Canada
Poilievre is going all-in on his pro-worker message
A 60-second television ad celebrates “the people who rise when it is still dark” and describes a litany of problems that plague them, including crime, inflation and unaffordable housing. The ad ends on a hopeful note, with a voiceover from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre describing a “new dawn rising” where “everyone gets a fair shot at a good life.” That advertisement will be accompanied by a similar 30-second TV commercial and a 30-second radio ad calling NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh a “sellout” for continuing to prop up the Liberal government.
"Dark to dawn"
Watch the new minute-long made-for-TV spot debuting today from the Conservative Party of Canada. -DA
"PROUDER, STRONGER, BETTER"
Impossible for pundits who watch the new Conservative ad "Dark to Dawn" 👆 not to be reminded of the Reagan campaign's 1984 "Morning in America" ad (also known as "Prouder, Stronger, Better"). Reagan was running for re-election that year and this ad was widely seen at the time as one of the most effective political pieces of political messaging to date. The CPC campaign is clearly picking up on some of the same themes and tone. -DA
Liberal caucus off to B.C. for annual summer retreat to brainstorm fall parliamentary game plan
Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski said the caucus needs to discuss 'how to address people's dissatisfaction with our direction as the government.'
Federal health spending has outpaced provinces, analysis shows
In 2023, federal health transfers amounted to $47.1 billion, a 212 per cent increase over 2005, when the transfers were $15.1 billion. Total spending by all 10 provinces grew in that time to $221.9 billion up from $86.2 billion, an increase of 158 per cent.
Liberal immigration pivot forces Canada to reckon with approach to labour shortages
The Liberal government's decision to reel in the temporary foreign worker program after loosening the rules to help businesses find workers after the pandemic is sparking a contentious debate about whether governments should even try to address labour shortages.
Conservative candidate canvassing, while other parties search for nominees
Conservative Sandra Cobena was nominated last December, while Newmarket-Aurora federal Liberals, NDP, Green riding associations have yet to set nomination meetings. Just based on resumé (studied at LSE, Western), Ecuador-born Cobena would be a very strong candidate for any party. But her party seems particularly pleased to have her on their team. She has, for example, been accompanying leader Pierre Poilievre on several events outside her riding as she helps connect Poilievre with a key demographic in the GTA, i.e. young, female, and first-generation Canadian. Given that plus her professional qualifications, Cobena looks to me like the kind of candidate that could end up in Poilievre's cabinet. Keep an eye on her. Also: My model has her winning an easy one -- by 17 points or 8K votes right now.
The Provinces
Alberta Legislature security personnel able to carry guns as of Sunday
Legislative Assembly security officers are designated as peace officers under the Criminal Code. In Ottawa, all of the Parliamentary Precinct Security (PPS) officers carry sidearms. That came about after the terrorist attack of 2014. When I first arrived on Parliament Hill in 2005, Parliament Hill security did not even carry a club. Then they got what were essentially billy sticks sometime after that. Now, PPS officers are all over the place carrying weapons and wearing body armour. Sign of the times sadly.
Conestoga College president has contract extended
[President] Tibbits and the college have come under scrutiny over the last year for its international student recruitment and comments Tibbits made directed at Sault College president David Orazietti. The comments stemmed from Orazietti referring to the college as a "bad actor" when it came to international students.
Elsewhere
Germany: AfD becomes first far-right party to win a state election since WWII
The Alternative for Germany party’s success in two state elections piled new pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s fractious government.
Illegal voting by noncitizens is rare, yet Republicans are making it a major issue this election
Federal law already allows only U.S. citizens to vote in elections for president and Congress. Yet Republicans are raising concerns about the potential for noncitizens voting in this year's elections.
Media
A conservative case for not dismantling the CBC
“The CBC talks all the time about diversity,” Ken [Whyte] laments, “but never about ideological diversity. I don’t know a single CBCer — and I know a lot of CBC people — who identifies as a conservative.”
CP Ottawa gets new leaders, looks to hire
I had been given the tip earlier this summer that the Ottawa bureau of The Canadian Press was about to get a new bureau chief and that she was to be Kathleen Harris. Looks like that news is now official as it has just popped up on Kathleen's LinkedIn Page. Kathleen and I briefly worked together at Sun Media before she left for several years at the CBC Ottawa bureau. At her LinkedIn page, Kathleen also mentions that Mia Rabson -- another former colleague (Canadian media can be a small world) -- has been named deputy bureau chief for CP Ottawa. Congratulations to both Kathleen and Mia! An excellent leadership team!
And finally, also from Kathleen's LinkedIn, CP Ottawa is hiring. The bureau is looking for a News Editor and a Supervising Producer - Audio. -DA
Investigative journalist Stevie Cameron dies at home in Toronto, age 80
Stevie Cameron died Saturday at home in Toronto from Parkinson's, her daughter Amy Cameron said, noting her mother also had dementia.
Reader Notes
This newsletter is curated by David Akin, chief political correspondent at Global News. The headlines, excerpts, and photos are generated by the publishers of the clipping. The publisher is at the bottom left of the clipping. If I've got a comment, you''ll see that in italics. But if I've generated the headline and the excerpt, you'll see me taking attribution by finishing with -DA in bold. The stuff about the stamps at the bottom — that’s all me.
Science and tech
Google rolls out safeguards for more of its AI products ahead of the US presidential election
Google is gearing up for the upcoming U.S. presidential election by rolling out safeguards for more of its generative AI products. Although the company already previously announced that it would restrict Gemini queries related to the election, it’s now applying additional restrictions to its other generative AI products.
The Calendar
- 1030 ET: Saint-Jean-de-Île-d'Orléans, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet and BQ MPs Julie Vignola, Caroline Desbiens, and Simon Berubé visit a farm.
- 1315 ET: Saint-Pierre, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet and BQ MPs Julie Vignola, Caroline Desbiens, and Simon Berubé meet with a representative of l’Espace Félix-Leclerc.
- 1415 ET: Saint-Pierre, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet and BQ MPs Julie Vignola, Caroline Desbiens, and Simon Berubé visit a winery.
- 1600 ET: Winnipeg - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh attends the Winnipeg Labour Council Labour Day Rally
