So, was there a consequential moment in this week’s debates, both French and English?

As it turned out, I don’t think so. There will be clips that all parties will turn into social media spots and TV ads, but no one seems to think any of them can change the needle in a significant way. So, we enter the final stretch of the campaign with few opportunities, it seems, to alter the way the picture seems to be unfolding. But you never know. Often, the impact of debates takes a few days to unfold. Carney did better in the French debate than many had expected, and Poilievre, likewise, in the English session. Singh and Blanchet were desperately trying to make this two-person race look like they were in it, too. But they are both in the “saving furniture” mode, which is a tough place to be with only days to go.

Of course, that won’t stop pundits from being pundits. So, let’s get a sense of what is being said about what happened this week in the Montreal television studios, where both nights were produced. Starting with the veteran political writer Don Braid in Calgary:

Braid: Plenty of action and even some laughs in four hours of federal leaders' TV debates Read >

Okay, here’s another longtime political commentator with her view. 

It’s Susan Delacourt in the Toronto Star:

🔒 Mark Carney made his case to be prime minister, despite Pierre Poilievre’s strong showing at final leaders’ debate Read >

The bizarre situation with Rebel News was a disgrace (it’s a joke to call them a “news” organization; they’re Tory toadies and nothing more). So, I won’t waste more time on that other than to say the “election commission” members that let those frauds in should be fired and disbanded. 

But don’t let any of that take away from the producers, all of them from the CBC on both the French and English side, who delivered the best set of debates in years for Canadians. Especially the English one, which has been beset by problems for years. It was excellent. What a surprise. When you put real journalists, the behind-the-scenes ones you never see, in charge of an event and let them do their job, you get a public service the country can respect, admire and learn from. I know some of them - I’ve worked with some of them - and they all deserve our thanks.

There are more than a few journalists upset with the Conservatives and Pierre Poilievre for the party’s restrictive measures on those trying to cover the Tory leader.

Not allowed on the campaign plane, few question opportunities, rare follow-ups, etc. etc. But at least one survey says it's working, at least for Poilievre - that he’s getting more favourable coverage than Mark Carney and the Liberals. Check this out:

Poilievre Getting Easier Ride At Media Events Than Carney: Analysis Read >

Mind you, it’s not working everywhere, as this story about the Conservatives and their campaign shows in The Guardian:

Trump effect leaves Canada’s Conservatives facing catastrophic loss Read >

If, after his debate performances, Poilievre is getting back in the game (and again we won’t really know that for a couple of days) it would likely be because he’s softening some of his edges.

That the harsh talk he hammered away with when he had a twenty-five-point lead has been toned down. Even the old “defunding the CBC immediately” stuff:

Poilievre says no timeline for defunding the CBC Read >

A few other notes now:

As someone who grew up watching and then working in the black and white television days, I never thought TV would one day come to an end. But then that’s what we thought about newspapers. These, though, are dark days for much of conventional media:

Television could go the way of newspapers if the US economy tips into recession, analyst warns Read >

These are also dark days for networks and organizations that seem to be losing some spine when it comes to standing up to certain administrations that threaten them. 

And you know who I’m talking about here. If you don’t, ask Seth Rogan:

Seth Rogen’s Trump Jokes Are Edited Out of Awards Broadcast Read >

The first time I considered buying a house was in Winnipeg in the early 1970s. 

It was on a nice corner lot, a three-bedroom split-level home valued at 28 thousand dollars. The next year, it was in Regina, a smaller home and a bigger price – 45 thousand. I thought I’d never be able to afford that, and worried if I ever would. The prices kept going up. And up. And up.  Those same houses are probably worth 600 thousand or so now. 

But is a reversal in order? Read this in Bloomberg: 

Top Forecasters Warn Housing Market's Days of Big Gains Are Over For Now Read >

In the United States, this has not been a good year for aviation.

What’s wrong? Why the sudden increase in accidents and incidents? The Telegraph decided to do some investigating:

Has flying in America become more dangerous? Read >