While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Bruce Anderson.
When trying to image outcomes of US presidential elections, it’s normal to focus on a list of about 6-7swing states and more or less ignore the rest. What happens in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan pretty much decide which candidate gets the required number of electoral college votes and moves into the White House. But a lot...
When trying to image outcomes of US presidential elections, it’s normal to focus on a list of about 6-7swing states and more or less ignore the rest. What happens in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan pretty much decide which candidate gets the required number of electoral college votes and moves into the White House. But a lot...
Twelve hundred people were on their feet in Calgary yesterday applauding Mark Carney and Danielle Smith for the deal they signed that could lead to a new pipeline to move Alberta oil to markets. But there was a cost too ...Carney lost a minister, and the BC government and indigenous groups are more than a little bit upset. What happens...
On St. Jean Baptiste Day in 1970, my father took my brother Rick and me to Montreal from where we lived in Valleyfield, to watch the annual parade celebrating Quebec’s national pride.
Another week where there's lots to talk about with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson. The US is playing hardball through its ambassador to Canada over which jet fighter we "must" buy, while Sweden sends its King and Queen to push its option. And then there's the pipeline story -- could a deal between Ottawa and Alberta be close on that...
69% think the opposition parties should let the budget pass, including 73% on the left and 51% on the right. Hardly fertile ground for the NDP and the CPC. As the House of Commons approaches confidence votes on Mark Carney’s first budget, they know that to force an election would be to court the ire of the public. It may...
69% think the opposition parties should let the budget pass, including 73% on the left and 51% on the right. Hardly fertile ground for the NDP and the CPC. As the House of Commons approaches confidence votes on Mark Carney’s first budget, they know that to force an election would be to court the ire of the public. It may...
The numbers certainly conclude that if all opposition MPs vote against the budget then the government will fall. But will that happen and will it happen next week? All that on the heels of the budget and the latest major projects list? That and this question -- Is Mark Carney still green? All this with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson...
Betting on Poilievre is betting that someone who’s been in politics for 20 years will grow more popular, and the odds tell us that only rarely happens. The list of politicians who gain popularity after 20 years in public life is short. When it happens, it involves a major change in the politician, or a bigger change in the world...
Betting on Poilievre is betting that someone who’s been in politics for 20 years will grow more popular, and the odds tell us that only rarely happens. The list of politicians who gain popularity after 20 years in public life is short. When it happens, it involves a major change in the politician, or a bigger change in the world...
Budgets, especially minority government budgets, always bring a degree of parliamentary drama. But this week, a Conservative member added to the excitement by crossing the floor to join the Liberals. But at the end of the day, does it make a difference? That and a lot more with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson joining Good Talk for their weekly commentary.
People can make polling sound complicated, or not. Here’s my elevator ready version of how it works in Canadian elections. It has held up pretty well over the years. One third won’t vote. One third already always know which party they will vote for. Elections are decided by the other third. The swing voters. Swing voters don’t follow politics every...
As if there isn't enough going on with trade talks broken down with the U.S., new trade possibilities with China, and a crucial budget set for Tuesday, Canadians could be facing an election within a week. And then there's the case of "Profanity Pete" the US Ambassador to Canada. Let's get some analysis with Bruce Anderson and Chantal Hebert as...
Donald Trump has terminated the trade talks with Canada after Ontario ads running in the U.S. use Ronald Reagan's voice condemning tariffs. Is this serious or just Trump bluster? Meanwhile, the Carney government's first budget is now just days away, and the PM says Canadians will need to make sacrifices. And, Pierre Poilievre has another bad week. All this and...
Queen Elizabeth was popular among Canadians, even if the Monarchy became more of a question mark in terms of its relevance to our country, over the years. She persevered through many trials and tribulations with her family, not the least of which was the involvement of her son Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein. More recently, we’ve seen King Charles take some...
Queen Elizabeth was popular among Canadians, even if the Monarchy became more of a question mark in terms of its relevance to our country, over the years. She persevered through many trials and tribulations with her family, not the least of which was the involvement of her son Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein. More recently, we’ve seen King Charles take some...
The Conservative coalition in 2025 includes a lot of younger voters for whom Stephen Harper is not a touchstone. The blunt review by Dimitri Soudas, the former Director of Communications to Stephen Harper, in the Toronto Star, has touched off a lot of chatter. Some of it begs the question “what is it that Conservatives see in Poilievre that other...
The Conservative coalition in 2025 includes a lot of younger voters for whom Stephen Harper is not a touchstone. The blunt review by Dimitri Soudas, the former Director of Communications to Stephen Harper, in the Toronto Star, has touched off a lot of chatter. Some of it begs the question “what is it that Conservatives see in Poilievre that other...
There are going to be a lot of special programs done in the next few weeks, leading up to the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Quebec Referendum. A night that those of us who witnessed it will never forget. Tension and emotion ruled the evening. Chantal, Bruce and I were all in different roles watching the story unfold, and this...
Oval Office rapport between leaders is highly sensitive; 71% said this exchange went well, or as well as the circumstances made possible. Few things can be more challenging these days for so many world leaders, than to make a visit to the White House to work on trade and bilateral relations, especially if there’s a sit down presser in the...
Oval Office rapport between leaders is highly sensitive; 71% said this exchange went well, or as well as the circumstances made possible. Few things can be more challenging these days for so many world leaders, than to make a visit to the White House to work on trade and bilateral relations, especially if there’s a sit down presser in the...
From mining and energy to technology, banking and the rule of law, pluralism, free speech, and a good work ethic, Canadians see potential through the headwinds. Thanksgiving in Canada traces its roots to Indigenous celebrations of good harvests, well before Europeans arrived in Canada. The first evidence of a European Thanksgiving in what was to become Canada happened in 1578...
From mining and energy to technology, banking and the rule of law, pluralism, free speech, and a good work ethic, Canadians see potential through the headwinds. Thanksgiving in Canada traces its roots to Indigenous celebrations of good harvests, well before Europeans arrived in Canada. The first evidence of a European Thanksgiving in what was to become Canada happened in 1578...
When Donald Trump and Mark Carney met in the White House for the first time a few months ago, the meeting looked, and was, tense. Not so this latest time. Smiles, laughs and lots of almost boyish banter. What was that all about? Has anything really changed? Could a deal be in the offing, or was it all for the...
Spark survey reveals Canadians prefer 'head down', to elbows up or down; endorse the PM's pursuit of opportunities around the world. As Mark Carney heads to Washington for talks with President Trump, Canadians are watching with anxiety, but measured expectations. Over recent months, like most people around the world, Canadians have observed that the President’s passion for tariffs is not...
Spark survey reveals Canadians prefer 'head down', to elbows up or down; endorse the PM's pursuit of opportunities around the world. As Mark Carney heads to Washington for talks with President Trump, Canadians are watching with anxiety, but measured expectations. Over recent months, like most people around the world, Canadians have observed that the President’s passion for tariffs is not...
Everyone knew this was coming, but now we are here. It's the great pipeline battle playing out between Ottawa and Alberta, and between Alberta and BC. What's at stake? Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson are here to discuss this and what it means for Mark Carney, the upcoming budget, and the future of the country. And, Donald Trump's "war within"...
The U.S. Ambassador to Canada was in Banff yesterday for what turned out to be a tense conversation with former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson. The ambassador, a seasoned American politician, and Robertson, no stranger to Canada-U.S. relations, went at it over some of the things that have been said between the two countries this year. Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson...
In our latest Spark Advocacy national survey, (September 5-8th, 2536 adult Canadians, nationwide) we probed public opinion about the traits of the leaders of the two biggest national parties. What we found helps explain why many polls show a preference for Carney over Poilievre when the question is who would you rather have as Prime Minister. About two thirds or...
In our latest Spark Advocacy national survey, (September 5-8th, 2536 adult Canadians, nationwide) we probed public opinion about the traits of the leaders of the two biggest national parties. What we found helps explain why many polls show a preference for Carney over Poilievre when the question is who would you rather have as Prime Minister. About two thirds or...
This is a challenging post to write, because I personally believe climate change is real and an urgent problem. I first started measuring public opinion about climate change more than 20 years ago. I watched as the issue moved from a small topic to a broad consensus, and as voters pushed politicians for more action, more quickly.
This is a challenging post to write, because I personally believe climate change is real and an urgent problem. I first started measuring public opinion about climate change more than 20 years ago. I watched as the issue moved from a small topic to a broad consensus, and as voters pushed politicians for more action, more quickly.
Five projects, two in BC, one in Saskatchewan, one in Ontario and one in Quebec headline Mark Carney's initial nation building push. Surprisingly perhaps, the list got a big thumbs up from Alberta's premier. Just a few days before Parliament returns what does that say about how the government will fare when the action begins in the House of Commons...
Economic anxiety is high, the mood is tense. GDP is under pressure, tariff impacts are being felt. People are impatient for a return to more predictable times, a less stressed world. But most, at this point anyway, are not transferring these stresses into unhappiness with the newly elected government, or the Prime Minister.
The next 8 weeks may set the political context for the next couple of years, as policy directions turn to specific announcements and a budget lands with a lot of tangible detail. Economic anxiety is high, the mood is tense. GDP is under pressure, tariff impacts are being felt. People are impatient for a return to more predictable times, a...
The next 8 weeks may set the political context for the next couple of years, as policy directions turn to specific announcements and a budget lands with a lot of tangible detail. Economic anxiety is high, the mood is tense. GDP is under pressure, tariff impacts are being felt. People are impatient for a return to more predictable times, a...
Recent polls suggest Canadians are now more concerned about basic economic issues than they are about the Carney-Trump talks. Housing, affordability, inflation and government spending top the list. All this in the run up to an expected October budget, but also at a time when hugely expensive "nation building projects" are on the table. How do you square cuts and...
Most Canadians, including many who voted NDP and Conservative this year, give the Carney government a passing grade on 21 of 21 items tested. Across 21 different ways of measuring the performance of the government, most Canadians feel the Carney government is doing a good or acceptable job. This is from the latest Spark Advocacy survey of 3000 adults across...
Most Canadians, including many who voted NDP and Conservative this year, give the Carney government a passing grade on 21 of 21 items tested. Across 21 different ways of measuring the performance of the government, most Canadians feel the Carney government is doing a good or acceptable job. This is from the latest Spark Advocacy survey of 3000 adults across...
Four months and a day since the election and the summer ends with signs that the Carney government is moving on some of its major agenda promises. Or is it? That's the line item for Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson on this our final summer special before our new season begins next week.
Conservatives lag behind the Liberals in part because Pierre Poilievre trails Mark Carney, when it comes to how voters size these individuals up. In our latest national survey (3000 adults, August 14-18) the Liberal lead in voting intention was just north of 10 points, similar to the gap in the latest Nanos poll. While different methodologies can sometimes lead to...
While different methodologies can sometimes lead to different “horserace” numbers most polls seem aligned on how Canadian voters compare the Liberal and Conservative leader: while he looked like a political darling last year, today the picture isn’t pretty for Poilievre. At an overall level, 66% of Canadians have a positive view of Carney; 47% say the same thing about Poilievre...
Canadians are in a serious mood; politics isn't a sport or a game. Sometimes people who are deeply involved in politics, whether keyboard warriors or those who run for - or staff - political offices can fall into a habit, one I’ve had myself at times, of thinking of politics like a game or sport. When you’re in that mindset...
Canadians are in a serious mood; politics isn't a sport or a game. Sometimes people who are deeply involved in politics, whether keyboard warriors or those who run for - or staff - political offices can fall into a habit, one I’ve had myself at times, of thinking of politics like a game or sport. When you’re in that mindset...
By most estimates, Donald Trump has collected at least $100 billion dollars from American consumers and businesses with his tariff policies this year. Every day he describes this as a “win” for America, pretending that it’s not a tax on Americans. To a lot of Americans, the effects of the tariffs have been hard to discern, and so the rhetoric...
The statistics are pretty impressive ..Canadians are staying home or at least they are staying away from the U.S. in this summer of 2025. THis doesn't look like a one off, it could become generational. The deadline for a new trade deal between Canada and the U.S. is one week from today, what are the chances? Chantal Hebert and Bruce...
The Conservatives lost the federal election this year by 482,004 votes. Pierre Poilievre is right to note that his party was more competitive, winning a higher share of the vote than it had in 40 years. It can look like Poilievre is knocking on the door of a breakthrough victory. But looks may also be deceiving. Here’s a few key...
The Conservatives lost the federal election this year by 482,004 votes. Pierre Poilievre is right to note that his party was more competitive, winning a higher share of the vote than it had in 40 years. It can look like Poilievre is knocking on the door of a breakthrough victory. But looks may also be deceiving. Here’s a few key...
Canada hosts the G7 leaders' summit. Great mountain backdrop for the photo-ops, but as usual, Trump steals the headlines as he skips out early to deal with the Middle East crisis from home. Does that matter? When the smoke and mirrors disappear, what's the truth? Bruce. Anderson and Fred DeLorey are here to sift through the details.
Lyndon Johnson famously talked about pushing ahead with the things he believed in, regardless of political risk, arguing ‘what’s the power of the Presidency for, if not to use it’. The routine of politics is one of cycles - where newly elected leaders lose political support as they encounter problems, try to do difficult things, and annoy or disappoint people...
Lyndon Johnson famously talked about pushing ahead with the things he believed in, regardless of political risk, arguing ‘what’s the power of the Presidency for, if not to use it’. The routine of politics is one of cycles - where newly elected leaders lose political support as they encounter problems, try to do difficult things, and annoy or disappoint people...
The other day I noticed a CTV story about a poll, done by another polling firm, asking about Canada’s participation in the “Golden Dome” security arrangement being talked about by President Donald Trump. The firm in question does a lot of good work and so my point here is really only about this one question, and the risks of it...
How many times have you heard, “a plague on all their houses.” a Shakespeare line from Romeo and Juliet, used to describe how voters feel towards politicians? Media coverage of politics tends to exaggerate how disliked politicians actually are, and I’d make a case that the cynicism and click baiting that pervade a lot of media coverage today actually creates...
There were lots of reasons to imagine that Canada was heading for a period of more and more intense political polarization. We might yet. But that’s not what’s happening right now. On the surface, with the two largest parties deadlocked at about 40% support each, we might wonder if US style partisanship is in the cards - where every Liberal...
How many times have you heard, “a plague on all their houses.” a Shakespeare line from Romeo and Juliet, used to describe how voters feel towards politicians? Media coverage of politics tends to exaggerate how disliked politicians actually are, and I’d make a case that the cynicism and click baiting that pervade a lot of media coverage today actually creates...
How many times have you heard, “a plague on all their houses.” a Shakespeare line from Romeo and Juliet, used to describe how voters feel towards politicians? Media coverage of politics tends to exaggerate how disliked politicians actually are, and I’d make a case that the cynicism and click baiting that pervade a lot of media coverage today actually creates...
So far, Mark Carney has drawn optimism across the spectrum as many Canadians want to pick solutions, not sides. There were lots of reasons to imagine that Canada was heading for a period of more and more intense political polarization. We might yet. But that’s not what’s happening right now. On the surface, with the two largest parties deadlocked at...
There were lots of reasons to imagine that Canada was heading for a period of more and more intense political polarization. We might yet. But that’s not what’s happening right now. On the surface, with the two largest parties deadlocked at about 40% support each, we might wonder if US style partisanship is in the cards - where every Liberal...
There have been a few stumbles out of the gate for the new Carney government and the question is -- is this much ado about nothing? Bruce Anderson and Fred DeLorey take up that challenge on this week's Smoke Mirrors and The Truth. Then a special chat with Arlene Bynon about her new and riveting podcast series, Calls from a...
We all know the election result was a minority government. But it was very close, which makes the recount story fascinating and, for some, controversial. Bruce Anderson and Fred DeLorey have their thoughts on this and are here to explain them. Also today, we unveil this week's question for Thursday's Your Turn.