Election Funnies and Follies #3

#cdnpoli #cdnmedia pic.twitter.com/n1H8iG3E8w

— Game Over (@vansopinion8ted) August 19, 2021

Here's one thing I'm a little worried about - Canadian news media is mainly Conservative in their editorial stance, and while I do believe their reporters and editors are even-handed, its easy to find fault with the way that news stories get "framed" when reporters are deciding what and how to cover.

Retweet if you agree! #cdnpoli #canadianpoli pic.twitter.com/ukzTuohYjp

— Canadian Politics (@canadianpoli) August 19, 2021

Conservatives: “We voted against every single pandemic support that got you through the last 18 months, but please choose us to bring you pandemic relief.”#cdnpoli

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) August 18, 2021

The first week of a campaign is almost never a good predictor of the outcome of an election .

— Frank Graves (@VoiceOfFranky) August 19, 2021

With the 4th Wave

Situation In Afghanistan

Wildfires in B.C.

No one is paying attention to this election - and won't be until after Labour Day#cdnpoli #elxn44

— G.T. Lem (@gtlem) August 19, 2021

Today, O'Toole was promising that the CPC would not be taxing home sales. He made it sound as though some other politicians might be suggesting this. But actually, nobody pays taxes on home profits now, and nobody is suggesting they should. 

The media covering his press conference did not point this out and ask him about what he was trying to imply.

Erin O'Toole's big economic promise today was not to tax something that's already not taxed, and not enough people on the campaign beat pointed out this ridiculous thing, IMO. #Elxn44

— Asif Hossain (@asifintoronto) August 19, 2021

2% is the midrange of the Bank's inflation targeting range. Here's a short piece from the Bank's website explaining this. https://t.co/BnU2wH4vSF

— Diane Marie (@DianeMariePosts) August 19, 2021

We also saw some deceptive advertising for the CPC's "holiday GST" promise, illustrated by a grocery store photo obviously implying this promise would save people on groceries. But actually, nobody pays GST on groceries now and nobody is suggesting they should.

Again, the media just talked about the promise but did not point out its limited usefulness. 

If there was one thing this pandemic convinced us to deal with, it is how we treat people who need long term care. That's why I am very glad to see the Liberals stepping up with some policy ideas:

"We all agree that as a country we need to do better by our seniors," says @JustinTrudeau in Victoria as he unveils Liberal plan to improve long-term care by providing $9 billion in support to provinces and territories.#Cdnpoli#ForwardForEveryonepic.twitter.com/6bu4jNwEMH

— Jaro Giesbrecht🇨🇦 (@JaroGiesbrecht) August 19, 2021

NEW: The Liberals are proposing a sweeping $9B investment over 5 years into long-term care - including a guaranteed $25/hr minimum wage for personal support workers - saying they’ll work with provinces and territories to improve the LTC system. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/KUynCWbQEg

— Laura Stone (@l_stone) August 19, 2021

One of the big topics today was the CPC position on abortion. 

O'Toole swore that he himself is "pro-choice". Yeah, well, so what? - Canadians need to know whether he will allow his pro-live MPs or his Cabinet to bring forward federal legislation permitting provinces to regulate access to abortion. And that is a question O'Toole wasn't asked.

"I'm pro-choice," says leader of anti-pro-choice party.

— john d beggs (@dbeggs13) August 19, 2021

Note to reporters: it really doesn't matter if O'Toole himself is pro-life or pro-choice. He has already said he will let his MPs decide how they want to vote on matters of women's and minority rights. We saw how "the majority" of his MPs voted against banning conversion therapy. pic.twitter.com/Zc707kglE0

— Adam Bolt 🇨🇦 (@AdamBolt13) August 19, 2021

"Conscience rights" is an anti-abortion position, full stop. That's Erin O'Toole giving a nod to anti-abortion groups that bragged after the last election they got 45 MPs elected (all Conservative) to push this type of legislation. Consider the abortion issue reopened. #Elxn44 https://t.co/QINHb9T2hx

— Asif Hossain (@asifintoronto) August 19, 2021

pic.twitter.com/31Xcmk3ncs

— G Godwin (@gill_godwin) August 20, 2021

That is false, Stephen. In 2007 CPC MP Ken Epp introduced The Unborn Victims of Crime Act, which stalled. Rob Nicholson tried to pass a similar bill. Both were trojan horse bills to enshrine fetal rights, and slippery slope bills to restrict choice. #ProChoiceBecause #cdnpoli https://t.co/4ygU9H9q2z

— Maeri Kler (@dontevenblink) August 19, 2021

I think women are going to have to win this election. If we allow the old conservative guys and their mini me successors to run over us again and mess with childcare and abortion what was the point of my whole life, exactly? I’m nearly 60 and this is getting OLD. #cdnpoli

— Scribulatora (@Scribulatora) August 17, 2021

The situation in Afghanistan getting covered, with election twists:

pic.twitter.com/IYp1Ql4dbJ

— Louie G 🇩🇪🇲🇽🇺🇲 (@LouGarza86) August 17, 2021

Heard erin otoole on 640 am say "if i was PM i would never abandon our interpreters"

Dude, you were part of the govt which abandoned them in 2014.

— jack mcgraw (@redmcgraw1) August 17, 2021

Maybe it's because I have spent most of nearly the last six years engrossed in immigration and refugee issues, but CPC platform commitment to do away w/ government-sponsored refugees is a huge walkback from helping the most vulnerable and hasn't gotten enough attention.

— Jeff Jedras 💉💉 (@jeffjedras) August 18, 2021

Miscellaneous other stuff:

CERB was less than minimum wage on full-time hours.

The only way people were taking CERB instead of going back to work was if they were getting crap hours at crap wages.

And that’s not a CERB problem.

— Kim Siever (@kim_siever) August 19, 2021

September 20th ballot question being clarified with each hour. Who do you want running the Government of Canada? People who support science or People who pander to science deniers. https://t.co/oOhAC1jHh0

— Charles Adler (@charlesadler) August 18, 2021

Something to keep in mind, too:

The NDP have 99 candidates running across Canada https://t.co/syw43I6DFO There’s what, 338 seats? So NDP are missing candidates in 239 ridings.
NDP currently have 24 seats. Even if they won all 99, it wouldn’t get Singh as PM

— Tracey Kent 🐕 🏳️‍🌈 (@TraceyKent) August 18, 2021

Voting NDP opens the door for O'Toole to rip up the childcare agreements the Liberals signed with the provinces. Vote splitting always favours Conservatives. Singh isn't offering anything you aren't more likely to achieve through voting Liberal. Don't piss in the wind. #cdnpoli

— Unbranded (@Unbranded63) August 18, 2021

And - this is hilarious:

Was scrolling through PPC candidates today and came across Vahid Seyfaie, their Missauga-Lakeshore candidate, who photoshopped his face onto a picture of Prince William for a campaign photo. VERY serious party here, folks... #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/9eeteN0Q6N

— Friendly Local Left-Conservative (@AndrewFiggy) August 18, 2021

His suits were in storage… and he wants to abolish the crown so… he used a pic of a royal???
🤪 pic.twitter.com/11unW8lJTA

— 🇨🇦 B *k2tog, p4* (@Asta_de_B) August 19, 2021

And finally:

As I tiptoe through the world to protect immunocompromised intimates, my compassion for the willfully unvaxed and their too-late realizations dwindles closer and closer to zero.

— Benjamin Dreyer (@BCDreyer) August 18, 2021

pic.twitter.com/A3IfWZVC5e

— Luke Fevin (@According2Luke) August 19, 2021

#INDIGENOUS #TAIRP @Flailmorpho_ pic.twitter.com/kDSLVAHvOO

— Indigenous (@AmericanIndian8) August 19, 2021