Protests on campaign trail nothing new, but more intense in 2021, say politicos
The prime minister’s recent events have become a central target for vitriolic protests, revealing a “raw hatred” that has some political players and experts worried about the uptick in intensity they see as a broader “warning sign” for “cracks” forming in Canada. Only a few weeks in, the 2021 election campaign has already seen one […]
The importance of honest attacks
OAKVILLE, ONT.—If you’re running the communications efforts of an election campaign you must never, ever lie about your opponents. That really should go without saying, right? After all, purposely spreading false information clearly violates one of the most basic norms of civilized discourse: Thou Shalt Not Tell Fibs. Plus, on a more pragmatic political level, […]
Next government needs to modernize NORAD, address cyber threats
North American Aerospace Defense Command modernization is not an election issue per se, but it should be. The Conservatives see “updating and enhancing” the North Warning System (NWS) as NORAD modernization. The Liberals see continuing to work with regional partners as a way to “strengthen continental defence” or suggest ensuring that “funding supports our national […]
Léger poll on eve of first French debate shows O’Toole gaining momentum in Quebec
As party leaders prepare for the Sept. 2 TVA debate—a crucial event for reaching many Quebec voters—a new poll from Léger Marketing suggests the Conservatives are on the rise in the province. “The reason why this poll is this really important is over the past two years, ever since the 2019 election, we’ve never had […]
Canada’s podcasters take on the election
Canada’s political podcasts are tightening their focus and picking up the pace during the 2021 election campaign, and their hosts say the podcast platform is a space where they can deliver in-depth, free-flowing conversations that traditional media does not present. A podcast is a great tool and medium people use to “tell deeper stories, in […]
Vitriolic protests a problem that goes beyond Trudeau
What a long, strange journey this 44th election campaign has been—considering it’s barely three weeks old. Since kicking things off with a visit to Rideau Hall on Aug. 15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criss-crossed the country to make his case that his Liberals deserve another few years at the country’s helm. If you believe […]
Feds mum on whether Incident Response Group has met to address Afghan crisis
The federal government won’t say if a group composed of cabinet members and senior government officials to co-ordinate Canada’s response in crises was convened to address the crisis in Afghanistan. The Incident Response Group was created by the Liberal government in 2018 to meet in the event of a “national crisis or during incidents elsewhere […]
Feed the children: Canada needs to sign on to Global School Meals Coalition
Internationally, school food programs are one of the most successful drivers of improved health, education, and economic growth, and yet Canada is the only G7 country, and one of the only countries in the highly industrialized Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) without a nationally harmonized school food program. Presently, all provincial/territorial governments, several […]
O’Toole backed by fresh but familiar team for digital-heavy 2021 Conservative campaign
A new leader and a new campaign manager are running the Conservative ship for the 44th general election, backed by a fresh batch of experienced organizers, including many of the key figures behind Erin O’Toole’s leadership win during the thick of the pandemic last year. “You have a different leader, with a different team, and […]
O’Toole proving to be key player, not political prop
OTTAWA—As we hit the halfway mark of the 2021 campaign, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is so far demonstrating, yet again, he should not be underestimated. O’Toole was considered an underdog to win the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership contest. Then the prohibitive favourite of the commentariat was Peter Mackay. O’Toole won. Heading into this […]
