Lee Harding

Regina

Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Freelance journalist and policy researcher with a Master of Public Policy from the University of Calgary. On hiatus from contributing to Western Standard.

Featured in: Favicon

theepochtimes.com Favicon

substack.com (+1) Favicon

torontosun.com Favicon

winnipegfreepress.com Favicon

ottawasun.com Favicon

timescolonist.com Favicon

thespec.com Favicon

winnipegsun.com Favicon

castanet.net Favicon

canadiangeographic.ca + 54 more

Articles

Why Western Votes Do Impact Federal Elections

4 days ago | theepochtimes.com | Lee Harding

News AnalysisDespite suggestions that votes cast in Western Canada don’t influence the result of general elections, an analysis of results from past elections challenges this notion. The perception about the irrelevance of Western votes may have become popularized by the statement “Screw the west, we'll take the rest” by Liberal political organizer Keith Davey in the 1980 federal election.
Poll finds most Canadians uncomfortable with lobbyists campaigning then lobbying

5 days ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

A national survey conducted by Nanos Research for Democracy Watch shows an overwhelming number of Canadians are uncomfortable about lobbyists campaigning for political parties that they subsequently lobby.
RCMP members who called for resignation of nine cabinet ministers explain motivations

6 days ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

Two RCMP members who openly called for the resignation of nine cabinet ministers in a letter say they are motivated by patriotism, not politics. Sgt. Peter Merrifield and retired Detective Paul McNamara blew the whistle on what they describe as a catastrophic breakdown in Canada's national security infrastructure and shared their reflections on the YouTube podcast Northern Perspective.
Ontario government opens up interprovincial trade

6 days ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

The Ontario government has tabled legislation to remove its Canadian Free Trade Agreement exceptions, adopt mutual recognition with reciprocating provinces, liberalize labour mobility, and allow direct-to-consumer sales of alcohol. The Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act will unlock free trade and labour mobility within Canada.
Poll finds majority of Canadians want more access to non-governmental healthcare providers

6 days ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

Countries like Sweden and France combine universal coverage with independent providers and deliver faster, more accessible care. When informed about how these health systems run, nearly two in three Canadians (64%) favour adopting such models. The poll also finds that 73% of Canadians support allowing patients to receive treatment abroad with provincial coverage, which could help reduce long wait times at home.
HARDING: The English debate was tilted against Poilievre from the start

6 days ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

Last night’s English debate was not some even-handed affair, designed simply to inform Canadians and leave them to their own conclusions. In subtle ways, viewers were set up to favour Mark Carney over Pierre Poilievre in ways most probably didn't realize. TV electoral debates are about impressions as much as facts. The very first U.S. presidential election debate in 1960 demonstrated that powerfully. Young, tanned Democrat candidate John. F.
Buffalo Party leader loses confidence vote at AGM

1 week ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

The first leader of the Buffalo Party that was elected by members was voted out of his position at the party's annual general meeting on Saturday. In a conference room at the Days Inn in Estevan, 13 voted against Phil Zajac maintaining the leadership, while 8 voted in favour. The party has more than 500 members in Saskatchewan and has run candidates in general elections in 2020 and 2024.
Yorkton couple shares miracle stories at Sask MLA banquet

1 week ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

Another milestone took place when their daughter Alyssa was born with an unusual condition. "The doctors didn't think she was going to make it," Vanessa recalled. "She looked like the Michelin Man. The ambulance took five hours, and might I say, the breathing equipment in Yorkton hospital was broken, so they had doctors hand-ventilating her for five hours."Doctors gave Alyssa virtually no chance of survival.
Christian leaders urge prayer in final weeks of election campaign

1 week ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

From New Brunswick, My Canada founder Faytene Grasseschi sent an email blast on Tuesday to urge Christians to pray for the election. "Over the last few days, I have felt an increasingly strong impression that I need to fast for our nation. The urgency was growing," Grasseschi wrote. "This morning, one of my dear friends, Shirley Hildebrandt, messaged me to let me know that TODAY is the 21st day to the federal election and she was feeling to call a fast.
Think tank applauds Alberta shift to activity-based hospital funding

1 week ago | westernstandard.news | Lee Harding

A Canadian think tank is voicing immediate support for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's decision to fund acute care services through activity-based funding, saying it matches best practices internationally. Smith announced the decision alongside Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health, and Dr. Chris Eagle, interim president and CEO of Acute Care Alberta. Instead of paying Alberta Health Services with a single annual grant, the province will pay hospitals for each service rendered.