Canadian By-Elections

Aftermath

canadianbyelections — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:21:42 +0000

Conservatives Scott Armstrong and Bernard Généreux, Bloc candidate Daniel Paillé, and NDP candidate Fin Donnelly were elected.

Day 0: What we’ve all been waiting for

canadianbyelections — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:43:00 +0000

The by-elections are under way. We should know the results in 12-or-so hours.

Predictions

canadianbyelections — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:04:43 +0000

The Bloc will take both Quebec seats. The other two seats will go to the Conservatives.

The NDP will finish second on both coasts and in Hochelaga while the other second place finish will go to the Conservatives.

The Liberals will be third in all four ridings.

Day 1: Zero hour

canadianbyelections — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:59:34 +0000

What will happen tomorrow as 22 candidates seek public office? Could there by Conservative upsets? Will the Liberals finish better than third anywhere?

Coach and Senator Jacques Demers has been called in to push the Tory vote out via robo-calling.

Hardline MNA Amir Khadir is helping Jean-Claude Rocheleau. Rocheleau received plenty of support from his party’s MPs.

New Westminster-Coquitlam has come down to the wire.

Day 2: The last weekend

canadianbyelections — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:50:39 +0000

Maybe no one cares. Perhaps no one will vote.

New Westminster-Coquitlam has come down to the wire. Fin Donnelly, the Orca, has brought out Jack Layton, Libby Davies, Peter Julian, Denise Savoie, former MLA Chuck Puchmayr, and candidate Michael Crawford to help him fight to hold Dawn Black’s old seat. Donnelly is trying to take credit for the salmon inquiry announced by the Tories this week despite it being a Conservative campaign promise. Conservative Diana Dilworth seems to be continuing her heavy calling schedule. Liberal Ken Beck Lee seems to have given up, even on Twitter.

The Bloc is in a hot race with the NDP in Hochelaga. Bernard Bigras was out to help Daniel Paillé, who is the subject of a weird YouTube video. NDPer Jean-Claude Rocheleau is supportive of striking newspaper employees.

NDPer François Lapointe received further support from Thomas Mulcair.

Feisty CHP leader Jim Hnatiuk is trying to pick a fight over the long-gun registry with Conservative Scott Armstrong.

Day 4: The final countdown

canadianbyelections — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:01 +0000

Fin Donnelly has been endorsed by the Georgia Straight. This counters the endorsement of Diana Dilworth by Enough is Enough. Donnelly has brought in Jack Layton for the final push while also making the campaign’s focus the HST with new campaign signs. Dilworth appears to be hard to reach.

Nancy Gagnon is making her final push.

Scott Armstrong appears to have strong help in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley from the Conservative government. Canadian Christianity highlights the campaign of CHP leader Jim Hnatiuk.

Day 6: Less than a week to go

canadianbyelections — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:14:18 +0000

Michael Ignatieff was in Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup yesterday. He seems to be putting a lot of his effort into these four by-elections. Will he be wearing it when the Liberals fail to make a breakthrough?

Jack Layton spent the weekend bouncing around the ridings. He was also in MLKR and Nova Scotia where he did a radio interview and made retirement savings an issue.

In New Westminster-Coquitlam, Minister James Moore continues to provide support to Diana Dilworth. Dilworth has also had visits from other Tory ministers including Rob Nicholson and Jason Kenney. Local Conservative, NDP, Green and Liberal candidates talk about why they are running.

In Nova Scotia, CHP leader Jim Hnatiuk appears to be keeping busy on Twitter. Jim Burrows says Stephen Harper will not make the riding a priority.

In Hochelaga, the Greens have geared up. Meanwhile Jean-Claude Rocheleau has gone on the offensive. NDP MP Peter Julian has been out campaigning this week for Rocheleau.

In Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup, Steven Blaney has put out a release for Bernard Généreux. Meanwhile Obama is part of the debate.

Day 9: Advanced polls

canadianbyelections — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:17:32 +0000

The advanced polls have begun in the four by-elections.

Minister Lawrence Cannon visited the Conservative campaign in Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup.

In Hochelaga, Jean-Claude Rocheleau will be receiving a stream of visint NDP MPs this week including Niki Ashton.

In New Westminster-Coquitlam, Enough is Enough, a tough on crime group, has sent a survey to candidates. The V3H finished their series of candidate profiles with one on Liberal also-ran Ken Beck Lee.

Day 11: A couple of days worth of updates

canadianbyelections — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:11:06 +0000

John Baird visited New Westminster-Coquitlam candidate Diana Dilworth. Dilworth is the subject of the latest profile by The V3H.

Gail Shea’s visited to Scott Armstrong in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley got further coverage. A debate has taken place. The CKDH debate is November 3.

Former Quebec resident Peter Julian will be campaigning for Jean-Claude Rocheleau on Sunday. Thomas Mulcair and Claude Gravelle may also pay the riding a visit. Rocheleau is praising Svend Robinson. Green candidate Christine Lebel is the subject of a profile.

Nancy Gagnon is getting help from leader Gilles Duceppe and others. Gagnon and Bernard Généreux are fighting it out for the hearts and minds of local voters.

Day 13: Another Tuesday

canadianbyelections — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:23:54 +0000

New Westminster-Coquitlam candidates debated on CKNW yesterday. Local candidates also commented on the Massey Theatre, a local theatre that needs signfiicant renovations. The V3H has Fin Donnelly’s profile today. They square off in another debate November 5.

Green candidate Jason Blanch has a climate challenge for Stephen Harper. The Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley candidates square off in debates on November 2 and 3.

NDP MP Niki Ashton has paid Jean-Claude Rocheleau a visit. Jack Layton’s earlier visit got more coverage.

Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup’s candidates had a lively debate this morning. Nancy Gagnon came out firing. Conservative Bernard Généreux is taking local unemployment seriously. Nancy Gagnon of the Bloc wants to lure young people back to the region.

Overall, the Liberals, particularly leader Michael Ignatieff, could be in trouble in these by-elections.