Raisa Patel
@raisapatel.bsky.social
National politics reporter for the Toronto Star. Tips? Find me at rapatel@thestar.ca. Extra crispy vocal fry.
Me on Nov 5 and 6:
November 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Me on Nov 5 and 6:
Me on Nov 3: there will be a floor crossing on budget day
Me on Nov 4:
Me on Nov 4:
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Me on Nov 3: there will be a floor crossing on budget day
Me on Nov 4:
Me on Nov 4:
Online now: Could healthcare also be a nation-building project? I tested universal pharmacare against Ottawa’s criteria to see if a case could be made. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
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 “job lock,” which traps people in unwanted jobs for fear of losing benefits.
www.thestar.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Online now: Could healthcare also be a nation-building project? I tested universal pharmacare against Ottawa’s criteria to see if a case could be made. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
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)
(In print today and online tomorrow)
October 26, 2025 at 4:29 PM
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)
(In print today and online tomorrow)
Reposted by Raisa Patel
In which @raisapatel.bsky.social and I try to explain why people are asking Pierre Poilievre about ostriches—and why he’s not really answering. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
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.
www.thestar.com
October 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
In which @raisapatel.bsky.social and I try to explain why people are asking Pierre Poilievre about ostriches—and why he’s not really answering. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
From the Star's Ryan Tumilty: Toronto’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...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
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.
www.thestar.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:35 PM
From the Star's Ryan Tumilty: Toronto’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...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Some reflections after spending two days immersed in the world of AI: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
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.
www.thestar.com
September 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Some reflections after spending two days immersed in the world of AI: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Children’s Book Writer www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/m...
When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Children’s Book Writer
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:38 AM
When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Children’s Book Writer www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/m...
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.
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.
Newsletters and Email Alerts | The Star
Sign up to get the latest news from the Star in your inbox. Visit thestar.com today.
www.thestar.com
August 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
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.
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.
Reposted by Raisa Patel
Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis @avilewis.bsky.social prepare NDP leadership bids, @markramzyy reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
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 party’s high-stakes race to replace Jagmeet Singh
www.thestar.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis @avilewis.bsky.social prepare NDP leadership bids, @markramzyy reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
Journalism in Gaza www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/b...
Journalism in Gaza
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Journalism in Gaza www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/b...
Forever addicted to N.L. (Not pictured: Gander, Bonavista, and, obviously, Dildo.)
August 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Forever addicted to N.L. (Not pictured: Gander, Bonavista, and, obviously, Dildo.)
Reposted by Raisa Patel
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...
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
www.thestar.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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...
Reposted by Raisa Patel
Orlando Bloom Spotted At Dinner With Angela Merkel theonion.com/orlando...
August 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Orlando Bloom Spotted At Dinner With Angela Merkel theonion.com/orlando...
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.
Here’s @rdassaly.bsky.social, a couple years ago, on her pop star power: www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
Here’s @rdassaly.bsky.social, a couple years ago, on her pop star power: www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
Elyanna makes history at Coachella. Here’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 she’s at the vanguard of a new generation poised to take Middle Eastern music global.
www.thestar.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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.
Here’s @rdassaly.bsky.social, a couple years ago, on her pop star power: www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
Here’s @rdassaly.bsky.social, a couple years ago, on her pop star power: www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
For the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the Liberal government’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...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
First Nations warn against fast-tracking of Carney government’s ‘nation-building’ bill
A rare alliance between Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives late Monday means that the "One Canadian Economy" bill now has a clear runway to speed through
www.thestar.com
June 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
For the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the Liberal government’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...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
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...
@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...
June 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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...
@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...
A snapshot of the last four weeks.
May 27, 2025 at 2:17 AM
A snapshot of the last four weeks.
