LIVE BLOG – Rogers/Macleans Federal Leaders Debate

Tonight is the accidental first major campaign event of the 2015 Federal Election. I have taken up residence at the Penny Whistle pub in downtown Guelph where the local NDP is hosting a debate watch. Obviously, they’re riled up because they’re banking on their man Mulcair to take the night as the next step on the long ladder to the Prime Minister’s Office. Can he do it? Can Justin Trudeau make a serious impression? What impact will Elizabeth May have? Can Stephen Harper make his case for re-election? Stand by. Continue reading “LIVE BLOG – Rogers/Macleans Federal Leaders Debate” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday August 6, 2015

Finally! The campaign begins. It feels like we’ve talking about since – I don’t know – the first episode, but the official campaign period for the 42nd General Election is officially underway, and Open Sources Guelph has you covered. We’ll cover #elxn42 so far in the first half of the show, the second half we’ll tackle that other debate Thursday night, and salute a fake news legend who became a paragon for actual news in his own time. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday August 6, 2015” →

Election Eve Gets Nasty

It was the night before the election call; and all through the house; the parties were warring; and ready to pounce. With Stephen Harper widely expected to visit the Governor-General in the next couple of days to request the dissolution of Parliament, thus starting the official campaign. But on this election eve, the main federal parties are doing all they can to align their forces for what might be the longest, hardest and bloodiest campaign in Canadian political history. Continue reading “Election Eve Gets Nasty” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday July 30, 2015

Things are about to be serious. All the political world (in Canada at least) is toying with the possibility that the 2015 Federal Election may starts as soon as this coming Sunday. That’s fine. Eleven weeks of campaigning can be brutal, but we here at Open Sources Guelph we can handle it, and this week we’ll continue the prep work by talking about the serious, and not-so-serious, issues that have popped up on our political radar this week. Senate reform, and big candidate news occupy the first half, while some new ugliness south of the border and the future of getting hither and yon make up the back half. So what specifically will we be talking about his week? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday July 30, 2015” →

I’m Just Not Ready to See This Ad Again

A new poll released today said that the people trust NDP leader Tom Mulcair to manage the economy better than any other federal leader. I saw the story this morning on one of the cable news channels, and while this should be concerning to the Prime Minister and his party, when the news went to commercial, what did I see? For the umpteenth time, it was “The Interview” ad featuring four Canadians deciding that Justin Trudeau is just not ready to be prime minister. Fair enough, but with each passing day, voters seem to be deciding that they’re also just not ready for four more years of Stephen Harper. Continue reading “I’m Just Not Ready to See This Ad Again” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday July 23, 2015

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we like people who are respectful to their opponents, whether they were captured or not. We also like it when the government makes it rain. In these hot, sunny, summer days, the government’s giving out cheques, but we wouldn’t go shopping with those extra dollars just yet. Robocalls are back in the news, not that it matters if you’re reading this abroad because you’re not going to be voting anyway if you’ve made your home outside of Canada for five years. It’s the dog days of summer, but we’re not dog-eared at all. It’s time to break down this week’s Open Sources. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday July 23, 2015” →

May Excluded from Two Federal Leaders’ Debates

The hornet’s nest kicked over by the Conservative Party opening up multiple bidders for leaders’ debates in the upcoming election has had at least one positive effect for Stephen Harper, Green Party leader Elizabeth May has been excluded from at least two debates now, the one hosted by the Globe and Mail and the other a foreign-policy debate hosted by Munk Debates. Continue reading “May Excluded from Two Federal Leaders’ Debates” →