Zach Paikin

In previous years, the Liberals have lagged behind the Tories and the NDP on issues of political "inside baseball" -- issues that only Canadians who follow federal politics on a regular basis are likely to care deeply about.

Take electoral reform for instance. The western-based Tories, owing much of their...

Several months ago, three young Liberals (all under the age of 25) tried to fundamentally shake up the party, and run for a spot on its national executive, entering a five-way race for National Policy Chair. I was one of them.

Although the three of us received a combined 48.4%...

I've got a bit of a theory. Bear with me here.

Certain political commentators in Canada have put forward the proposition that the Harper government has at times resorted to unethical practices because the ends justify the means. The Tories supposedly believe...

As we dwell on the significance of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it is important to remember the events that led to patriation. Although delving into hypotheticals is never an easy thing, let's give it a shot.

The context: In 1981,...

On the 30th anniversary of the patriation of our constitution -- and the resulting inclusion within it of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms -- we should take time to appreciate how the act of patriation greatly benefited our nation and to dwell upon...

Challenges lie ahead for the NDP following the election of a new party leader in the form of Thomas Mulcair this past weekend.

For starters, Mulcair is viewed by many New Democrats as being both too new to the party and too far to...

Liberal-NDP merger and/or coalition talk is back in style again this week. Let's cut to the chase: Should the Liberal Party pursue merger talks with the NDP? Furthermore, should a merger even be on the Liberal radar at this point?

There are...

I had the pleasure of attending an official NDP leadership debate this past Sunday in Montreal, the topic being "Building a strong, united Canada."

Shortly after the debate, Toronto Star columnist Chantal Hébert called it "one of the...

Last election, the ballot question effectively crafted by Stephen Harper was one that presented a dichotomy in electoral choice -- between a strong, stable Conservative majority government, or a "reckless coalition" of left-wing parties.

Underlying that question, however, was a more profound message: The...

In an article I wrote last week, I suggested in a spiteful and humourous way that the Toronto Transit Commission be privatized. The suggestion was intended to serve primarily as a punch line to end the piece. But, more importantly, since many...

The much-anticipated Drummond Report has been released, with the biggest conclusion being that unless public spending is radically curbed, Ontario's deficit will balloon to $30.2 billion by 2017-18. Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government maintains that it will balance the books by that same...

In a column written this past weekend for the Toronto Sun, author and television host Ezra Levant advanced two questionable assertions. The column follows comments made in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Larry Miller comparing the 1990s Liberal...

Pierre Trudeau gave us the Charter, multiculturalism, official bilingualism, and the Canada Health Act.

Brian Mulroney: the GST and free trade with the United States.

Jean Chrétien's government slew the largest deficit in Canadian history and then recorded five straight budgetary surpluses while paying...

In a speech given this past weekend in Vancouver, Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae took aim at Stephen Harper's approach to Canadian federalism, citing the issue of health care as one example in which Harper's Conservative government has adopted a non-collaborative approach.

Much has been written about the decision of Liberal delegates -- fully 77 per cent of them, actually -- to endorse a policy championing the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Canada at the party's recent biennial convention in Ottawa. However, the significance of this move for the...

This weekend in Ottawa, Liberal delegates will have the opportunity to effect real change at the heart of our party, to allow for a long-overdue generational shift among our party's leadership, and to begin creating the most open political party in the history of Canada.

Rebuilding isn't easy. The Progressive...