inFocus with David Coletto

inFocus with David Coletto

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inFocus with David Coletto episodes

  • Mark Carney vs. Pierre Poilievre: Unpacking Public Perceptions

    In this episode of inFocus with David Coletto, we break down our newest poll revealing how Canadians view Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre—two relatively fresh contenders gearing up for an expected federal election. Join David as he unpacks the data behind each leader’s strengths, vulnerabilities, and perceived policy positions, and explores why a significant group of swing voters could tip the balance.

    If you want deeper insights, including charts and analysis, head over to David’s Substack at davidcoletto.substack.com. It’s a quick, data-driven look at the dynamics poised to shape Canada’s political landscape in the months ahead.

    10 min
  • Mark Carney is Prime Minister, the Liberals are 4 points behind the Conservatives

    In this episode of inFocus, I dive into the latest political landscape now that Mark Carney is Prime Minister and an election call looms and unpacks Abacus Data's latest poll released earlier today.

    Discover how the Liberals have rapidly closed the gap with the Conservatives, why Donald Trump remains a polarizing force in Canadian politics, and what these shifts mean for the road ahead.

    Don't forget to subscribe to my substack!

    12 min
  • inFocus: How can foreign aid spending become a political winner?

    On August 30, the Globe and Mail published an editorial highlighting the fact that Canada’s foreign aid spending is in decline – again.

    They wrote, after noting that Canada’s defence spending is no where near the NATO target, “there’s a similar yet lesser known international yardstick on which Canada also falls well below the collective goal: spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on official development assistance.” The editorial goes onto conclude: “Ottawa needs to further bolster spending on foreign aid,” because, they argue “Canada’s presence in the world, whether military, economic development, or humanitarian, needs to be backed up with adequate funding.”

    So today, we ask: Can foreign aid be a political winner?

    On this episode of inFocus, I’m joined by Julia Anderson, the CEO at the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health or CanWaCH for short. CanWaCH has over 100 members ranging from NGOs, academic institutions, health professional associations and individuals partnering to improve health outcomes for women and children in more than 1,000 communities worldwide. It has also been a client of mine for several years now.

    Joining Julia is Robert Greenhill, the Executive Chairman of Global Canada Initiative and a CIGI fellow. Robert served as managing director and chief business officer at the World Economic Forum. Prior to this, he was president and deputy minister of the Canadian International Development Agency and a senior visiting executive with the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa.

    I’m thrilled to have both of these leaders on the podcast to talk about how Canada’s doing today when it comes to foreign aid, what is holding us back, and explore the results of a public opinion survey Abacus Data recently completed for CanWaCH on the topic.

    51 min
  • If a political leader promised to reduce immigration levels, would they win or lose votes?

    In this episode, host David Coletto delves into the contentious issue of immigration in Canada. He discusses his recent article "Would a Leader Who Promises to Reduce Immigration Win Votes?", revealing the findings of his public opinion survey on immigration attitudes. With data suggesting a majority of Canadians are in favor of reducing immigration levels, David explores the implications for political leaders, societal pressures, and public sentiment. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex issue, as David challenges the belief that Canada is immune to anti-immigration sentiment, pointing to wider societal concerns about housing and healthcare. This episode provides crucial insights into the emerging debates that are shaping Canada's future.

    You can subscribe to his substack at davidcoletto.substack.com and find more research over on the Abacus Data website - abacusdata.ca

    7 min
  • On your marks... the Alberta election is about to begin

    In this episode of inFocus, pollster David Coletto shares his perspective on a new Abacus Data poll released just prior to the start of the 2023 Alberta provincial election.

    In this episode, we'll be exploring vote intentions and the motivators of vote choice in Alberta. So, let's dive right in.

    This comprehensive province-wide survey interviewed 1,000 eligible voters between April 21 and 25, just before the Calgary event center announcement.

     

    6 min
  • inFocus on Genomics and the future of health, agriculture, and climate action

    What if I told you that scientists have figured out how to reduce the amount of methane cattle produce by changing their genetic code? Or that we have figured out how to quickly and definitively diagnose rare genetic diseases? Thanks to genomics, many of our biggest challenges from cancer, to climate change, to pandemics might help get solved.

    On this episode of inFocus, I’m joined by Rob Annan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Genome Canada – the national non-profit organization that for 20 years has invested in  genomics science and innovation through academic-industry partnerships  to improve the lives of Canadians.

    Rob and I spoke about the science of Genomics, the opportunities it offers to solve some big problems, and what Canadians know and think about genomics.

    I hope you find my discussion with Rob useful and interesting.

    33 min
  • inFocus on Canada's forestry sector, the politics of natural resources, and climate action

    Every day, we use something that was created using a forest product. Yet, rarely do we think about where those products come from and how they are produced.

    With 9% of the world’s forests and growing demand for forest products, there is a big opportunity for Canada in forestry.

    As our country moves to meet zero-emission targets by 2050, Canada has the potential to be a bioenergy and biomaterials powerhouse on the world stage.  The sector has embraced the emerging cleantech, low-carbon era using innovation and new technology to create new opportunities and jobs.

    And yet, the road ahead is not without its challenges.

    Welcome to season 5 of inFocus with David Coletto.

    On this episode of inFocus, I’m joined by Derek Nighbor, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Forest Products Association of Canada. Derek and FPAC have been a long-time client and this week, we released some new public opinion data on what Canadians know and think about forestry in Canada.

    Derek and I spoke about forestry in Canada, the debate about its future, and the challenges facing the industry all in the context of the climate crisis, global supply chain disruptions, and geo-political conflict.

    This episode will be of interest to anyone working in government relations, political strategy, natural sources, or climate change/sustainability advocacy.

    38 min

About inFocus with David Coletto

From the publisher's feed

For the past 15 years, I’ve built one of Canada’s leading polling and public opinion research firms: Abacus Data.