For those who were at work this afternoon behind firewalls, and couldn't reach the Liberal Leader's Facebook page to join in the online townhall meeting, the transcript is still up and available through an archived CoverItLive.com session here.

The Facebook posts that linked to the CoverItLive.com session can be found here (english version) and here (french version); they have some unmoderated comments as well.

Mr. Ignatieff took submitted questions for an hour on such topics as the prorogation (and various other spellings thereof, ahem), electoral reform, energy and education policy, the economy and so forth. Here's a photo showing the setup in his office. The session was moderated by recently-appointed Communications Director Mario Lagüe (seen seated to Mr. Ignatieff's right with the beard, if I'm recognizing him properly, and sorry if I'm not, Mr. Lagüe; it also looks like it might be newly-appointed Chief of Staff Peter Donolo leaning over their shoulders but the picture is not big enough for my middle-aged eyes).

Labels: Liberals, Party Web Watch

I've been watching the parties' websites daily for evidence of byelection makeovers, but found something else tonight instead.

Seems the Green Party website has had a facelift in the past 24 hours, using new colours (their 4th different shade of green I think since I've been following along) with a contrasting burgundy, and featuring 3 different panels in rotation all highlighting Elizabeth May.



The one I've chosen here links to a video titled "Why do I lead", which is timely given that the Green Party leadership will once again be up for renewal at their next convention, slated for February I believe (in Toronto?). The other two rotating panels feature the head and shoulders shot of May used in the last election, and a more recent photo of her on the coastline probably outside Sidney, BC and highlighting her run in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

My only grumble so far is that I can't figure out how to get to the list of candidates from the main page, but I'm sure I'll find it eventually.

Labels: Green Party, Party Web Watch

The Green Party has acclaimed its candidate for MIKR, rounding out its own slate and in fact rounding out the slate of major party candidates for the 4 ridings:

• Montmagny – L'Islet – Kamouraska – Rivière-du-Loup, QC - Farmer and nature-lover Charles Marois was acclaimed by the Green riding association this past Sunday, a reader writes to say.
• Hochelaga, QC - The Green candidate Christine Lebel was in fact acclaimed by their riding association back on September 23, the reader also advises. Looks like she may be joined by a neoRhino candidate, Gabrielle Anctil, who although not yet nominated has a few thoughts on the current state of the sign war in the riding.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has put up its by-election website, including websites for the two Québec candidates, which I've now added to the database. They promote the site from the main page in rotation with other featured sections, and link to the candidates' websites from the by-election site. as seen here:





In fact, it looks like they took the photograph from Jim Burrows' website, and dropped the other candidates' photos into it:

Labels: Greens, Nov 9 2009 By-elections, Other Party Candidates, Party Web Watch

There's been a fair bit of regional news coverage about the by-elections in the past week, and for folks who might not have time to scour the web for it, here's a rundown on what's been happening.

Candidate Spending Limits

First of all, Elections Canada announced the candidate spending limits for each of the 4 ridings yesterday. I've added them into the database now, but 3 of the ridings have limits on the order of $86K, while NWC with its higher population is set around $89K. Once nominations officially close, Elections Canada will announce the parties' overall spending limits for the 4 ridings, based on the number of ridings in which they have duly nominated candidates.

Party Web Watch

Next up, 2 of the 5 political parties have already devoted significant real estate on their websites to the by-elections: Friday morning, the Bloc Québécois added Daniel Paillé in rotation with Nancy Gagnon in the top right-hand corner of their home page ...





... while the NDP returned to its "Unite 4 Change" theme of the last parliamentary session ("Le Pouvoir de changer" in french) to set up a pair of by-election specific websites that went live late this Friday afternoon in both english and french, and which are being promoted from their home page as well.





As I said, to date there is no mention or link to the by-election campaigns from the home pages of the Conservative, Liberal or Green Party websites, but we'll check back every so often and report when that aspect of their campaigns gets under way. Meantime, I've updated the candidates' database entries with all their website addresses, albeit that the Green Party has yet to announce a candidate for MIKR, and no websites have been located as yet for the 2 Québec Liberal candidates (but if you have the addresses, please do get in touch so I can update the site).

Riding Newswatch

While most folks already follow the main national news outlets (and one of the best ways to do so is via National Newswatch, if you're not familiar with the site), everyone knows that all politics is local politics. So I thought I'd run down what the local coverage is saying about the by-election campaigns in each riding, starting with Nova Scotia. The others will follow in later blogposts.

Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley, NS - The main news outlets are the Amherst Daily News in the north, and the Truro Daily News in the south. Anecdotally, some readers are complaining that the latter has too Tory a focus in its coverage, but as I'm not familiar with the news sources, I guess we'll just have to see over the course of the campaign how the different parties fare in terms of quantity and quality of coverage from the different outlets.

• Byelection could prove interesting - [Amherst Daily News - Editorial - Oct 9, 2009] - Like it or not, voters in the federal riding of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley are going to the polls in 32 days and the results could prove ...
• Hot seat: Liberal candidate looking to capitalize on anti-Harper sentiment in byelection - [Amherst Daily News - Dave Mathieson - Oct 8, 2009] - How much resentment is still coarsing through the veins of the Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley electorate over the Bill Casey affair could determine ...
• Retired military officer eager to serve as Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley MP - [Amherst Daily News - <no byline> - Oct 8, 2009] - Christian Heritage Party Leader Jim Hnatiuk became the first candidate to register for the byelection call in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley ...
• Byelection candidates hit the trail - [Truro Daily News - Jason Malloy - Oct 7, 2009] - Candidates are criss-crossing Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley looking for votes. From the New Brunswick border to the Pictou County line and ...
• Armstrong hopeful of Conservative support in riding - [Amherst Daily News - Raissa Tetanish - Oct 5, 2009] - Winning over Bill Casey’s former supporters will be key to capturing Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley in the Nov. 9 byelection, says Conservative ...
• Tories punishing riding for support of Casey, Liberal candidate says - [Amherst Daily News - <no byline> - Oct 5, 2009] - Taxpayers’ money should be spent fairly across the country regardless of who represents voters in the House of Commons, says the local Liberal candidate ...
• Blanch to present Green option - [Amherst Daily News - Darrell Cole - Oct 5, 2009] - Jason Blanch is hoping to give the voters of northern Nova Scotia another option when they go to the polls sometime later this year to elect a replacement ...
• Vote will delay news on federal funds for civic centre - [Truro Daily News - Jason Malloy - Oct 4, 2009] - Colchester County residents will have to wait at least another five weeks before hearing if the federal government will provide funds for the region’s ...
• Federal byelection set for Nov. 9 - [Truro Daily News - Jason Malloy - Oct 4, 2009] - Central and Northern Nova Scotia will have its new member of Parliament in five weeks time. Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced four byelections, ...
• Calling all voters - [Amherst Daily News - Darrell Cole - Oct 4, 2009] - Voters in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley are going to the polls in early November to fill a vacancy created earlier this year by the resignation ...
• Federal byelection called for Nov. 9 - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Oct 4, 2009] - Colchester County residents will have a new federal politician by mid November. Four byelections, including Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley, ...
• By-Elections Called - [CKDH Amherst - <no byline> - Oct 4, 2009] - As expected, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called four by-elections. One of those ridings is the Cumberland Colchester Musquidobit Valley, the seat ...
• Green Party names candidate for vacant seat - [Truro Daily News - Darrell Cole - Oct 2, 2009] - Jason Blanch is hoping to give the voters of northern Nova Scotia another option when they go to the polls sometime later this year to elect a replacement ...
• Austin acclaimed as NDP candidate for local riding - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Oct 2, 2009] - ...
• Old Barns man to run for NDP in byelection - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Sep 27, 2009] - There are two qualities Mark Austin feels a member of parliament must possess. He feels he has both. The 50-year-old resident of Old Barns will run ...
• Austin to run for NDP in federal byelection - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Sep 27, 2009] - Mark Austin, a 50-year-old resident of Old Barns will run for the NDP party in the Cumberland Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley byelection, which has yet ...
• Liberal candidate wants federal byelection already - [Amherst Daily News - Jason Malloy - Sep 22, 2009] - The time has come for the Harper government to call a byelection for Central and Northern Nova Scotia, says the local Liberal candidate. Jim Burrows ...
• Austin to represent NDP in federal vote - [Amherst Daily News - Darrell Cole - Sep 20, 2009] - Mark Austin will represent New Democrats in the upcoming federal byelection for Cumberland-Colchester-Mus-quodoboit Valley. The Old Barns resident has ...
• Liberal wants federal government to call byelection - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Sep 18, 2009] -
• Burrows will carry riding’s Liberal colours into next federal election - [Truro Daily News - Monique Chiasson - Sep 13, 2009] - Green Oaks dairy farmer Jim Burrows is the Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley Liberal candidate for the next federal election. Burrows, 51, operator ...
• Liberals vote today for local candidate in next federal election - [Truro Daily News - Brad Works - Sep 13, 2009] - Local Liberals will choose between a campaign of experience and that of determination today when they select the party’s next candidate for the next federal ...
• Burrows easily wins Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley Liberal bid for the next federal election - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Sep 13, 2009] - Green Oaks dairy farmer Jim Burrows will represent Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley Liberals in the next federal election. Burrows received ...
• Federal Grit candidate wonders where civic centre funding is - [Truro Daily News - Jason Malloy - Sep 10, 2009] - A local Liberal is concerned funding for Colchester County’s regional civic centre is being delayed for political reasons. Jim Burrows said it is important ...
• Liberals set to choose next candidate - [Amherst Daily News - Brad Works - Sep 10, 2009] - Local Liberals will choose between a campaign of experience and that of determination when Saturday they select the party’s next candidate for federal ...
• Liberals holding nomination meeting for federal riding - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Sep 8, 2009] - A New Brunswick Member of Parliament will be the guest speaker at Saturday’s Liberal nomination meeting for Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley. ...
• Federal Grits to select local candidate Sept. 12 - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Aug 17, 2009] - The federal candidate nomination meeting for the Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley Liberal Association will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12. Two ...
• Liberal nomination meeting next month - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Aug 14, 2009] - Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley Liberals will decide who will represent them in the next federal election. Official candidates are Green Oak’s ...
• Christian Heritage Party leader looking to replace Casey - [Amherst Daily News - <no byline> - Aug 12, 2009] - The leader of the Christian Heritage Party will be a candidate when voters in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley go to the polls this fall to elect ...
• Parsons seeking Liberalnomination for next federal election - [Truro Daily News - Monique Chiasson - Jul 23, 2009] - Tracy Parsons is taking another shot at federal politics. The 45-year-old Bible Hill resident officially announced her intention to seek the Liberal ...
• Parsons preparing for another run at federal politics - [Amherst Daily News - Darrell Cole - Jul 22, 2009] - Bill Casey is not running in the next election, but Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Liberal candidate Tracy Parsons feels he will still be a ...
• Bible Hill's Tracy Parsons seeking federal Liberal nomination - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Jul 22, 2009] - Tracy Parsons is taking another shot at federal politics. The 45-year-old Bible Hill resident officially announced her intention to seek the Liberal ...
• Burrows seeking federal Liberal nomination - [Amherst Daily News - Darrell Cole - Jul 19, 2009] - With an election coming in the fall, Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Liberals are preparing for what they feel will be their best opportunity ...
• Burrows seeking Liberal nomination - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Jul 18, 2009] - A Beaver Brook farmer wants to represent the Liberal party of Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley in the next federal election. Jim Burrows, 51, ...
• Federal Tory candidate says don’t worry about civic centre funds - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Jul 10, 2009] - Colchester County residents should not be concerned about Halifax’s problem getting federal funds for a rink project, says the local Conservative candidate ...
• Armstrong gets federal Tory nod - [Truro Daily News - <no byline> - Apr 30, 2009] - Scott Armstrong will carry the Conservative banner in Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley the next time residents go to the polls for a federal ...
• The right thing to do - [Truro Daily News - Jason Malloy - Apr 29, 2009] - Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley is losing the member of Parliament they elected only six months ago. Bill Casey’s long run as the federal representative ...
• Armstrong after Tory nod - [Amherst Daily News - Jason Malloy - Apr 21, 2009] - Scott Armstrong was in elementary school when he started helping Tories get elected. Now he is hoping the party will return the favour. The Truro resident ...
• Truro educator seeking Tory nomination for next federal election - [Truro Daily News - Jason Malloy - Apr 20, 2009] - The man who wants to turn central and northern Nova Scotia Tory once again will announce today he is seeking the party’s nomination for the next federal ...

Labels: Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley, Election Expenses, Nov 9 2009 By-elections, Party Web Watch, Riding News Watch

I'm not sure this has ever been tried before in Canadian federal politics, so I thought it might be worth grabbing a few screenshots of the NDP's live streaming of their "Rally4Change" in Toronto.

The event was held on Saturday September 13, at the Heritage Court on the CNE Grounds in Toronto, to showcase Layton's ethnically-diverse "Ontario Team" of candidates and show off the party's organizational prowess. Clearly the party is trying to mimic the kind of event made famous by the campaign of Barack Obama south of the border.

Layton's speech attacked Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper for "going behind the backs" of Canadians to give special deals to the oil companies, and chided Toronto Liberal MPs for "hiding behind the curtains" during 43 confidence votes in the House of Commons.

The live webcast attracted as many as 197 viewers, and ran from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Here are some screenshots ....

Labels: NDP, Party Web Watch

Here are screenshots of the parties' websites, taken at around 8:30 AM this morning.



The Liberal Party web-site is emphasizing the team around Leader Stéphane Dion at his events across the country.



The NDP web-site is heavily emphasizing Leader Jack Layton, his leadership and policy proposals.



The Green Party website changed into an election site over the course of the week, emphasizing Leader Elizabeth May and her successful grassroots campaign to gain entry into the televised leaders' debate. Notably it has also removed links from the main page to the party's open, and occasionally controversial, member blogs (still found here).



The Bloc Québécois site uses its main page to highlight a campaign video and an incumbent MP in a tight race.



The Conservatives' web-site emphasizes Leader Stephen Harper's leadership, strength and family values, while taking a shot at alleged division within Liberal ranks on the "Dion carbon tax".

Labels: Party Web Watch

Here are screenshots of the parties' websites, taken at around 11:00 AM this morning.



The Liberal Party web-site changed overnight. It prominently features Leader Stéphane Dion, his Green Shift, and the party's fund-raising campaign.



The NDP web-site changed overnight, and now emphasizes Jack Layton and his "job application" for Prime Minister.



So far, the Green Party website has not changed too much from its orientation over the past few days, although the by-election fund-raising thermometer has disappeared, and the call for Leader Elizabeth May's participation in the televised Leaders' Debate has moved up in the right-hand column.



The Bloc Québécois site changed overnight as well, adding links to le "Blogue Québécois", their Leaders' Tour, and their platform, along with Leader Gilles Duceppe's undertaking to be "Présent pour le Québec".



The Conservatives' web-site actually changed to this look a few days ago, as several commentators have noted. Prominently featured is an attack on the Liberal Leader's key platform plank, the "Green Shift".

Labels: Party Web Watch

The NDP just released a new all-By-election website this afternoon, "Unite4Change.ca", which has a fairly red-looking orange background, and a very Obama-like blue graphic of leader Jack Layton looking into the distance and encouraging people to install the party's brand-new Facebook application, also called "Unite4Change".

So, I decided to check out the five major parties' websites and survey what kind of online presence they've established specifically for the by-elections. This new feature "Party Web Watch" is a companion to the twice-weekly "Facebook Watch" we're already running at the Pundits' Guide.



Liberals: They have established a page for the by-election candidates in the "News room" section at their party web-site, a graphical link to which is featured on a rotating basis from the site's main page. The page itself features graphical links to each of the three September 8 candidates' web-sites, a bio of each of the three, email contact links for volunteering, and links to a secure site for riding-specific donations. Marc Garneau, their candidate in Westmount – Ville-Marie, QC is featured first, followed by Roxanne Stanners in Saint-Lambert, QC, and finally Frank Valeriote from Guelph, ON. On peut trouver exactement la même chose en français.



NDP: Just updated the "unite4change.ca" domain-name they own to be a by-election-specific website (la version française est "lepouvoirdechanger.ca"). The main focus of the page is a graphical link that takes the visitor to Facebook to install the "Unite4Change" Facebook app. Also featured prominently down the right-hand column are "act now" links to get a sign, join the party, volunteer, or subscribe to their e-newsletter, followed by a link to Layton's own Facebook profile, and links to issue sections on the party's Environmental plan, and its campaign on Text Messaging fees. Links to pages at the party by-election web-site for each of the four by-election candidates, featuring their bio, a link to their own web-page plus a link to their Facebook profile page, are shown all in a row below the main Layton graphic.



Greens: Set up a "Take Action" page on the party web-site, linked to by a rotating graphical link from their main page. Has photos of each of the four by-election candidates, with Guelph, ON candidate Mike Nagy at the top, along with links to their web-pages, email addresses, office addresses, and Facebook pages. They also have a fundraising goal thermometer on their main page showing progress against their goal of $65,000 (they report having raised $43,936 as of today). On trouve la même chose encore en français.



Bloc Québécois: Have a special page on the party website for "Les partielles 2008", which features photos of both candidates (with Saint-Lambert, QC candidates Josée Beaudin featured first), information about how to vote, and links to a party website page for each one. The candidates do not appear to have separate websites (although Westmount – Ville-Marie, QC candidate Charles LaRivée, being younger and a university student, has a presence on Facebook; see below). Pas disponible en anglais.



Conservatives: No special by-election page evident, ni en anglais, ni en français non plus. In fact their website was actually down for at least 3 hours tonight, from 6 PM or earlier to sometime around 9 PM. As a result, I now have the IP address of their database server, but am unsure what this piece of information might fetch on eBay. Should have snarfed a screenshot while I had the chance (rats) ... looks like my "opposition research" skills are a bit rusty. There is a link to Stephen Harper's Facebook profile from their main page, however.

I am not qualified enough to provide a professional assessment of the effectiveness of the parties' web presences. However, I can refer you to the "Fagstein" blog of Montréal Gazette copy editor Steve Faguy, where he recently conducted a review of the Westmount – Ville-Marie, QC candidates' Facebook campaigns. In the comments section, we learn that Bloc candidate Charles LaRivée has recently established a Facebook politician profile page, which we'll be adding to our Facebook Watch update tomorrow night.

Labels: Fall 2008 By-elections, Party Web Watch