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Raisa Patel

@raisapatel.bsky.social

National politics reporter for the Toronto Star. Tips? Find me at rapatel@thestar.ca. Extra crispy vocal fry.

2,699 Followers  |  291 Following  |  54 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  1.6942

Latest posts by raisapatel.bsky.social on Bluesky

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RCMP providing update on mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. | CBC

BREAKING At least 10 dead, including shooter, in mass shooting at high school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca

11.02.2026 02:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 55    ๐Ÿ” 20    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Conservative leadership vote 2026 live: Pierre Poilievre faces must-win vote in Calgary Delegates are gathering in Calgary for the Conservative partyโ€™s national convention and Pierre Poilievreโ€™s leadership review.

Our @thestar.com liveblog on all things #CPC26 is rolling! Join me, @althiaraj.bsky.social and @alexboyd.bsky.social from Calgary as we count down to Pierre Poilievre's leadership vote.

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

31.01.2026 00:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Pierre Poilievre is believed to have most Conservativesโ€™ support. Holding his party together could be another matter Poilievre is about to face the increasingly divided coalition he grew during the last election campaign.

On Friday, Pierre Poilievre will face a test of his leadership. Hereโ€™s how heโ€™s approaching that vote, and the Conservative coalition behind it. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

26.01.2026 14:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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โ€˜I fell in love with him on the spotโ€™: Alan Rickman remembered, 10 years after his death On the anniversary of his death aged 69, stars from Sigourney Weaver to Sharleen Spiteri, Tom Felton to Harriet Walter, remember the wit, charm and endless generosity of one of Britainโ€™s best-loved ac...

www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...

15.01.2026 04:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Story here: www.thestar.com/steven-guilb...

27.11.2025 21:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The Star has confirmed that Steven Guilbeault resigned today from Mark Carney's cabinet. Story coming asap.

27.11.2025 21:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

From @aballinga.bsky.social: The Liberals are scrapping plans for a major national climate policy and immediately suspending another in Alberta, as part of an accord that softens federal measures for the province and sees Ottawa throw its support behind a controversial new pipeline proposal.

27.11.2025 17:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Me on Nov 5 and 6:

07.11.2025 05:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Carney government survives first of three budget votes as Conservatives face another MP departure Canadaโ€™s minority Parliament was again the stage for high drama Thursday night, when an Alberta MP said he will resign his seat mere moments before the Liberals survived a confidence

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

07.11.2025 05:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Me on Nov 3: there will be a floor crossing on budget day
Me on Nov 4:

05.11.2025 04:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

This is how I learned the Star has gift links ๐Ÿ˜…

28.10.2025 23:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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If a mine is a nation-building project, why not universal pharmacare? Learn about the big push to get Mark Carney behind it One policy expert said the right drug program could strengthen the labour market and end โ€œjob lock,โ€ which traps people in unwanted jobs for fear of losing benefits.

Online now: Could healthcare also be a nation-building project? I tested universal pharmacare against Ottawaโ€™s criteria to see if a case could be made. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

27.10.2025 12:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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In my deepest ever dive for @thestar.com, I looked at what it would take for universal pharmacare to be considered a nation-building project in Canada. What I learned surprised me.

(In print today and online tomorrow)

26.10.2025 16:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Why everyone suddenly cares what Pierre Poilievre thinks about ostriches Why the Conservative leader is weighing in on the fate of more than 300 birds after avian flu was discovered in the flock.

In which @raisapatel.bsky.social and I try to explain why people are asking Pierre Poilievre about ostrichesโ€”and why heโ€™s not really answering. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

05.10.2025 23:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 22    ๐Ÿ” 13    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
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Exclusive Tory club hires temporary foreign workers under program Pierre Poilievre vows to kill Toronto's Albany Club, a bastion of the conservative establishment, used the temporary foreign worker program to hire staff.

From the Star's Ryan Tumilty: Torontoโ€™s Albany Club, a bastion of the conservative establishment, used the temporary foreign worker program (which the federal Conservatives want to abolish) to hire staff.

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

30.09.2025 23:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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AI minister says Canada must harness emerging technology at home Digital sovereignty has been catapulted to the top of Evan Solomon's to-do list, Raisa Patel writes.

Some reflections after spending two days immersed in the world of AI: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

27.09.2025 18:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Childrenโ€™s Book Writer

When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Childrenโ€™s Book Writer www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/m...

16.09.2025 02:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Newsletters and Email Alerts | The Star Sign up to get the latest news from the Star in your inbox. Visit thestar.com today.

Subscribe to the @thestar.com's This Week in Politics newsletter here: www.thestar.com/newsletters/!

Especially if you want to see my unhinged take this week on what Taylor Swift and Aristotle can tell us about Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre's political paths this fall.

29.08.2025 20:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis prepare NDP leadership bids Edmonton MP Heather McPherson and Vancouver activist Avi Lewis are gearing up to launch NDP leadership bids, the Star has learned, as the partyโ€™s high-stakes race to replace Jagmeet Singh

Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis @avilewis.bsky.social prepare NDP leadership bids, @markramzyy reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

27.08.2025 22:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 11    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Journalism in Gaza

Journalism in Gaza www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/b...

27.08.2025 03:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Forever addicted to N.L. (Not pictured: Gander, Bonavista, and, obviously, Dildo.)

21.08.2025 22:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Jenni Byrne says she will not lead next Conservative campaign, fires back at critics Byrne, a top advisor to Pierre Poilievre and one of the most influential players in the Conservative Party of Canada, will step back into a smaller role in federal politics.

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

08.08.2025 13:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Should we stay or should we go? In Alberta, the fight now is over which referendum question to ask As the debate over whether Alberta should leave Canada heats up, proponents and opponents are racing to see which side can put their version of a referendum question to voters

I spent a couple of days trying to figure out what on earth is going on with the potential referendum questions being floated in Alberta and hoo boy. Different signature requirements! Court questions! Legislation! Here's what we know: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

01.08.2025 20:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Orlando Bloom Spotted At Dinner With Angela Merkel

Orlando Bloom Spotted At Dinner With Angela Merkel

Orlando Bloom Spotted At Dinner With Angela Merkel theonion.com/orlando...

01.08.2025 15:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3064    ๐Ÿ” 270    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 66    ๐Ÿ“Œ 45
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Canada will recognize Palestine in September, Mark Carney says The move comes amid increasing international pressure and outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

BREAKING: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

30.07.2025 21:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Carney condemns Israel for failing to prevent humanitarian crisis in Gaza The prime ministerโ€™s statement is the latest sign of rising international alarm over the starvation and deaths of civilians in the besieged Palestinian territory.

www.thestar.com/politics/car...

25.07.2025 01:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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My mom:

18.07.2025 16:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Elyanna makes history at Coachella. Hereโ€™s how the Palestinian-Chilean singer is taking Arabic music global The 21-year-old from Nazareth became the first artist to perform a Coachella set entirely in Arabic. Now sheโ€™s at the vanguard of a new generation poised to take Middle Eastern music global.

Finally fulfilled a long-held dream of making it to a Coldplay show, the venue was not the nightmarish gongshow many expected it to be, and the opening act by Elyanna was such a standout.

Hereโ€™s @rdassaly.bsky.social, a couple years ago, on her pop star power: www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

09.07.2025 14:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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First Nations warn against fast-tracking of Carney governmentโ€™s โ€˜nation-buildingโ€™ bill A rare alliance between Prime Minister Mark Carneyโ€™s Liberals and Pierre Poilievreโ€™s Conservatives late Monday means that the "One Canadian Economy" bill now has a clear runway to speed through

For the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the Liberal governmentโ€™s ramming of its major projects bill through Parliament is a little too reminiscent of the American administration the proposed law was designed to counter.

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

18.06.2025 01:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Learned a lot at this event from
@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social. Watch our panel with @taylorowen.bsky.social and CIFAR's Elissa Strome on the future of digital policy and governance here: www.cpac.ca/public-recor...

12.06.2025 15:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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