Conservatives had a ‘leader problem,' not a ‘strategy problem': Liberal campaign director
Former Liberal national campaign co-director Andrew Bevan talks about when it became clear that the Liberals had a chance to win the 2025 federal election.
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Globe and Mail
6 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
The first half of Russ Murrell's life moved fast. The second half was decidedly different
Russell John Murrell: Pilot. Grandfather. Father. Husband. Born Sept. 22, 1937, in Vancouver; died Dec. 20, 2024, in Cloverdale, B.C., of medically assisted death; aged 87. To know Russ was to know his many turns of phrase ('That's the ticket!'), one of the small ways he expressed joy. He loved to play and tinker and joke, especially with his four grandchildren. Tumbling rocks and agates, shooting BB guns, an extra serving of dessert when mom wasn't looking and annual camping trips at Cultus Lake, in B.C.'s Fraser Valley. Those trips offered a glimpse of who he was as a younger man. The campground clubhouse featured a pool table that the kids would monopolize for hours. Papa, as his grandkids called him, would occasionally join. He was an ace. Any shot, any angle. Straight in the pocket. 'Where'd you learn to do that?' we'd ask. 'When you spend enough time in bars, you pick up these skills,' he said. Russ joined the Royal Canadian Air Force right out of high school. He earned his wings in 1958 and in 1960 received the Vincent Trophy, awarded to Canada's top aerial marksmen, at the Air Defence Command's annual rocket shoot in Cold Lake, Alta. Over the next 10 years, he was stationed at military bases across Canada and in Europe, coinciding with Canada's role in the Cold War. During that same period, Russ married his first wife, Kay Morrow, and welcomed three daughters in five years: Chris, Heidi and Robyn. They remember many nights on base in Chatham, N.B., when their dad had to leave in the middle of the night, the sirens calling the pilots for patrol. Russ slept with his flight suit and boots beside his bed. Tensions ran high. His struggles with drinking began during this time. The impacts of his addiction were felt by his family the most, it led to divorce and many years of long-distance, often absentee parenting. After he retired from the Air Force, Russ rarely spoke of his years flying, but once a pilot, always a pilot. His granddaughter Kaitlyn loved watching him drive. She never got to fly with him, so this was the next best thing. His blue Ford Escape was equipped with a manual drive mode and he put the gear shifter through its paces. Instead of using the brake, he'd meticulously shift down at every red light. He was in control. The first half of Russ's life moved fast and left little room for self-reflection. The second half was decidedly different. He met Joyce Harries when he was 44. A second marriage for both, it took them 12 years to tie the knot. Their union defined 'in sickness and in health.' Joyce witnessed many relapses and supported Russ on his sobriety journey. Throughout their struggles, Russ and Joyce set a good example for what retirement can be. They travelled, kept a beautiful, well-kept garden and most importantly, spent lots of time with family. Joyce's devotion to Russ was returned when she later developed Alzheimer's and required more care. Russ refused to move her to an assisted-living facility and dismissed support from both family and nurses. He said it was his time to give. But he had started giving back long before then; to neighbours, friends, distant relatives and his daughters. He had become the person you call when you need help the most. Recovering from surgery? Convalesce at his home. Need a place to store a fixer-upper sports car? Russ's driveway had a spot. Transitioning jobs? He'd float you until you were back on your feet. Those were the public acts. Many more went unnoticed, unannounced. In 2018, he underwent multiple surgeries for esophageal cancer. It left him unable to chew and swallow food. The next year, he elected to undergo another surgery in the hopes of being able to eat normally once again. The procedure was risky. Working with his surgeon, they pressed forward with an all-or-nothing approach. If the surgery was going to plan, he'd wake up. On paper he was cancer-free, but he remained frail and underweight. In late 2024, he developed pneumonia and his body began to shut down. In his final days, Russ's request for a medically assisted death was granted. He was at peace, finally in control over his body and mind. Kaitlyn Rosenburg is Russ Murrell's granddaughter. To submit a Lives Lived: lives@ Lives Lived celebrates the everyday, extraordinary, unheralded lives of Canadians who have recently passed. To learn how to share the story of a family member or friend, go online to
CBC
31 minutes ago
- CBC
Nanaimo, B.C., debates joining municipalities that ban invasive species
The City of Nanaimo might soon join a list of municipalities that prohibit the sale and distribution of invasive plants, in absence of provincewide laws on the matter. On Monday, city councillors are scheduled to consider a staff report that recommends a bylaw to ban specific species on the Invasive Species Council of B.C. (ISCBC) list, including some common household vines and flowers like English ivy, baby's breath and foxgloves. "Over 60 per cent of our invasive plants are actually intentionally planted," said Gail Wallin, ISCBC's executive director. "So great work, great step forward." The report says invasive plants can harm the environment, human health and even the economy. "They can thrive on land and in aquatic environments and can impact biodiversity and natural habitats," according to the report. "Since the plants are introduced, they have limited natural predators and tend to grow rapidly, out-compete native plants, and can be challenging to manage even with a long-term approach." Invasive plants can damage infrastructure, alter water flows and become fire hazards, according to the report. It also states that provincial regulations like the Weed Control Act have outdated species lists and little effective means of enforcement, but the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has been reviewing current legislation regarding the sale of invasive plants and their seeds in B.C. Other municipalities with similar prohibitions include Squamish and Oak Bay. "There is a need for stronger provincial regulation on on invasive species," Wallin agreed. Many invasive plants can be found at nurseries across B.C., where they're sold on their own or as part of ornamental baskets, she said. Worries about implementation Walter Pinnow, operations coordinator at Green Thumb Nursery in Nanaimo, said his workplace doesn't sell invasive plants — even though some customers still ask for them. "We just had a customer asking us for foxglove the other day," Pinnow said, adding people often ask for chickory, a plant with little blue flowers commonly seen on the side of B.C. highways. Gardeners don't always know that many of the flowers they see are actually invasive, Pinnow said. He supports the report and the creation of a bylaw to ban the sale of invasive plants, but said he worries about how it would be regulated or enforced. Pinnow also cautioned the city to list plants under their proper Latin names if the bylaw does go through, to ensure that plants that are sometimes categorized under their common names aren't included — like ivy.
CTV News
32 minutes ago
- CTV News
Voters go the polls in three Alberta byelections
Voters will head to the polls in three byelections in Alberta Monday, including a central Alberta riding where a separatist party is expected to make a show of support. (File) Albertans will cast their ballots in three byelections Monday. The three races are in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills; the only seat up for grabs outside the capital region. Located in rural central Alberta, it's where the separatist Republican Party of Alberta is aiming to capitalize on discontent with Ottawa. Republican leader, Cameron Davies has been campaigning in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills against the UCP's Tara Sawyer, the NDP's Bev Toews and Bill Tuft of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition. The seat became vacant after former legislature speaker and long-time UCP member of the legislature Nathan Cooper resigned to take a post as Alberta's representative in Washington, D.C. Experts say while the Republican Party is expected to take some votes from UCP, the chance of them winning the seat is low. 'That's a strong conservative riding, I don't see them taking that seat, but they are driving conversation,' says Tom Vernon, senior consultant at Crestview Strategy. 'How does the broader conservative coalition handle that conversation, what does it mean not necessarily in this byelection but in the next general election as well. Are they going to build up a base of support big enough to take votes away from the UCP to cause them trouble on the right,' adds Vernon. Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is running in Edmonton-Strathcona, where his predecessor Rachel Notley last won 80 per cent of the vote. Also vying for the Edmonton-Strathcona seat are UCP candidate Darby Crouch, Republican Ravina Chand, Samuel Petrov of the Alberta Party, Liberal Don Slater and Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Jesse Stretch. Further south in Edmonton-Ellerslie, NDP candidate Gurtej Singh Brar could solidify the opposition party's hold on the city, but United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj is hoping to make an inroad. Candidates in Edmonton-Ellerslie include Caroline Currie of the Alberta Party, Pamela Henson from the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition, Fred Munn of the Republican Party and Liberal Manpreet Tiwana. The south-Edmonton riding had been represented by Rod Loyola under the NDP banner until he resigned to run in the federal election. Polls open Monday at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters can find polling information at With files from The Canadian Press
