Text Box: Nov. 25/05 Nasty Campaign Coming After New Year’s Day   Television and print coverage declared the coming campaign will be bitter, negative, and nasty, pointing out election results will likely end the political career for either Paul Martin or Stephen Harper. Media explained formal tabling of an opposition motion of non-confidence in the minority Liberal government provoked hot tempers and flying mud. Several items emphasize the defeat of the Liberal government is all but certain on Monday night, triggering a longer than usual campaign that will end with Election Day on January 16 or 23. News reports suggested the Liberal Party will launch a fierce personal attack against Conservative Leader Stephen Harper again, because the strategy worked in the last election. CBC News observed negative advertising tactics sometimes backfire on political parties, referencing infamous 1993 Conservative advertising targeting Jean Chrétien's face. Print coverage emphasized threats from Scott Reid, the prime minister’s director of communications, to launch legal action against the Conservative Party over comments in the House of Commons by Leader Stephen Harper accusing the Liberal Party of criminal activity in Quebec. Ottawa Citizen front page coverage anticipated a $5 billion procurement to buy 16 military transport aircraft could become an election issue. The news report noted the procurement, launched in the dying days of the minority Liberal government, is expected to receive formal criticism from German, French and Spanish governments, who fear Canada favours buying American planes. Text Box: Lifeline Communications Group Inc. ‘We make the news make sense’ Text Box: ELECTION ANALYSIS 2005

Minority Parliament Countdown

 

Lifeline Communications will provide ongoing daily analysis of national and regional media coverage as news developments build towards the possible collapse of Canada’s first minority parliament in 25 years.

 

Our media analysis will track the tone of news reports, columns, editorials and opinion pieces. Lifeline Communications will assess efforts of political parties to frame national issues, deliver key messages through the news media, and define the ‘ballot question’ voters may decide on election day.

Resources

Media Links

n Elections Canada

n Liberal Party

n Conservative Party

n NDP

n Green Party

n CTV

n CBC

n Global / CanWest

n Globe and Mail

n Toronto Star