The important
Tuesday was Stephen Harper’s turn to appeal to seniors. Within days of both the NDP and the Liberals making platform promises to elderly Canadians, the Prime Minister was in Vancouver to announce that a Conservative government would introduce a $2,000 single seniors tax credit. When combined with the current $2,000 pension income credit, Harper said, it would double the tax relief for single and widowed seniors starting in 2017.
Having made his pitch to seniors a day earlier, Justin Trudeau spent Tuesday morning at a training facility for plumbers and steamfitters in Waterloo, Ont., where he promised a Liberal government would invest $750 million for skilled trades training. The majority of that money—about $500 million—would be set aside for the provinces, and $200 million would go toward training those not eligible for federal training. The last $50 million would go toward expanding the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.
Justin Trudeau's backdrop today in Waterloo? Hard hats, obvs. http://t.co/ROSjDIStXX #elxn42 (Photo cred: Liberals) pic.twitter.com/W7snpjV4QN
— Nick Taylor-Vaisey (@TaylorVaisey) September 15, 2015
The NDP, meanwhile, started the day in Lethbridge, Alta., where the party promised $100 million would go toward a mental health innovation fund. The announcement comes after a summer when Alberta’s auditor general wrote that the province “failed to properly execute its addiction and mental health strategy.”
Spotted at #Mulcair rally today in Lethbridge. Not quite sure I get it. #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/VQpjdKWUdT
— Sara Brunetti (@sbrunetti) September 15, 2015
The interesting
Elizabeth May won’t let the lack of an invitation to the Globe and Mail federal leaders debate deter her from participating. The Green leader—who took part in the Maclean’s debate this summer—says she will be live-tweeting alongside Thursday night’s event, including making video answers.
Greens take to twitter! I will digitally debate #GPC #glibandmale #globedebate | #elxn42 http://t.co/xOlLPb6E0o
— Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) September 15, 2015
Heh. Elizabeth May, shut out of the Globe leaders’ debate, will respond to moderators questions via Twitter. And argue w/ the other leaders?
— Andrew Coyne (@acoyne) September 15, 2015
@globeandmail I'll follow your debate through Elizabeth May's twitter, I find it exceedingly difficult not to throw in a slew of expletives
— Allie Carver (@CarverSoftware) September 15, 2015
Like Elizabeth May, I too will be joining the leader's debate by futilely ranting on Twitter. #cdnpoli
— Emmett Macfarlane (@EmmMacfarlane) September 15, 2015
Speaking of leaving leaders out, Abacus Data released a poll that asked who Canadians would vote for if Trudeau and Mulcair were the only two options. Turns out even Conservative voters are split on who they would vote for between the two.
If it was Mulcair vs. Trudeau, who would win? Too close to call. https://t.co/vyAlNM2rEb #cdnpoli #elxn42 pic.twitter.com/xWrOUdMVTT
— Abacus Data (@abacusdataca) September 15, 2015
While Harper remains in a virtual three-way tie with the other leaders in the polls, the feelings Canadians have toward the Prime Minister are not overly positive.
http://t.co/8W7YF1CeJm | Abacus Data Poll Shows Positive Feelings Towards Harper Dropping http://t.co/1Q37tPL4V6 pic.twitter.com/a9fr0aWmrQ
— Newfoundlnd-Labrador (@NewfoundlandRR) September 15, 2015
Related: Digging deeper beyond the topline with Abacus Data’s CEO
The fun
NDP orange swept Alberta in the recent provincial election. Did it hit one of the city’s daily newspapers too? A change to the Edmonton Journal’s logo at least has a few folks talking.
Welcome to the #NewEdmontonJournal in print, online and mobile. #YEG http://t.co/pRHbiGVjRO pic.twitter.com/tT19EMx7nw
— Edmonton Journal (@edmontonjournal) September 15, 2015
In one of the Alberta NDP's most curious moves, they appear to have mandated that the Edmonton Journal adopt the official party colours.
— Matt Schneider (@mattlaschneider) September 15, 2015
I'm sure it's a coincidence the colors of new Edmonton Journal went from Tory Blue to NDP Orange.
— Dave Mulyk (@beesenitch) September 15, 2015
Of course, this debate is all nonsense.
Dear Partisans. Bought and am enjoying new "orange" @edmontonjournal. Can confirm there is lots of blue inside, too. pic.twitter.com/6mtXNNzy0d
— Craig Monk (@CGMonk) September 15, 2015