Alex Ballingall

Alex Ballingall

@aballinga.bsky.social

Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star. Government/political people, please tell me everything: aballingall@thestar.ca https://www.thestar.com/

2K followers594 following337 posts

Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Two weeks out from voting day -- If you live in one of the 50 largest municipalities, the Star has this tool to help you understand where your local candidates stand (and, more importantly, how those stands mesh with your own opinions). Check it out! votecompass.thestar.com

votecompass.thestar.comVote Compass — Ontario Municipal Elections 2026 — Toronto StarTake a short survey to calculate how your views align with the candidates for mayor and councillor in the 2026 Ontario municipal elections.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Last week I spent a few days in Windsor and Detroit, which resulted in this feature about how the Gordie Howe Bridge fell under the shadow of Donald Trump's trade war. (Personal note: I love the Windsor vibe. Great peoplee. Great town.) www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comCan the Gordie Howe Bridge pull together what Donald Trump is tearing apart?The question that looms over the new bridge is whether the world it was built for is still the one we live in, Alex Ballingall writes.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Deliberations include discussions of a payout of up to $3.1 billion to support housing loans, the possible export of electricity to the United States, and the creation of this week’s new nuclear energy plan. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comMark Carney sidelined from at least 17 government deliberations because of corporate conflictsThe revelation is contained in letters that the Privy Council Office sent to a parliamentary committee that probed the ‘screens’ that Carney set up last year to protect himself from conflicts of inter...

Alex Ballingall reposted

Toronto Star
@thestar.com

“Let’s be clear, there is no Alto project without Quebec,” Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said, referring to the Crown corporation overseeing plans for a new high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City. #cdnpoli New from @aballinga.bsky.social:

thestar.comCanada’s first high-speed rail project dies if Quebec pulls out, Carney minister saysAlready promising to stage a referendum on separation, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon took to social media to reject the project as a costly "fiasco."
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

The Department of National Defence kept secret how much it paid for a contract with the controversial American tech company Palantir, according to newly released documents that show the deal was worth $30 million more than the government disclosed to Parliament www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comDocuments reveal that Palantir contract was worth $30M more than government disclosedCanada's Department of National Defence kept secret how much it paid for a contract with the controversial American tech company Palantir, according to newly released documents.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Poilievre doubled down on his new attack line targeting Carney's economic credentials, claiming Mark Carney presents the "illusion of knowledge"

thestar.comPierre Poilievre attacks Mark Carney’s economic credentials, says he presents ‘the illusion of knowledge’In a full-frontal assault on Prime Minister Mark Carney's economic credibility, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre suggested the former central banker presents "the illusion of knowledge" and claime...
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Ahead of Carney's trip to India, the country's high commissioner to Ottawa says it's time to move one from the deep-freeze in relations that followed allegations the India was linked to suspected murder and other violent crimes in Canada -- allegations the commissioner dismissed as "preposterous."

thestar.comDismissing ‘preposterous’ allegations, India’s high commissioner welcomes reset in relations with CanadaDinesh Patnaik dismissed accusations from the federal government and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, both of which have claimed to have evidence linking agents of the Indian government to violent crime...
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

An analysis of the political situation in Canada that Carney will confront after circumnavigating the globe and redefining Canadian foreign policy for the "new world order." www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comMark Carney returns from turmoil abroad to looming domestic challengesThe prime minister will huddle Thursday with his governing cabinet in Quebec City following a world tour in which he reset relations with China and charted a new course of
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

One Liberal source, who spoke on condition they aren’t named, said MPs from B.C. are “hopping mad” over a lack of communication from Carney’s office over what’s going on with the pipeline talks. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comMark Carney says hurdles remain as tensions rise over pipeline deal for AlbertaThe prime minister said a memorandum of understanding with Alberta will set out "necessary conditions" for any federal greenlight to a new oil pipeline.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

The Star now has sources saying Con. MP Matt Jeneroux -Met with PM on budget day -Was seen with PM's deputy chief of staff later that night in the precinct -Called PM, told him he was resigning his seat before announcing it himself 2 days later www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comConservative MP told Mark Carney about his planned resignation before announcing it, sources sayConservative MP Matt Jeneroux spoke by phone with Prime Minister Mark Carney and told him he was vacating his seat before publicly announcing a bombshell resignation that cast further doubt
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Conservative MPs facing questions about party loyalty are enduring unfair “harassment” fuelled by rumours and Liberal attempts to earn a majority in the House of Commons through convincing opposition members to defect to the government, a senior Tory claims.

thestar.comSenior Tory accuses Liberals of fuelling ‘harassment’ of Conservative MPs amid floor-crossing rumoursConservative whip Chris Warkentin downplayed disunity in the Tory caucus and said his party has been brought together by events of the past week.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Canada’s top naval commander says the two foreign companies vying to supply the federal government with a new, multibillion-dollar submarine fleet will need to show they can help create a high-skilled domestic workforce www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comCanada’s new subs will need to be operated and maintained by Canadians, top naval commander saysThe demand underscores the Carney government's drive to ensure its huge, planned increase in defence spending reaps economic benefits in Canada.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

The Liberal government has had discussions about increasing parliamentary resources for the shrunken caucus of New Democrats, the Star has learned, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Grits navigate a minority Parliament where the party is just three votes shy of a controlling majority.

thestar.comLiberals in closed-door talks to boost NDP funding, claim it’s not related to upcoming budget voteThe Liberal government has had discussions about increasing parliamentary resources for the shrunken caucus of New Democrats, the Star has learned, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Grits navigate a min...

Alex Ballingall reposted

Judy Trinh
@judytrinh.bsky.social

Supporters of Freedom Convoy leaders- Chris Barber and Tamara Lich get into a scuffle ahead of their sentencing today. Both have been found guilty of mischief. Their lawyers want full discharge, crown seeking 8yrs for Barber and 7years for Lich.

Alex Ballingall reposted

Jack Hauen
@jackhauen.bsky.social

New: Clients of lobbying firms with close connections to Premier Doug Ford and his nephew have been hugely successful in applying to the province’s Skills Development Fund. Full analysis: www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic... #onpoli

thetrillium.caClients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training fundsGroups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has found
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Some concern us also present inside the Liberals’ women’s caucus, where some are pressing their government to make sure programs started under the previous government continue to receive money, two Liberal insiders told the Star.

thestar.comMark Carney’s austerity budget raising fears gender equality programs will endMembers of the Liberals' women's caucus of MPs are pressing their government to make sure funding for programs started under the previous government continue to receive funding, two Liberal insiders
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Parliament is back and the Star will be covering it all. To get primed on the big storylines, here's our bureau chief Tonda MacCharles with a good survey of the political landscape at the start of the fall sesh: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comWhat to watch, who’s hot and who’s not as MPs return to ParliamentPrime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre each have certain advantages as the 45th Parliament resumes Monday.

Alex Ballingall reposted

National Newswatch
@nationalnewswatch.com

Pierre Poilievre’s political exile is expected to end within days. Then the real fight begins, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed... Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

thestar.comPierre Poilievre’s political exile is expected to end within days. Then the real fight beginsGreater challenges are waiting for him, Conservative insiders and analysts say, as the Tory leader tries to keep his broader voting base intact, and set the stage for the victory

Alex Ballingall reposted

Toronto Star
@thestar.com

Donald Trump’s tariff war with Canada is escalating with new measures from the U.S. and retaliatory responses from Canada. We’re tracking what’s active, what’s coming and how Canada has responded.

thestar.comTrump’s tariff threats keep changing. We’re tracking what’s active, what’s coming and how Canada has respondedDonald Trump’s tariff war with Canada is escalating with new measures from the U.S. and retaliatory responses from Canada. Here’s what’s in effect.

Alex Ballingall reposted

Robert Benzie
@robertbenzie.bsky.social

The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩ has complete coverage of the first ministers’ meeting and the Council of the Federation conference at Deerhurst Resort on Peninsula Lake in Huntsville. #onpoli #cdnpoli www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

thestar.comLive updates: Carney meeting with premiers in Muskoka; Doug Ford announces agreement with Alberta, SaskatchewanCanada’s leaders are sitting down in cottage country days before U.S. tariffs are threatened to take effect on Aug. 1.

Alex Ballingall reposted

News Eye
@newseye.bsky.social

🚨BREAKING: The last journalists working for AFP in Gaza have said they can no longer work for the news agency. They are out of energy and they are starving to death. I have never seen a statement from a news organisation like it. 🧵

Alex Ballingall reposted

National Newswatch
@nationalnewswatch.com

Mark Carney’s government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed... Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

thestar.comMark Carney’s government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure billThe proposed law, Bill C-5, has sparked warnings of Indigenous resistance in the coming weeks, along with condemnation from environmental groups, and some reservations within the Liberal caucus.
Alex Ballingall
@aballinga.bsky.social

Some Liberals have reservations about Bill C-5, which would give cabinet special powers to fast-track development projects like mines, pipelines and ports, and to approve them by skirting environmental laws and regulations. Our story here:

thestar.comMark Carney makes some Liberals uneasy with parliamentary hustle for infrastructure billSome Liberal MPs are expressing reservations about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push to fast-track major development projects.