The Writ

This week on 2021’s last regular edition of The Writ podcast:Polls of the week* Polling from Léger gives us an update on what Canadians think of the pandemic, as well as how their governments are doing handling it.* As the Liberals announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, new data from the Angus Reid Institute suggests Canadians’ views on the issue are complicated — but that they see a rising China as a foreign policy threat, according to Abacus Data.The Writ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Questions and answers* What leadership threshold do Erin O’Toole and Jason Kenney need to hit to keep their jobs?* Any provincial and federal politicians likely to make a jump to a different level of politics?* Which prime minister has held the most cabinet portfolios?* What impact could the Ontario Greens have on the next provincial election?* Could the CAQ make a breakthrough in Liberal-friendly Montreal?The #EveryElectionProject* As the holidays approach, politics takes a backseat — except during the 15 times Canadians went to the polls between December 10 and the end of the year.Look out for a special episode of The Writ Podcast next Friday!The full episode is also available on YouTube, as well as on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to past episodes of The Writ Podcast and watch podcast interviews on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Michael Bublé: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:Polls of the week* An update from Abacus Data on federal politics, including what Canadians thought of the throne speech, if they thought anything at all.* In Quebec, François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec remains on track for a landslide in next year’s election, according to Léger.* In Atlantic Canada, three governments are boasting high satisfaction ratings. One of them isn’t: New Brunswick.In the news* Sabrina Nanji of Queen’s Park Observer is back to give us the latest news in Ontario politics, as the countdown to the 2022 provincial election is now 181 days.Questions and answers* Which governments are at most political risk from inflation?* What’s an indicator of a leader in trouble?* Who is getting their election expenses reimbursed, and who isn’t?* What’s on my Spotify Wrapped list?The #EveryElectionProject* We’re approaching the 100th anniversary of the 1921 federal election, perhaps the first election to look familiar to our modern eyes.The full episode is also available on YouTube, as well as on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to past episodes of The Writ Podcast and watch podcast interviews on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Frédéric Chopin: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* The House re-elects its speaker and hears a throne speech.* Former NDP MP Pierre Nantel is trying to make a comeback with his third party in as many years.* Erin O’Toole and Jason Kenney hold on as party leaders.* Yukon’s minority government survives a confidence vote.* The Greens have a new interim leader: Amita Kuttner.Polls of the week* The next election on the docket is Ontario’s in June, and the Progressive Conservatives are still holding a narrow lead over the opposition Liberals and New Democrats, according to Léger.* A look at how Canadians are feeling about inflation from Ipsos.The Writ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Questions and answers* If the Liberals met a 1993 PC-level defeat, which seats would be the surviving two?* Whither the Greens?* What’s my early take on federal polling trends?* Do the Quebec Liberals still dominate the anglophone vote?The #EveryElectionProject* Jean Chrétien’s last victory in the 2000 Canadian election, when the right was still divided and the Liberals looked set to govern forever. The full episode is also available on YouTube, as well as on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to past episodes of The Writ Podcast and watch podcast interviews on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Trooper: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* Erin O’Toole faces a leadership challenge from a senator, who he boots from the Conservative caucus.* A threshold is reached to force an earlier vote on Jason Kenney’s leadership.* The governing PCs score a big win in a P.E.I. byelection.The Writ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Interview with Aaron Wherry* Parliament returns on Monday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tries to navigate another minority government (with or without the help of the NDP?) and Erin O’Toole faces questions about his leadership. To help break it all down, I’m joined again by the CBC’s Aaron Wherry. You can watch the interview on YouTube below:Questions and answers* What impact could a People’s Party of Ontario have on next year’s election?* How would parties change municipal politics in Ontario?* Could Jason Kenney really consider the nuclear option of an early election?* Predicting Canadian politics in 2040.* An update from Elections Canada and when we’ll know the number of late mail ballots.If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ Podcast on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of NSYNC: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* Quebec holds its municipal elections, with Valérie Plante beating Denis Coderre in the race to be Montreal’s mayor by a bigger margin than expected.* The leader of the Nova Scotia NDP announces he’ll be stepping down.* Another right-wing splinter party hopes to make waves in Ontario’s provincial election in June.The Writ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.* Prince Edward Island is having a byelection on Monday. Teresa Wright, who teaches journalism at Holland College and has covered P.E.I. and federal politics for years, discusses where things stand politically on the island and what is at stake in the Cornwall–Meadowbank byelection. You can watch my interview with Teresa below:Questions and answers* How many federal mail ballots arrived too late to be counted?* Who will be the next leader of the Green Party?* A trio of Quebec questions on Québec Solidaire, the stakes for Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in the upcoming byelection, and the history of the “leader’s courtesy” in Quebec.* Do Saskatchewan people/Saskatchewanians want to be a nation?If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ Podcast on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Weezer: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* The third quarter fundraising numbers are in, and the Conservatives have raised the most money (again), but the Liberals and Bloc Québécois set new records.* Sabrina Nanji of Queen’s Park Observer is back to give us the latest in Ontario political news. Check out her newsletter here.* Last weekend, the Manitoba PCs named their new leader and on Tuesday Heather Stefanson was sworn-in as premier. Curtis Brown of Probe Research joins the show to explain how it all happened, and what’s next in Manitoba politics. You can watch my interview with Curtis below:Questions and answers* What happens if the next election is held before the new riding boundaries are set?* How are Canadian and American elections different?* Can Brian Jean finally make his way to the Alberta premier’s office?* The Ontario PCs are trying to woo labour — what’s the role of unions in deciding vote outcomes?If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ Podcast on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Shelly Glover and The Beatles: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* The new federal cabinet has been sworn-in, and it includes two ministers who won their seats by tiny margins.* Nunavut holds its territorial election, with new faces in half of the assembly’s seats.* The results of Alberta’s referendum and senatorial votes are in.* The Manitoba PCs will announce their next leader, and the province’s new premier, on Saturday.* The Nova Scotia Greens have chosen a new leader.Polls of the week* Polls from Nanos Research and Mainstreet Research show no post-election honeymoon for the Liberals.* Abacus Data shows broad support for requiring MPs to be vaccinated to sit in the House of Commons.* The Angus Reid Institute gives us an update on how each of the provincial governments are doing.Questions and answers* What’s the state of the mayoral race in Montreal?* Any cabinet surprises?* Are Liberal minority governments more stable than Conservative minority governments?* What would a close PC-NDP race in Ontario look like?#EveryElectionProject* The 1982 Alberta election, Peter Lougheed’s last election as PC leader and the best performance ever for a Western separatist party.If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ Podcast on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* Alberta makes history, electing a woman as mayor of Calgary and someone of South Asian origin as mayor of Edmonton for the first time.* Elections Canada announces how many seats each province will have after the next re-distribution is completed.* Alison Coffin resigns as leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP after party delegates vote in favour of a leadership review.* A provincial byelection will be held in Prince Edward Island on November 15.Polls of the week* The Ontario PCs hold a narrow lead against a divided opposition, according to a Léger/Postmedia poll.* Jason Kenney’s United Conservatives trail the Alberta NDP by 16 points, according to a Mainstreet Research/Western Standard survey.Questions and answers* Ranked ballots. That’s the question.* Who is the B.C. Liberal leadership race frontrunner?* Has a defeated premier ever made a comeback?* Who was my voice in Ottawa and Quebec City when I was a wee baby?#EveryElectionProject* The 1971 Newfoundland and Labrador election, marking the first defeat for Canada’s last Father of Confederation.If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Fatboy Slim: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

This week on The Writ podcast:In the news* Annamie Paul is still leader of the Green Party, at least until some (more) legal issues are settled.* Judicial recounts confirm the election results in two federal ridings.* Nova Scotia finally sets a fixed election date — in the summer?* Dave Cournoyer of Daveberta.ca and the Daveberta Podcast joins the show to discuss the upcoming municipal, senatorial and referendum votes in Alberta. You can watch the interview on YouTube:Polls of the week* The Angus Reid Institute gives us an update on which premiers are up and which are down (hint: most are down). Poll here, my write-up is here.Questions and answers* What will be remembered as the lasting legacy of the federal election?* What are the odds the country goes to the polls before 2025?* Could any provincial premiers or party leaders make the jump to federal leadership?#EveryElectionProject* The 1919 Ontario election, which introduced Ontarians to the concept of UFOs (and not the flying kind).If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of The Beatles:Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe

In case you missed it already this week, I’ve started my series of post-election analyses of each party’s performance. Check them out below (subscribers only):* For the Liberals, a win’s a win — but also a warning* Conservatives still losing where they need to winThis week on The Writ podcast:In the news* Erin O’Toole holds a meeting with his new caucus for the first time and emerges with his leadership intact, for now.* A judicial recount overturns the preliminary results in a Quebec riding, meaning not a single seat changed hands in the province.* Former Manitoba premier Brian Pallister resigns his seat of Fort Whyte.* Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili passes a leadership vote, though not exactly with flying colours.* Sabrina Nanji of Queen’s Park Observer joins the podcast for her first update on the election goings-on at the Ontario legislature.Polls of the week* François Legault is sitting pretty in the latest Léger poll out of Quebec.* Jason Kenney is sitting…ugly?…in a new ThinkHQ poll out of Alberta.Questions and answers* What do the federal results in Quebec say about next year’s provincial election?* What’s the new path to a majority for the Liberals or Conservatives?* Notable second-place finishes on election night.#EveryElectionProject* The 1987 New Brunswick election, in which voters decided an opposition was optional.If you have any questions you’d like me to answer in next week’s episode, leave a comment below, tweet me or send me an email. You can also listen to episodes of The Writ on YouTube by subscribing to my channel here.This week’s podcast title musical inspiration courtesy of Cheap Trick:Thanks for listening and have a great Thanksgiving weekend! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe