Highlights from Crestview Strategy’s weekly newsletters:
Alberta
Calgary remains a key battleground and it is not surprising that both the NDP and UCP have dedicated significant time and energy to campaigning across the city.
This week, a letter co-written and signed off on by 190 Emergency Room doctors called on the next provincial government, whichever party that may be, to address issues such as massive staff shortages, emphasizing forty-two residency vacancies, and the over 500,000 people in Alberta who do not have access to a family doctor.
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre provided an endorsement for UCP Leader Danielle Smith. His endorsement focused on highlighting the federal “NDP-Liberal coalition” (referencing the current supply and confidence agreement in Ottawa) and the need to stand up for Alberta. Former prime minister Stephen Harper also released an endorsement for the UCP. He focused on the NDP promise to hike the corporate tax rate and similarly to Poilievre, centred on connecting the federal Liberal Party to the NDP.
Atlantic Canada
Halifax Regional Municipality has declared a seven day state of emergency due to wildfires that forced thousands of residents to evacuate over the weekend. At least 10 wildfires are burning across Nova Scotia, three remain out of control. Evacuation and comfort centres have opened to support those impacted and Environment Canada has issued air quality alerts for parts of the province. A home has also been lost in the Saint Andrews area of New Brunswick, where almost 400 homes have been evacuated due to an ongoing wildfire.
British Columbia
By-Elections Called
Premier David Eby has called two byelections for the electoral districts of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Langford-Juan de Fuca for June 24, 2023. Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Langford-Juan de Fuca became vacant when Melanie Mark and former premier John Horgan resigned as MLAs earlier this year.
In Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, the BC NDP has nominated Indigenous-rights leader and climate activist Joan Phillip. Phillip has been married to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the long-serving President of the BC Union of Indian Chiefs, for nearly 40 years. Phillip will run against local businessman Jackie Lee for BC United, and emergency management expert Wendy Hayko for the BC Greens. The riding has elected a New Democrat in every election since the electoral district was created in 1991.
In Langford-Juan de Fuca, the BC NDP has nominated Ravi Parmar, the elected chair of the Sooke School District and a BC NDP government political staffer, to replace former Premier John Horgan. Parmar will run against autism advocate Elena Lawson for BC United and health advocate Camille Currie for the BC Greens. The BC NDP has held the riding since 2005, when former Premier John Horgan was first elected.
Ontario
Employees at Ontario’s Workplace Insurance and Safety Board Could be on Strike as Early as Next Week
Employees at Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have threatened to strike if a new deal isn’t reached by next week. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents WSIB workers, said that a recent strike vote in favour of labour action has created a deadline to get a deal completed by next Tuesday.
Ottawa
Trudeau says new housing-based long-term infrastructure plan coming this fall – May 26, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canada’s mayors Friday that his government will roll out a new long-term infrastructure plan in the fall to boost the stock of affordable housing across the country. Speaking to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Big City Mayors Conference in Toronto, Trudeau said he’d save the details of the plan for the autumn but promised it “will have very direct links to housing.”
Toronto
Toronto mayoral race sees Chow’s lead grow as others fight for 2nd
The latest poll from Mainstreet suggests Oliva Chow’s lead is growing as 35% plan to vote for Chow. The latest poll from Mainstreet suggests Oliva Chow’s lead is increasing as 35% plan to vote for her. The remaining top contenders, Ana Bailão, Mark Saunders, Josh Matlow, Brad Bradford, and Mitzie Hunter, are competing for the second spot, with Bailão leading at 16%, followed by Saunders at 12%, Matlow at 10%, Bradford at 6%, and Hunter at 5%.
Top Toronto mayoral candidates debate transit, city services in Scarborough
Leading candidates outlined their visions for the future of transit, city services and taxes in Scarborough on Wednesday evening, in the east-end district of the city, shaping up to be a key battleground in the upcoming election. The candidates also faced questions about how they would go about working with Ontario Premier Doug Ford. While some criticized Saunders and Bailão for their alleged ties to Ford, Matlow, Chow, and Hunter argued that the previous approach of “getting along” with the Premier resulted in underinvestment from the province.
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