Some 33 federal ridings with more than 50 per cent visible minority population up for grabs on Oct. 19
In the closest federal election in Canadian history, some 33 federal ridings with a visible minority population of more than 50 per cent are up for grabs, including three Toronto-area ridings where that number is higher than 80 per cent. According to data compiled by Andrew Griffith, who has recently written a book entitled Multiculturalism in Canada: […]
Three-way race, potential for minority creates unusual challenges for PCO’s transition planning
An unpredictable three-way race and a range of possible outcomes and Parliamentary configurations are making for challenging transition preparations in the Privy Council Office and for party teams. With a fixed election date and a 78-day campaign, the PCO and government departments have had longer than usual to plan for a possible government transition beginning […]
Conservatives running ‘Timex campaign,’ they’re taking a licking and keep on ticking
Despite weeks of bad news since the start of the federal election campaign, the Conservatives are still running neck-and-neck with the opposition parties and if the Tories are able to campaign for a week or two without any new major embarrassments, they could win the election, say political observers. Pollster Greg Lyle of Innovative Research […]
In fifth campaign as party leader, Harper gets better at managing ‘funks’: Ibbitson
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who’s running his fifth election campaign as Conservative Party leader, has improved on some of his weaknesses, which in the past have led to poor decisions under pressure and withdrawal into “funks” during federal election campaigns, the PM’s latest biographer says. After a difficult first month on the campaign trail and […]
Bob Rae asks the question and Daniel Bell answers it
In his recent book, What’s Happened to Politics?, former Liberal leader Bob Rae asks a good question. Not surprisingly he lays blame for our political malaise on the Harper government, citing ideological-based policy-making, regressive environmental and First Nations policy, permanent election campaigns and a tendency to play fast and loose with the conventions of responsible […]
‘People will chase you off their lawns, people will invite you in for coffee, it all depends’
Current and former Hill staffers across the country are out door knocking in the longest election campaign in Canadian history and they have some advice: bring water, stay positive and always be polite, no matter what. “It’s a wonderful window into your community and into how people are thinking about politics, and also you get […]
GreenPAC endorses the ‘Green 18’
TORONTO—GreenPAC, Canada’s organization to build environmental leadership in politics, has released its list of endorsements for this election. The organization believes the “Green 18” will be key to turning Canada’s environmental record around and making our country a global leader once again. It is encouraging Canadians to provide financial and volunteer support to these candidates. […]
The roots of Harper’s refugee conundrum
POWELL RIVER, B.C.—Watching the usually bold Stephen Harper scramble to deal with the refugee crisis is to be one of the most intractable and complex issues he has had to deal with. It has shone an extremely unwelcome light on one of the dirty little secrets of the prime minister’s old Reform Party political base: […]
The dancing baby video that changed copyright law
OTTAWA—In February 2007, Stephanie Lenz, a California mother of a pair of young toddlers, shot a short video of her children dancing in the family kitchen with the Prince song Let’s Go Crazy playing in the background. Lenz proceeded to upload the 29-second video to YouTube so that friends and family could see it. Thousands […]
Harper misses opportunity on economy
If Stephen Harper’s goal was to spook Canadians about handing our economy to one of the “other guys,” he missed an opportunity Thursday evening. That doesn’t mean that an often noisy 90-minute debate, with too much time spent with opponents talking over each other, was a breakout night for NDP Leader Tom Mulcair or Liberal […]
