Paul Wells

Maclean's Political editor

Maclean’s senior writer Paul Wells writes about politics across Canada and abroad. Except sometimes he ignores politics and writes about music or something else.

Stephen Harper says the world needs more Stephen Harper

Paul Wells: In his new book, the former PM offers a prescription to the conservative movement in the age of Trump—a little of this, a little of that

October 13th, 2018

Justin Trudeau vs. the anti-carbon tax Avengers

Paul Wells: At the end of 2016, the feds and every province but Saskatchewan agreed to a national carbon plan. Then things started happening.

October 6th, 2018

Quebec election: The end of an era, the beginning of—something

Paul Wells: There were parallel routs of the old-line parties, as the Liberals and PQ suffered historic drubbings. The CAQ is just what’s left over.

October 1st, 2018

The battle over the new NAFTA moves to the Hill

Paul Wells: The first-day Conservative reaction to the new NAFTA—or USMCA, as we’re apparently calling it—had a few layers

October 1st, 2018

Quebec’s seriously odd, strangely important election

Paul Wells: Even the most staunchly federalist or sovereignist observers have, over the years, yearned for a normal Quebec election. And then they almost got one.

September 27th, 2018

New Brunswick: Over to you, Lieutenant Governor [checks notes] Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau!

Paul Wells: Brian Gallant still gets to be premier, for now. But what happens next is all about which party leader has more confidence.

September 25th, 2018

Adventures in better government with Doug Ford

Paul Wells: Thanks to a politician who’s in no mood for fine print, the notwithstanding clause is now in the toolkit of any impatient government

September 11th, 2018

Quebec’s very, very quiet revolution

Paul Wells: A victory by the upstart CAQ could mark a historic shift in Quebec. Just don’t expect any radical changes.

September 6th, 2018

Memo to future prime ministers: Some days you’ll hate this job

Paul Wells: A tendency to experience heartbreak on the job isn’t unique to this prime minister

August 30th, 2018

Maxime Bernier reaches his logical conclusion

Paul Wells: For years, Maxime Bernier cheerfully flew the Tory banner—even when his own ideas clashed with the party line. As he quit the party to start his own, it’s not clear he’s leading a serious movement.

August 23rd, 2018

The 2019 election will be about who’s the right kind of Canadian

Paul Wells: The Liberal-Conservative fight over border crossers has produced no clear winner or loser. Expect many rematches.

August 22nd, 2018

If Justin Trudeau loses, it will be because of Andrew Scheer’s secret weapon

Paul Wells on how the Conservatives’ hopes of dislodging the Liberals ride on a little-known operative who has beaten long odds—and a budding wedge issue

August 7th, 2018

Toronto mayor John Tory in his city hall office.

Toronto Mayor John Tory talks to Paul Wells

Tory on Doug Ford’s plan to slash city council, taking on a new electoral opponent—and the difference between the premier and his late brother, Rob

August 2nd, 2018

Doug Ford and a truly weird, bitter, team-building Question Period

Paul Wells: When the chips are down in truly strange circumstances, Ford’s MPPs are backing him.

July 31st, 2018

Watching Doug Ford drive the bus

Paul Wells: Ford wants to get on with building more of the sort of Ontario he knows and likes, and less of the sort of Ontario that gets in his way.

July 30th, 2018

Advertisement

Twitter

Advertisement