LIVE SOON: Three months of Carney, and a rough time for David Eby
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In this episode of On The Line, Matt Gurney speaks with two sharp political observers to take stock of where things stand across Canada — and how some leaders are adapting to the post-election landscape.
First up: veteran pollster and friend of the show John Wright joins Matt to look at how Canadians are feeling three months into Prime Minister Mark Carney’s post-election tenure. What do the numbers say? Why are some Canadians especially grumpy? And why haven’t the Conservatives really found their footing yet? Wright and Gurney also talk about Pierre Poilievre’s absence from the conversation, and why Ontario Premier Doug Ford seems happy to wait it all out — for now.
Then: we’re joined by Rob Shaw, a prolific British Columbia journalist and regular contributor to The Line, for a roundup of the latest from the west coast. The B.C. government has landed in hot water over a decision to deny a dying child access to medicine — and the political backlash has been swift. Meanwhile, even as concerns over public safety remain paramount, Premier David Eby keeps picking fights with Donald Trump. Is this smart politics, or just desperation? Rob breaks it down.
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This was a very one-sided presentation by Mr. Wright and he got many of the facts wrong as noted by Mark Jacka. I had the feeling that Matt was not entirely comfortable with the conversation. On most issues I agree with Matt and would say that so far, I am also unimpressed by Mr Carney and would like to see some real action in the next three months. With regards to the Canadian situation, which was before the election stated as dire and in need of a strong hand, it is an outrage that Parliament is on an extended vacation where any control mechanisms are shut down and our elected MPs are scattered across the country, doing what exactly? I don’t believe any of the regular folks, whose livelihood is threatened in terms of work and housing, would have sympathy or understanding for the behaviour of our government. But hey, we got free passes to parks and museums, so what I am complaining about???
With great respect to Mr. Wright, did he bother to do his own homework before prognosticating about the Tories?
“Not many people showed up to his stampede bbq”
It was sold out big guy. Wright got the tenor of the speech right but it was still a sold out event. Even got some standing Os.
“The Ontario wing of the party does not want Pierre”
Based on what? PP did very well in Ontario. Even better than Mr. Ford. That’s a hard circle to square without any evidence whatsoever to suggest that CPC members don’t like the leader. It might be true in reality, but you can’t argue to me that PP isn’t going to win in Ontario just by asserting that it is so.
“You need to be a moderate to win in Ontario and win nationally … you need to win seats in Quebec”
‘Some’ conservatives have, but no, you do not, for several reasons.
The conservatives tried that with Mr. O’Toole, he lost. Did very badly even, compared to PP.
Harper won a majority with 10 seats in QC. Don’t tell me the Tories ‘need to win Quebec.’
Pierre started his tenure tied with the Liberals, then increased gradually, then increased suddenly, then largely held that voter pool until election day. Then, as Matt pointed out, the Tory vote is *still* right around 40%. It is just not credible to say that PP needs to ‘moderate’ in order to win, considering he didn’t moderate at all and almost certainly would have crushed Trudeau. He failed to adapt to Carney - that is NOT the same as ‘wasn’t moderates enough.’
Further, ‘moderate’ is such a nebulous nothing term that people who don’t like conservatives love to throw around to justify their dislike, without providing any context whatsoever for what they mean by moderate, or any evidence whatsoever to suggest that a more ‘moderate’ Pierre would have won. Again, based on what? What does moderate even mean? Not Trump? Trump isn’t even a dogmatic conservative.
‘Moderate’ is a thing that folks from the 80s like to throw around when they don’t know the answer. ‘Need to tack to the centre’ - maybe sometimes, but certainly not every time or even most of the time.
The fact that Pierre lost is not evidence that a ‘moderate’ would have won. It is evidence that Pierre didn’t.
It is unenjoyable to listen to silly assertions not based in fact but presented as if they are.
Also, love the suggestion that Carney has continued to be ‘elbows up.’ Maybe in the prone position, but G&G have rightly pointed out that Carney has largely been elbows down since E Night. Disappointed Matt let that one slip.
Would appreciate more evidence from the pollster to support his assertions. Otherwise it’s just meaningless talking head-ism that my 11 year old can (and does) do.