Panel Criticizes Political Tactics, Media Bias in Election Coverage

Political gamesmanship and questionable campaign tactics have overshadowed substantive economic discussion in Canada’s federal election, according to the latest episode of Inside Politics featuring Kevin Klein, Jeff Currier, and political science professor Royce Koop.

As early voting commences at Elections Canada offices, the panel noted increasing public engagement. “I’ve never seen so many staff,” Klein remarked about a nearby Elections Canada location. “People are coming in early to vote. There’s momentum.”

However, this momentum has been marred by controversy surrounding a Liberal campaign tactic that has drawn widespread criticism. Liberal staffers reportedly planted pro-Trump buttons at a conservative conference in an attempt to associate Conservatives with American politics. The staffers were later overheard discussing their actions at a bar near Parliament Hill.

Koop, who also writes as a columnist for the Winnipeg Sun, characterized the incident as a “dirty tricks campaign” and criticized Liberal leadership for merely reassigning rather than firing those involved. “This kind of sneaky business alienates people from politics,” Koop said. “It’s why good people don’t run for office.”

Currier agreed, calling the actions “unconscionable” and noting that other parties have removed candidates for much less significant transgressions. “These are the people who want to govern the country and manage your tax dollars,” he said. “And this is the ethical standard they’ve set.”

The panel questioned whether Liberal leader Mark Carney truly controls the party or if operatives from the Trudeau era continue to wield influence behind the scenes. “We’re getting the same old Liberal Party,” said Koop. “Carney’s just the new face.”

The conversation then pivoted to provincial politics, with Premier Wab Kinew drawing criticism for comments about the ongoing Progressive Conservative leadership race. Kinew suggested that despite one candidate selling many memberships, “establishment” forces would ensure another candidate’s victory. Koop dismissed these remarks as inappropriate political interference, stating, “It’s none of his business. That’s internal party politics.”

All three panelists expressed frustration with the current state of political coverage in Canadian media. They argued that critical economic issues—including rising national debt, carbon tax impacts, and federal bureaucratic expansion—are being overshadowed by political theater. Klein highlighted that over 110,000 federal bureaucrats have been added under the Trudeau government, a fact he believes receives insufficient attention.

“The media is too focused on sideshows,” Currier said, citing recent questions from CBC reporters as examples. He specifically criticized an instance where a journalist asked Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre if Donald Trump could pose a military threat to Canada. “That’s not journalism. That’s a distraction,” he asserted.

The panel also addressed concerns about CBC’s funding and potential bias in its coverage. Koop noted that Carney’s support for increasing CBC funding by $150 million contrasts sharply with Poilievre’s defunding position, potentially influencing the network’s reporting. “You can’t ignore that one leader wants to give them $150 million and the other wants to defund them,” he said. “Of course that affects how stories are told.”

Klein added nuance to the media funding discussion, explaining that while federal programs like the Local Journalism Initiative have supported some outlets, they impose certain constraints and are scheduled to end. “If they want to write us a cheque, fine. But we’re not going to say what they want us to say,” he stated.

The hosts concluded by reflecting on the challenges facing private media in today’s digital landscape and emphasized the importance of government directing advertising dollars toward local outlets rather than U.S.-owned platforms.

The panel plans to reconvene after the upcoming English-language leaders’ debate, which they anticipate could significantly influence the direction of the campaign.