Carbon taxes are “not fair” for Canadian companies if foreigners don’t pay them too, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday. Cabinet has endorsed in principle a proposal to impose carbon tariffs on inexpensive imports from coal-powered China manufacturers: “We’re protecting the planet.”
Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole yesterday said he had no choice but to eject a Saskatchewan senator from the Conservative caucus for questioning his leadership. “You don’t want to make that decision but really she made it for herself,” O’Toole told reporters.
Many Canadians remain wary of a federal Covid Alert app more than seventeen months after it was introduced, says internal federal research. The Department of Health questioned why smartphone users wouldn’t use the app if it could easily scan QR codes to track Covid outbreaks: “Is there a Plan B?”
Charles Robert, the $231,000-a year clerk of the House of Commons, yesterday said he is off duty following allegations of incompetence and pro-Liberal bias. The Speaker’s office said it knew nothing of his paid leave: “I have decided to take a few days away in light of recent events.”
Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters last night was expelled from the federal Conservative caucus after demanding a Party leadership review. “I will not be silenced by a leader so weak he fired me via voicemail,” said Batters.
The House of Commons yesterday threatened to cancel Hill access passes for reporters and photographers who do not disclose their vaccination status. The Parliamentary Press Gallery executive made no objection: “If they make a choice not to get the shots, they are going to deal with the consequences.”
A federal judge has ruled legal challenges of mandatory vaccine orders “raise a serious issue” to be decided at trial, but declined to issue an injunction suspending the orders for the time being. “Rights protected by the Charter are not absolute,” said the Federal Court: “This motion is about the consequences.”
Millions in payouts are expected under new claims to compensate federal employees for damages caused by payroll errors. Treasury Board President Mona Fortier yesterday said ongoing impacts of the Phoenix Pay System failure were far-reaching: “We know Phoenix was difficult for people.”
A news story stating some people in China eat rodents as a delicacy was insensitive, says a CBC ombudsman. The reference perpetuated an ethnic stereotype that Chinese people are strange and different, the Ombudsman said: “The article went wrong.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the Covid election after staff conducted psychographic polling that showed most Canadians trusted cabinet and were “very angry” with people who didn’t follow pandemic rules, records indicate. Pollsters suggested useful messages in “exploiting” divisions among voters.
The Privy Council Office commissioned the study that divided voters into segments based on their views of masks and vaccines. “A successful segmentation is one that provides usable insights,” said the study Psychographic Segmentation Of Canadians Regarding Covid-19.
The March 12 study by Kantar Group researchers cost $148,862. Findings were based on questionnaires with 2,002 people nationwide.
Researchers said Liberal Party themes on pandemic management and compliance with Covid rules polled best with women under 34, retirees and francophones. They were least popular with working age men, visible minorities, people with spouses and children, and Prairie residents.
The point of the research was to ‘exploit’ groups for tailored messages, said Psychographic. “Successful segmentation of the general population depends upon exploiting the diversity in the population and offering Canadians experiences, services and messages tailored to their needs or values,” wrote researchers. “Using population segmentation works well when we can identify the hidden commonalities of needs and behaviours and tailor messaging to address them.”
Divided Into Five Groups
The study divided Canadians into five groups. Three groups were considered the most government-friendly.
The first group, called “the engaged,” consisted of 29 percent of respondents. “Engaged” people “have a lot of trust in scientists,” “get very angry when they see others not adhering to public health measures” and “say government restrictions have not gone far enough.” This group was the most likely to be vaccinated. “Engaged” people were typically retirees over 65, English speaking, with university degrees.
The second group, “the concerned,” accounted for 21 percent. “They are afraid personally of getting the virus,” wrote researchers. “Concerned” people were also angry with scofflaws who ignored Covid rules, and “strongly believe government restrictions have not gone far enough.” Believers were typically women under 34, students and part-time workers.
A third group, “the trusters,” totaled 17 percent of respondents. “Trusters are characterized by very high levels of trust in all institutions including governments, businesses, scientists, medical professionals, the pharmaceutical industry and news media,” said Psychographic. “Trusters” were typically male francophones with higher incomes.
Researchers said two remaining segments of voters were most resistant to cabinet messaging. One group called “the stoics,” 22 percent of respondents, was unconcerned by compliance with Covid rules. “Stoics are lukewarm about getting the Covid-19 vaccine,” said the study. “They are the segment most likely to say they will probably get a vaccine only once they are confident it will work.” The group was comprised typically of working age men and visible minorities with spouses and children.
Still Lost 462,000 Votes
The final group dubbed “the skeptics” was 11 percent and had “very strong mistrust of all institutions” including the federal government. “The vast majority believe government restrictions have gone too far,” wrote researchers. Skeptics were typically Prairie residents, “white, Canadian-born and aged 25 to 44” and “the least likely to care when they see others not adhering to public health guidelines.”
Prime Minister Trudeau prior to the Psychographic study told reporters last January 14 “there are a broad range of reasons why someone might not get vaccinated” and that he opposed “extreme measures that could have real divisive impacts on community and country” like vaccine mandates.
Trudeau last February 11 also said vaccine advice was best left to Canadians and their doctors. “You’re not taking medical advice from me,” he said.
After the Psychographic study the Prime Minister on August 15 called the election as a referendum on vaccine mandates, he said. “The answer to tyranny is to have an election,” he said.
Trudeau went further in an August 31 campaign rally. Canadians who declined a Covid shot were “putting at risk our kids,” he said. “What about my choice to keep my kids safe?” said Trudeau. “What about our choices to make sure we’re getting through this pandemic as quickly as we can?”
The Liberal Party lost 462,100 votes in the September 20 election. The Party holds 160 of 338 seats in the minority Parliament with the loss of three cabinet ministers.
By Staff 
The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday had no comment after Sophie Grégoire Trudeau vowed to “remember always” her grandfather killed in Normandy in 1944. Mrs. Trudeau did not have a grandfather killed in Normandy in 1944: “I share this poem that I wrote in tribute to my grandfather.”
A Saskatchewan senator yesterday became the first member of the federal Conservative caucus to petition for a leadership review following the Party’s third consecutive election loss. “Erin O’Toole lost this election by every measure,” Senator Denise Batters said in a video message to Party members: “You can’t come back from that.”
CEO Ian Scott yesterday said the CRTC “may sometimes make mistakes” but complained its work was not understood by everyday Canadians. Scott referred to public protests after the Commission reversed a 2019 policy on wholesale telecom rates: “We reversed course.”
The Department of Environment yesterday acknowledged it does know the impact of climate change targets on common use of thousands of diesel and gasoline generators. “Are alternatives to fossil fuel-powered generators suitable for use in emergency situations such as power outages?” wrote staff.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says he will travel Canada by train this winter to discuss climate change. Guilbeault made no mention of frequent flyer miles logged by a predecessor, Catherine McKenna, who booked first-class flights to speak against global warming: “I’ve been at this climate fight for a long time.”
