Leaders’ debates need transparent and accountable rules
Given their importance, setting the televised debates’ rules should not be left to the ratings-obsessed networks and the political parties who have the most at stake. In 1992, U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot came out as the surprise winner of the televised presidential debate. Previously dismissed as an eccentric by most observers, Perot’s performance in […]
The Spin Doctors: “Who won Thursday night’s televised debate and how important will the debates be in January in this campaign?”
Leslie Swartman Liberal Strategist “I think there were two winners. First, I believe that Paul Martin came out ahead, both in terms of substance and expectations. As Paul Wells (who is certainly no fan of the Prime Minister) noted, it’s harder to do the job of Prime Minister than to seek it. So despite the […]
LETTERS
Election campaign polling makes mockery of democratic process Re: “Pollsters warning: political environment ‘very volatile’”(The Hill Times, Dec. 12). Pollsters who ask citizens to divulge their voting preferences are wandering into the sacred territory of the secret ballot. Given that polls do influence the voting choices many citizens make, I believe that pollsters should be […]
At the present rate of progress, women won’t share equally in political power in Canada for another four generations
It’s not just that so few women are running in this election, but so few are campaigning in winnable ridings. The four major parties have already nominated most of their candidates. So far, less than a quarter of those nominated are women.That’s a little better share of candidacies than in 2004 but not by much. […]
Attack campaign on federal Grits spews ‘beer and popcorn’
It’s kind of like hockey. You want the puck to be in the other team’s zone because a good offence is the best defence, explained communications specialist Andre Lafrance. “The choice of the [Liberal] communications team, is to be that of a young party in an attack mode,”said Mr. Lafrance, a professor at Universite de […]
Canada could learn from Iraq elections: author O’Leary [The Future of Kurdistan in Iraq]
Canada stands to learn from the elections in Iraq to apply to its own democracy, explained author and political science professor Brandan O’Leary last week. Speaking at a reception launching his new book, The Future of Kurdistan in Iraq, he explained that Iraq’s mixed proportional representation system might even be more efficient than Canada’s since […]
The ying and the yang of association lobbyists: ‘When you’re everything, you’re nothing’
Every job has its upside and downside, including being an association lobbyist. “When you’re everything, you’re nothing.” These words, from a disillusioned association lobbyist, speak to one aspect of this job: lobbying on behalf of many diverse members. Often, this means the GR message is so broad it’s often ineffective. When they lobby, associations find […]
Liberal stronghold up for grabs: Tories banking on former Harris Cabinet minister to win in Ottawa West-Nepean
Ottawa West-Nepean has been a Liberal stronghold since 1988 and candidate Lee Farnworth wants to keep it that way. Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan lent Ms. Farnworth some help last week when she was in town visiting the Pinecrest Queensway Health and Community Services Centre. Liberal incumbent Marlene Catterall, who announced her retirement earlier this […]
PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR: Ottawa West Nepean candidates will be at National Press Club on Jan. 11 to debate and to discuss policies
MONDAY, DEC. 26 Deck the Halls- From Dec. 26-30 between 4:30 and 8:30 p.m., in addition to the House of Commons’ daily guided tours, visitors are invited to see Parliament Buildings in the evening and stroll at their own pace through the halls of the Centre Block, decorated in their festive splendor.Visitors can also take […]
Political reporters schlepping it across the country on campaign
Long days, early days, lots of cold sandwiches. That’s part of the life of a reporter whose news organizations pay $9,000 per week per person to follow the leaders of the federal political parties during this election campaign. In one day, the entourage of reporters, camera crew, political staffers and candidates can go from one […]