Past issues Subscribe

Apr 23 2025

The Roundup: Record advance. Lobster wars. Sycophant press.

WED APR 23 2024
David Akin's Roundup
Record advance. Lobster wars. Sycophant press.
Canada
Conservative platform pledges to 'trim bloated bureaucracy'
The platform pledged to “streamline” the federal public service through attrition and retirement, only replacing two out of three departing employees. The Conservatives have claimed that this could reduce the size of the public service by 17,000 a year. The size of the public service has swelled to 367,772 workers in 2024 from 257,034 in 2015, according to the Treasury Board. [Ottawa Citizen]

Released Tuesday in Vaughan, On. - DA
Alex Boutilier: The Conservative leader promised that any future taxes or tax increases would be put to a national referendum, eliminating one of Parliament’s primary jobs. [Global News]
Liberals lead by 3 in final days of the campaign
Despite a strong desire for change—55% say it’s time for a new government—Mark Carney’s personal appeal continues to give the Liberals an edge. He remains the most positively viewed leader, and the Liberals hold regional advantages in Ontario, Quebec, BC, and Atlantic Canada. [Abacus Data]
Mark Carney’s Liberal Party continues to lead in voting intentions. Currently, 43% of Canadians say they would vote for the Liberal Party if the election were held today, compared to 39% for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party. Voting intentions remain stable, even after last week’s leaders’ debates. [Leger]
During the forum, [Poilievre] was also asked about his continued support for British Columbia candidate Aaron Gunn, who has been criticized for posts suggesting the residential school system did not constitute genocide. “I have sought clarification, and Mr. Gunn does acknowledge the atrocity of residential schools and the very real and harmful impacts they have had,” answered Poilievre. [APTN]

In the 2021 general election, a total of 18.8 million Canadians voted. In this press release, Elections Canada says that, in this eleciton, a record 7.3 million have already voted in advance polls. -DA [Elections Canada]
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre toured across British Columbia for the third time this federal election campaign last weekend.  How is Poilievre the best person to be prime minister for the province and to serve the concerns and interests British Columbians might have? Poilievre sat down with Global BC reporter Richard Zussman to discuss the housing crisis, Canada's energy dependence on the United States, the illicit drug crisis and fulfilling promises if he becomes Canada's prime minister. [Global News]
In Toronto, a Liberal declines to debate
Usually we hear complaints that Conservatives skip local debates but in Toronto-Danforth, the NDP candidate is complaining that incumbent Liberal Julie Dabrusin will not attend a debate. Click through to watch Clare Hacksel's video. -DA
Althia Raj: Members of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons say they didn't get what they were expecting when they were invited to an event featuring Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. [TorStar]

Four Quebec MPs were diagnosed with cancer just before the election campaign and are getting treatment. Not one has abandoned the race. [National Post]

Why do young people choose to become political staffers in Canada? Political staffers play an influential but controversial role in Canadian policymaking. In this research note, we utilize a mixed-methods approach to examine a likely group of future political staffers: university students studying political science. Drawing on data from an original survey, we find strong evidence that the majority of young people who say they want to become political staffers in Canada are motivated by serving the public good, while those who say they do not want to work in politics tend to provide justifications rooted in self-interest. [Canadian Public Adminstration]
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
From the provinces
‘People have almost died’: Soaring N.S. lobster fishing tensions revealed
Communication released to Global News under the Freedom of Information Act provides a rare glimpse into how far the situation deteriorated for fishery officers in Nova Scotia. [Global]
Tempers flared at the Manitoba legislature Tuesday as the Opposition Progressive Conservatives questioned the NDP government about a contract for mental health therapy, suggesting it may have been to the benefit of the finance minister. [CP]
Aurora
Elsewhere
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Tuesday speech that the ongoing tariffs showdown against China is unsustainable and he expects a “de-escalation” in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. But in a private speech in Washington for JPMorgan Chase, Bessent also cautioned that talks between the United States and China had yet to formally start. U.S. President Donald Trump placed import taxes of 145% on China, which has countered with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods. [Global News]
President Trump said Tuesday he had "no intention" of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, ending days of speculation about the independence of the central bank that had roiled the financial markets. [NPR]
Media
The Pierre Poilievre Sycophant Press
Justin Ling: For a choice band of ideologically kindred broadcasters and influencers, Poilievre is happy to show up and make time. On a brief Chaos Campaign, as we arrive in the home stretch of the campaign, I want to talk about the Conservative cheerleaders — who say something profound(ly stupid) about Pierre Poilievre. [Bug-Eyed and Shameless]

A new poll suggests more than half of Conservative voters don't trust what they see or hear about federal party leaders in the media during the current election campaign. [CP]
Steve Paikin: At the end of June, I’m saying goodbye to our nightly current affairs show — but not to TVO.  [TVO]

[The judge] wrote that the administration's decision to dismantle the agency was "arbitrary and capricious." "Not only is there an absence of 'reasoned analysis' from the defendants; there is an absence of any analysis whatsoever," he wrote. He also said the Trump administration was "likely in direct violation of numerous federal laws." [NPR]
Science and Tech

Meta is using AI technology to search for kids who are lying about their age on Instagram in order to bypass safeguards, the company announced on Monday. [TechCrunch]
The Calendar
  • 0900 ET: Stoney Creek, ON - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre makes an announcement and speaks to reporters.
  • 0945 ET: La Prairie, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet speaks to reporters.
  • 1200 ET: Sidney, BC - Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May campaigns in the riding of Saanich--Gulf Islands
  • 1200 ET: Edmonton, - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to reporters.
  • 1415 ET: Halifax, - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre campaigns in the riding of Halifax.
  • 1415 ET: Victoria, - LPC Leader Mark Carney makes an announcement and speaks to reporters.
  • 1430 ET: Saint-Eustache, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet campaigns in the riding of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles 
  • 1445 ET: Videoconference, - Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May participates in an election debate.
  • 1500 ET: Videoconference, - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to the Assembly of First Nations.
  • 1515 ET: Victoria, - LPC Leader Mark Carney campaigns in the riding of Victoria
  • 1600 ET: Saint-Thérèse, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet campaigns in the riding of Thérèse-de-Blainville
  • 1800 ET: Trenton, NS - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to supporters.
  • 1930 ET: White Rock, BC - LPC Leader Mark Carney campaigns in the riding of South Surrey--White Rock
  • 2030 ET: New Westminster, BC - LPC Leader Mark Carney campaigns in the riding of New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville
  • 2045 ET: Winnipeg, - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh campaigns in the riding of Elmwood--Transcona
  • 2200 ET: North Saanich, BC - Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May participates in an all-candidates debate.
  • 2230 ET: Surrey, BC - LPC Leader Mark Carney speaks to supporters.
Issued this day ...
… in 2014: Sc 2729ii se-tenant pair. Roses. Design: Isabelle Toussaint. 

Previous Issues

Load More