The political renaissance of Liberal Yasir Naqvi is the big story of Ottawa’s lacklustre federal election campaign. The former provincial cabinet minister is likely to be a significant player locally if Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are re-elected. Liberals better hope that happens because if he doesn’t win in Ottawa Centre, it’s a remarkably bad sign for their party.
Naqvi’s main opponent is the NDP’s Angella MacEwen, an economist with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. MacEwen ran in the last federal election and finished a weak third in Ottawa West-Nepean, but that isn’t a good predictor of how she will do in Ottawa Centre. The riding is held by the NDP provincially after Naqvi lost rather badly in the 2018 provincial election. Again, that performance is not an indicator of how he will do this time. Like many other MPPs, Naqvi was swept away by the collapse of the provincial Liberals.
Naqvi stands out in an election campaign where Conservative Pierre Poilievre is the only other well-known local figure. Most of the other candidates will struggle to be recognized in their ridings, much less city-wide. That’s true of sitting MPs as well as newcomers. Of the candidates available, Naqvi and Poilievre are the two most likely to be Ottawa’s key federal representative if their party wins.
Naqvi’s promise last week that his riding will get 1,700 affordable housing units was a reminder of the difference an experienced candidate can make. Riding level promises from candidates are rare, especially from those who don’t already hold a seat. That did not deter Naqvi, who has 11 years of political experience.
Naqvi says his policy people figured out what the riding’s share of the Liberal affordable housing plan would amount to, then Naqvi gave the party a head’s up before making the promise. It’s the same approach he took in provincial elections and it won him some hard-to-get media coverage.
Note to other candidates: if you want people to know you exist, do something.
In an interview, Naqvi said there will be more promises, but he’s not terrifically specific on the important question of when public servants will return to downtown offices and in what numbers. He acknowledges their absence is hurting businesses in his riding and predicts a hybrid model blending work from home with work in the office. Whatever is done, it must be consistent across the government, he says.
In a Liberal Party that can be aggressively partisan and intolerant of those with different views, Naqvi stands out for his reasonableness. Unlike some, he understands that politics means working together with people who don’t think exactly the way you do.
Not that he is entirely without partisan urges. The Liberal candidate’s website refers to supposed Conservative “cuts to vital services that families rely on,” but the best he has to offer is a red herring about private health care.
His three main issues are aboriginal reconciliation, with a focus on making aboriginal Canadians full members of society; climate change with an interest in how adapting to it can drive the economy; and racial injustice, again focusing on the problem of people being left behind.
In his three years out of politics, Naqvi served as CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, an NGO formed by former governor general Adrienne Clarkson. While the job allowed him to travel, he missed the politician’s opportunity to formulate public policy, Naqvi says.
Now, Naqvi is back with renewed enthusiasm for politics and a new look. He grew a beard when the pandemic started and still keeps a short version of it, despite his father’s advice that he shave it off. His children love it, the candidate says.
In all, Yasir Naqvi is a relative rarity in politics, a person who can think rationally, deal with issues dispassionately and still fight for the interests of his constituents. It’s good to see him back.
Randall Denley is an Ottawa political commentator and author. Contact him at randalldenley1@gmail.com
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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