Paul Wells

Paul Wells talks to the former clerk of the Privy Council about his advice to Prime Ministers, the time pressures of governing, and political exits

Paul Wells: Why does it feel like the country isn’t any better off after this election? Perhaps because the problems Canada faces demand hard choices, and modern election campaigns reward denial and emojis.

Paul Wells: How did the West get things so terribly wrong?

Paul Wells: Justin Trudeau’s problems now are the problems of power. And they are fantastic problems compared to the ones Erin O’Toole will face.

A new projection prepared for Maclean’s by Innovative Research suggests the Liberals will lose seats but keep power. The biggest gains may be made by the NDP.

Paul Wells: Trudeau has been trying to sharpen distinctions between the major parties. O’Toole is trying to blur them. And the consortium debates aren’t helping anyone.

Paul Wells: Two parties have managed to get at least part of their platforms costed and cleared for public release by the PBO, but not the third?

Paul Wells: Dozens of half-baked policy directions meant to reach out to dozens of interest communities. It’s a blueprint for incoherence and lousy government.

Paul Wells: In recent federal elections, the winning side was the one that offered benefits. The losers tried to run on values.

Paul Wells: He does shakeups, all the time. But there’s no use for one that brings in more people with the same flawed assumptions that have characterized this campaign.