"There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth In doing so, Mackay sent a clear message that his own personal priority — namely winning the leadership race — is more important than the rightful concerns of the public. The Ipsos poll showed Conservative leader Andrew Scheer picking up the approval of 36 per cent of respondents, compared to Justin Trudeau's 32 per cent. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Share your thoughts. Scheer urged members to stay focused and vowed whoever wins the leadership contest will have his full support. "Shortly after Mr. Scheer was elected leader, we had a meeting where I made a standard offer to cover costs associated with moving his family from Regina to Ottawa. This thing that calls itself the "Conservative Party" and all its antecedents have never had any more than what they're presenting now. That gives Trudeau a net -20 rating. Oh, yes, the opposition, in the form of the Conservatives. ", LISTEN: Ottawa Bureau Chief, Mercedes Stephenson with the details on why Scheer resigned. Now 40, Scheer has been making a salary of between roughly $170,000 and $180,000 since he was first elected in 2004 at the age of 25. Sources say the expenditures were made without the knowledge or approval of the Fund #cdnpoli, — Mercedes Stephenson (@MercedesGlobal) December 12, 2019. All The Campaign Research survey for the Star found approval ratings for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Quebec Premier François Legault, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have soared amid the COVID-19 crisis. Listen and subscribe to get a daily fix on the latest political news and issues. He later said Scheer "did address some of the articles that have come out" but added that the main issue discussed was the party's constitution and making sure MPs "do right" by the membership. Don Martin, the former host of CTV News Channel's Power Play posts his take on the federal politics issues of the day. “They should have made sure they were getting it right when it comes to helping Canadians instead of just helping themselves,” said Scheer on Wednesday. Why is he taking up air time? But since the Oct. 21 election, Ford and Trudeau have not sparred publicly. But Kouvalis, who has worked with Conservative and Liberal candidates across Canada and managed the winning mayoral campaigns of John Tory and Rob Ford, emphasized “caution to the premiers with high approval ratings and low disapproval ratings.”. “He has refused to engage in public fights with the federal government and the relationship between Ottawa and the province is at a high point, but many of Premier Ford’s changes in approach and process happened in July and August of last year. Can I go for a drive during a global pandemic? You see they're getting the money they need to feed their families, keep their houses afloat, etc. There are so many businesses out there that have seen a catastrophic decline in revenue and 10 per cent subsidy would not be sufficient. “This is the last thing Canadians need right now.”. He also wants Ottawa to reimburse the GST that small businesses have collected over the past six months and to release all projections on the potential COVID-19 impact. Peter MacKay in the lead but nearly half of Tories undecided on leadership, poll shows, Opinion | Jamie Watt: In CPC leadership race, one candidate stoops to a new low, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer rises during Question Period in the House of Commons Wednesday, February 5, 2020 in Ottawa. Trudeau Approval; O’Toole has room to grow ; Top Issues. “Conservatives have been opposed to the carbon tax at the outset,” said Scheer. rights reserved. Trudeau’s Liberals successfully used Ford’s unpopularity in Ontario last fall to mortally wound federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s prospects in Canada’s most populous province. Andrew Scheer approval rating. Indeed, their performances during this crisis raise serious questions about whether the Conservatives will be seen by voters as a serious alternative to the Liberals in the next federal election. “I know thoughts first and foremost are for family. The opposition's role, especially in a pandemic is not to whing and carp and obstruct, it is to constructively criticize Gov"t policy and make useful suggestion re policy and to propose sensible amendments to legislation.So far Scheer and the motley collection of "leadership" hopefuls have failed dismally. He would have faced an automatic leadership review at the Conservative convention in Toronto in April 2020. In March 2008, the Quebec Liberal Party revealed that then-premier Jean Charest was receiving an extra $75,000 salary on top of his official salaries as an elected official in opposition and government. And it’s a good thing for them that they are being largely ignored by Canadians because all three have performed abysmally since the COVID-19 crisis erupted, displaying an appalling lack of judgment, leadership and simple political smarts. Not much use to any one. “Trudeau’s numbers have improved since the (October) election,” Campaign Research principal Nick Kouvalis said Wednesday. All They still have not grasped why they lost the last election, jrk.