Fewer media outlets on 2015 leaders’ tours due to long campaign, less value-for-money
Almost a month into the 2015 campaign, many media seats on leaders’ tour buses have been left empty, with fewer outlets forking out money to send reporters on tour as a result of campaign scripting and reduced access, tight budgets, changing technologies and the strain of covering an unusually long, 11-week campaign. The more scripted […]
With several key Cabinet ministers not running, Conservative slate of candidates lacks star power
With several Cabinet ministers not running for re-election and no new high-profile candidates to replace them, the Conservative campaign is lacking star power. The absence is being felt in the secondary campaign tour but also in the lack of spokepeople with name recognition for media interviews in a number of regions across the country, especially […]
AFN set to release election priorities as aboriginal vote continues to mobilize
In a further step toward educating and mobilizing the First Nations vote ahead of the Oct. 19 federal election, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will release a document detailing its “federal election priorities for First Nations and Canada” this week. The document will outline what the AFN wants parties to commit to and […]
Horserace narrows while Liberals gain on underlying numbers
After being pushed one way and pulled another, voters ended August very close to where they started at the beginning of the month with the horserace even tighter now than when the campaign began. The Duffy trial motivated opposition supporters and dampened the Conservative opportunity to grow. The leaders’ debate helped the Greens, Liberals and […]
Four parties fighting for seat in former minister Ashfield’s riding
With a former Cabinet minister as the incumbent, a Liberal candidate with Hill experience, growing NDP support and the Greens eyeing a potential opening, the riding of Fredericton, N.B. could shape up to be a four-way race. Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited the riding on Aug. 17 and, before the campaign began, both Green Party […]
When did universality become a bad word for Liberal Party?
A decade ago, Ken Dryden, tapped by the Liberal government of the day to try and make good on an old promise to deliver a national child care program, explained why universality should be one of its underlying principles. “It is part of our national expectation and our national understanding. It is a system Canadians want: […]
Renewed focus on economy helps Harper change channel from Duffy trial: pollster Lyle
With the Mike Duffy trial adjourned until mid-November, the renewed focus on the economy is a golden opportunity for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to reset the national campaign and play up his perceived strength as a strong economic manager, a leading pollster says. “This is much more direct and personal to people,” said Innovative Research […]
Agriculture should be part of economic discussion, say industry advocates
Agriculture has not yet sprouted as an issue in the national campaign but in farming communities and at candidate meetings across the country, advocates are using the election to raise issues and build relationships with candidates. With the economy dominating the election agenda, the agriculture industry is pushing the message that the sector is an […]
Politics This Morning Election 2015: End of week four shows polls going wild
It’s hard to believe that an election has taken place for a month already, and there are still 52 days left until e-day, but the end of the fourth week has shown the real election is starting to come together with parties making bigger policy announcements and the attacks against opponents being heard more often. […]
Conservatives lag both NDP, Liberals when it comes to nominating non-incumbent women
PARLIAMENT HILL—With 30 new House of Commons seats up for grabs in the October election and a flood of vacancies from incumbents who are not running again, the Conservative Party has lagged both the Liberals and NDP when it comes to new women entering politics. The Conservatives are well behind the other two major parties […]
