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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
KINSELLA: Politicians hate each other until they don't
I'll let you in on a little secret: they're lot friendlier than you know. Members of Parliament, that is. Partisan differences notwithstanding, durable friendships persist behind the scenes. And evidence of that crept into full public view, this week, as King Charles alighted on Canadian soil to read the Liberal Platform Speech from the Throne. Ministers, MPs, Senators and staffers gathered on the Hill for the historic event, and things previously unseen became seen. Conservative and Liberal partisans were astounded, for example, by the widely-circulated photo of former Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, clearly enjoying each others' company. Harper was smiling, and Trudeau was seemingly convulsed with laughter. (Harper, unbeknownst to many, is a very, very funny guy.) Some readers, who apparently actually believe Question Period is real life, were astounded and appalled. 'Two-faced!' said 'Macaw' over on a Reddit thread, although it is uncertain which leader he/she was referring to. Trudeau 'behaved like a child!' pronounced 'Ask Revolutionary1517.' And: 'Weak men in suits!' declared 'Basedregular1917.' And so on, and so on. Knowledgeable commenters thought the Trudeau-Harper exchange wasn't all that unusual – it was nice, even – but the uninformed still don't seem to understand that Ottawa will always, always be our Hollywood for ugly people. It's like pro wrestling, but without the sparkly wrestling singlets. The hate is fake. Another example: Trudeau's footwear. Several conservative members of the commentariat were positively in a lather that the former Liberal leader would have the effrontery to show up in running shoes. CBC (natch) even spent time researching the provenance of the Prime Ministerial sneakers: Trudeau was wearing a pair of Adidas Gazelle shoes, reported an agog CBC journalist — who (natch) was paid by you, the taxpayer, to find out. The shoes cost about $150 over on the Adidas website, and Trudeau-haters were in a spit-flecked fury about the indignity of it all. Dimitri Soudas, who was one of Harper's PR fart-catchers, declared: 'I don't know what to say.' (That's a first.) Some Trudeau critics even consulted Debretts, the style guide for British etiquette: 'Those invited to royal events usually want to do their best to be correct. Specific dress codes, such as black tie, should be adhered to. It is generally best to err on the more conservative side.' Well, Trudeau didn't. The world didn't end, no one died. Perhaps the best response to Adidas-gate came from a longtime conservative, and a former Harper diplomatic appointee, no less: Vivian Bercovici, our former ambassador to Israel. Said Bercovici (who, full disclosure, is a smart and good friend): 'I think it was brilliant. Somebody made a point of telling staffers that he hates brown shoes. Justin always had a thing for brown dress shoes. This is the cleverest response.' Pierre Poilievre, no longer a Member of Parliament, showed up as a guest to listen to the King read the Speech from the Throne. Some, like The Beaverton, were a tad uncharitable: 'Pierre Poilievre attends Speech From The Throne with face pressed against Senate window,' they headlined their satirical report. 'The unemployed Conservative Party leader began the royal visit following the throngs of well wishers along Wellington Street where the King and Queen traveled in their ceremonial horse-drawn carriage. Poilievre followed the procession as he ran behind the crowd, occasionally jumping up so he could be seen, calling the King's name,' chortled The Beaverton. In reality, no one gave Poilievre a hard time for being in a spot typically reserved for elected Members. Quite a few extended friendly greetings, in fact. The day was like that. When word came that former Prime Minister Jean Chretien was not present because of minor heart surgery, my inbox was flooded with Conservatives extending best wishes. I passed them along to my former boss, who is fine and resting comfortably at home. Prime Minister Mark Carney, meanwhile, was spotted wearing the larger of his Officer of the Order of Canada medals — which, not only is he permitted to, he is actually required to do when in the presence of the King. Notwithstanding that, conservative complainers carped about it. One commented on my X feed: 'I'm surprised there has been zero commentary about our rather grand PM wearing a giant medal to the throne speech.' KINSELLA: Vast majority of antisemitism coming from far-left, report finds KINSELLA: Walk With Israel attracts huge crowd for peaceful march in Toronto 'A giant medal.' Good Lord. He's not dressing up as Flavor Flav, folks. My response: 'He's a member of the Order of Canada. It's allowed. Try and keep up.' And that, perhaps, is the best advice of all: don't believe everything you see and hear, folks. Ottawa is a lot like a hockey game: everyone plays hard, everyone gets their elbows up. And then, when the game is over, the jerseys come off and everyone gets together for a beer. It's Ottawa, after all: a few square acres surrounded by reality.
Toronto Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
KINSELLA: Politicians hate each other until they don't
Former prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper speak ahead of the King delivering the speech from the throne in the Senate in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Photo by Blair Gable / THE CANADIAN PRESS I'll let you in on a little secret: they're lot friendlier than you know. 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 Members of Parliament, that is. Partisan differences notwithstanding, durable friendships persist behind the scenes. And evidence of that crept into full public view, this week, as King Charles alighted on Canadian soil to read the Liberal Platform Speech from the Throne. Ministers, MPs, Senators and staffers gathered on the Hill for the historic event, and things previously unseen became seen. Conservative and Liberal partisans were astounded, for example, by the widely-circulated photo of former Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau, clearly enjoying each others' company. Harper was smiling, and Trudeau was seemingly convulsed with laughter. (Harper, unbeknownst to many, is a very, very funny guy.) 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. Some readers, who apparently actually believe Question Period is real life, were astounded and appalled. 'Two-faced!' said 'Macaw' over on a Reddit thread, although it is uncertain which leader he/she was referring to. Trudeau 'behaved like a child!' pronounced 'Ask Revolutionary1517.' And: 'Weak men in suits!' declared 'Basedregular1917.' And so on, and so on. Knowledgeable commenters thought the Trudeau-Harper exchange wasn't all that unusual – it was nice, even – but the uninformed still don't seem to understand that Ottawa will always, always be our Hollywood for ugly people. It's like pro wrestling, but without the sparkly wrestling singlets. The hate is fake. Another example: Trudeau's footwear. Several conservative members of the commentariat were positively in a lather that the former Liberal leader would have the effrontery to show up in running shoes. CBC (natch) even spent time researching the provenance of the Prime Ministerial sneakers: Trudeau was wearing a pair of Adidas Gazelle shoes, reported an agog CBC journalist — who (natch) was paid by you, the taxpayer, to find out. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The shoes cost about $150 over on the Adidas website, and Trudeau-haters were in a spit-flecked fury about the indignity of it all. Dimitri Soudas, who was one of Harper's PR fart-catchers, declared: 'I don't know what to say.' (That's a first.) Some Trudeau critics even consulted Debretts, the style guide for British etiquette: 'Those invited to royal events usually want to do their best to be correct. Specific dress codes, such as black tie, should be adhered to. It is generally best to err on the more conservative side.' Well, Trudeau didn't. The world didn't end, no one died. Perhaps the best response to Adidas-gate came from a longtime conservative, and a former Harper diplomatic appointee, no less: Vivian Bercovici, our former ambassador to Israel. Said Bercovici (who, full disclosure, is a smart and good friend): 'I think it was brilliant. Somebody made a point of telling staffers that he hates brown shoes. Justin always had a thing for brown dress shoes. This is the cleverest response.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pierre Poilievre, no longer a Member of Parliament, showed up as a guest to listen to the King read the Speech from the Throne. Some, like The Beaverton , were a tad uncharitable: 'Pierre Poilievre attends Speech From The Throne with face pressed against Senate window,' they headlined their satirical report. 'The unemployed Conservative Party leader began the royal visit following the throngs of well wishers along Wellington Street where the King and Queen traveled in their ceremonial horse-drawn carriage. Poilievre followed the procession as he ran behind the crowd, occasionally jumping up so he could be seen, calling the King's name,' chortled The Beaverton . In reality, no one gave Poilievre a hard time for being in a spot typically reserved for elected Members. Quite a few extended friendly greetings, in fact. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The day was like that. When word came that former Prime Minister Jean Chretien was not present because of minor heart surgery, my inbox was flooded with Conservatives extending best wishes. I passed them along to my former boss, who is fine and resting comfortably at home. Prime Minister Mark Carney, meanwhile, was spotted wearing the larger of his Officer of the Order of Canada medals — which, not only is he permitted to, he is actually required to do when in the presence of the King. Notwithstanding that, conservative complainers carped about it. One commented on my X feed: 'I'm surprised there has been zero commentary about our rather grand PM wearing a giant medal to the throne speech.' Read More 'A giant medal.' Good Lord. He's not dressing up as Flavor Flav, folks. My response: 'He's a member of the Order of Canada. It's allowed. Try and keep up.' And that, perhaps, is the best advice of all: don't believe everything you see and hear, folks. Ottawa is a lot like a hockey game: everyone plays hard, everyone gets their elbows up. And then, when the game is over, the jerseys come off and everyone gets together for a beer. It's Ottawa, after all: a few square acres surrounded by reality. 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Globe and Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Poilievre could face leadership review as early as March
The Conservative party's national council is expected to meet mid-June to determine when leader Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review, but there's still no sign of an overarching review of the party's failure to defeat the Liberals on April 28. The election returned a Liberal minority government, and while some Conservatives privately say Prime Minister Mark Carney could govern for as long as four years, others say work on fixing their failure to defeat him must start now. Two Conservative sources told The Globe and Mail the party's executive director is proposing national council sign off on a March leadership review, which would give party members the chance to vote on whether Mr. Poilievre should remain as leader. The Globe is not identifying the sources as they were not authorized to speak publicly about internal party matters. But, Calgary MP Greg McLean, recently appointed to lead an economic growth council advising Mr. Poilievre, told the Globe he's been instructed to be ready to present his findings at a January convention. The party did not return a request for comment. Since the formation of the modern Conservative Party, one other leader has faced a leadership review: Stephen Harper. He lost the 2004 election, held shortly after he became leader. In the review, members voted overwhelmingly to let him stay, and he went on to win three elections. Opinion: In Poilievre's defeat, a familiar call for patience – and a new appreciation for second chances Neither of Mr. Harper's successors – Andrew Scheer and Erin O'Toole – made it to a leadership review. Mr. Scheer stepped down, and Mr. O'Toole was forced out by MPs. When asked by reporters Friday if he was worried about a challenge to his leadership, Mr. Poilievre said 'no.' 'We had the biggest vote count in our party's history, the biggest increase in our party's history, the biggest vote share since 1988 and we're going to continue to work to get over the finish line,' he said. Mr. Harper, Mr. Scheer and Mr. O'Toole all commissioned reviews of their election defeats. MPs and grassroots party members insist one needs to be done now too. One effort by MPs to get a former colleague to do a probe fell flat. Some rank-and-file party members are considering organizing to force a public discussion of what they see as the campaign's failings if public steps to address and correct them aren't taken soon. Specific frustrations include the target seat program, bottlenecks around decision making, outdated campaign literature and top-down control over what local candidates could do. But the biggest anger is around nominations, and people blocked from running at the last minute in favour of hand-picked candidates. Riding and campaign managers in Ontario and British Columbia told the Globe that national campaign manager Jenni Byrne must address those shortcomings, and step back from future campaigns, or they will try to band together to oust her. Opinion: The good and unnecessarily bad of Pierre Poilievre The Globe is not naming the sources so they could speak candidly about internal party affairs. The last Conservative convention was in 2023, so one was expected soon anyway. National council can call a convention with 90 days notice, which could also neutralize grassroots efforts to force changes as there wouldn't be enough time to engage formal policy or constitutional processes. Though Conservatives did win more seats, Mr. Poilievre lost his own. He's planning to run in a by-election for an Alberta riding. Those close to him say few major changes will be made to anything the party does until that election ends. Still, there are smaller steps being taken. Long-time Conservative communications professional Katy Merrifield will soon join the staff. Jeff Ballingall, a conservative strategist, is also being brought on to help with Mr. Poilievre's image and message. Mr. McLean, the MP leading Mr. Poilievre's economic council, said his group is working to keeping policy going in the right direction. 'What Canadians saw at the end of the day was the Liberals embracing Conservative policy positions,' he said. 'Part of what we're doing with this exercise is [ensuring] we do have the ability to continue that kind of process: 'Here are the Conservative policies, Mark Carney et al, can you please follow these policies? They're better for the country than what you've been putting forward so far.''
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
TFSA contribution limit info has been unavailable since mid-April, CRA confirms
For more than a month Canadians looking to see how much contribution room is remaining in their tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website have been out of luck. In an email to CBC News, CRA spokesperson Nina Ioussoupova confirmed that information has been unavailable since mid-April. "There have been delays in processing TFSA annual information returns this year," Ioussoupova said in the email. "To avoid displaying erroneous information on My Account, the display of TFSA information, including TFSA contribution room, has been blocked since April 17, 2025." The tax-free savings accounts were introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government in 2009. Each year, Canadians who are at least 18 years old receive an increase to the amount of money they can invest. In 2025, for example, the additional contribution limit is $7,000. If someone was 18 in 2009, has lived in Canada since then and never contributed to their TFSA, their total contribution limit would be $102,000 as of Jan. 1, 2025. But if a person contributes every year, but doesn't reach the limit, it can be more difficult to calculate. Withdrawals are also added to a person's contribution limit the following year. Ioussoupova said in her email that the CRA is working to update TFSA contribution information "as quickly as possible." She added that to "avoid over-contributing, review the records provided by your issuer." Ioussoupova said taxpayers can fill out what's called a RC343 Worksheet to estimate their TFSA contribution room for the year. Philip Spagnolo, a senior accountant with Jakubo Chartered Professional Accountants in Sudbury, said it's important people are aware of the TFSA contribution room before they invest funds. "There's a one per cent interest that's charged on the amount that you over contribute. So you want to be aware of that so you don't run into that problem," he said. Spagnolo said it's possible to file an appeal with the CRA if someone is charged interest for over-contributing to their TFSA, but there's no guarantee they would be successful.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
National chief says First Nations frustrated by ‘fast-track' approach to development
OTTAWA - The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says she doesn't blame First Nations leaders who are voicing frustration with governments promising to fast-track development in their territories in the name of national unity. Some chiefs are even citing the Indigenous rights protest movement Idle No More, which took hold under former prime minister Stephen Harper's government as it looked to ramp up resource development.
