ST. JOHN’S, NL – Once upon a time ….tfederal party leaders looking for votes had to go out on the street or into public places to meet voters. They would talk to people in impromptu and unscripted way and ask for their support. Some would even go out campaigning with the local candidate. You know, try to act like a regular, intelligent, human being who you would vote for.
That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. At least that’s what I’ve seen covering the visit of the three major party leaders to St John’s so far this campaign. And maybe it just Newfoundland this time as I have seen some of them do it in other campaign stops across Canada.
Honestly, no of the leaders seemed to trying very hard in Newfoundland this time. Yes, I know we only have seven seats, Yes, I know they only come here because they have to be able to say they campaigned in every province, but seriously? At least pretend to want to be here.
Remembering Jack
It all made me think of Jack Layton, the NDP leader, during the 2011 federal election. Nursing a bad hip and using a cane to walk he still managed to wandered down Water Street in downtown St John’s, with local candidate, Jack Harris and cameras in tow. He randomly walked into a coffee shop, a bike store and O’Brien’s Music store and got an impromptu accordion lesson.
None of this was planned and everyone was welcome. Press and public. He stopped and talked to peole on the street. If there were no cameras or media there no one would have known and there would be no real photos of candidates campaigning. No one except those present would have seen this classic campaigning.
I have photographed Brian Mulroney, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton, Justin Trudeau and, yes, even Stephen Harper do this on election campaigns. They all took the time to meet people and shake hands …whether they wanted to or not. Because they were smart enough to know what those photos and video would mean in the next days papers and evening TV news.
How they made out
Mark Carney
First in town was Mark Carney and the Liberal election machine. Carney did not visit the province during the Liberal leadership campaign but he made it up by kicking off the election here with a large rally. Good public image and now he doesn’t have to come back. Security was VERY tight, as is typical of a PM visit. No one except Liberal supporters and security cleared media got into that room. But once news media was allowed in the room they were free to move without restriction. It was staged, controlled, little hectic but civilized and professional.
If there were any public activities, or any activities, other than the rally, no on saw or heard about it. There were no other photos or video of Carney in St John’s by news media that I have seen.
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre flew into St John’s, gave a speech for TV cameras in an empty construction warehouse and then drove to Petty Harbour where his private security kept cameras and reporters away from him, his candidates and the 30 supporters who showed up. Conservative party staffers actively tried to prevent any coverage of the event except for his speech in-front of a podium inside of the fish plant.
And that was that. Back to the plane for a show of support from about 100 local candidates and supporters. Then it was off to PEI.
To be fair, there were no votes to be had in Newfoundland and Labrador for him. Newfoundland only has seven seats and the current polls are showing a full sweep for the Liberals. Did he just need some clean video from a quaint fishing village for future campaign ads?
Jagmeet Singh
This is the kinder, gentler campaign. Relaxed and civilized. Saturday morning news conference to announce healthcare policy with local candidate and supporter. The NDP has held this riding in the past and they have a solid candidate. So, coming to support them makes sense. No controlling the media. All the time for all the reporters questions and even some individual interview.
But again, it was a controlled environment with little contact with the general public. Except, we heard that he was out at the farmers markets in the morning before the event and did not even tell the reporters traveling with him. No photos, no video no stories.
Will we ever get those unscripted photos like those of Jack Layton and campaigns in the before times?
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