Lawrence Martin is a Globe and Mail correspondent and author who writes about national affairs from Ottawa.

Harper tightens his grip on media message control

June 22, 2010

Anyone who has worked with Stephen Harper will tell you his top priority is message control. Control the message and you control outcomes.

Mulroney takes it on the chin, but he's still standing

June 01, 2010

Brian Mulroney’s reputation took a further blow yesterday with the release of the Oliphant Commission report. He was hoping for a slap on the wrist. Instead he got a whack across the jaw. But there was no knockout.

Liberals revisit the good old days of Jean Chretien

May 25, 2010

It’s Jean Chretien’s day today.

Stephen Harper rides the wheel of fortune

May 18, 2010

One of the unwritten stories about Stephen Harper is how the fates continually smile on him.

The return of Quebec's dark cloud

May 11, 2010

It was just a year and a half ago that Liberal Jean Charest won a majority government in Quebec.

Canadian media concentration about to get worse

May 04, 2010

It’s barely been in the news, but one of the biggest political stories in a long time will likely happen this week. More than half the major newspapers in the country belonging to Canwest chain are being sold off.

Hurricane Helena clouding the deeper issue

April 20, 2010

All the sound and fury over the Helena Guergis affair, which may turn out to signify nothing, or very little, has served to camouflage matters more serious.

Conservatives' scandal-free reputation is at risk

April 13, 2010

One of the positive claims the Harper government has been able to make is that it has avoided scandal of the on-the-take variety.

First Nations leader among governor general frontrunners

April 06, 2010

Is the race for governor general over before it’s begun?

Tories seeking Grit knockout blow

March 30, 2010

Stephen Harper’s chutzpah. There’s nothing like it.

A landmark victory for American progressives

March 23, 2010

Among developed nations, the United States has had a unique standing. It was the only one not to offer its citizens comprehensive health care. For decades the redneck right blocked the march toward civility.

'Mad Max' may need to watch his back

March 16, 2010

The most intriguing Conservative in Ottawa these days is Maxime Bernier.

Finally, the Conservative vision is clear

March 09, 2010

We always used to knock Stephen Harper’s Conservatives for having no vision. The prime minister wasn’t one for big words and fancy phrases.

Harper hopes to bask in Olympic glow

March 02, 2010

The spectacular Canadian performance at the Winter Olympics could not have come at a better time for Stephen Harper. It’s the biggest feelgood story since the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series. The Games turned public attention fully away from the political shenanigans of the governing party in suspending Parliament.

What's worse, bullying the staff or bullying the system?

February 23, 2010

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown treated staff so harshly, it is revealed, that some of them contacted the National Bullying Helpline for assistance in dealing with him.

Time to let the era of Quebec grievance pass

February 16, 2010

Heritage Minister James Moore had a point of sorts in saying there wasn’t enough French content in the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics. There could have been more.

Note to Ottawa: America's problems are our problems

February 09, 2010

Before everyone gets down on Barack Obama, it should be remembered that it was George W. Bush who gave the country two wars, a staggering deficit and debt, no health care or environmental plan, a disparaged worldwide reputation and an economy on the verge of collapse.

Stockwell Day's surprising political comeback

February 02, 2010

Stockwell Day kicked off his tenure as the new Treasury Board secretary with a folksy note.

Prorogation fury proves democracy is alive and well

January 26, 2010

Considering the calamity in Haiti has overwhelmed all other news, as it should have, the number of Canadians who showed up Sunday for nationwide protests against the suspension of Parliament was impressive.

Time for the Grits to give Harper a taste of his own medicine

January 12, 2010

If, as the Conservatives interpret it, politics is war, it’s no surprise they have been winning. They are the only side that’s been deploying the heavy artillery.

Going prorogue: Harper's latest move may backfire

January 05, 2010

Having shown the effrontery to prorogue Parliament once again, the speculation now is that Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our supreme ruler, will take things a step further and force an election this spring.

Trudeau poised to lead a Canadian youth movement

December 29, 2009

Here’s what we need in 2010 — the youth to take over. Everybody is sick and tired, or at least they should be, of the eternal grip on power of the post-war baby boomer cohort.

After a lot of noise, Stephen Harper is still firmly in control

December 26, 2009

The recession never became a depression. We didn’t have an election. Another Liberal leader was eaten alive.

Obama's first year has America back on the high road

December 22, 2009

At long last, the United States will get a semblance of a decent health care system. Barring some unforeseen reversal, U.S. President Barack Obama’s reform  package will receive final approval next month.

Shuffling the chairs in an unlit galaxy

December 15, 2009

In the Afghan detainee controversy, Peter MacKay’s stonewalling and roughhouse takedown of a diplomat was characteristic of this government whenever it is accused of anything. Did the defence minister have any choice but to respond in the way he did?

Stephen Harper and the gang that shoots late

December 08, 2009

You don’t have to look too closely to notice a pattern in our governing Conservatives. They’re late learners.

Tory adds patriot game to torture allegations strategy

December 01, 2009

One of the leading rules of politics is to keep it simple. Reduce complex issues down to elementary terms that all earthlings, no matter what their degree of cranial endowment, can understand.

Conservative record of smears tells the story

November 24, 2009

When in doubt, check the track record.

Crafty Harper succeeding at making us feel good

November 17, 2009

Few could have predicted this — that a year after almost losing the government over his boneheaded budget update, Stephen Harper would be riding higher than ever.

Who was the architect of the Kandahar mission?

November 10, 2009

With things going badly in Afghanistan, a controversy has developed over who was the main architect of the Kandahar component of the mission that has cost so many Canadian lives.