| When Thomas Mulcair became leader of the NDP, he promised a structured opposition that could take on the Conservative government. His strategy appears to be working. BLOG POSTS  | J.J. McCullough: Harper's Secret Plot to Fan Pundit Paranoia
 For many of the hapless folks who actually toil in the journalism field, writing clever things about politicians is simply work -- and the biggest thrill comes at quittin' time. It's this sort of drab, institutional laziness that forms the worst sort of bias corrupting the Canadian press: Quietly, Stephen Harper is working to "re-brand" Canada. His government is emphasizing the military, the monarchy and select episodes of Canadian history in order to create a competing brand of right-wing Canadian nationalism and divert attention from the great symbols of Liberal patriotism, like medicare and Lester Pearson. The pundit class is not necessarily out to "get" the PM, but after six years in office, they're still not in any great hurry to understand him. |  | Daniel Alexandre Portoraro: The Death Penalty? Canada Can Do Better Than That
As jurors in the Tori Stafford decide fate of accused child killer Michael Rafferty, the gruesome details of the case have renewed calls to bring back the death penalty in such brutal murders. But a country such as Canada has no business whatsoever adopting such barbaric practices as killing its own men and women. Does the death penalty truly offer any sense of justice? Hardly. What's so distressing about capital punishment is two things: firstly, what it represents, and secondly, that it's a mediocre solution. |  | Bruce Hyer: Why I Quit the NDP (and What Might Make me Come Back)
When I recently left the NDP, the media (and many partisans) wondered aloud why anyone would give up the protection and support offered by a strong political tribe, along with the perks that go with it. I caused a firestorm in Ottawa, in my riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North, and across Canada. Why did I do this? |  | Susan Eng: Omnibus Budget Bill Would Go Down Smoother in Pieces
On Monday, May 14, parliament will vote on whether to give it second reading and send it to committee. Despite vociferous opposition calls for splitting the current 400-page bill to deal separately with issues, Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan flatly refused, saying that the government wants its economic program passed quickly. |  | Samuel Getachew: Who's Got an Orange Crush?
Earlier today, the Canadian Press Harris Decima survey revealed a surge for the federal NDP and its new centrist leader, Thomas Mulcair. For the NDP that once viewed Ed Broadbent's triumph of 43 seats in the Free Trade referendum like federal election of 1987, this must be an inspiring moment. | | MOST POPULAR ON HUFFINGTONPOST.CA |
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