A federal political pollster says the latest numbers show “a political tidal wave is building” as public support shifts from the Conservatives to the Liberals.
David Colletto of Abacus Data says what their polling is showing is unlike anything seen in recent memory.
“A few months ago the Liberals were at 20 per cent nationally, (now) they’re up 18 points in two and a half months. Which I don’t think I can find an example of happening anywhere else at any point in time. So, this is a completely different environment,” says Colletto, who points to the things Donald Trump has done and said.
“Mark Carney has emerged at a moment when a lot of Canadians are looking for the kind of leadership he’s offering.”
Lori Turnbull (Submitted)
Political scientist says Trump effect galvanizing voters
A Dalhousie University political scientist says close to a week into the federal election campaign and the effect of Donald Trump’s threats – on the economy and Canadian sovereignty – appears to have galvanized support between the two main political parties.
Lori Turnbull says that’s going to make it tough on parties like the NDP, Greens and Bloc.
She says parties like the Greens sometimes capture the support of voters who are tired with the status quo, but this time around, things have changed.
“I think we are going to see more galvanizing around the main two competitors,” says Turnbull, however she admits, “there is a bit of a concern that some of the issues that the NDP are raising and that the Bloc are raising may not be heard with the kind of volume that they should be.”
She says “it’s the job of the government, whoever wins this election to represent everybody, to hear those voices and to figure out how we can pull those in and make sure that people are represented.”
