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This article presents predictions for upcoming elections. British reporters covering Tony Blair's campaign in 2001 amused themselves by playing" battle-bus bingo": they wrote down Blair's favourite cliché phrases on strips of paper, paid a pound each to get into the contest, then each drew three strips of paper at random. Paul Martin rewarded this apple-cheeked British Columbia Liberal's bootlicking fealty with an appointment as the party's nominee in Burnaby-Douglas. Last week Peter Mansbridge's column announced that political leaders' tours are a waste of time, which is why the CBC will have its own bus travelling the country avoiding politicians. If Peter leads The National with more stories from the CBC bus than he does from Paul Martin's, Stephen Harper's and Jack Layton's, I'll buy him dinner.

This article discusses Canadian prime minister Paul Martin's standing in his campaign for re-election as of June 2004. There was a moment in Paul Martin's news conference the other day in Vancouver when he paused and grabbed a paper clip that had held together his tightly scripted message. He twirled it in his fingers, pondering questions about a faltering campaign, then pushed aside his text and launched into a passionate declaration about using" every waking moment" in the remainder of the campaign to fight for what he believes to be right. There's irony in this because while Jean Charest, Dalton McGuinty and Gordon Campbell may campaign for Martin, deep down they're probably thinking their futures look better with a Conservative government to bash.Paul Martin's abyss moment may have arrived. The numbers are far from encouraging; some advisers look shell-shocked; and the media is questioning each move. But remember that oft-quoted Harold Wilson statement: "A week in politics is a long time."

Presents the opinion that the Canadian government is stupid and the Canadian people are naive. Topic of relations between the United States and Canada; Thoughts on how taxation in Canada keeps foreign journalists out of the country; Criticism of the reasoning behind taxing journalists.

The article presents an interview with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's wife Sheila. She does not glad-hand or promote the platform or herself. She doesn't work a room; she locks into a conversation and stays until the handlers drag her away. Sheila Martin candidly discusses being a politician's wife, her relationship with her husband, and living in the public eye.

Presents letters to the editor commenting on articles previously published in this magazine. Responses to the articles "Teen trouble," "Paper trail," "Gut-check time," "Why Quebecers feel especially betrayed," "They're so sorry [not]" and "Smooth reign," from the March 1, 2004 issue; Responses to the articles "The Lowdown on the low-carb diet wars" and "If at first you don't …," from the February 23, 2004 issue; Responses to "In the country of love," from the February 16, 2004 issue, Response to "Arms and the child," from the February 9, 2004 issue.

The article provides social notes for figures prominent in Canadian political life current for the week of December 28, 2009. A number of individuals are mentioned including environment minister Jim Prentice, Liberal Party of Canada senator Jerry Grafstein, and Hugh Segal, a senator with the Conservative Party.

David Orchard is different, and has been since his 1988 arrival on the national political scene. For years he was regarded as a one-issue candidate--free trade was the game and few knew the details better than he did. The lanky Saskatchewan farmer who wanted in on the great national debate could sit down and pull from memory clauses and sub-clauses that even those who had negotiated the arrangement seemed to have forgotten. Canadian politics has a grand tradition of broken promises, shattered deals and losers saying they got robbed. Which brings us back to Orchard and that scrap of paper with the signatures he and Peter MacKay scribbled on it when the deal was cut to give Orchard's support to MacKay on the final ballot of the Tory leadership convention. Orchard must look at that fading document every day and wonder what happened, even though the realistic among us surely knew there was little chance some of the major points would stand up for long. Tories abandoning free trade? Refusing to consider new arrangements with the Alliance? Come on, let's get serious. What in fact David Orchard ran headfirst into is what Canadian voters have realized for years. That politicians of all stripes and all levels often say whatever they think they need to say to achieve their goals.

Until she uttered that now infamous put-down of United States President George W. Bush, few Canadians, and far fewer Americans, had ever heard the name Francoise Ducros. Known in Ottawa circles simply as Francie, the diminutive principal spokesperson for Jean Chretien preferred to keep her name out of the papers. She pointedly did not appear on television. Her modus operandi was to huddle with reporters in off-the-record debriefings about the topic of the moment, shoo away any prying cameras and microphones, and remind late arrivers that her words were strictly for background purposes. Ironic, then, that Ducros would end her career as the Prime Minister's director of communications last week over a comment she made to a CBC Radio reporter, in a private conversation overheard by another reporter who happened to be nearby.

The article looks at voting in Canada. The idea of online voting is discussed as a solution to low voter turnout, but the author dismisses it, saying the mental effort of learning about an election, not the physical effort of going to a voting station, that prevents voters from going to the polls. The Internet is discussed as a resource for discovering information about elections. The author thinks there should be more done through the Internet to improve public engagement with politics.

The article discusses how Canada's Liberal party Leader Michael Ignatieff is trailing in opinion polls and is attacking prime minister Stephen Harper in election-style speeches. The document "Canada in the World: A Global Networks Strategy" attacking Harper is noted. How Ignatieff's name was once associated with intellectualism as an author and documentary filmmaker is discussed.

The author reports that Daniel Veniez, a Tory loyalist and senior corporate executive and former supporter of former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is being persuaded to joint the Liberal party. Topics discussed include Veniez background, why he wanted Harper to succeed, and why he is proud of what he accomplished at Ridley Terminals.

Offers an essay on politics and government in Canada. Focus on Scott Feschuk, who is the speech writer for Prime Minister Paul Martin; Political comment by the author on how Feschuk can shift blame to the previous administration; Discussion of Feschuk's credentials and his departure on the "National Post"; Outlook for relations between Martin and the administration of American President George W. Bush; Idea that speech writers have power and responsibility; Star columnists who have left the "National Post" newspaper.

The article discusses a decline in the performance, influence, and reliability of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Topics include the RCN's inability to respond to domestic and foreign missions due to extensive repairs on its last destroyer, HMCS Athabaskan, delays in the replacement of the RCN's replenishment ships and Sea King helicopters by government officials such as Defence Minister Jason Kenney despite several accidents and deaths, and cuts to RCN funding by the Conservative government.

The article discusses equality in the number of women in Canadian government from the 1990s through the mid 2010s, including political party quotas for women. An overview of the Canadian lawyer and law professor Penny Collenette's efforts to increase the amount of women in Canada's government is provided. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's impact on the number of women in Canadian government is discussed.

The article presents news briefs related to politics and politicians in Canada. Political candidate Marc Garneau may move in with his mother is he is elected. The campaign office of political candidate Jim Flaherty used to be an emergency animal hospital. Alexa McDonough, a member of the Canadian Parliament, has decided to not run for re-election.

The article presents a humorous look at methods of electing new leadership in Canada as Paul Martin leaves the leader's post and the Liberals convene in Montreal. The author suggests that Stéphane Dion may have a chance after 10 months of campaigning. The Liberal party is portrayed as having drifted from its core mission and needing to focus on Canadian prosperity.

This article reviews Canadian prime minister Paul Martin's latest controversies. We knew more about this "new" Prime Minister on his first day in the hot seat than we have known about any "new" prime minister since maybe Louis St. Laurent. In last week's episode, That Darned Paul hired a "star candidate" who was a key figure in his leadership campaign 14 years ago, before millions of Canadians were old enough to vote. It is all quite comforting, just like Eddie Haskell razzing the Beav behind Mrs. Cleaver's back. I invited readers of my Weblog to vent their fury at the sight of a co-founder of the Bloc Québécois on the fast track to a cabinet job in Ottawa. The response was voluminous -- and bland. Almost nobody really cared. Hounded by clowns, true to old habits, familiar as the faces at a class reunion 14 years after everyone graduated, That Darned Paul begins another season of hijinks.

The article looks at Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's 2012 trip to China. The author posits that though the trip involved discussing trade such as Canadian oil exports to China and Chinese exports of electronics to Canada, a major point of Harper's visit was to strengthen his chances of reelection. Harper's opposition, the New Democratic Party, is noted to be against his trade deals with China, particularly petroleum pipeline projects such as the Northern Gateway twin pipeline.

The article presents information on Canadian politics and government, as of March 21, 2011, focusing on the efforts of Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff to improve his standing in opinion polls in preparation for a potential federal election. An analysis of the Liberal Party's challenges in generating enthusiasm amongst Canadian voters is offered.

The article focuses on Canadian politics and government. Particular attention is given to the status of the Canadian Liberal Party. The author compares the party in 1960 to the party in 2010 in regard to how quickly they could regain power. Information about clues explaining why the Liberal Party is reportedly failing is also presented.

The article presents information on the politics and government of Canada, as of March 2010. It focuses on the rising influence of social conservatives under the Conservative Party government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The book "Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada's Founding Values" by Brian Lee Crowley is discussed in this context.

The article reports on developments in Canadian politics current during the week of November 2, 2009. The central focus of the article is on a decline in the popularity of Michael Ignatieff, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, among the Canadian electorate. Among other issues the article examines attempts to improve Ignatieff's image.

In this article the author discusses aspects of the 2009 global recession and Canadian government plans to resolve economic difficulties. He is opposed to the deficit spending plan that has been proposed as a means to economic stimulation. The political aspects of the government bailout package are examined.

The article profiles Justin Trudeau, son of the late Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and in 2008 elected to the Canadian parliament as a member representing the Liberal Party. A number of issues are addressed in the article including his status as a parliamentary backbencher, his advocacy for youth issues and his status as a political celebrity.

The article discusses Canadian politics as of December 2008. Canada's Parliament has not functioned as a legislative body since May 2008, the author states. A review of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's actions from May-December 2008 is given. Also discussed is Harper's predilection for chaos and deluge.

The article discusses the campaign leading up to the 2008 federal elections in Canada. Topics include Opposition leader Stéphane Dion's efforts to woo votes by means of video posted on the Internet and Dion's campaign plans 12 days before the elections. Also discussed is Dion's address to the Board of Trade in Montreal, Quebec.

The article discusses Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, focusing on his management and leadership styles. Early on during the 2008 federal elections, Harper sat down for an on-the-record session with the traveling campaign reporters. Topics include how Harper and his staff learn from mistakes and the manner in which Harper hires and fires his staff.

In this article the author discusses the rise and fall of Maxime Bernier, a Canadian politician and foreign minister in the government of prime minister Stephen Harper. The author traces Bernier's career from his election as a member of parliament for a Quebec constituency, through his successes as minister for industry. Bernier was forced to resign in 2008 after it was revealed that his girlfriend had ties to criminal organizations and that he had left classified documents at her house.

In this article the author presents evidence that suggests that a former prime minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney was involved in corrupt practices while in office. The author presents information that appears to prove that Mulroney engineered the sale of European-made airliners to Air Canada in return for substantial campaign contributions.

The article discusses difficulties faced by Stéphane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. The Liberal Party lost several by-elections in Quebec. The author suggests some members of the Liberal Party support deputy leader Michael Ignatieff over Dion. He compares Dion to former Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien. Dion comments on how he will oppose policies of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

This is an article that focuses on the last minute campaign efforts of Canadian politicians prior to elections in 2004. Media polling stops in a campaign's last days. As the campaign entered its final weekend, Stephen Harper picked up the phone and made some calls. Paul Martin's Liberal campaign, almost devoid of any project the average Canadian voter could identify, was based on warning that Conservatives couldn't be trusted. Hours after Martin released his platform in his hometown of Windsor, Ont., near the end of the campaign's second week, he appeared again in front of reporters in Montreal to warn that Harper couldn't be trusted to protect a woman's right to choose on abortion. At mid-campaign, a nasty bit of gossip had begun circling among Chretien people in Ottawa: Martin's fate would depend on the campaign's outcome.

Examines the efforts of Canada's federal government to find a new sense of purpose. Ottawa's involvement in teaming up federal, provincial, and municipal governments to help Health Canada solve a crisis in Vancouver; The impulse to activism, which is driving Ottawa's agenda; Background on the government's involvement in Canadian life; Speculation on ways it will play a more direct role in areas such as taxation, education, and upgrading worker skills.

Offers observations on the Canadian political campaign as of November 27, 2000. Comparison of Liberal Party and Canadian Alliance Party platforms; Defensive posture of Canadian Alliance candidate Stockwell Day during the campaign; Use of so-called mudslinging during the campaign; Opinion that the defining choice of the campaign will be between Day and Liberal candidate Jean Chretien. INSETS: THE HEALTH DEBATE;A CLASH OF CULTURES;TAKING A STAND.

Focuses on efforts the recognition of Canadian veterans of the Korean War by their government. Construction of the Wall of Remembrance in Brampton, Ontario, which was carried out through the donation of private funds; Description of how the Korean War began, and details regarding Canada's involvement; Comparison of the Canadian government's efforts to pay tribute to the veterans with those of the United States; The Korea Veterans Association of Canada's request of a memorial stamp.

Looks at environmental issues in Canada as of 1998 and the views of Liberal MP Charles Caccia. Caccia's criticism of his party's failure to make the government greener; Information in the pledge `Turning Talk into Action'; Caccia's role in formulating federal environmental policy; Discussion of attempts to overhaul Canada's environmental protection law; Comments about the political skills of Environment Minister Christine Stewart.

Examines how the social trend of apocalyptic anxiety is affecting Canadian society in 1999. The general unease that most Canadians feel about the future, with Quebec as the confident exception; How Canadian government must respond to the fears held by Canadians; The mythic appeal of the year 2000; The desire of Canadians for greater control over more aspects of their life; The type of leadership they seek.

Discusses the legacy of Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Bringing Canada toward the stark realities of the 21st century; Imposing cutbacks and additional taxes; Division from controversial policies; Failure to put forth a positive vision of government's role in an era of battered expectations; Mulroney's political legacy; Federal-provincial relations; Government finances and Canada's deficit; Social programs; Constitutional initiatives; More.

Presents an interview with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney following his resignation announcement. Historical view of Mulroney's terms as Prime Minister; The Free Trade Agreement as his most controversial legacy; Impressions of U.S. President Bill Clinton; Establishing a permanent United Nations (UN) peacekeeping headquarters with a Canadian in charge; The Charlottetown accord; Media treatment; Decision to step down; More.

Discusses the decision of Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to resign and the political scramble to replace him. Decision to return to private life; Garth Turner's interest in running for leadership of the Progressive Conservatives; Defense Minister Kim Campbell and Environment Minister Jean Charest considered certain to enter the race; Hurdles to candidates; Importance of Mulroney's support; More. INSET: Waving goodbye..

The article looks at the youngest members of the Canadian Parliament (MPs) of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2011. MPs profiled include Matthew Dubé, Charmaine Borg, and Laurin Liu, all under age 23 when first elected. Topics discussed include how the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 interested Dubé in politics, the federal fielding of party candidates in the 308 ridings of Canada, and the young MPs mentor, returning NDP MP Megan Leslie.

Letters to the editor are presented in response to articles published in the August 16, 2010 issue including "Outraged moms, trashy daughters," "Cracking eggheads" and "Life after the G20 protests."

In this article two authors with the magazine discuss issues arising from Canadian political life. The central focus of the article is the contention that democracy in Canada has been damaged and is in need of repair. Among other issues they address questions dealing with elections in Canada, the Canadian parliament and the erratic nature of the Canadian coalition government.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in the June 8, 2009 issue including "Unbelievable," "The old grey Globe she ain't what she use to be," and "Shell of an idea."

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in the May 25, 2009 issue including "Mad about Ruby Dhalla," "Europeans catching too much cod," and "Black's magic."

In this article the author discusses Michael Ignatieff, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and examines the 2009 party convention at which Ignatieff was installed in that post. The author accuses Ignatieff of taking contradictory positions on a number of issues including the Iraq War, a tax on carbon emissions and nation building. Also addressed is the fact that Ignatieff has spent long periods living in foreign countries.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in the March 9, 2009 issue including "A warm welcome in Ottawa," "The end of democracy," and "Excusing the men who ran away."

The article profiles Tory candidate Ed Stelmach, the Premier of Alberta, in the midst of his re-election campaign. The article points to Stelmach's many personal characteristics, such as humility, modesty, and commonplace demeanor, which often cause his opponents to underestimate him to their political peril. His personal and elected history is described. The article also lists Stelmach's shortcomings, as viewed by his critics.

In this article the author discusses the political corruption investigation in which former Canadian leader Brian Mulroney is said to have taken money from Karlheinz Schreiber, a German businessman, in return for government contracts. The author faults the Canadian press for its lack of interest in the corruption proceedings.

This article offers Canadian news briefs. John Gomery's report on the Adscam scandal was criticized. Prime Minister Stephen Harper held two press conferences. A widely-loathed television commercial character "Canadian Tire Guy," has been retired. Film director David Cronenberg has criticized Paul Haggis for naming his Oscar-winning movie "Crash." Cronenberg had a 1996 film with the same title. A Dubai company will not seek to control ports in the United States.

The article comments on Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's grand pronouncements, stirring appeals, and commitments. This is what happens when you follow Martin around for even a little while on the campaign trail. In the space of a single week, Martin had skated himself offside the truth on climate studies, phone-in calls, referendum elections, tax policy, daycare, handguns, and gaseous emissions. Instead of spending five billion dollars over five years, Martin announced $10 billion over 10 years. His new commitment does not take effect until 2009, almost certainly after the term of the government.