Heads Up ... Attack Ads!

"We just feel there is a need for a voice to counter that of labour unions that have been getting highly politicized. We're trying to represent the other side of that discussion."
"It is very much a union-agenda type of platform. He [Justin Trudeau] has put out more tangible things like taking the TFSA (tax-free savings account) limit back and the so-called tax-the-rich policy."
Catherine Swift, (former) small-business lobbyist

The writ will not be dropped for some time yet. And since it will not, and since Canada will engage in a federal general election to take place on October 19, non-political parties can have a field day. Restrictions on election and advertising spending that places constraints on political parties don't impact on third party supporters.

"What we're looking at now is probably the beginning of a mini blitz before summer. Because we're in a quasi-permanent campaign mode, it makes sense for the parties to come out with a mini blitz, to test their theories ... they're a trial balloon in a way", explained Claude Denis, professor in the School of Political Studies, specializing in political communications, from the University of Ottawa.

The Conservative election adverts launched online and on television stress the proven leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, comparing his experience and level-headed steering of the country in an unambiguously moral manner, and toward economic solvency when the global economy was in dire straits, certainly compares favourably with his adversaries who have had no such experience, and whose electoral promises are less than persuasive.

A conservative political interest group, identified as anti-union has launched their own Television and Internet election ads stressing the unsuitability to lead at the national level of the leader of the Liberal Part of Canada. The party whose run of leaders incapable of firing the public imagination led them to select a name from the past. And it is the name that propelled Justin Trudeau into the limelight and the leadership of the party.

One of the ads of that interest group named Working Canadians, linked to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business points out how "very lucky" Trudeau is for inheriting "a famous name, a fast-track to the top". It points out that though most Canadians recognize a personal need to give to charity, this man, while a handsomely-paid Member of Parliament, accepted paid speaking engagements for charitable causes.

"Can he relate to us?", asks another advertisement. Speaking of a Liberal leader who "consistently votes against tax cuts for seniors and families. Can someone who has never had to worry about money or their job possibly understand those who do? Trudeau: he doesn't understand middle class families and he never will", spoke the advertisement.

A fair enough summation of what this young man of privilege aspiring to become the next Prime Minister of Canada represents. And this, without even going into the litany of gaffes and examples of revealed thoughts that mark him out as an intellectual light-weight, with an imperfect view of the world and the responsibilities of a mature and thoughtful leader.