Latest news with #StewartPrest
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
What does Canada Day mean to you? Are you feeling more patriotic this year? We want to hear from you
July 1 marks Canada Day and this year the annual celebration comes with a surge of patriotism. U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked a trade war and questioned Canada's sovereignty, and Canadians have responded by waving their red-and-white flags, buying Canadian and avoiding U.S. companies and travel. In an interview with The Canadian Press last February, Stewart Prest, political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, said there is a shift in Canadians pushing against U.S. threats and coming together. 'There is a saying that politics ends at the water's edge — that there's a sense of a need to pull together and represent the country with the united front,' he said. 'We have seen any number of examples of that now.' If you're feeling especially proud to celebrate Canada Day this year, wants to hear from you. What does Canada Day mean to you? How do you plan to celebrate? Do you have any Canada Day traditions? Will you be shooting fireworks, curating a Canadian playlist, putting on a national jersey, throwing a party or attending an event? Do you think Trump and the U.S. are causing a recent surge in patriotism? Have you avoided U.S. travel or products, or focused on buying Canadian? How do you show your Canadian pride? Share your story by emailing us at dotcom@ with your name, general location and phone number in case we want to follow up. Your comments may be used in a story. With files from The Canadian Press
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Rustad faces ‘messy' summer over B.C. Conservative leadership: political expert
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad speaks to reporters at the legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito VICTORIA — British Columbia's Conservative caucus members are meeting in Surrey today in what a political scientist says could be the start of a 'messy' summer for party Leader John Rustad. It comes as Rustad's leadership is under review and questions arise about his handling of allegations he made in a letter accusing some former Conservative members of the legislature of blackmail. University of B.C. political science lecturer Stewart Prest says there is no formal mechanism for Conservative legislators to push Rustad out at today's meeting, but it doesn't mean they couldn't do things in a 'messier way' by withdrawing confidence in his leadership. He says if they say they no longer have faith in Rustad, the leader's options 'are limited about what he can do,' regardless of what the party constitution says. The constitution approved at the party's most recent annual general meeting in Nanaimo says a leader can only be removed from office after voluntary resignation, death, incapacity or in a leadership review by the membership. The leadership review is already underway and is expected to last through December, with party members voting on whether they support Rustad in the job, and Prest says he expects MLAs to let that process play out for now. But Prest says the riding-by-riding vote also creates the 'possibility of an additional drip, drip effect' where Rustad has to continually defend his record. He says if he were Rustad, he would not be looking forward to the summer. This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published June 25, 2025.
CBC
18-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Who benefited most from the federal leaders English-language debate?
Federal party leaders faced off in the English-language debate Thursday, where they were pressed on how they would lead Canada through the ongoing trade war with the U.S., and what they would do to address the high cost of living. Political analyst Stewart Prest joined Dan Burritt for analysis of the debate.
CBC
05-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Perennial uncertainty of tariffs looms over B.C.'s budget
The B.C. government's 2025/26 budget came as the province is constrained by the start of a trade war prompted by U.S. tariffs, but political watchers say B.C. has many unmet needs and also needs a long-term vision. The budget projected a record deficit of $10.9 billion as the government committed to spending on core services and set aside billions in contingency funds on Tuesday, the same day that 25 per cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports went into effect. But while the record deficit came under fire from many pro-business groups, a political science professor says that the B.C. NDP government is in a tight position, and residents would have to get used to short-term commitments and diversification as the province tries to insulate itself from outside threats. University of B.C. professor Stewart Prest says the government also needs to think about a long-term vision even as it tries to maintain flexibility in the face of tariff uncertainty. "This budget, even though it is still maintaining and building out [services], it is not fulfilling every gap," he told CBC B.C.'s budget special. "And these are the kinds of things that can, in the long term, put the province in [an] even bigger hole." Some labour unions were unhappy with the lack of funds for election promises, like hospital towers in Langley and Nanaimo and counselling staff in schools. Prest says that the lack of outsize spending on sectors like public transit — where the budget largely stuck to previous commitments despite funding crises — could come back to haunt it in future. "People [having] to make a choice between education or just going into the the workforce, because they don't have the transit to get to the place where they get their skills upgraded ... then it is, over the long term, going to be that much worse for for the economy," he said. To spend or cut in the long term? The Opposition B.C. Conservatives have argued that the record deficit projection cannot simply be attributed to the tariffs alone, even as Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says the lack of "splashy announcements" was necessary to respond to the trade war. Alex Mitchell from the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce welcomed the government encouraging customers to shop local and the government's promises to expedite resource projects in response to the tariffs. "But what concerns me the most is that, as we head into this trade war situation, we're really reducing our fiscal firepower by increasing debt," she said. "And that's something that is going to harm us in the long term." On the other hand, Alex Hemingway from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says running a deficit is the responsible thing to do, and there was a need to protect services. The economist says the government should look to generate more revenue for spending programs in the long-term, in the form of growing the economy and progressive taxation on wealthy landowners. "There's a huge amount of catching up to do, both in terms of rebuilding public services and investing in infrastructure that's been neglected for too long," he said. 'Perennial situation of uncertainty' Prest says that the "perennial situation of uncertainty" with U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs means there will be continuing unmet needs in B.C., as the government tries to square the circle of being fiscally responsible and funding key programs. At a Tuesday news conference, Premier David Eby announced there will be support for businesses and individuals affected by the tariffs but didn't elaborate on who will qualify or how it will work. Prest noted that there wasn't much specific spending allocated in the budget for industries that are most affected by tariffs, and the days ahead were uncertain as the trade war continues to develop. "The province is looking to the federal government to play a leading role there," he said. "So, there is still more to be said on a number of these issues, but [government officials] are really in a bind."
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canadian patriotism on the rise since Trump's tariff threats, survey shows
The number of Canadians who say they are 'very proud' of their country has risen about 10 per cent in the last two months, according to an Angus Reid Institute survey done in the wake of U.S. tariff threats. University of British Columbia political science lecturer Stewart Prest spoke to CBC News about the findings.
