The 125 safe seats across Canada won by 25% or more
There are 125 ridings considered “safe,” those won by a margin of 25 per cent or more in the last election, according to Elections Canada’s transposition of the results onto the 338 redistributed ridings across the country. Based on the Elections Canada analysis, if the last election had been held in the newly redistributed 338 […]
Fifty-two vulnerable ridings from 2011 starting point for parties to target, say experts
Fifty-two ridings across Canada would have been won by a margin of five per cent or less in the last federal election under the new 338-seat electoral map. These vulnerable seats—the “first step” in drafting party target-riding lists—will see a lot of activity this campaign from party leaders and pollsters, say experts. “If you want […]
Long campaign, constant small pledges, votes may not be about programs: pollsters
In an election so far being fought on the question of change and parties still finalizing their narratives, small, targeted policy proposals have been winning out over broader government programs as the post-summer phase of the election begins. The Conservative government was first elected in 2006 promising a more managerial approach to government and […]
Conservative campaign needs ‘jolt,’ PM urged to take stronger leadership on Syrian humanitarian refugee crisis
Mounting negative headlines over Canada’s refugee policy amidst the Syrian humanitarian crisis, the revelations at the Mike Duffy trial and the slowdown in the Canadian economy are putting the Conservatives on the defensive in the election campaign, resulting in “demoralized” rank and file campaign workers, say Conservative insiders. Prime Minister Stephen Harper needs to “jolt” […]
The 25 Hottest Races to Watch in Election 2015
The polls are predicting a series of down-to-the-wire, three-way races across the country. But some of those races are attracting more media excitement and public attention than others because of the star candidates carrying their parties’ respective banners or other local controversies. “If you have celebrity candidates, the media are going to focus on them. […]
17 political books to read this fall
With the summer reading season officially closed, some of the serious offerings snubbed on the dock await. Fortunately there were plenty of political books timed to coincide with the election campaign, and others offering policy prescriptions that could prove useful beyond. Here are some of the highlights to look for this fall. Already released: Strength […]
The Greens: A party just like the others?
POWELL RIVER, B.C.—After a visit by the Green Party’s Elizabeth May to Powell River on July 31, she was quoted in the local newspaper: “There is no chance of a Conservative winning in this riding. It’s either going to be a Green or an NDP Member of Parliament in this riding.” It was a clever […]
Is the NDP to the right of the Liberals?
TORONTO—The NDP may be heading for power, something it has never had a realistic chance of obtaining at the federal level. That is a dramatic change from the past. What have not changed are the assertions by journalists and academics that the party has lurched to the right. That is what journalists and academics have […]
We don’t have to strategically vote this time
TORONTO—Will the specter of strategic voting fail to play a pivotal role on the national political scene come voting day on Oct. 19? Proponents of strategic voting argue it’s a necessary evil when political circumstances warrant—a reasonable assertion at face value. But inciting voters to abandon their principles in order to vote strategically is a […]
Recession or not, Canada’s economy is underperforming
TORONTO—Whether Canada has been, is, or will be in recession is not the issue. The important reality is that, recession or not, Canada has an underperforming economy and that is what should concern us. It is why we should worry less about a budget deficit and focus more on why we need a public investment […]
