Three federal by-elections arrive August 31. In North Vancouver, the Conservative candidate is already hearing something at the doors Pierre Poilievre probably doesn’t want to hear.
Ahhh now I get why pp is going American Iranian shaw business the large population of Iranians in North Van. Hopefully they understand that pp and his games are irrelevant to Iranian government issues.
It will be very interesting to see how these 3 elections play out, especially the one in Quebec where the candidates were so close the last time. These will all be a pretty clear indication, spread across the country, how people feel about the job Mark Carney is doing for us. Ditto for peoples feelings towards P.P.
Excellent article today, and a good analysis of what the results of those 3 byelections might mean. I sincerely hope that PP pays attention too. I have ALWAYS voted for the best local candidate, not the leader of the party. Having said that, I have never, and will never, vote for any PC candidate. I do not agree with, nor value, that party's platform.
I believe the most populous provinces in Canada are, in order, Ontario, Quebec, and BC. While you can't extrapolate the results from 3 byelections to a national vote, your observation that the results give an indication better than one poll is insightful. Particularly since most polls we see reported are methodlogically flawed and biased.
. . . and I like your pick-up on PP blaming Global News and the Liberals, for Cullen's comments. First Rule (in the Authoritarian Playbook) about the Media: When faced with an undesirable fact, do everything you can to discredit the source (Trump's answer was to label such sources as "Fake News.").
Obviously, Pierre can't use that term, or even the most out-of-touch person would connect it with Trump. And he can't discredit Cullen, because he needs him to win the riding -- so just say this is Liberals twisting words and a fake news site amplifying it . . .
I do think that in many places for conservatives who are either campaigning or having talking points on issues, downplaying connections to PP likely helps the campaign. Sticking to serious counters to government policy -- or even, for now (gasp), embracing the general government strategy (much like during wartime, which essentially we are in one) with emphasis on specific fine points that you think you would stress rather than what other candidates might -- that would likely resonate better.
I think the only reason this hasn't happened yet is that there's really no clear "leader" in the wings. So the party tolerates PP for now, on this communication problem.
I'm predicting that, if things play out well in the economic pivots, that we might even see a return to the Kim Campbell / Jean Charest "PC" outcome - maybe not quite as literally, but at least figuratively.
More of the same. It's on repeat - PP can criticize with the gusto of a forest on fire but hasn't even a drop of water in a bucket of policy solutions. The danger is he may be convincing people he started the fire ...
Since that’s the gaslighting message voters are getting day in and day out from Canadian mainstream media and the Liberals themselves, no wonder people repeat it. He offers many solutions, listen to the man, not the cbc sound bites.
Just an FYI the feds are the ones who must agree to Pahlavi visiting and allow him a Visa.
As well the Canadian government does not officially recognize or support Reza Pahlavi, as a formal representative or future leader of the Iran, so they may decide not to allow him in. Doing so would make Iran pay MORE attention to Canada and right now that’s the last thing we need.
Ahhh now I get why pp is going American Iranian shaw business the large population of Iranians in North Van. Hopefully they understand that pp and his games are irrelevant to Iranian government issues.
Jacquie, you may be onto an interesting angle there.
North Vancouver does have a very substantial Iranian-Canadian community, so anything involving Iran is certainly going to have local resonance.
Where I'd be careful is saying that's why Poilievre is pushing the issue... we'd need evidence of that.
But you've given me another rabbit hole to dig into. 😁
Is his national messaging changing depending on where Conservatives need votes?
Now that could be worth looking at.
It will be very interesting to see how these 3 elections play out, especially the one in Quebec where the candidates were so close the last time. These will all be a pretty clear indication, spread across the country, how people feel about the job Mark Carney is doing for us. Ditto for peoples feelings towards P.P.
Frank is seeing the same thing I am...
these aren’t just three little local races anymore.
They’re a cross-country temperature check.
I’d answer him like this...
Frank, exactly.
That Quebec race is the one I’ll be watching closest because the last result was basically a three-way knife fight.
But taken together, BC, Ontario and Quebec give us something better than one poll...
three real groups of voters actually putting pencils to ballots.
If Carney’s people hold up well across all three, that says something.
If Conservative candidates stumble, that says something too.
And unlike the daily shouting match, **you can’t spin a counted ballot forever.** 😁
Excellent article today, and a good analysis of what the results of those 3 byelections might mean. I sincerely hope that PP pays attention too. I have ALWAYS voted for the best local candidate, not the leader of the party. Having said that, I have never, and will never, vote for any PC candidate. I do not agree with, nor value, that party's platform.
I believe the most populous provinces in Canada are, in order, Ontario, Quebec, and BC. While you can't extrapolate the results from 3 byelections to a national vote, your observation that the results give an indication better than one poll is insightful. Particularly since most polls we see reported are methodlogically flawed and biased.
. . . and I like your pick-up on PP blaming Global News and the Liberals, for Cullen's comments. First Rule (in the Authoritarian Playbook) about the Media: When faced with an undesirable fact, do everything you can to discredit the source (Trump's answer was to label such sources as "Fake News.").
Obviously, Pierre can't use that term, or even the most out-of-touch person would connect it with Trump. And he can't discredit Cullen, because he needs him to win the riding -- so just say this is Liberals twisting words and a fake news site amplifying it . . .
I do think that in many places for conservatives who are either campaigning or having talking points on issues, downplaying connections to PP likely helps the campaign. Sticking to serious counters to government policy -- or even, for now (gasp), embracing the general government strategy (much like during wartime, which essentially we are in one) with emphasis on specific fine points that you think you would stress rather than what other candidates might -- that would likely resonate better.
I think the only reason this hasn't happened yet is that there's really no clear "leader" in the wings. So the party tolerates PP for now, on this communication problem.
I'm predicting that, if things play out well in the economic pivots, that we might even see a return to the Kim Campbell / Jean Charest "PC" outcome - maybe not quite as literally, but at least figuratively.
Anyway, certainly a warning sign for any leader.
More of the same. It's on repeat - PP can criticize with the gusto of a forest on fire but hasn't even a drop of water in a bucket of policy solutions. The danger is he may be convincing people he started the fire ...
He's like a giant garbage can. Step on his foot and his mouth opens to spew whatever is bothering him that day.
I am not a Conservative supporter but I do respect Mr. Curran’s honesty and candour.
Valid points, Fred. Thank you for a well-written article.
If pp could please leave do we can have true constructive criticism. He talks, I tune out.
Since that’s the gaslighting message voters are getting day in and day out from Canadian mainstream media and the Liberals themselves, no wonder people repeat it. He offers many solutions, listen to the man, not the cbc sound bites.
Just an FYI the feds are the ones who must agree to Pahlavi visiting and allow him a Visa.
As well the Canadian government does not officially recognize or support Reza Pahlavi, as a formal representative or future leader of the Iran, so they may decide not to allow him in. Doing so would make Iran pay MORE attention to Canada and right now that’s the last thing we need.
Liberal lies again.