Most discussions about this particular riding seem to be suggesting the results will affect public perception of Scheer i.e. can he hold the line or will he keep losing the CPC more and more seats (hint: yes, absolutely as soon as more people discover his Rebel connections/what Rebel is) and if Trudeau should be worried about losing the party's current holdings in the western provinces. It's...a bit much to take away from one of four ridings up for grabs; even if this is the most competitive of the four, there's little to suggest that it will reflect 2019's results given how long that is in the future and how much can change in the political environment re: NAFTA negotiations.
I was talking with someone who's done some polling in South Surrey-White Rock, and he said it's a toss-up, since the numbers are really close, and with it being a by-election, turnout is almost impossible to predict. Anecdotally, it seems like the Liberals are getting better turnout at their events, and I know that they've been doing lots of canvassing and phoning, so I think they may have a slight advantage, but it's probably too close to call.
As I said before, in the big scheme of things, by-elections are meaningless, and in terms of 2019 the impact will be minimal. That said, just in terms of optics, the Liberals would love to take a seat away from the CPC, while Scheer doesn't want to lose another by-election. Losing a seat in Quebec is one thing, since he's a barely bilingual Westerner up against the only national party led by a francophone (not counting the Bloc, of course). Losing a seat in Western Canada that's been solidly conservative since at least the 1970s is a lot harder for him to dismiss, especially when he has Bernier barely hiding the fact he's trying to organize a coup against Scheer.
They talk about not wanting to make policy, but then proceed to mention current policy efforts as an influence on their thinking in this case. So the Supreme Court shouldn't make policy, but it's ok for it to support the policy making of the current government?
It's especially head-scratching when you consider that this Court, with McLachin as Chief Justice, has never shied away from making policy. Marriage equality, prostitution, assisted suicide, plus all kinds of losses the SCC handed the Harper Government...like, I've generally agreed with their rulings, but it's disingenuous for them to say they don't want to make policy now.
Speaking of Scheer...this happened.
How to you politicize Santa? Not Christmas like conservatives do with the nonexistent "War on Christmas", but the jolly dude who gives kids presents.
EDIT: (To be clear, i'm baffled by Scheer's blue Santa, not the NDP MP)
I feel like they've done this for a long time. In another life, I was a PCer, and I vaguely remember seeing a blue Santa at one of their Christmas parties.
Oh wow. I knew about the party colours but for some reason that didn't even cross my mind. LOL @ Schreer, what a dick.
There are Conservatives who are still mad that the flag is red and white. When Harper won, he systematically removed red from all Government of Canada websites. Making Santa blue is pretty tame by their standards!
