillows. As of Tuesday afternoon, Collier remained in the room, and continued to livestream her protest on X. Rep. Collier in House Chamber Live — Nicole Collier (@NicoleCollier95) August 19, 2025 Story continues below advertisement 'At what point, what is it going to take for us to say 'enough is enough?' Yesterday was my moment. Enough is enough,' Collier said in an interview Tuesday with NBC News, as someone brought out a mattress for her to sleep on during her second night of protest. 'I see it. The writing is on the wall. They want power at all costs. And you're not taking it from me without a fight.' According to The Washington Post, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R), who ordered the Democratic lawmakers to be monitored by police if they left the state Capitol, was indifferent to Collier's protest. 'Rep. Collier's choice to stay and not sign the permission slip is well within her rights under the House Rules. I am choosing to spend my time focused on moving the important legislation on the call to overhaul camp safety, provide property tax reform and eliminate the STAAR test — the results Texans care about,' Burrows said in a statement, referring to standardized tests for Texas students. Trump trying to avoid a congressional check on him Both Trump and the Democrats are looking ahead to the 2026 midterms knowing that they often go against the president's party, as they did during Trump's first term in 2018. Republicans currently have a seven-seat majority in the 435-member House. Story continues below advertisement State legislatures draw the lines after each U.S. census in most states — including Texas — and only a few dozen House districts are competitive. In Texas, Republicans hold 25 of 38 seats, and they're trying to increase that to 30. In California, Democrats have 43 of the 52 seats, and they're trying to boost that to 48, to wipe out the advantage the GOP would gain from redrawing lines in Texas. California more complicated for Democrats In some ways, the nation's most populous state, California, is a reverse-mirror image of the nation's second-most populous state, Texas. Democrats are even more firmly in control of state government there than Republicans are in Texas, with Democratic supermajorities in both California legislative chambers. But California's districts were drawn by an independent commission created by a statewide vote in 2008 after years of intense partisan battles over redistricting. Story continues below advertisement Democrats are trying to avoid legal challenges to a new map by asking voters to approve it as an exception to the normal process, which would require a special election in November. Texas has no such commission, so its legislature doesn't have to seek voters' approval for its maps. California lawmakers returned Monday to the state capital from a summer break. They are scheduled to remain in session through Sept. 12. California begins voting on proposed congressional map California Democrats are expected to advance their proposal out of committees Tuesday and Wednesday. They have already received more than 13,000 public comments through an online portal, and the committee hearings offer the public a chance to provide feedback to lawmakers in person. Dozens of residents from up and down the state, leaders of local Republican groups and the conservative California Family Council showed up to a hearing Tuesday to voice opposition to the Democrats' plan. Story continues below advertisement Some said the process has been shrouded in secrecy because the map was drawn without meaningful public input. Others said they would rather lawmakers focus on addressing issues instead of trying to bypass a bipartisan redistricting process. — With files from The Associated Press
Toronto Sun
17 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Poilievre win affirms leader's political relevance, say pundits
"Carney started with his elbows up, but now he's tucked tail," says pundit Stephen Taylor on the PM's inability to secure a trade deal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks in front of workers at EnQuest Energy Solutions in Calgary on Aug. 7, 2025. (Brent Calver, Postmedia) OTTAWA — This week's byelection win for Canada's Conservative leader puts to rest any doubts about his political relevance, pundits say. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Alex Brown, a director with the National Citizens Coalition, told the Toronto Sun that Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre's win in Battle River-Crowfoot on Monday — a victory that returns him to the House of Commons — proves he's still got something to add to Canada's political discourse. 'The thing that comes to my mind is to remind people that Stephen Harper, Jean Chretien, Diefenbaker, Churchill, Thatcher, Reagan, Lincoln — I'm not saying he's as lofty as some of these characters — but they all lost multiple elections before winning the big one,' he said. 'What they're putting together there, particularly with support from young voters and a more working class Canadian worker approach. I believe it has the chance to be a sustainable force.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Stephen Taylor, a partner at Shift Media, said the Conservatives need somebody like Poilievre at the helm right now. 'He's a dynamic leader for the Conservatives,' he said. 'He energizes the base, he energizes the party — people in the party are actually excited by his leadership, his tone and his tactics in the House.' Poilievre was ousted from his suburban Ottawa seat of Carleton in the April 28 federal election, forcing him to run his party from outside of the House of Commons. Monday night saw Poilievre win the riding by winning 80% of the vote, topping the second-place finisher — independent Bonnie Critchley — by over 35,500 votes. Recommended video Brown said with Poilievre back in the House of Commons, the Conservatives are better able to take on the Mark Carney Liberals and their conspicuous stutter-start on rolling out his lofty list of commitments made during the spring election. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're seeing little material progress on some major core campaign promises, whether it's fleeing capital, rising unemployment, unaffordable homes, endless and higher tariffs, the growing gap in GDP-per-capita between the U.S and Canada, slow starts on immigration, these anxieties aren't going anywhere. ' Brown said. Taylor said Canada's failing relationship with the United States — coupled with Carney's inability to negotiate a trade deal with the White House — needs to be front-and-centre when the fall session begins Sept. 15. 'Mark Carney was elected on a promise to deal with Donald Trump and get concessions from Donald Trump, and we've seen no such thing,' he said. 'Carney's record on trade and the bilateral relationship has been quite underwhelming — Mark Carney started with his elbows up, but now he's tucked tail.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Read More Toronto Blue Jays NHL Canada Sunshine Girls World
Winnipeg Free Press
17 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Poilievre happy to keep old beater running, even if it's stuck in reverse
Opinion The federal Conservatives want to kill Ottawa's electric vehicle mandate. That's their solution to the many challenges Canada faces in transitioning to a low-emissions transportation sector. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has made no secret of his disdain for the policy, which requires that all new light-duty vehicles sold in Canada by 2035 be either fully electric or plug-in hybrid. A phase-in period is scheduled to begin next year. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES It's Poilievre's latest wedge issue — one he hopes will be as successful politically as the 'axe the tax' campaign he waged against the Liberal government's consumer carbon tax (which Prime Minister Mark Carney scrapped earlier this year). Granted, there are legitimate concerns with Ottawa's EV target, especially in a country with long winters, sprawling geography and a patchwork of inadequate charging infrastructure. But cancelling the mandate outright would be reckless, given what's at stake with climate change. Canada has already been experiencing the costly effects of global warming — out-of-control wildfires that are devastating communities coast-to-coast, extreme heat and more intense storms. Transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions in Canada, accounting for almost a quarter of the total. About half of those emissions came from cars and light passenger trucks in 2023. If we're serious about curbing those emissions, we can't simply throw up our hands and stick with the status quo. Expecting Canadians to embrace electric vehicles, including hybrid plug-ins, en masse without ensuring affordability, reliable performance in cold weather and easy access to charging stations is putting the cart before the horse. That doesn't mean the Liberal plan is flawless. Far from it. Ottawa has set an ambitious deadline but hasn't fully equipped Canadians to meet it. Expecting Canadians to embrace electric vehicles, including hybrid plug-ins, en masse without ensuring affordability, reliable performance in cold weather and easy access to charging stations is putting the cart before the horse. For most Canadians, the biggest barrier to buying an EV today is price. While costs have come down in recent years, electric vehicles remain considerably more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts. Ottawa had an EV rebate program, but the program ran out of money. There's talk of bringing in a new one. The second challenge is performance in Canada's climate. Anyone who has driven or tested an EV in -30°C knows battery range drops significantly in the cold, sometimes by as much as 30 to 40 per cent. That's not a minor inconvenience for Canadians who live in rural or northern regions, where driving distances are longer and charging stations are few and far between. People need to know that their vehicle will get them from A to B reliably, even in the dead of winter. Manufacturers are making progress, but cold-weather performance is still a major hurdle that has to be overcome before Canadians can have full confidence in electric vehicles. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES That leads directly to the third problem: infrastructure. Canada's charging network is woefully inadequate. According to Natural Resources Canada, there are just under 30,000 public charging ports nationwide. That might sound like a lot, but the federal government estimates that Canada would need well over 600,000 charging ports by 2040 to meet the new mandate. It's not enough to have a token charging station in a small town off the highway. Drivers need the same kind of convenience they have today with gas stations — knowing they can charge quickly and get back on the road without planning their trip around charging stops. Ottawa has committed to funding more charging stations, but the pace of expansion is nowhere near what's required to meet the 2035 mandate. None of these shortcomings should surprise anyone. Transforming an entire transportation sector in a country as large and diverse as Canada is not a simple task. What's disappointing is the lack of urgency in addressing them. Rather than tackling these challenges head-on — through stronger subsidies, cold-weather technology incentives and aggressive investment in charging infrastructure — the Liberals have spent more time trumpeting the target itself. Targets don't reduce emissions. Real action does. This is where the Conservatives could play a constructive role. But instead, they've chosen the easy political path of tearing down the mandate altogether. That might be an effective vote-getter in some quarters, but it's dangerously short-sighted. It does nothing to address the broader climate crisis. We can debate the feasibility of a 2035 deadline and the phase-in period leading up to it. Maybe it needs to be pushed back to 2040 to give technology and infrastructure time to catch up. But eliminating the policy altogether would leave Canada further behind in a global transition that is already well underway. The climate crisis doesn't care about political lines or partisan preferences. It's already costing Canadians billions in disaster recovery and insurance payouts. The climate crisis doesn't care about political lines or partisan preferences. It's already costing Canadians billions in disaster recovery and insurance payouts, not to mention lives lost and communities destroyed. Canadians deserve a serious conversation about how to make this mandate workable, not a political stunt that promises a return to business as usual. That means acknowledging the obstacles and crafting solutions that ordinary people can afford and trust. Bring back meaningful subsidies. Accelerate investment in infrastructure. Incentivize research and development into cold-weather battery performance. And if the 2035 timeline proves unrealistic, adjust it. What Canada can't afford to do is simply give up. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
