🗳🇨🇦 Voter sentiment: Conservatives in the lead

There are many issues that concern Canadians on a day-to-day basis. Among them are above-average inflation, the highest key rate in decades, and rising housing costs. Social issues are also of concern: the promotion of the LGBT agenda in schools, drug legalization and the expansion of the assisted suicide program.

Dissatisfaction with current events is well reflected in voter sentiment. Mainstreet Research surveyed Canadians in August 2023 to see how they would vote if the election were held today.

🔹Not surprisingly, the majority leans toward the Conservative Party, as many of the problems stem directly from the Liberal government's policies. 37% of voters would vote for the Conservative Party, versus 24% for the Liberal Party. More than 1 in 10 respondents could not choose which party they would vote for.

The Conservatives recently discussed their party's policies at a convention where they outlined their disapproval of the LGBT agenda, which many voters see as a reflection of their values. Meanwhile, the Liberals continue to promote ideas that were popular in calmer times and now do not reflect the concerns of real citizens. The government's ambitious plans to take in refugees have faced the harsh realities of a financial crisis and a severe housing shortage. But the government is continuing with the plan.

🔹Looking at the individual leaders, voters' views on both Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre are very polarized. 58% of respondents view Trudeau in a negative way (very unfavourable + somewhat unfavourable), while 45% view Poilievre in the same way. More people feel strongly negative (very unfavourable) toward Trudeau (41%), than toward Poilievre (31%).

🔹Only 37% of respondents see Trudeau in a positive way (very favourable + somewhat favourable), while 44% feel that way about Poilievre. Poilievre has a higher level of strong support (24%) than Trudeau (13%) amond respondents.

These data suggest that while support for conservative ideas is higher, voters still do not see either leader of the major parties as capable of solving their problems. The lingering crisis is lowering citizens' overall trust in their government.

It will be interesting to watch which party will use current problems to attract more voters to their side in the upcoming election.

#Trudeau #Poilievre #election

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📉 Doug Ford's approval rating lowest among Canadian Premiers, polling shows

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has seen its largest dip since he took office as he currently ranks last among Canadian premiers, new polling shows.

🔹The Angus Reid Institute has Ford’s approval rating at 28 per cent, down five per cent from his previous standing. Ford is tied with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, whose approval rating improved from 25 per cent to 28 per cent, respectively.

Ford’s current approval rating is the lowest of his five-year term as Ontario’s Premier. Ford held his highest approval rating in March 2020 at 69 per cent, but it’s dipped significantly since.

🔹Elsewhere, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston are tied with the country’s highest current approval rating despite a significant drop, while Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey (49 per cent), British Columbia Premier David Eby (48 per cent) and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith (47 per cent) all made gains in approval rating, the research shows.

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🏠💰Trudeau announces $74M to help London, Ont., build 2,000 new homes

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that London, Ont., is the first city in Canada to reach a deal with his government under the Housing Accelerator Fund.

He says the deal will create 2,000 new homes in the city over three years.

"This landmark agreement with London will be the first of many, and we look forward to working with all orders of government to help everyone find a place to call their own," Trudeau said in a statement.

London Mayor Josh Morgan said he wants the city's agreement to set an example for the rest of the country when it comes to building housing units.

Morgan added that on top of the 2,000 homes the fund will help build over the coming three years, it will also help facilitate the construction of thousands of additional housing units "in the years to come."

Nevertheless, the government will have to launch plenty of such projects, because as we've noted before, Ontario needs to build 1.48 million new housing units by 2030 to restore affordability.

#Trudeau #Ontario #housing

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🇬🇧👑 Growing number of Canadians want to reconsider monarchy ties: poll

Just over one year after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a new poll suggests a growing number of Canadians believe it’s time to reconsider the country’s ties to the monarchy.

🔹Data released Wednesday by Leger indicates that 63 per cent of respondents said it was time to rethink ties – a seven point increase from March. About 81 per cent of respondents said they didn’t feel attached to the monarchy, compared to 14 per cent who said they did, results similar to six months ago.

🔹Just over half of respondents, at 51 per cent, agreed with the statement that the monarchy in Canada is outdated, does not have a place in the 21st century, and “we have to get rid of it.” In comparison, 33 per cent said the monarchy is an important part of the country’s history.

🔹Nineteen per cent of respondents said they had lost interest in the monarchy since the queen’s death, while most respondents said their interest level had not changed or that they’d had no interest to begin with.

#KingCharles

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Canada's economy appears to be slowing down

A long-anticipated economic slowdown in Canada could be underway, according to a new report.

RBC Economics released a report Wednesday indicating that Canada’s economy faces various headwinds in the form of elevated interest rates and a slowing global economy. The report noted that gross domestic product (GDP) moved 0.2 per cent lower in the second quarter of the year and early indications highlight the potential for another decline in the third quarter.

The report found indications that a “long expected ‘mild’ economic downturn may have already begun.”

Notably, the economists highlighted that the 0.5-per-cent increase in Canada’s unemployment rate over the past four months marks the largest increase, excluding the pandemic, since the 2008-2009 recession.

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Trudeau rebuffs idea of stepping down in face of slumping support

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rebuffed the idea of stepping down amid slumping poll numbers and the rise of the country’s opposition Conservatives.

During a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, when asked whether he would resign as his party’s leader, Trudeau told reporters he had more work to do.

“The next elections are two years away. I’m continuing to do my job. There’s a lot of important work to do, to deliver for Canadians in these difficult moments. I remain enthusiastic and relentless with regards to this work,” he said, speaking in French.

Trudeau led the Liberal Party to victory in 2015’s federal elections, ending nearly a decade of Conservative-led governments. But he has since seen his support slip amid growing frustrations over high inflation, soaring housing costs and other issues.

#Trudeau

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📚Peel school board faces backlash for removing books published before 2008 from its libraries

Ontario’s Education Minister scolded the Peel District School Board for removing books from its libraries, including literary classics, after concerns were raised about how school officials were assessing and throwing away older books.

In a statement on Wednesday, Stephen Lecce said it was “offensive, illogical and counterintuitive” for the board to remove library books on Canadian history and antisemitism, and literary classics.

A group made up of parents, teachers and school staff said it appears the board asked its school librarians this year to remove fiction and non-fiction books published before 2008 while assessing collections through an equity lens.

Peel’s review of its library collection followed a list of directives from the Ministry of Education to the board that included “evaluating books, media, and other resources currently being used in schools for teaching and learning English, history and social sciences to ensure that they are inclusive and culturally responsive, relevant, and reflective of the student bodies and voices, and broader school communities.”

#Ontario

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💰Quarantine hotel co-owner misappropriated almost $16M of public funds, lawsuit alleges

The man who oversaw the Westin Calgary Airport hotel's time as a COVID-19 quarantine facility is being sued for allegedly misappropriating nearly $16 million in federal funds.

A new lawsuit claims that part-owner Sukhminder (Sukhi) Rai and his PHI Hospitality corporation kept money from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that was supposed to pay for the hotel to house travellers for their mandatory quarantine periods from June 2020 until October 2022.

Rai led a "fraudulent scheme" targeting the hotel and PHAC officials, according to the statement of claim, telling the other owners the government was taking over the entire hotel but only paying for 100 rooms — when he had actually negotiated government payment for all 247 rooms.

It's alleged he misappropriated the revenue difference of those 147 rooms: at least $15.7 million.

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💉🚫B.C. banning illicit drugs near playgrounds, spray pools, skate parks

The B.C. government is banning possession of illicit drugs in the vicinity of some family-oriented public spaces beginning next week, as officials consider further changes in their approach to decriminalization.

Possession of illicit drugs will be made illegal within 15 metres of playground play structures, spray pools, wading pools and skate parks as of Sept. 18, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions announced Thursday.

There have been some calls to restrict decriminalization since it was implemented early this year, including from B.C. United Opposition leader Kevin Falcon, who has argued for a more wide-reaching illicit drug ban that applies to all beaches and parks.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, who was also among those calling for more limitations to decriminalization, issued a statement Thursday calling the amendments "necessary measures" to protect public safety.

P.S. This should never have been allowed in the first place.

#BritishColumbia

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🥦 Ottawa summons major grocery CEOs to talk lowering food prices

The federal government is summoning the heads of Canada’s major grocery chains to Ottawa this fall to begin discussions on a plan to lower food costs for Canadians, as inflation continues to impact grocery bills.

The companies are being tasked with coming up with a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving, PM Justin Trudeau said as he marked the end of the Liberal cabinet retreat in London, Ont., on Thursday, ahead of Parliament’s return next week.

Trudeau said if the grocers fail to come up with a plan that provides “real relief” for middle- and lower-class Canadians, the government will take further action that forces the companies to do so. That could include tax measures, he warned.

The prime minister said the heads of the country’s five top grocers — Loblaw, Empire Co., Metro, Walmart and Costco — will have the best overall view of their industry and what can be done to lower costs. Those five companies make up roughly 80 per cent of Canada’s grocery market.

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Liberals hope focus on housing, crime halts their plummet in the polls as Parliament returns

After taking a beating in the polls all summer, Liberal MPs are expected to focus on two areas of political vulnerability for them — housing and public safety — when Parliament resumes today after the summer break.

Conservatives, riding high in the polls and re-energized after a September policy convention, will use every opportunity they have during the fall sitting to argue that after eight years in government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's policies have failed to address a shortage of housing or to keep communities safe.

Question period will resume this afternoon for the first time since June, after a summer of growing voter anxiety over the cost of living and unprecedented wildfires.

Monday also marks Justice Marie-Josée Hogue's first official day as commissioner of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions.

It's still not clear when the hearings will start and how much of Hogue's work will be made public. Her runway is somewhat limited. According to her terms of reference, she has to deliver an interim report by the end of February. A final report is due by the end of 2024.

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🇨🇦🇺🇦🇬🇧Canada sending $33 million in air defence missiles to Ukraine

Defence Minister Bill Blair is in the United Kingdom today and announced Canada's $33 million contribution to Ukraine on a visit to Canadian soldiers training Ukrainian recruits at Lydd Military Training Camp.

The money comes from the $500 million fund Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in June 2023 for military aid to Ukraine.

Canada has contributed $8 billion in aid to Ukraine over the last year and a half, including $1.8 billion in military assistance.

Meanwhile, Canada is projected to end the 2022-2023 fiscal year with a deficit of $43 billion.

#Ukraine #UK

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Migrant march for permanent residency fills downtown streets Sunday

Migrants, including undocumented people, students and refugees, marched in cities across Canada Sunday to demand permanent residency status for all ahead of the resumption of federal parliament on Monday.

The protesters are calling on the government to create an uncapped program that would grant permanent resident status to all migrants and undocumented people without any exclusions, according to Sarom Rho, an organizer with Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

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Overcrowded schools in Calgary see kids sharing desks, learning in staff rooms and hallways

As the reality of unprecedented enrolment growth hits schools this month, students and teachers are facing overcrowded classrooms and learning spaces spilling into hallways, libraries, gyms and staff rooms.

The province has argued it is funding for growth, even as more than 7,000 new students arrive at Calgary’s public schools this fall, on top of last year’s 5,000.

“Teachers are seeing class sizes in the high 30s, sometimes even the low 40s, across all grades. And this is very problematic, with more of these students arriving with complex needs, many having to learn English as a second language,” said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

“And there are serious space issues. Some schools are using staff rooms, libraries, gymnasiums, even the boot room to have classes in. That shouldn’t be acceptable to anyone, running classes in boot rooms in a school.”

Schilling added that students have also been forced to share desks or use tables and back counters within classrooms in place of desks.

#Alberta

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Quebec's homeless population almost doubled in 4 years, report says

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Quebec almost doubled between 2018 and 2022, according to new government data.

In 2018, the first provincewide survey in Quebec's history on homelessness was conducted. It found a total of 5,789 people who were "visibly" homeless.

In 2022, that number jumped to 10,000. Nearly half of those people, 4,690, were living in Montreal.

Officials who conducted the survey stress the total number of people experiencing homelessness is likely far higher, once the so-called "hidden homeless" — those without a permanent address who aren't necessarily living on the street — are taken into account.

🔹67 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Quebec are men

🔹Immigrants represent around 11 per cent of the homelessness population

#Quebec

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🎓Indigenous course requirement now in place for B.C. high school students

Grade 12 students in British Columbia this school year are the first required to take an Indigenous-focused course in order to graduate.

The Indigenous-focused grad requirement, announced last year, was developed by the Ministry of Education and the First Nations Education Steering Committee.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care said the requirement is "intended to build further awareness and understanding of First Peoples' perspectives, cultures, and histories among all B.C. students and serve as an important step toward reconciliation."

Courses like English First Peoples 12, and Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12, have been on the provincial curriculum for years, but were optional.

Now students must take one in order to graduate, or another provincially-approved course their school offers.

#BritishColumbia

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Poilievre promises 'big bonuses' to municipalities that exceed 15% housing starts

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre released a housing plan that promises to “remov(e) gatekeepers and red tape” by building more homes to increase affordability.

According to the announcement, Poilievre’s Building Homes Not Bureaucracy Act would:

🔹Require cities and surrounding municipalities to increase the number of homes built by 15 per cent each year and withhold funding if the compounding targets are not met.

🔹Provide a building bonus for municipalities that exceed a 15 per cent increase in housing completions and reclaim funds from municipalities that miss the target.

🔹Withhold transit and infrastructure funding from cities that do not build sufficient high-density housing around transit stations.
Ennoscript Canadians to file complaints about NIMBYism with the federal infrastructure department and impose fines or withhold infrastructure and transit dollars until cities allow homes to be built.

🔹Provide a “Super Bonus” to any municipality that has greatly exceeded its housing targets.

#housing #Poilievre

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🇨🇦🇮🇳 Canada expels Indian diplomat after accusing India of murdering Sikh activist

Canada has expelled a senior Indian diplomat hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent figure in Canada’s Sikh community was shot dead outside of a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C. on June 18. His murder raised tensions between Indian communities in Canada and between Canada and India.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” said Trudeau in the House of Commons on Monday.

Trudeau said he raised the issue with Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his trip to the G20 summit in New Delhi last week.

Shortly after Trudeau’s remarks, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Canada had expelled a senior Indian diplomat.

“We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference,” Joly said. She also added that the expulsion was a direct “consequence” of India’s conduct.

#India

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Justin Trudeau hosts the 2023 Global Progress Action Summit

International leaders assembled in Montreal on Saturday for the Global Progress Action Summit, a gathering of progressive leaders from around the world.

The video shows PM Justin Trudeau greeting his longtime ally ex-PM of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.

Among other political figures taking part in the summit were the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, the former Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, and the leader of the UK Labour Party, Keir Starmer. More than 15 countries were represented.

“If we’re not responding to where people are (in their) daily life, then we’re not going to be connecting with them,” Trudeau said during a panel discussion.

#Quebec

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📈Canada's inflation rate increases to 4%

Canada's inflation rate jumped higher last month, to an annual pace of four per cent, mostly because of an increase in gasoline prices.

Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that the inflation rate ticked higher by 0.7 percentage points, in large part because gasoline prices increased on an annual basis for the first time since January.

Pump prices increased by 4.6 per cent in August alone, and are up by 0.8 per cent compared to where they were a year ago.

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🏠 Canada's housing crisis will take years to solve: finance minister

An affordable housing crisis that is hurting the Canadian government's popularity will take years to resolve, even if construction hits an 80-year high, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Saturday.

"It will take all of us — the federal government and the provinces, cities and towns, the private sector and non-profits ... working together in common cause, not for weeks or months, but for years," Freeland said.

"Building the homes a growing Canada needs will require another great national effort," she told a Montreal conference, saying the country would have to build homes at a speed and scale not seen since the 1940s and 1950s.

In a bid to boost supply, the government has said it will remove the federal 5 per cent GST on the construction of new rental apartment buildings and is telling cities to do more to address the issue.

#housing #Freeland

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