ELECTIONS IN CANADA CHAPTER 4 LESSON 2. CAMPAIGNING Process by which candidates make the policies of their parties, or their own policies known to the.

ELECTIONS IN CANADAELECTIONS IN CANADA

CHAPTER 4CHAPTER 4

LESSON 2LESSON 2

CAMPAIGNINGCAMPAIGNINGProcess by which candidates make the policies Process by which candidates make the policies of their parties, or their own policies known to of their parties, or their own policies known to the electorate;the electorate;

Federal election campaigns have to be at least Federal election campaigns have to be at least 36 days long;36 days long;

Candidates will travel to all of the areas within Candidates will travel to all of the areas within their riding in order to make their values their riding in order to make their values known;known;

Use of modern media is a new way of getting Use of modern media is a new way of getting the message out to the public;the message out to the public;

CAMPAIGNINGCAMPAIGNINGThe campaign is also a mix of public The campaign is also a mix of public appearances, debates and discussions with appearances, debates and discussions with people in a riding, or for a federal campaign, people in a riding, or for a federal campaign, the entire country;the entire country;Provincial campaigns are shorter than the Provincial campaigns are shorter than the federal campaign, but run in much the same federal campaign, but run in much the same manner;manner;Municipal and regional campaigns rely heavily Municipal and regional campaigns rely heavily on door-to-door meetings in order to let on door-to-door meetings in order to let residents get to know candidates;residents get to know candidates;

WHO PAYS FOR WHO PAYS FOR CAMPAIGNS?CAMPAIGNS?

Although there is no limit to how much a party can Although there is no limit to how much a party can raise on a campaign, there are strict rules that have to raise on a campaign, there are strict rules that have to be followed for who be followed for who donatesdonates the money; the money;Donators have to be Donators have to be – Canadian citizens or permanent residentsCanadian citizens or permanent residents– Business or association doing business in CanadaBusiness or association doing business in Canada– Union with bargaining rights in CanadaUnion with bargaining rights in Canada

– Foreign businesses or governments are forbidden Foreign businesses or governments are forbidden from contributing to a domestic election campaign. from contributing to a domestic election campaign. Why is this?Why is this?

CAMPAIGN STRATEGIESCAMPAIGN STRATEGIESCampaigns are run at the local and national / Campaigns are run at the local and national / provincial levels;provincial levels;Electors vote for a local representative (MP or Electors vote for a local representative (MP or MPP) and for a leader (Prime Minister or MPP) and for a leader (Prime Minister or Premier);Premier);The local representative has to win their seat The local representative has to win their seat by the by the first past the postfirst past the post system and so does system and so does the leader, who also wins if their party gains the leader, who also wins if their party gains the largest number of seats (greatest # of the largest number of seats (greatest # of ridings won);ridings won);

CAMPAIGN STRATEGIESCAMPAIGN STRATEGIESIn the modern era politicians (at any level) are In the modern era politicians (at any level) are heavily heavily scrutinizedscrutinized for their language, behaviour and for their language, behaviour and policies during the campaign;policies during the campaign;

The success of a candidate depends upon how they The success of a candidate depends upon how they react to and interact with the public and the press;react to and interact with the public and the press;

They have to watch their statements and sometimes They have to watch their statements and sometimes rarely go outside the standard “safe” version of rarely go outside the standard “safe” version of answers that are prepared;answers that are prepared;

Why is this not helpful to the voting public?Why is this not helpful to the voting public?

MacDonald and MacKenzieMacDonald and MacKenzie

Trudeau and ClarkTrudeau and Clark

DEBATESDEBATESThe debate is likely the best way to get to The debate is likely the best way to get to know the intentions and personality of the know the intentions and personality of the candidates;candidates;

It is still, however, not always accurate;It is still, however, not always accurate;

Usually televised and includes a number of Usually televised and includes a number of parties with significant representation;parties with significant representation;

Great opportunity for little known parties or Great opportunity for little known parties or those who are behind in the polls;those who are behind in the polls;

DEBATESDEBATES

Vice-President R. Nixon and Sen. John F. Kennedy in 1st televised debate in 1960

Why are televised debates so

important today?

DEBATE ONTARIO 2007DEBATE ONTARIO 2007

ADVERTISING IN A CAMPAIGNADVERTISING IN A CAMPAIGNMass media advertising is a means of Mass media advertising is a means of demonstrating your competence or your demonstrating your competence or your opponents incompetence;opponents incompetence;Just as with other aspects of the campaign, Just as with other aspects of the campaign, there are many rules for “proper conduct;”there are many rules for “proper conduct;”Under the Elections Act, all television stations Under the Elections Act, all television stations have to set aside equal time for candidates or have to set aside equal time for candidates or parties to advertise for free (based on number parties to advertise for free (based on number of seats and number of candidates running);of seats and number of candidates running);The parties also pay for advertising time;The parties also pay for advertising time;

ADVERTISING IN A CAMPAIGNADVERTISING IN A CAMPAIGNBusinesses, lobby groups and special interest groups Businesses, lobby groups and special interest groups also advertise (paid) for a political party that they also advertise (paid) for a political party that they want you to support;want you to support;

Unions, professional organizations may suggest who Unions, professional organizations may suggest who you should support in an election;you should support in an election;

Although you are not forced to vote for the Although you are not forced to vote for the suggestion, the organization looks for the candidates suggestion, the organization looks for the candidates that that best represent the interestsbest represent the interests of your organization; of your organization;

What are some organizations that may have interest in What are some organizations that may have interest in particular candidates or parties?particular candidates or parties?

““ATTACK ADS”ATTACK ADS”

These are advertisements that create an These are advertisements that create an impression of a candidate or a party reflecting impression of a candidate or a party reflecting undesirable traits – either politically or undesirable traits – either politically or personally;personally;

They can either They can either demonizedemonize the candidate, or the candidate, or they can they can backfirebackfire on the party; on the party;

““ATTACK ADS”ATTACK ADS”

Sometimes the advertisements are even noted Sometimes the advertisements are even noted in foreign news, or with commentary in foreign news, or with commentary regarding party policies that are not regarding party policies that are not beneficial to Canada;beneficial to Canada;

Consider the following:Consider the following:

http://www.freeadvice.ca/2006/01/10/liberal-adhttp://www.freeadvice.ca/2006/01/10/liberal-ad-washington-times-washington-times

““ATTACK ADS”ATTACK ADS”These types of ads are usual, but have to take These types of ads are usual, but have to take into consideration the public opinion and into consideration the public opinion and public sense of “public sense of “fairnessfairness” and “” and “fair playfair play;”;”

Consider the following from 1993:Consider the following from 1993:

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1890-12460/politics_economy/twt/clip1

FORMING A GOVERNMENTFORMING A GOVERNMENTMAJORITY MAJORITY – A party that controls half plus one of the seats in a A party that controls half plus one of the seats in a

House;House;– Every time there is a vote in the House, (as long as Every time there is a vote in the House, (as long as

all of the party Members vote the same way) the all of the party Members vote the same way) the Government will win the vote; Government will win the vote;

– Gives the Governing party almost unlimited power Gives the Governing party almost unlimited power in the House to pass all of its policies;in the House to pass all of its policies;

FORMING A GOVERNMENTFORMING A GOVERNMENTMINORITYMINORITY– No single party has the required half plus one No single party has the required half plus one

number of seats in the House;number of seats in the House;– The party with the largest number of seats is asked The party with the largest number of seats is asked

to form a government;to form a government;– Passing bills requires co-operation with the Passing bills requires co-operation with the

opposition parties, or at least bills that agree with opposition parties, or at least bills that agree with opposition party policies;opposition party policies;

– Opposition party with a number of seats to aid the Opposition party with a number of seats to aid the government is considered to have “government is considered to have “the balance of the balance of power;power;””

FORMING A GOVERNMENTFORMING A GOVERNMENTCOALITIONCOALITION– Rarest form of government formation;Rarest form of government formation;– A government that consists of members from more A government that consists of members from more

than one of the political parties;than one of the political parties;– A minority government can “invite” members A minority government can “invite” members

from an opposition party to sit in the Cabinet from an opposition party to sit in the Cabinet (Executive) in order to gain support for key (Executive) in order to gain support for key policies (should ensure support from that policies (should ensure support from that opposition party);opposition party);

– Also makes the governing party more sensitive to Also makes the governing party more sensitive to the concerns of a greater number of members;the concerns of a greater number of members;

REFERENDUMSREFERENDUMSA national or provincial “free vote” on a A national or provincial “free vote” on a particular policy or election issue;particular policy or election issue;

Initiated by the Government in order to gain an Initiated by the Government in order to gain an accurate understanding of a particularly accurate understanding of a particularly important issue;important issue;

Constitutional Amendment (1992)Constitutional Amendment (1992)

Provincial concerns (Quebec 1995)Provincial concerns (Quebec 1995)

POLITICAL SPECTRUMPOLITICAL SPECTRUM

HOWARD HAMPTON – NDP (LEFT)

JOHN TORY – CONSERVATIVE (RIGHT)

DALTON MCGUINTY – LIBERAL (CENTER)

ELECTION 2007ELECTION 2007What are the main election platforms for the What are the main election platforms for the Ontario election in 2007?Ontario election in 2007?

What is the purpose of the Provincial What is the purpose of the Provincial Referendum?Referendum?

What is your position on the political What is your position on the political spectrum? Do you agree with the policies of spectrum? Do you agree with the policies of the party associated with your result?the party associated with your result?