Politics This Morning: Canada can conduct safe in-person voting if snap election called; average daily COVID-19 cases up 54 per cent, says Tam

Can you believe it’s the end of the week? Well, it’s not quite over yet and Liberal MPs and ministers are keeping busy making the rounds and making promises into the afternoon. But before we get to that, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam offered a coronavirus update and fielded reporter questions about pressing issues, like public safety and a potential election. Should an election come soon, Dr. Tam says in-person voting can be done safely. Safety protocols have already been put in place for the provincial elections conducted in Canada during the pandemic, and she said that can continue to be provided in order to minimize risk. “I think that there’s definitely ways to vote safely,” she said, and the Public Health Agency of Canada would provide guidance to Election Canada and connect with its provincial counterparts to ensure there’s a plan at the local level. “The other thing is, of course, so many of us are now fully vaccinated, which adds even more protection,” she added. Canadians can also take advantage of the mail-in option, she noted, and people can take advantage of that. “It’s great to have an option, but in-person voting can be done safely.” As public health restrictions have eased, it’s come with an expected rise in cases, she noted, with the average number of daily new cases increasing 54 per cent over the previous week, at more than 900 cases nationally. She warned the modeling predicts a strong resurgence if contacts increase too quickly, and stressed the need for ongoing caution. “I cannot stress strong enough how much every vaccination counts,” she said. A new Nanos poll suggests most Canadians agree and are in favour of strong measures to make that happen: mandatory vaccinations. Commissioned by CTV News, the poll, conducted between July 30 and Aug. 2, found 53 per cent of respondents supported the approach, while another 21 per cent marked their opinion as somewhat supportive, 16 per cent oppose it, and eight per cent somewhat oppose it. Speaking of mandatory rules, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters he’s looking into making vaccines mandatory for federal employees and asked the clerk of the Privy Council to consider the matter, per CBC News. Also on the public opinion front, an Abacus Data poll puts the Liberals ahead by 12 points, with 37 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for the governing party if an election were held now, followed by 25 per cent likely to select a Conservative candidate, followed by 20 per cent saying they’d mark NDP at the ballot box. The Green Partygarnered six per cent of the respondent’s support, while 31 per cent in Quebec would vote Bloc (eight points behind the Liberals). Also of note, the poll found more people have a positive impression of Mr. Trudeau today than back in August 2019 and think far less positively of Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole than they did of his predecessor, Andrew Scheer. An Angus Reid poll has the race a little tighter, with the Liberals holding a five point advantage over the Conservatives. In scheduled events, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is in Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos’ riding, Quebec City, Que., where they’ll be joined by president of its international airport, Stéphane Poirier, at 9 a.m. for a funding announcement. At the same time, but online, Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan and Liberal MP Terry Duguid have a presser related to small craft harbours in the Prairie provinces. At 10 a.m. in Montreal, Que., Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault will highlight funding for Canada’s live music sector and artists, as the country moves safely toward reopening in-person cultural activities. In Toronto, Ont., at 11 a.m., Public Services Minister Anita Anand has a media avail where she’ll announce new measures to increase federal procurement opportunities for Indigenous businesses across Canada. Liberal MP Pam Damoff, who is parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indigenous Services, and Tabatha Bull, president of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, will also be there. Online just after 1 p.m., Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef will make a funding announcement to address gender-based violence, including accelerating progress towards a national action plan on Gender-Based Violence. At 11 a.m. local time in St. John's, N.L., Health Minister Patty Hajdu will announce support for safe long-term care in Newfoundland and Labrador. She’ll be joined by the province’s premier, Andrew Furey, Seniors Minister Deb Schulte, and Natural Resources Seamus O'Regan. And, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is still on his summer tour, today in the Magdalen Islands ,where he’ll be joined by the party’s local candidate in Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Guy Bernatchez. Three political heavy-hitters offered their assessment about what to expect the election campaign to look like once the writ is dropped. In a discussion co-ordinated by the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy, former NDP MP Olivia Chow, former New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant, and former Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt all reflected on how the pandemic will colour the likely campaign. Ms. Raitt said she doesn’t yet see a ballot box question and the Liberals will have to defend the choice to call an election, per The Hill Times coverage. The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Canada can conduct safe in-person voting if snap election called; average daily COVID-19 cases up 54 per cent, says Tam

Plus, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is with Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos in his riding, Quebec City, to make an announcement.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Canada can conduct safe in-person voting if snap election called; average daily COVID-19 cases up 54 per cent, says Tam

Plus, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is with Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos in his riding, Quebec City, to make an announcement.

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