Too early to dismiss Trudeau: there is guile behind the smile
The prospect of a Liberal victory in October seems less likely these days, but it would be rash to dismiss Justin Trudeau’s charm and his guile. That charm may be lost on the flinty-eyed media corps, opposition cynics and political luminaries of another era (and gender). But any casual perusal of social media suggests it […]
Close race, changing polls making for tentative summer campaign plans
Recent polling numbers and events like the NDP surge in Alberta are changing the electoral map so significantly that leaders’ summer strategies are still a work in progress and will remain as flexible as possible to respond to opponents, strategists say. As Parliament winds down and the campaign gears up, the federal parties are poised […]
Road to majority government smoothly paved for Conservatives
One hundred and seventy seats in the soon-to-be renovated House of Commons is the minimum number required by one political party to form a majority government. When Canadians go to the polls on Oct. 19, the governing Conservatives, opposition New Democrats and third-party Liberals will each try to string together enough riding-level victories to form […]
Incumbent MPs not running in Election 2015
There are a number of incumbent MPs not running in the next federal election. Here is the list so far. Conservative MPs Not Running Name Riding Vote Won In 2011 Diane Ablonczy Calgary-Nose Hill, Alta. 70.2% Mike Allen Tobique-Mactaquac, N.B. 62.7% Rob Anders Calgary West, Alta. 62.2% Ray Boughen Palliser, Sask. 47% Garry Brietkreuz Yorkton-Melville, […]
Tories must recruit new star candidates to succeed outgoing Cabinet ministers: insiders
Conservative insiders are questioning whether the party is doing enough to recruit new star candidates for the next election to replace outgoing, high-profile Cabinet ministers, such as Justice Minister Peter MacKay. Mr. MacKay’s (Central Nova, N.S.) announcement late last month that he won’t run in the Oct. 19 federal election is a “big loss” for […]
Parties seeking aboriginal candidates for fall election
With aboriginal leaders calling for action following the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report on residential schools, political parties are seeking aboriginal candidates to represent them as they fill out their lists of nominated candidates. As of last week, the Liberals had nominated 14 aboriginal candidates, the NDP had seven and the Green […]
Liberals and NDP, better get ready to rumble!
OAKVILLE, ONT.—If they’re smart, Liberal and NDP strategists will spend less time this summer studying policy platforms and more time studying the fighting tactics of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan. That’s because the Liberals and New Democrats seem destined to clash in a political steel cage match, pitting NDP Leader Thomas “Angry Tom” Mulcair against Liberal […]
Justice for aboriginal peoples should be Canada’s top priority
Ever since Paul Martin was voted out of office in the 2006 election, and the demise of the Kelowna Accord that followed, aboriginal issues have not received anywhere close to the immediate attention they deserve in Canada’s election campaigns. The focus of the electorate has been narrowly directed toward the short- and medium-term health of […]
Next federal election ‘mother’ of all elections
It promises to be one of the longest and dirtiest campaigns in Canadian federal political history and it could be the “mother” of all elections, unlike any seen before, say political insiders. A number of factors are contributing to this election campaign’s singularity: a record-breaking amount of money likely to be spent; 294 of 338 […]
Parties keeping door open to pull out from broadcast consortium TV debates
The saga over the federal leaders’ debates is far from over and parties are keeping the door wide open to not taking part in those organized by the broadcast consortium, saying they only agreed “in principle” and details have yet to be worked out. And Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, while committed to the broadcast […]
