Scheer’s marketing problem
OAKVILLE, ONT.—For better or worse, electoral politics in Canada has evolved into a leader-centric form of political combat. In other words, the current federal election isn’t really about pitting political parties or ideologies against each other, it’s more of a one-on-one contest between party champions, i.e., between Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and Prime Minister Justin […]
The debate about debates is debatable
OTTAWA—The debate about the debates is debatable. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was criticized for not attending the first televised debate organized by Maclean’s magazine and CityTV. He will face more criticism next week as a likely no-show at the Munk Debates on Foreign Policy Oct. 1 in Toronto. Trudeau’s explanation is that he is attending […]
Reaction to Trudeau’s racist brownface photos, here and abroad
After multiple images emerged Wednesday of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in racist blackface and brownface, in some instances dating back to the 1990s, reaction from Canadians and international figures continued to pour in Thursday. Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), currently on the campaign trail, has since apologized, admitted wearing brownface and blackface is racist, and said […]
GTA to be hotly contested in election, ‘decides whether governments are minorities or majorities’
Political strategists, professors, and candidates agree that voters in the Greater Toronto Area will play a critical role in deciding who will form the next government, with one pollster saying the recent blackface controversy enveloping Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could potentially suppress the Liberal Party’s vote in the upcoming election and lose them some crucial ridings. […]
Blackface/brownface photos will make re-election campaign the fight of Trudeau’s political life: pollsters
Last week’s bombshell pictures showing the prime minister wearing blackface and brownface, at least three times since he was a teenager and the latest in 2001, have made Justin Trudeau’s campaign for a second term in power the fight of his political life, and a lot more complicated, say some pollsters. “This is not a […]
Campaign signs across Canada are being defaced with hateful graffiti
As local campaigns hit the pavement ahead of the Oct. 21 federal election, candidates across the country are seeing their campaign signs defaced with racist graffiti, from drawing blackface on candidates to vandalizing signs with swastikas. In the Montreal-area riding of Hochelaga, Que., represented by outgoing NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet since 2011, Liberal candidate Soraya […]
‘Sohi is in huge trouble’: besieged minister Amarjeet Sohi fights to keep his seat
Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi is in the fight of his political life, but says his reputation in Edmonton Mill Woods gives him an edge in the campaign to keep his seat in a province where his Liberal Party is widely unpopular. The recently-surfaced photos of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) wearing brownface “certainly […]
NDP has done us a favour by putting wealth tax issue on the national agenda
TORONTO—NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is already talking about how an NDP government would spend nearly $70-billion over the coming decade from his “super wealth tax,” an annual one per cent tax on net wealth above $20-million held by Canadian economic families. The roughly $70-billion estimate comes from the parliamentary budget officer though his report says […]
If voters see a common theme, Trudeau’s blackface controversy will change the campaign: Greg Lyle
VANCOUVER—It is true that campaigns matter—just ask former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith. It is also true that most campaign controversies, even ones as juicy as the Trudeau Blackface controversy, ultimately have only a limited impact on the election result. Paul Simon told us why when 50 years ago he sang, “Still a man hears what […]
Politics This Morning: Trudeau’s in Toronto, Scheer to tour Atlantic, May joining climate strikers in Calgary
Happy Friday! It’s Day 10 of the 43rd federal election. After a day dominated by backlash—and apologies—over unearthed photographs and a video of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in blackface and brownface, from the 1990s and 2001, respectively, the Liberal leader will be in Toronto this morning. He’s set to hold another media availability and make a […]
