SpankyMcFarland

He must have had thoughts of running before this, though. If he was serious, you'd think he would have addressed it earlier. The other thing is he's a bit long in the tooth to be getting in now for the first time. It's a rough game for a cranky old person to learn.

Well, the wisdom of buying F-35s has been debated at great length on this forum. I am not proposing war with Russia but it is better to know what sort of people we are dealing with from the start.

Not Russians - the Putin regime specifically. Putin's gang are hoodlums.

To me it shows a lack of curiosity about one's Canadian surroundings. I'd expect a little more of potential leaders.

They know and it's good they know. We know what they are too.

She did a good job in her last portfolio and she's better qualified for her new one than most people who have filled the job in the past. I like her expertise on Russia and her views on Putin which she will have to keep under the surface from now on but will still be there. http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/michael-den-tandt-chrystia-freeland-is-the-closest-trudeau-has-to-an-expert-on-kremlinology-and-trumpism With more females in politics, the etiquette on expressed emotion is going to change. It's not a big deal.

OK not no French but he was surrounded by French. It's odd that he did not pick up more.

It's a bit odd that O'Leary grew up in Montreal and picked up no French. With a Catholic and Lebanese background, he must have been exposed to some French speakers.

I don't remember when Harper was criticized over the Erebus. Why would he be?

We will never know. Hall Findlay had her chance in the leadership race and got wiped out. A marvellous cv notwithstanding, where is the evidence she had the ability to get people to vote for her? I wanted Garneau to win and he didn't even make it through the campaign. Trudeau represented a clearer contrast with Harper.

JT deserves more credit than that. The Liberal Party did not look at all like the 'Natural Governing Party' of old when he took over, and he became PM by winning a very tough election. Nobody handed that to him. He was weak on policy but strong on tone and values which matter to voters and he presented a clear contrast to his tired and grim opponents. The decision to go with deficit spending was a daring stroke which finished the NDP and united the non-Conservatives. Likewise, Trump still had to beat Clinton even though 12 years for the Dems looked unlikely. Again, he looked a lot fresher than Hillary at the end of a grotesquely gruelling contest.

A critical review of the F-35 from NRO, a conservative publication: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443612/f-35-donald-trump-should-cancel-failed-f-35-fighter-jet-program

So just move to higher ground, folks (sorry, Florida). Nothing can be done.

I think we are a reaching turning point on this issue in Canada: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/opioids-prescription-1.3839625

Some action in Ontario: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/narcotic-fentanyl-oxy-ontario-doctors-investigated-1.3834874

Many people in pain are more effectively treated without opioids. Those who are treated with opioids can become addicted and it's impossible to know who will become addicted. In such cases, the physician has caused serious harm. I imagine we will see more litigation in this area.

The guys appointed today sound solid enough: Gwen Boniface, the first woman appointed as commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police and the first female president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Tony Dean, an internationally recognized professor at the University of Toronto's School of Public Policy since 2009. Sarabjit S. Marwah, retired vice-chairman and chief operating officer of Scotiabank. Lucie Moncion, chief executive officer of the Alliance des caisses populaires de l'Ontario. Kim Pate, executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies and part-time professor in the University of Ottawa's faculty of law. Howard Wetston, counsel with Goodmans LLP and adjunct professor of law at the University of Toronto.

They seem like a decent bunch. Actvists are often experts in their field. Only 2,700 people applied which sounds like a small pool. I would prefer provincial elections to determine the lists presented to the PM but that would have the downside of favouring politicians. However, over time, the current system could evolve to pick people in a more systematic fashion from various walks of life.

And he went on to found Mills and Boon.

As far as French accents go, Joe Clarke's was surely the worst.

She's talented and charismatic, no question about that. If she ever became leader, though, she would have to go easier on the Twitter machine.

Would all those people who 'really like her' (how many people really like any politician?) actually vote for a party led by her? I have already conceded she's bright and photogenic but IMO also abrasive and prone to shrillness, e.g. some of those Critch tweets, and I can't see her having much appeal to centrist voters which is the only place the Conservative Party can expand. Raitt and O'Toole have a significant advantage there.

I don't know whether he was appointed to either court because of his party connections. Lawyers are frequently involved in politics. In any case, being a provincial NL Liberal long ago doesn't mean a whole lot on the ideology front and there have been many defections to the other party over the years. There's little to choose between the PCs and Libs down here on govt. spending etc. 'Newfie' is a word better left to be used by natives of Newfoundland.

The Libs played by the current FPTP rules and were duly disproportionately rewarded. The problem is that a governing party which benefited from this system will be reluctant to bring in rigorous PR and see a fall in seats no matter what it said in opposition.

Quoting other people saying it is still strange. She's not that young. The fact of the matter is that Smirky Rempel is a pain. The likeability factor is not high right now. She's one of those people who starts sentences with 'I find it interesting' before she makes a snarky remark. Twitter tirades make a person look immature. That is obvious to most of us but not her.