Justin Trudeau began his day in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and after the usual warnings to those who are thinking of voting NDP and Green about a Conservative government, promised that if re-elected he would ensure that the province’s sole private abortion clinic would remain open by way of applying the Canada Health Act (though he didn’t specify how), before spending the day stopping in various communities on the way to Halifax, where he ended the day.

Andrew Scheer began his day in Quebec City where he promised to hold a first ministers’ meeting on January 6^thwhere he would totally solve the intractable problem of interprovincial trade barriers…apparently through sheer force of his personality. (I previously wrote about this sort of cheap theatre here). He then toured a few other Quebec communities, finishing his day in La Prairie.

Jagmeet Singh began his day in Toronto, where he claimed that abolishing the Senate would somehow better represent Canadians, which is so much horseshit that I can barely breathe. Aside from the fact that it would require a constitutional amendment with the unanimous support of the provinces – something PEI and the rest of Atlantic Canada would not countenance as the Senate was one of the conditions by which they joined Confederation, but it would cut their representation in half, and the whole counter-balancing effect that the Senate’s structure has against the representation-by-population nature of the Commons would be out the window. It’s the most ignorant statement Singh could possibly make, but hey, applause lines.

Other election stories:

• Advance poll turnout was up 29 percent from 2015.
• With all of the talk of minority scenarios, here’s Westminster parliament expert Philippe Lagassé walking throughthem.
• Northerners are feeling ignored by the election, as most parties have avoided travelling there or addressing their issues.
• What’s that? The actual structural issues of racism facing Canadians isn’t being addressed by this election? You don’t say!
• Here’s a look at how the leaders’ spouses are playing a role in the campaign.
• Quebec’s premier has inserted himself into this election in a big way, when everyone expected it would be Doug Ford or Jason Kenney who would do so.
• Here’s a look at Jagmeet Singh’s use of language and how it can make him relatable.

Good reads:

• Canada is “temporarily” suspending arms sales to Turkey after their incursions into Northern Syria.
• Kevin Carmichael notes the joint meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, and the massive problem barrelling towards the global economy that no one is ready for.
• Heather Scoffield tries to thread the good job numbers with “affordability” issues, and while regionalism is a concern, “affordability” is about feelings, not data.
• Chris Selley gives a resounding condemnation of all parties when it comes to Bill 21 – especially the party who is championing itself as a defender of religious freedom.
• Susan Delacourt ponders Andrew Scheer’s behaving like he’s already won the election, and the message that it can send to voters.
• Paul Wells frames the election as fiscal discipline versus a climate plan (but I would quibble with even calling it “fiscal discipline”).
• My column points out that that there is actually a stark choice being presented in this election, even if media voices shrug and pretend it’s an election about nothing.

Odds and ends:

Max Fawcett suggests how the Alberta government could best make use of Greta Thunberg’s visit to the province.

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