Canada Proud should be ashamed
Canada Proud, the right-wing provocateurs and third-party advertising group closely aligned with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, are not exactly renowned...
Éric Blais
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 Éric Blais.
The ‘Rest of Canada’ should show caution with the rise of Canadian pride in Quebec
“Quebecers are discovering their inner Canadian” according to the Association for Canadian Studies (ASC). Its survey shows that the percentage...
Justin Trudeau was a big talker in the House, that is, when he showed up.
A recent analysis highlighted in La Presse reveals a startling aspect of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's oratory style. When assessed...
The Liberals' “Canada Strong” has the right sentiment, but their opponents might weaken it.
If that's the overarching theme of the campaign, 'Canada Strong' could be a slogan-sized blind spot for the Liberal campaign.
Why Ford’s successful campaign was a failure
It’s called an election campaign for a reason. Even though its purpose is to secure votes, instead of purchases, it...
Yes, Canada should be advertising to Americans right now. But here’s who Doug Ford’s U.S. ads really serve
For months, the Ontario government has been promoting the narrative that “it’s happening here” through a barrage of ads published...
The Conservatives’ February blues—in a sea of red
If “Fresh. Familiar.” are the words describing its brand identity, the party might want to make sure they don’t sideline...
Poilievre should have seen his true opponents coming. Now he’s in trouble
“There are unknown unknowns.” That’s how former U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld referred to the risks that come from...
Justin Trudeau: Could he have escaped the generational truism of Mike + the Mechanics?
In the words of Mike + the Mechanics from The Living Years, "Every generation blames the one before and all...
Why simplistic political slogans, like Axe the Tax, often hit the mark
“You’re Richer Than You Think” is one of Canada’s most recognized slogans. Launched nearly 20 years ago, it continues to...
Liberal leadership candidates launch their campaigns with a thud
Unlike Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould is not running for prime minister of Canada — at least according...
Mark Carney wants us to see him as an outsider. That won’t cut it
Asked by The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart about the top contenders who would give the Liberal party its best shot...
Trudeau’s ‘hero’ archetype helped him, until it hurt him. Poilievre is the ‘ruler’ and he runs the same risk
Ten years ago, I argued that Justin Trudeau was “the hero” archetype, stepping into Canada’s political scene with a promise...
A weakened Canada is good for Trump and the Parti Québécois
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is just having fun when he repeats his joke about Canada becoming the 51st state. It’s...
How a media campaign in the U.S. could dampen Trump’s love of tariffs
“To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff and it’s my favourite word,” president-elect Trump told Bloomberg...
Demonizing Pierre Poilievre could end up backfiring on Justin Trudeau
In the world of political advertising, nothing grabs attention like negative advertising. Why? It’s simple: our brains are wired to...
Pierre Poilievre has a problem: He can’t pass the beer test in Quebec
In politics, where the line between the personal and political is often blurred, the “beer test” stands out as a...
In new ad, Pierre Poilievre pivots from relentless critic to peddler of hope. Why this may not work
“It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.” This slogan from the annals of advertising history was for...
A complicated Montreal byelection should provide clarity for Trudeau and the Liberals
In Monday’s byelection in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, voters faced an unprecedented choice: 91 candidates listed on a sprawling ballot — the longest...
Pierre Poilievre spent the summer wooing these crucial voters. Here’s why it isn’t working, yet
The Grand Seduction. That’s how some media outlets referred to Pierre Poilievre’s many visits to Quebec this summer. It’s perhaps...
Doug Ford is correct to commit advertising dollars to local media but he’s wrong to use tax dollars to promote his party
The Ontario government’s recent decision to direct its four largest agencies to spend 25 per cent of their advertising dollars...
Why the Liberals can’t simply ‘rebrand’ once Trudeau steps down
As calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down grow louder, inevitably, talk of “rebranding” the Liberal party of...
Quebec’s language laws are coming to a long neglected place — bathrooms
Growing up in a French-speaking household, my family often vacationed in Ontario and New England, where I was captivated by...
What happens when a thin-skinned political lifer becomes prime minister? We may be about to find out
“You must be kidding.” That was one of the many emails I received in response to a column I published...
Trudeau is at risk of weary voters tuning him out — and Poilievre needs to be cautious too
In marketing as in politics, a brand’s voice can make or break its ability to connect with its target audience...
François Legault’s CAQ finds it difficult to 'unfriend' Meta after promising a boycott
I won’t be able to share this op-ed on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram due to its decision to block access...
Why Pierre Poilievre's insults of two Québec mayors show contempt for all Quebecers
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre throws punches in both of Canada's official languages. Yet, some punches land differently in Quebec compared...
Negative ads against Pierre Poilievre a high stakes gamble for the Liberals
It's been a slow burn, simmering out of the spotlight, but the Liberal Party's campaign against Pierre Poilievre is beginning...
