8.78°C Vancouver
Ads

Sep 5, 2024 5:37 PM - The Canadian Press

No photos of Trudeau on campaign signs in Montreal riding ahead of byelection

Share On
no-photos-of-trudeau-on-campaign-signs-in-montreal-riding-ahead-of-byelection
The riding, in Montreal's southwest, has long been a Liberal stronghold. Former cabinet minister David Lametti held it from 2015 until he resigned in January.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

One familiar face is conspicuously absent from a federal byelection campaign in Montreal that could have major implications for the Liberal government.

As candidates embark on the home stretch of the campaign in LaSalle Émard Verdun, their election signs are everywhere at major intersections, on side streets, fixed to lampposts, beneath stop signs.

Alongside photos of the candidates are images of their leaders: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, smiling against a backdrop of a Canadian flag; Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, smiling against a pale blue backdrop; NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, smiling against a backdrop of some sort of greenery.

But campaign signs featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau smiling or otherwise are nowhere to be found.

The riding, in Montreal's southwest, has long been a Liberal stronghold. Former cabinet minister David Lametti held it from 2015 until he resigned in January. But with the Liberals lagging in the polls, LaSalle Émard Verdun could be up for grabs this time around, with one survey suggesting both the NDP and the Bloc are competitive. Voters will go to the polls on Sept. 16.

The absence of Trudeau images is not surprising for a governing party well into its third term, said former Liberal staffer Carlene Variyan. "The early years of a governing party's life cycle tend to place the party leader at the centre of its branding, with the outer years being characterized by a greater focus on the party name and brand," she said.

Photos of Trudeau have appeared on campaign signs in general elections past. Andrew Perez, principal at Perez Strategies and a Liberal strategist, said he remembers volunteering during the 2015 campaign, when Trudeau first came to power. At the time, he said, "Trudeau was the brand … and visibly that was the focus of the signage."

Nearly a decade later, though, Trudeau's brand has been badly tarnished. "In past elections, Trudeau was front and centre in all the messaging of the campaign. His picture was everywhere," said Vincent Raynauld, affiliate professor of communications at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. "The novelty of Trudeau and the youth and the positive energy … is not necessarily there this time around. So I think they're going to try to find other ways to energize the public."

Party spokesperson Parker Lund said in an email that the Liberal party signs in LaSalle Émard Verdun, featuring photos of candidate Laura Palestini, "are the same design that we have used in previous Quebec byelections."

The most recent Quebec byelection was in June 2023, when Liberal Anna Gainey won a seat in another Montreal riding. Before that, there hadn't been a byelection in the province since before the 2019 election.

Lund pointed out that the phrase "Team Trudeau" is printed on the bottom of all of Palestini's campaign signs, and the prime minister visited the riding last month. Voters in the riding will also be receiving "a number of Liberal print products, including a letter from Justin Trudeau," ahead of election day, he said.

Perez said political operatives have long used subtle changes in branding and signage to telegraph messages to voters. He recalled that during the 2004 election, then-prime minister Paul Martin included his name and image on every campaign sign featuring local candidates. He said it was a "deliberate attempt to distance the Liberal party" from Martin's predecessor, Jean Chrétien.

A recent Léger poll found the Liberals lagging the Conservatives in all regions of the country except Quebec. But even in Quebec, the poll found the Liberals running in second place behind the Bloc Québécois. Earlier this summer, Trudeau suffered a major blow when the Liberals lost another former stronghold, Toronto St. Paul's, in a June byelection. The loss prompted calls for the prime minister to step aside.

LaSalle Émard Verdun is a "crown jewel of the party," Perez said, pointing out that it was Martin's seat for 20 years, under the old name of LaSalle Émard. If the Liberals were to lose it, he said, "it will blow open the doors yet again for another debate around Trudeau's future."

Perez said the situation is further complicated by the NDP's decision Wednesday to pull out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that has helped keep the minority Liberal government in power. That decision means the Liberals will now have to seek support from opposition parties on a case-by-case basis on key votes to avoid triggering an election.

The Montreal byelection will feature two municipal councillors, Palestini and NDP candidate Craig Sauvé. The Bloc candidate is longtime political staffer Louis-Philippe Sauvé, and business owner Louis Ialenti is running for the Conservatives.

The ballot will include a record 91 candidates, most of whom are linked to the Longest Ballot Committee, a group protesting Canada's first-past-the-post voting system. Elections Canada is warning that the large number of candidates could cause delays when the ballots, which will be nearly a metre long, are counted on voting day.

The agency says it has recruited more workers to count votes cast during advance polls, which open Friday, and workers will start counting the advance ballots before polls close on Sept. 16. Elections Canada also says it is running simulations to help prepare for election night, which include going through "the whole counting process to see how long it takes to open a ballot box, unfold all the ballots, count the votes, deal with any objections and report results."

Latest news

mark-carneys-cabinet-has-taken-shape
CanadaMay 13, 2025

Mark Carney's cabinet has taken shape

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his 28-member cabinet and it's a mix of familiar and new faces from across Canada.Carney's cabinet is smaller than that of his predecessor — former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government had 35 ministers by the end — and adds 10 secretaries of state, who are essentially junior ministers.Carney continued with the practice of gender parity in cabinet started by Trudeau in 2015.Some mainstays of the Trudeau government are also missing from Carney's cabinet. Some portfolios are new or have been split, and some ministers have changed positions.Some Tr
alberta-premiers-chief-of-staff-criticizes-new-environment-minister
AlbertaMay 13, 2025

Alberta premier's chief of staff criticizes new environment minister

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff is sounding the alarm over Prime Minister Mark Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio. Rob Anderson says when it comes to new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin, Albertans should ``sit down'' for what he suggests is a shocking announcement. He points to Dabrusin's website, which touts her support for putting a price on carbon pollution, her strong stance against oilsands expansion, and her push for a transition away from fossil fuels. Anderson, in a social media post, says, in his words, ``fire...mee
alberta-cabinet-minister-ric-mciver-resigns-post-as-speaker-vote-looms
AlbertaMay 13, 2025

Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver resigns post as Speaker vote looms

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has resigned from cabinet amid speculation he will run for the vacant position of Speaker of the house. Premier Danielle Smith says she's grateful for McIver's commitment and hard work in serving Albertans. She says Tourism Minister Joseph Schow will take on McIver's portfolio on an interim basis. McIver served as municipal affairs minister under two premiers and had previous experience as transportation minister, infrastructure minister and jobs minister. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2012 after more than a de
carney-announces-plan-to-crack-down-on-crime
CanadaMay 13, 2025

Carney announces plan to crack down on crime

It will soon be difficult for defendants charged with car theft and human trafficking to get bail in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced today that his government is going to tighten the Criminal Code to make it difficult for defendants charged with car theft and human trafficking to get bail. Along with this, PM Carney also said that the first meeting of his cabinet will be held tomorrow. He also reiterated that income tax cuts for the middle class will be implemented from Canada Day.
open-fire-ban-in-bc-to-take-effect-may-16
BCMay 13, 2025

Open fire ban in BC to take effect May 16

A ban on open fires will take effect in BC’s Kamloops Fire Centre area starting May 16. This means that trash piles, grass or other similar materials cannot be burned in the open. Municipalities follow the BC Wildfire Service’s restrictions but can impose different restrictions based on local conditions. Anyone found violating the open fire ban can be fined $1,150, up to $10,000 depending on the offence. If convicted in court, the fine can be up to $100,000 and a year in prison. If an open fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible can be ordered to extinguish the
ADS
Ads

Related News

ADS
Ads