Trudeau, Liberals should treat China’s election meddling controversy as politically ‘life-threatening event,’ say politicos, pollsters

The China interference controversy is more explosive than the SNC-Lavalin, blackface/brownface or WE Charity scandals, and could carry serious fallout for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, says Prof. Duane Bratt of the Mount Royal University.
Feds need to better communicate what Critical Election Incident Public Protocol does, says Rosenberg

‘Communication on the protocol needs to change,’ says Morris Rosenberg, who says the federal government did not do a good job communicating the panel’s work in 2021. ‘Nobody knew about it. It’s called the public protocol.’
Then and now: intergovernmental relations

Nelson Wiseman’s most recent book, 1950s Canada: Politics and Public Affairs, devotes one section in every chapter to intergovernmental relations as these play a central role in Canadian politics.
Trudeau faces a daunting task

The government would like nothing more than a channel-changer on foreign interference investigations. Even if the Liberals succeed, with the appointment of a special rapporteur and multiple committees, all eyes are still on government foibles.
Liberals ‘not out of the woods’ politically on foreign interference, but Poilievre must avoid ‘alienating’ voters, say politicos

When announcing a special rapporteur on election interference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s messaging rightly responded to an ‘erosion’ of public trust, says Liberal strategist Carlene Variyan.
Greater regulation of political party nomination contests needed to prevent foreign, domestic election interference: Democracy Watch

The watchdog organization and a former would-be Liberal candidate are calling for stricter regulations on third-party registration and disclosures, and enforcement of rules on where and when nomination contests are held.
Poilievre will need to win a clear majority in next election or Trudeau could stay in power with support of left-of-centre parties, say politicos

The three left-of-centre parties tried to unseat Stephen Harper’s Conservatives after the 2008 election, and they could prevent Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre from forming government after the next election, says Ipsos Public Affairs CEO Darrell Bricker.
Even after failing to win a majority twice, Trudeau best-placed to go up against Poilievre in next election, but he’s also going to need luck, say politicos

To win their fourth mandate in a row, the Liberals need everything to go right for them and go wrong for the Conservatives and the NDP, says pollster Nik Nanos.
‘High-velocity’ fundraising to end 2022 will validate a ‘hyper-toxic’ atmosphere as parties take election footing: Nanos

‘There’s an energy in the political system right now, and the choices over the next election are becoming clearer,’ says pollster David Coletto.
Top 100: the most influential people in government and politics in 2023

This year’s 100 most influential list is peppered with the politicians, political staffers and strategists, public servants, and media who help shape policy, hold the government to account, and wield influence behind the scenes.