Liberals launching new ads to contrast Trudeau and Poilievre
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced his caucus for the first time Wednesday since rebuffing calls from two dozen Liberals to resign. He seemed to satiate some MPs’ concerns, with a presentation on party campaign strategy that includes rolling out new ads.
Heading into the meeting, some Liberal MPs were still pushing the idea of a secret ballot vote to put the questions around Trudeau’s leadership to rest.
“I think the question should be asked to the prime minister if he supports a secret ballot, and if not, why not,” Ontario Liberal MP Yvan Baker told reporters.
Others wanted clarity on how Trudeau intends to turn the party’s fortunes around.
“What’s the plan to win the next election?” said Ontario Liberal MP Salma Zahid, when asked what she wanted to hear during Wednesday’s meeting.
Behind closed doors, newly appointed Liberal national campaign director Andrew Bevan presented MPs with the party’s campaign readiness plans for how they plan to clinch re-election.
Part of the plan, MPs heard during the two-hour meeting, is launching a new national ad campaign aimed at contrasting the Liberal record and what Trudeau has accomplished, with what’s at risk of being cut by the Conservative alternative.
Members of Parliament were shown ads during their meeting, CTV News has confirmed.
“When you look at the outsized spending on advertising between the Conservative party and the Liberal party, we have to close that gap,” said Ontario Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith.
“The fundraising numbers are quite strong for the Liberal party, which was well received, I think, today. But we also have to put that money in play in an effective way, and I think Bevan started to articulate a plan that made sense on that front,” he said. “It’s definitely the right step forward… now it’s about implementation.”
Erskine-Smith said he expects the ads to vary, some featuring Trudeau prominently and others not.
“I think you want to have a range of different ads, and you want to have a range of different ads on different platforms. And whatever performs the best, you’ve got to throw your money into that effort,” he said.
The federal Conservatives are far outpacing all other parties in fundraising efforts, and have been running a series of digital and broadcast ad campaigns featuring Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, for some time.
“Innovative advertising campaigns in the lead-up to and during the 2015, 2019, and 2021 elections were an important part of how the Liberal Party of Canada successfully connected with more Canadians than ever before about Justin Trudeau's positive plan to invest in the middle class,” said Liberal Party of Canada spokesperson Parker Lund in an email. “And the same will be the case for the next election, whenever it may arise.”
Bevan was initially supposed to present to caucus last week before the push from some MPs for Trudeau to reflect on his leadership took centre stage.
In a recent fundraising blast to Liberal loyalists, Bevan vowed to “help build a winning campaign that re-elects Justin Trudeau and even more Liberal MPs so we can keep building a better future for all Canadians.”
Liberal minister from Quebec Steven MacKinnon said he thinks “everyone has total confidence” in their new campaign lead.
Bevan’s presentation also seems to have blunted some of the chatter around ousting Trudeau, with MPs telling reporters on their way out of Wednesday’s meeting that the leadership issue was not a main focus.
“The focus of this conversation today was very much focused on what are the next steps from a party perspective… And people were able to weigh in with their own feedback,” Erskine-Smith said.
“What I saw today could only have been better if I'd written it myself. No, I got answers today that I really, really like. Now, the nature of those answers… of course, have to stay inside caucus,” British Columbia Liberal MP Ken Hardie said, in an interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play.
“I think our friends over on the Conservative side will have a few things to be worried about,” Hardie added.
However, not all Liberal MPs came out of the meeting feeling as if their concerns were addressed.
“I think there's a lot of people that are still looking for some answers… I'm sure there are a lot of folks that are not quite satisfied,” said British Columbia Liberal MP Patrick Weiler.
“It's important to keep in mind that Mr. Bevan just started a week and a half ago, so he's got a lot of work to do,” Weiler said. “This, I think is a start today, but I'm looking forward to seeing a more fulsome plan as it rolls out.”
Those backing Trudeau say he’s proven himself to be a strong campaigner before, and they’re confident he can do it again.
“I’ve been through five leaders. This is my fifth leader. Most of the time they’re unpopular but we still manage to win,” said Ontario Liberal MP Judy Sgro.
Though, pollster Nik Nanos said Wednesday that it’ll take more than a solid ad buy and a unified caucus for Trudeau to overcome Canadians’ eyeing the next campaign as a chance to vote for change.
“These ads are probably a first step to make some Liberals that are nervous about the upcoming election a little less nervous,” Nanos said.
“But the reality is, is that when you have a significant lead and you've been trailing for more than a year, it's really hard to turn that around. Justin Trudeau needs everything to go right for him and everything to go wrong for both Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh.”
The prime minister may still have time to chart his path towards another victory, with the NDP Leader stating today that after Trudeau lost the Bloc Quebecois’ backing this week, he won’t let them, or the Conservatives dictate when the Liberal minority government could be brought down.
“I will not let Pierre Poilievre… or the Bloc call the shots. I don't want a Liberal government. I don't want Justin Trudeau as prime minister. There will be an election, and when that election comes, people will have an important choice,” Singh said.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, dies at 91
Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson's historic 'Thriller' album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, has died at 91.
Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House as he closes campaign with increasingly dark message
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Poilievre asks premiers to axe their sales taxes on new homes worth under $1 million
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the provinces' premiers, asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes that are under $1 million.
No strike notice so far as talks continue between Canada Post and workers' union
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
Where should Canada look to improve its housing situation? The answer may shock you
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
James Van Der Beek says he has colorectal cancer
The 'Dawson’s Creek' alum told People magazine in a statement published Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
At least 36 dead after overcrowded and dilapidated bus skids into a deep gorge in northern India
A poorly maintained and overcrowded bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in northern India on Monday, killing at least 36 people and injuring several others, officials said.
Utility says power back on in Kimmirut after days-long outage
Power has been restored to a Nunavut hamlet on Baffin Island following a days-long outage that began on Thursday.
Guelph, Ont. woman says she was pushed to homelessness and 'thrown on the street'
For people living on the fringe of society, the line between the safety and security of a home and homelessness is very thin.
Local Spotlight
'I put my whole life on hold': B.C. man embarks on Arctic to Antarctica trek
A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.
Windsor teen's shredded pepperoni pizza post goes viral
A Windsor teen’s social media post showing off a distinctive Windsor pizza topping has gone viral, drawing millions of views worldwide and sparking new curiosity about Windsor-style pizza.
'You look like me': 7-year-old who went viral for his Auston Matthews Halloween costume meets Leafs star
Auston Matthews has come face to face with his look-alike. On Thursday, the Maple Leafs star met seven-year-old Grayson Joseph, who went viral for dressing up as an Auston Matthews hockey card.
'You never know what you're going to find': Halifax junk remover shares some of his company's strangest discoveries
A Halifax junk remover shares some of his company’s strangest discoveries.
'Smiles per gallon': B.C. man creates Canadian-themed art car with stuffed moose on roof
When Leah arrived at work directing traffic around a construction site, she never expected to see a van painted in all sorts of bright colours, and covered in eclectic decorations, including a stuffed moose attached to its roof.
Guelph, Ont. charitable bike repairs halted due to bylaw complaint
After 14 years of repairing and selling bicycles out of the garage of her home, a Guelph, Ont. woman’s efforts have ended – for now, at least.
More than 20,000 goldfish removed from Edmonton stormwater pond
Epcor says it has removed more than 20,000 goldfish from an Edmonton stormwater pond.
Witches and warlocks take to the water across New Brunswick
Witches and warlocks have been flocking to New Brunswick waterways this month, as a new Halloween tradition ripples across the province.
Cosplay Queen: New Brunswick artist's handmade costumes attract thousands of followers online, celebrity commissions
New Brunswicker Jillea Godin’s elaborate cosplay pieces attract thousands to her online accounts, as well as requests from celebrities for their own pieces.