Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Conservatives in Vancouver Island’s northern riding are aiming for an electoral hat trick as a federal election draws near.
Federal Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn held a True North Strong and Free election rally in Campbell River Thursday night that drew about 200 attendees.
Continue reading Conservatives aim for right-wing trifecta on northern Vancouver Island
Jennifer Lash has been working at the intersection of the economy, ocean conservation, climate change and reconciliation for the past 27 years. She founded two non-profit organizations in Sointula and more recently was a senior advisor in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Now she is running for election in North Island-Powell River.
“In the situation we’re in right now, with the dire need for strong leadership both at the riding level and nationally. We’re not getting that leadership from the NDP and the Conservative Party. Whether you’re voting for the leader; whether you’re voting for the party; or whether you’re voting strategically: I think the best choice this year is Liberal,” she explained.
Continue reading Jennifer Lash, the Liberal Candiate for North Island-Powell River
If there were an election today, the polls show that Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative party would probably form the next government. This isn’t what is necessarily going to happen. I like to think of polls as ‘point in time’ snapshots which may be 100% accurate right now, but the situation can be very different tomorrow.
One of the trends I have noticed on 338Canada, which gleans data from many polls, is that support for the Liberals has been tacking upwards since Trudeau resigned (6 points), while support for the Conservatives and NDP has gone down (4 points each). If the Liberals pick a popular leader, we can expect their popularity to rise even higher in the polls – all of which is just to say that the as yet undeclared election is too far away to be certain.
Anyway Max Thaysen, one of our thought leaders here on Cortes, has been watching what Donald Trump, a Conservative leader in the United States, is doing and getting anxious about what this latest rendition of Canada’s Conservative Party might be like if it comes to power.
Continue reading Donald Trump, Canada’s Conservatives and uncertainties of the 2025 election
Watching ignorance, constitutional erosion, and hate spread like wildfire through the US is deeply disturbing. In the United States, we’ve seen how Donald Trump’s rhetoric and policies have fueled division, mis- and disinformation, and a dangerous erosion of democratic norms. His insane position on climate change is a major threat to the habitability of the planet — and this requires that we redouble our efforts because the same is happening here.
Closer to home, many Canadians feel a similar unease about Pierre Poilievre, whose rise in federal politics has sparked concerns about the spread of populist, divisive, and regressive ideas.
Continue reading The Danger of Apathy: Why We Must Stay Engaged in DemocracyCortes Currents asked all three candidates in North Island-Powell River (NIPR) for an interview. Jessica Wegg, of the Green Party, was the first to respond. Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn, who 338Canada currently projects as leading in our riding, has yet to acknowledge the invitation. NDP candidate Tanille Johnston, whose party is trailing in the projections, intends to visit Cortes Island soon and emailed her answers to my questions.
As with my previous interview with Jessica Wegg, this is a discussion of Johnston’s beliefs, not a debate on policy. There is some fact checking on her remarks about the Conservatives negativity (by comparing the name calling and negative imaging in the headlines of Conservative, NDP and Green press releases) and whether they do represent the rich (by looking at the cost to attend a party event and a report from the National Post).
Continue reading Q&A With NDP Candidate Tanille Johnston
