Following Angela Merkel’s part conversion to a deficit-funded fiscal stimulus, Canada’s Conservatives are now increasing borrowing in order to pay for economy-boosting tax cuts and higher spending. This leaves Britain’s Tories pretty isolated on the world stage with their insistence on fiscal conservatism; an insistence that ConservativeHome.com supports. Merkel and Canada’s Harper lead minority administrations […]
Yesterday we noted that Stephen Harper had six weeks to keep his job as Prime Minister and, more significantly, the rag-bag coalition that wants to oust him has six weeks to avoid splintering apart. Providing Mr Harper comes forward with a popular budget he must be increasingly hopeful. Andrew Coyne blogs that Canadian public opinion […]
The Governor-General has today granted Stephen Harper’s wish to prorogue parliament for six weeks. In those six weeks he must hope that three things happen: His government puts together a budgetary package that commands enough public confidence to ensure that the public is happy for him to stay in office; That the Conservatives’ battle for […]
In a five minute address to Canada, Stephen Harper attacks backroom deals with separatists that could remove his minority Conservative government from office within days: Liberal leader Dion, who intends to become Prime Minister if Mr Harper loses a parliamentary confidence vote, resigned as Liberal leader after leading his party to its worst election result […]
Canada’s two main left-wing parties – the NDP and Liberals – are reportedly close to agreeing a pact that would see them rule Canada, rather than the minority Conservative government led by Stephen Harper. Despite the fact that the Liberals are in the middle of a leadership race, recent moves by Prime Minister Harper have […]
Canada’s Globe and Mail is reporting that the nation’s minority Conservative government is proposing to end taxpayers’ $27m subsidy of political parties as part of a series of austerity measures. Each Canadian political party receives Can$1.95pa for every vote that they received at the last election. The subsidy was introduced a few years ago as […]
Tim Montgomerie writes: Fifteen years ago the Canadian Conservatives were reduced to just two seats. The Right then splintered and spent more than a decade in the wilderness. Two years ago it managed to form a minority government but it was said that it was more of a defeat for the ruling Liberals (who had […]
More at the National Post. ConservativeInternational will provide its own reflections later.
This video sums up Stephen Harper’s closing message: ConservativeInternational will be reflecting on the campaign tomorrow. Final polls predict Conservative gains but not enough to win a majority.
The economic crisis is hurting centre right parties as Dan Hannan predicted it would: "In the current climate, what people see are fat-cat bankers being bailed out by hard-pressed taxpayers. And, instead of objecting to the bail-out, they object to the bankers and, by extension, to the free market culture they are thought to embody. […]
Earlier this week ConservativeHome reported that the UK Conservatives plan to suspend their plans for "replacement taxes" – higher green taxes that will be used to finance lower taxes on families (if they are not suspended they will be diluted to the point of inoffensiveness). They may have been studying the Canadian experience where the […]
"One candidate believes in low taxes, gun rights and a strong national defense. The other has a dog named Kyoto and promises to levy a new carbon tax on industry. Any guess who is favored to win the Canadian federal election set for October 14?" So began an editorial in The Wall Street Journal last […]
Click here to see the series of ads that Canada’s Conservatives are running in the election called yesterday. The theme of Risk was one used by the Australian Liberals last year. We must hope the much newer Canadian government will be more successful with their campaign – during more difficult economic times.
The 31 month-old minority Conservative government won approval from the Governor General today for an election on 14th October. A number of factors underpin Conservative hopes of increasing their tally of seats: Although Stephen Harper is not a charismatic figure he has a comfortable lead as voters’ choice for preferred prime minister. 50% see him […]
Dr Liam Fox, the UK Conservatives’ Defence spokesman, pays tribute to Canadian PM Stephen Harper. Talking to Ottawa blogger Stephen Taylor Dr Fox describes Mr Harper as a "class act", contrasts Canada’s commitment to Afghanistan with European efforts, and hopes that he’ll be re-elected. An election is now imminent after the minority Conservative government’s talks […]