‘Nervous’ Liberals say Trudeau should counter Conservative attack ads hard, now
It will be the longest federal election campaign in Canada since 1872 and with the election day only 11 weeks away, some senior Liberals, who had expected smooth sailing only a year ago with their young, charismatic leader at the helm, are “nervous” and even “panicking” at the prospect of the Liberals once again ending […]
Longer campaign means bigger rebates, Conservatives can spend more on ad blitz in final week
By spending an estimated $50-million in the Oct. 19 federal election, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives will not only outspend the other federal parties, but will also get a larger rebate back from Elections Canada which will give them an edge over other parties after the election regardless of whether Prime Minister Harper […]
Ka-ching! Cabinet ministers, backbenchers promise billions in new funding in one month
Cabinet ministers and government backbenchers have been busy publicizing new federal government spending across the country, announcing at least an estimated $4.13-billion in new expenditures between June 23 and July 28, according to a review by The Hill Times. On July 30 alone, Conservative MPs and ministers announced a total of $1-billion in government spending. […]
Handicapping election: Conservatives have narrow path to victory, but losing support in battleground seats
TORONTO—From July 24 to 30, Innovative Research Group Inc. conducted an online survey of 2,833 Canadians to explore the underlying dimensions of Canada’s impending election. Like most pollsters, we show the NDP currently in the lead with 33.7 per cent of the decided vote, the Conservatives second at 29.3 per cent and the Liberals third […]
Politics This Morning: Election 2015 Cabinet ministers, backbenchers continue ‘Christmas-in-July’ funding announcements
OTTAWA—Good Friday morning to you. Cabinet ministers and government backbenchers are continuing to make “Christmas-in-July” federal government spending announcements across the country today, and just days before the expected election call on Sunday, Aug. 1. Here’s what’s on for July 31. There's loads. Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea along with Minister of State for Science […]
Political parties facing emotional trauma: Nicholls
OAKVILLE, ONT.—We’re so used to thinking of political parties as rational actors, which strut and fret their hour upon the electoral stage, that we sometimes forget they’re really just associations made up of people. And the people who make up political parties—the partisans, the politicians, the consultants—can be just as prone to irrationality as the […]
It’s Harper way, or the highway
The Prime Minister’s Office has for decades assumed an increasingly central role in the operation of the federal government. But anyone who has observed the government up close in recent years would have to agree that Stephen Harper has broken new ground in the re-orientation to accelerate the shift of power away from elected Members […]
‘I remember on the way home phoning Raymond again and saying simply, ‘Forty per cent. We’re going to get 40 per cent in Jonquière-Alma’: Mulcair
When the new year began we were putting the finishing touches on our plans for our most ambitious campaign in the party’s history. We knew that the election could come as early as the spring, and we needed to be ready. Since becoming leader in 2003, Jack had kept his promise to make Québec a top […]
Harper never had much of a Plan B for Canadian economy: David Crane
TORONTO—The Harper government never had much of a Plan B for the Canadian economy and we are now paying the price. Its priority from the start has been to make Canada an “energy superpower,” relying on aggressive development of the Alberta oil sands and pipelines to carry rising volumes of oil to U.S. and Asian […]
Long election campaign offers chance to put digital policies in spotlight
OTTAWA—Media reports indicate that Canadians may imminently find themselves in an election campaign. With the actual vote still eleven weeks away, the long campaign will provide numerous opportunities to contrast the various political parties on key issues such as economic policy, security, ethics, the environment, and health care. Digital policies will also deserve some time […]
