‘NDP in serious difficulty,’ Greens could win more seats than NDP; and Grits and Conservatives poised for a ‘quite ugly, bare knuckles fight,’ says pollster Graves
While the Liberals and Conservatives are poised for a “quite ugly, bare knuckles” fight and the NDP vote declines across the country, the benefactor could be the Greens, who could win more seats than the New Democrats, says a veteran pollster. But another seasoned pollster says it’s too early to predict the Green Party’s rise […]
We need something better than televised leadership debates, we need content
HALIFAX—When political spin machines meet the public’s legitimate need to know, the winner is usually confusion. That is especially true in an election cycle. Instead of giving clear messages on major issues of public policy, candidates usually spend their time making unsubstantiated claims about their own virtues, while throwing shade on their opponents. Election slogans, […]
Political spouses’ role could vary as campaign season nears, experts say
With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife expected to be canvassing for the Liberals during the campaign, party strategists and experts are split on how much of a role unelected partners should play in the election. Kevin Bosch, vice-president at Hill and Knowlton Strategies and former deputy director of the Liberal Research Bureau, said Sophie Grégoire […]
What’s Andrew Scheer’s vision for Canada?
OTTAWA—“Canadians are struggling at a time when our economy is supposedly doing well,” the federal party leader said, “and people I meet across the country have a lot of questions as to why their government hasn’t been able to help them through these difficult times.” That was Justin Trudeau in 2013 talking about the difficulty […]
The new ‘C’ word
Like most editors, I have a bit of a thing for words: where to stick them, how to spell them, whether shi*show requires one or two asterisks to protect the delicate sensibilities of readers. It’s why my favourite quote from the late, great Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee isn’t “I truly believe the truth sets men […]
Revisiting history: opening old wounds or recognizing uncomfortable truths?
KAMOURASKA, QUE.—My great-grandmother was a bigot. Born in Quebec City in the mid-19th century, she had never set foot in Ireland, but she held to the anti-Catholic prejudice her Ulster Protestant parents inculcated in her. She forbade my grandfather from marrying into a wealthy and powerful Quebec Irish Catholic family. After five years, he gave […]
The audacity of the inclusivity trope
OTTAWA—A week after the Liberals were caught with their proverbial hands in the cookie jar of yet another ethics violation, they dropped a new mixtape, Antebellum Andy. Apparently, somewhere in the recesses of 2005, Andrew Scheer, stood up in Parliament and debated LGBTQ2+ rights, rife with some sort of bizarre comparison of gay people to […]
Scheer’s ambiguous positioning on abortion, gay rights a ripe way to lose Red Tories, say politicos
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s “nuanced” stances on abortion and same-sex marriage threaten to simultaneously alienate the party’s more progressive wing and to undercut its chances of persuading pliable voters to bet on the Conservatives over the Liberals, say political observers. Mr. Scheer’s (Regina-Qu’Appelle, Sask.) ambiguous positioning on socially conservative issues has rankled so-called Red Tories […]
Beating the pods: Peter Mansbridge, Kevin Newman launch podcasts
Veteran Canadian journalists Peter Mansbridge and Kevin Newman have released new podcasts to discuss the upcoming election. The former longtime CBC The National anchor launched The Bridge, which will look at political developments as election day approaches. The podcast—named after a moniker George Stroumboulopoulos gave Mr. Mansbridge—will put out an episode and every weekday, and […]
Liberal agitation on social issues predictable, but still exposed Scheer’s vulnerabilities
OTTAWA—While the official election call still looms, there is no doubt we are in the throes of political warfare. Witness last week’s battle lines, as the Liberals launched a capable offensive on Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s position on key social issues. Since the days of Stockwell Day and the Canadian Alliance, a predictable, expected Liberal […]
