Liberals 'will win election' on economy: Ignatieff

The environment, and particularly opposition to oil sands pipelines and tanker traffic, has become a big theme in the B.C. election, forcing both the NDP and the Liberals to take a hard line against what seem to have become politically toxic projects.

The Liberals have swept past the Conservatives in popularity, according to a new poll, with Canadians now clearly preferring a Grit government — even without Justin Trudeau as leader. But with the long-expected coronation of Trudeau now less than 10-days away, the Forum Poll for the National Post finds the Liberals would win a clear majority with the Montreal MP as its figurehead.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The Conservatives are attempting to paint the Liberals’ easy victory over an ex-cabinet minister in Monday’s federal byelection in Labrador as a loss for Leader Justin Trudeau. Conservative party spokesman Fred DeLorey said Liberal candidate Yvonne Jones win over former cabinet minister and incumbent Peter Penashue was not a surprise, given that Liberals have won the riding in all but two elections since the province joined Confederation in 1949.

If an election were held today, voters would give the Conservatives a the slimmest of minorities; however, if Justin Trudeau were leading the Liberals, the party would win a commanding victory over the Conservatives, says a new poll taken by Forum Research. Among 1755 Canadians over 18, 30% said they would vote for the Liberals, 31% for the Conservatives and 27% of the NDP. Of the remaining parties 6% would vote Bloc Quebecois and 5% would vote Green.

The NDP has let it be known that they are more than a little irked with the barrage of polls showing that Justin Trudeau is the long-awaited saviour the Liberals have been searching for and will ride his personal popularity straight into 24 Sussex Drive in the next election. Another new poll released Tuesday shows Trudeau would win a majority in a romp if an election were held today while the NDP’s support would collapse.

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OTTAWA — Newly-elected Conservative MP Joan Crockatt took a few seconds in the House of Commons on Tuesday to deliver a tongue-in-cheek thank you to Liberal counterparts Justin Trudeau and David McGuinty as well as NDP Leader Tom Mulcair for lending her a helping hand in her recent by-election win.

OTTAWA — Canada’s political landscape is poised for a potentially seismic shift today as federal Liberals anoint a new leader they hope will re-establish their reputation as the country’s natural governing party. The outcome is pretty much a foregone conclusion: Justin Trudeau, eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau and the party’s undisputed rock star, is widely expected to win handily.