Hybrid summer circuit in the cards as politicians try to strike balance between public health and politics
For politicians, the summer is normally a time for the so-called barbecue circuit, to bounce from event to event rubbing shoulders with community members and rebuilding support. For the government, it can fan out cabinet ministers to make funding announcements and—in normal times—Conservative leadership hopefuls would be using these months to build public momentum. The […]
A look at rookie MP Sloan’s underdog leadership campaign
One of two social conservatives in the race to become the next Conservative Party leader, rookie Ontario MP Derek Sloan is widely viewed as an underdog—having picked up the fewest notable endorsements out of the four-person field and coming fourth in fundraising based on numbers reported so far. To Conservative Party member and former federal […]
Conservatives to put 24/7 live camera on ballot holding area for leadership election
The Conservative Party will once again put a 24/7 live camera feed on the ballot holding area for its upcoming leadership contest, accessible to the public, as one of several measures a party spokesperson says are intended to ensure the process is “transparent and fair.” The party also had a webcam streaming the ballot holding […]
Next Conservative leader must stop internal sniping before it becomes a ‘cancer’ that will destroy the party, say political insiders
The next leader of the federal Conservatives will have to take immediate steps to stop sniping between rival camps within the party, before it draws public attention away from the COVID-19 pandemic and becomes a “cancer” for the party, warn political insiders. “Right now, it’s inside baseball,” said pollster Nik Nanos of Nanos Research, in an […]
MacKay’s victory could be a ‘threat to the party unity,’ says Conservative MP Kusie
Peter MacKay’s potential leadership victory, in what’s shaping up to be a divisive, close contest, would alienate social conservatives and those in Western Canada, says a Conservative MP, while another says the former cabinet minister has a “proven track record” of unifying the party. “If Peter is the victor, and he still could be, it […]
Internal warfare in Conservative leadership heating up
OTTAWA—The internal warfare in the Conservative leadership is heating up. Accusations of espionage surfaced last week when an unnamed student employee of Erin O’Toole was fired for allegedly leaking information to the Peter MacKay camp. Modern technology makes campaigns easier to organize but also easier to infiltrate. The alleged offence involved a claim that MacKay’s […]
Public in-fighting a bad look for a Conservative Party that’s already on the polling ropes
OTTAWA—The federal Conservative leadership race has gone from boring to utterly bizarre. Erin O’Toole’s campaign is accusing an operative in Peter MacKay’s campaign of stealing data from them. The MacKay campaign denies the accusation, but the O’Toole campaign has brought their accusations to different policing agencies to investigate. As this drama plays out, a new […]
O’Toole’s team hired Americans, so what?
OAKVILLE, ONT.—When I learned Conservative Party leadership candidate Erin O’Toole had landed in hot water after it came out his campaign had (horror of horrors) hired American help, it gave me a chilling sense of déjà vu. You see, I too was once involved in a political campaign which had employed a foreigner, and what […]
In crying foul over media coverage of Conservatives, Harper glosses over countless other reasons for 2015 election loss
Despite having withdrawn from the electoral arena over four years ago, Stephen Harper can still draw the ire of Canadians like no other. The most recent example occurred after an old clip resurfaced of Harper giving an interview to American radio host, Dennis Prager. The reason being? During his discussion with Prager, Harper offered up […]
Team Lewis ‘punching above’ its weight in race for CPC leadership
Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis is an underdog in the Conservative Party’s race for a new leader, and as her team works to punch above its weight, the forced shift to virtual-only campaigning has in ways been a boon, having “levelled the playing field” when it comes to certain aspects of campaigning, says campaign manager Steve […]
