What Conservative rally crowds reveal—and why it matters
Showcasing energized supporters at every stop serves not only as momentum-building, but also as a critical internal motivator for the thousands of volunteers.
Trade talks more opaque after Canada’s foreign ministry cuts live briefings in wake of media leaks
Global Affairs Canada says it ended live trade briefings because leaks could threaten the final deal, but the department says it has ‘no reason to believe’ that the Canada-Indonesia trade pact was actually affected after reporting by The Hill Times.
Do Canadians really want Stephen Harper back?
While the former prime minister remains an icon among the Conservative base, his presence may remind voters of what they didn’t like about him in 2015.
Welcome to ‘Gaffapalooza’
In one of the shortest election campaigns in our history, each of the leaders has proven to be seriously accident-prone.
Is Mark Carney the valium for Canada’s Trump-induced anxiety?
OTTAWA—Just before this election began, it was billed as one of—if not the—most consequential of our time. Indeed, it may be, given the threat presented to Canada and the global community from United States President Donald Trump’s quest to reshape the world order, and the economy. However, to date, the campaign itself has been pretty […]
Project competence, avoid silly dances: parties seek balance with social media strategies
A fragmented media landscape has increased the value of social media experimentation, but an NDP stumble may show the risk of full campaign integration, says digital strategist Michael Roy.
Red-pill populism
Conservative politics and its embrace of populism have merged with toxic masculinity for validation in the mainstream.
Election platform release a ‘pass/fail’ exercise with little reward for expedience, say politicos
Parties must weigh the optimal time to capture voters’ attention with the potential pitfalls caused by even minor errors when deciding on platform-release dates.
NDP has a familiar team fighting to keep its presence in the House
‘For the NDP, the battle of this campaign is going to be fought in their incumbent ridings,’ and target ridings, says strategist Jordan Leichnitz.
Q&A | Unpacking the ‘astonishing’ swing in federal polls with Frank Graves
‘The stakes are very high’ this election says Ekos Research’s Frank Graves, and voter ‘emotions are very important’ in driving how campaigns take shape.
