Campbell Strategies
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Divorce NDP Style
The NDP decision to end their agreement to support the minority Liberal government (the “Supply and Confidence Agreement”) is more about political positioning for the next election scheduled for October 2025 than about any immediate threat to the life of the current Parliament. While the media are having a field day with the NDP’s abrogation…
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The Federal Mini Budget: Keeping Their Powder Dry, Not So Much
The federal government delivered a Fall Economic Statement this week. These Statements have morphed into ‘mini budgets’ full of pricey ‘goodies’ that used to be reserved for full budgets. Minister Freeland and the government are clearly preparing for challenging times next year and presented a “downside scenario” if growth continues to slow. In that eventuality,…
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Ontario Budget 2022: Analysis – A campaign budget to differentiate the Conservatives from the Opposition Parties
With mere days to spare, the Ford government released the 2022 Ontario Provincial Budget which will serve as the basis of their election platform. While almost all of the big-ticket items were already announced over the last several weeks, the Ford government’s budget lays a path that is intended to differentiate them from the Liberals and…
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A Victory for Municipal Rights in Ontario
When the rules are against you, sometimes the only option is to change the rules. It might take a meeting. It might take a regulatory change. But for some clients, we need to convince a government to create new legislation. It’s a big goal, but if it’s the right strategy, we can make it happen. In…
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Opinion: As a conservative, it pains me that we aren’t learning from our mistakes
As a conservative, it pains me that we aren’t learning from our mistakes Paul Brown Contributed to the Globe and Mail Published February 6, 2022 Paul Brown is a former chief of staff in Brian Mulroney’s government and has worked on numerous provincial and federal Conservative campaigns. He is a principal at Campbell Strategies. I was…
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Of Throne Speeches and Pizzas
A Throne Speech kicks off a Parliamentary session. A Throne Speech that follows an election is usually a rehash of the victor’s campaign promises. In that respect, this week’s Throne Speech did not disappoint. The Government (through the Governor General) can huff and puff in every official language and talk about “mandate” and how “the…
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The (Crypto) Genie Can’t Be Put Back in The Bottle: What Do Regulators Wish For?
The Genie grants three wishes and warns: “Be careful what you wish for”. Waiting around while central bankers and securities regulators ponder what to do about cryptocurrency and crypto assets, a frustrated Genie finally says: “Let me help out here. I can grant three wishes. Here are your choices: make it all go away (too…
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Analysis: Ontario Fall Economic Statement Offers Preview of June Election Themes
Ontario’s Finance Minister has released the Province’s Fall Economic Statement (“FES”), which provides an update on the Province’s program spending, as well as Ontario’s economic and fiscal projections for the near term. With less than eight months until the next provincial election (which is on June 2022), Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy’s mini-budget ultimately lays the foundation for…
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Cabinetry in Our Time: Everything and the Kitchen Sink
Choosing a cabinet is one of the hardest tasks that faces any Prime Minister. One early Canadian Prime Minister facing the inevitable second guessing about (his) choices lamented: “Give me better wood and I will make you a better cabinet.” (Source: parli.ca) The point in dredging up this old saw is not to criticize any particular…
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Why Central Banks will Crush Bitcoin