Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories prepare to mount full offensive in Toronto ridings in next election

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives are on a roll in Ontario that could finally allow Mr. Harper to crack the Liberal bastion that has eluded him since he first led his party into a federal general election in 2004—the city of Toronto.

With 24 concentrated ridings, it is the last area of Ontario left for the Conservatives to make enough headway that, combined with other gains, could tip Mr. Harper into a majority in the election widely expected to take place early in 2011.

Pollster Nik Nanos pointed out to The Hill Times that his firm's latest numbers give the Conservatives 42 per cent of support from decided voters in the seat-rich province, nearly a third of the House of Commons. The Liberals registered at only 35 per cent, a 20 to 30 percentage point drop from the heydays of prime minister Jean Chrétien.

"We know that when the Conservatives are in majority territory, usually they are winning seats that they held in

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Tories' 38% support 'more efficient than in past,' opposition parties vow to defeat Human Smuggling Bill

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have lined up with the Liberals in staunch opposition to the government's controversial new Human Smuggling refugee bill and—should Prime Minister Stephen Harper decide to declare the bill a confidence measure—the standoff could lead to a snap election call soon after Parliament's six-week Christmas recess.

The Commons is expected to adjourn on Dec. 15, following the day's routine House votes that day, and will resume on Jan. 31.

Several Liberal MPs told The Hill Times their caucus will vote against the bill even if Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) declares its defeat means the government has lost confidence of the House and an election is required. The move, if it occurred soon after the Commons resumes sitting and all three opposition parties maintain their positions, would allow Mr. Harper the opportunity to hold an election essentially on the timing he might want, prior to a bad-news budget in March.

With the latest Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives at

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Opposition MPs call for national strategy to end poverty, Tory Senator Segal calls for guaranteed annual income

The House Human Resources Committee spent three years consulting almost every major poverty expert in the country, but opposition MPs say Canada will likely have to wait for a change in government to come up with a national strategy to ever end poverty.

"I'm not sure if this government will actually ever implement all the recommendations that are in this report," said NDP committee member Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) who...

Source: The Hill Times

Tories appeal to base, and rake in cash

It's only money, but the governing Conservatives have plenty more than their rivals and to appeal to their base, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his ministers and government have consistently tabled bills, made occasional bare knuckled right-wing statements and managed Parliamentary affairs in such a way that core supporters will be inspired to send off cheques over the past five years, the opposition says.

Pollster Nik Nanos told The Hill Times last week that the occasional positioning—witness the controversial decision to deep-six the mandatory long form of Canada's census last summer—is required to satisfy the party's hard core after the government takes moderate turns that would curdle the blood of Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) old Reform and Canadian Alliance colleagues.

"They have to feed the beast," Mr. Nanos said. "If periodically through every year they're doing something [moderate], that means there is pressure on them to continue to have kind of incremental issues for fundraising, which explains why things surface with a particular regularity."

Part of the story

Tories appeal to base, and rake in cash

It's only money, but the governing Conservatives have plenty more than their rivals and to appeal to their base, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his ministers and government have consistently tabled bills, made occasional bare knuckled right-wing statements and managed Parliamentary affairs in such a way that core supporters will be inspired to send off cheques over the past five years, the opposition says.

Pollster Nik Nanos told The Hill Times last week that the occasional positioning—witness the controversial decision to deep-six the mandatory long form of Canada's census last summer—is required to satisfy the party's hard core after the government takes moderate turns that would curdle the blood of Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) old Reform and Canadian Alliance colleagues.

"They have to feed the beast," Mr. Nanos said. "If periodically through every year they're doing something [moderate], that means there is pressure on them to continue to have kind of incremental issues for fundraising, which explains why things surface with a particular regularity."

Part of the story

Tories appeal to base, and rake in cash

It's only money, but the governing Conservatives have plenty more than their rivals and to appeal to their base, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his ministers and government have consistently tabled bills, made occasional bare knuckled right-wing statements and managed Parliamentary affairs in such a way that core supporters will be inspired to send off cheques over the past five years, the opposition says.

Pollster Nik Nanos told The Hill Times last week that the occasional positioning—witness the controversial decision to deep-six the mandatory long form of Canada's census last summer—is required to satisfy the party's hard core after the government takes moderate turns that would curdle the blood of Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) old Reform and Canadian Alliance colleagues.

"They have to feed the beast," Mr. Nanos said. "If periodically through every year they're doing something [moderate], that means there is pressure on them to continue to have kind of incremental issues for fundraising, which explains why things surface with a particular regularity."

Part of the story

Tories appeal to base, and rake in cash

It's only money, but the governing Conservatives have plenty more than their rivals and to appeal to their base, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his ministers and government have consistently tabled bills, made occasional bare knuckled right-wing statements and managed Parliamentary affairs in such a way that core supporters will be inspired to send off cheques over the past five years, the opposition says.

Pollster Nik Nanos told The Hill Times last week that the occasional positioning—witness the controversial decision to deep-six the mandatory long form of Canada's census last summer—is required to satisfy the party's hard core after the government takes moderate turns that would curdle the blood of Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) old Reform and Canadian Alliance colleagues.

"They have to feed the beast," Mr. Nanos said. "If periodically through every year they're doing something [moderate], that means there is pressure on them to continue to have kind of incremental issues for fundraising, which explains why things surface with a particular regularity."

Part of the story

Tories appeal to base, and rake in cash

It's only money, but the governing Conservatives have plenty more than their rivals and to appeal to their base, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his ministers and government have consistently tabled bills, made occasional bare knuckled right-wing statements and managed Parliamentary affairs in such a way that core supporters will be inspired to send off cheques over the past five years, the opposition says.

Pollster Nik Nanos told The Hill Times last week that the occasional positioning—witness the controversial decision to deep-six the mandatory long form of Canada's census last summer—is required to satisfy the party's hard core after the government takes moderate turns that would curdle the blood of Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) old Reform and Canadian Alliance colleagues.

"They have to feed the beast," Mr. Nanos said. "If periodically through every year they're doing something [moderate], that means there is pressure on them to continue to have kind of incremental issues for fundraising, which explains why things surface with a particular regularity."

Part of the story

Tories appeal to base, and rake in cash

It's only money, but the governing Conservatives have plenty more than their rivals and to appeal to their base, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his ministers and government have consistently tabled bills, made occasional bare knuckled right-wing statements and managed Parliamentary affairs in such a way that core supporters will be inspired to send off cheques over the past five years, the opposition says.

Pollster Nik Nanos told The Hill Times last week that the occasional positioning—witness the controversial decision to deep-six the mandatory long form of Canada's census last summer—is required to satisfy the party's hard core after the government takes moderate turns that would curdle the blood of Prime Minister Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) old Reform and Canadian Alliance colleagues.

"They have to feed the beast," Mr. Nanos said. "If periodically through every year they're doing something [moderate], that means there is pressure on them to continue to have kind of incremental issues for fundraising, which explains why things surface with a particular regularity."

Part of the story