common sense

Friday May 17, 2024

Polling shows Canadian youth are increasingly favouring the Conservatives over the Liberals, motivated by a yearning for change and disappointment with the Trudeau government's performance, with hope pinned on a potential economic upturn under a Poilievre leadership.

The Shift in Canadian Millennial Politics: From Trudeau’s Liberals to Poilievre’s Conservatives

The popularity surges of leaders like Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre highlight the perilous tendency of voters to invest unrealistic faith in political figures, underscoring the importance of maintaining critical analysis and skepticism in democratic engagement.

April 13, 2024

In recent years, Canadian politics has witnessed a seismic shift, particularly among young voters. Once staunch supporters of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, millennials are now flocking to Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, driven by a profound desire for change and a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Professor David Colletto, Founder and CEO of Abacus Data, sheds light on this transition in his analysis. Colletto’s recent survey, conducted in February 2024, reveals a stark reality: millennials are increasingly pessimistic about the direction of the country. Only 24% believe Canada is headed in the right direction, while a staggering 58% feel it’s veering off course. Moreover, the federal government’s approval rating among millennials stands at a dismal 24%, with 56% expressing disapproval—a sentiment mirrored across other age groups.

Analysis: Will Conservatives Win the Youth Vote?

The concerns regarding Pierre Poilievre's casual use of the Notwithstanding clause include the potential undermining of the balance of power, diminishing the importance of Charter rights, the risk of misuse and abuse, and setting a dangerous precedent for future governments.

May 4, 2024

The decline in support for Trudeau’s Liberals among millennials is particularly striking. Colletto notes that Liberal support has plummeted from 45% in the 2015 election to a mere 20% today. Conversely, the Conservatives, under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre, have seen a remarkable surge in popularity among millennials. With 41% indicating they would vote Conservative, Poilievre has emerged as a frontrunner among young Canadians, surpassing even the success of previous Conservative leaders.

The reasons behind this shift are multifaceted, as Colletto suggests. Millennials, once enamoured with Trudeau’s promises of change, now find themselves disillusioned by the lack of progress under his leadership. Despite Trudeau’s initial appeal as a “millennial candidate,” his popularity has plummeted, with a net approval rating of -32 among young voters—comparable to the dissatisfaction expressed towards former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Canada faces challenges, but rejecting the notion of a broken nation, it's crucial to avoid regressive remedies and instead focus on forward-looking, collaborative solutions to strengthen the country.

January 18, 2024

This disillusionment with Trudeau is compounded by a growing desire for change among millennials. As Colletto observes, young Canadians are increasingly prioritizing issues over personality in their electoral decisions. They are drawn to leaders who offer concrete solutions to pressing economic concerns such as the cost of living, housing, and inequality—areas where Trudeau’s government has fallen short.

Enter Pierre Poilievre—a figure who embodies the hope for change among young Canadians. Poilievre’s emphasis on fiscal responsibility and economic growth resonates deeply with millennials, who see him as a viable alternative to Trudeau’s stagnating leadership. Despite concerns about the potential risks of Poilievre’s policies, many young voters view him as a beacon of hope—a leader who can deliver tangible results and steer Canada towards a brighter future.

In the aftermath of last week's budget, Canadians are left concerned as Trudeau and Freeland's spending plan fails to address key economic challenges and raises doubts about fiscal responsibility and long-term growth.

April 22, 2024

The transition from Trudeau’s Liberals to Poilievre’s Conservatives reflects a broader trend in millennial political engagement. Faced with economic uncertainty and disillusioned by the status quo, young Canadians are asserting their influence and demanding accountability from their elected representatives. As they continue to shape the political landscape, their voices will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Canadian politics. (AI)

 

Saturday September 21, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 21, 2002

Ernie Eves the Davisian

May 5, 1999

Premier Ernie Eves says Ontario voters want the steady management style of former Conservative premier Bill Davis, not the hot-button politics of Mike Harris.

“I think premier Davis was one of the better premiers the province of Ontario has had,” Eves told reporters yesterday at the Tories’ two-day caucus retreat that was to end today. 

“He certainly reformed the post secondary education system … he did all kinds of things.” 

When Davis left politics in 1985, it marked the beginning of the end for more than 42 years of Tory rule. 

Since taking over, Eves has dismantled some of the basic tenets of the Common Sense Revolution, such as the idea that tax cuts pay for themselves and that major crown corporation such as Hydro One should be sold. 

Eves said he is not about to pushed into putting all his government’s plans in a 35-page document, as was the Common Sense Revolution that helped catapult Harris into power in 1995. It promised tax cuts, and getting tough on crime and welfare, among other things. (CP)

 

Wednesday May 5, 1999

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 5, 1999

Common Sense Prequel

OK, you’ve found all 21 action figures, including the four scarce Battle Droid variations: clean, dirty, slashed and blasted.You’ve purchased all the posters, including the Jedi vs Sith battle scene and the circus-style pitch for pod races.

Welcoming plot “spoilers, ” you’ve amassed a complete set of the trading cards and begun reading the novel.

But do you have the comic books for “Star Wars: Episode One — The Phantom Menace?”

The fact is, George Lucas’ space saga owes much to comics, which fanned the flames of fan interest through most of the lean years between 1983’s Return of the Jedi and the wave of enthusiasm sparked by new “Star Wars” toys in 1995 and the first trilogy’s “Special Edition” in 1997.

From the lulls through the current storm, comics by Marvel and Dark Horse have adapted the films and expanded on Lucas’ universe. Now they’re attacking the prequel years with a comics adaptation of “The Phantom Menace.”

It’s sold as a single graphic novel costing $12.95 and also as a four-part series of comics, costing $2.95 each.

The graphic novel and the first issue of the comics are now in comic book shops. The final three comics will arrive weekly for three more weeks.

The comics have two cover options: a photo from the film, and an illustrated montage of characters by Hugh Fleming.

They were written by Henry Gilroy, who works in the comics/animation industry. He got a copy of Lucas’ script a year ago.

Translating the film to the static medium of comics is difficult, Gilroy said. “Lucas makes the most of motion and sound in his films.”

He tried to pace the story “so that every time the reader turns the page, they get a cool ‘reveal, ‘ which is what you get in a “Star Wars” movie. Every scene has something new in it.” (Source: Houston Chronicle)