National Post columnist Kelly McParland is of the opinion that "Pierre Poilievre is too big a risk to lead the Conservatives" McParland calls Poilievre's attack on Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem "reckless and dangerous". You might even call it the stuff of unhinged conspiracy theories. What a contrast between the CPC wannabe PM and Doug Ford, the wannabe re-elected premier of Ontario. Dull Doug's approach to the provincial campaign is working. He appears to be on track to lead another majority government. No drama. No meme material...so far. Campaign ain't over. But Ford's team has managed to plot a safe and steady track for Ontario PC leader. They've avoided any accusation of guilt by association with Poilievre. He's proving he can appeal to the conservative "core" and still win the general election. On the other hand, McParland says, "There is an imperiousness and inflexibility in (Poilievre's) performances that bodes poorly for someone who would need to bring a divided party together, and then do the same for a divided country."

It's as if they've taken a few laps to get their legs and jockey for positioning and now the provincial parties in Ontario are preparing for the final lap bell to ring.  The party leaders are all in debate prep mode and the dead gallop for the final two weeks leading up to Election Day on June 2nd. So far, Doug Ford's run a quiet campaign with fewer media avails than the other leaders and fewer days shaking hands and kissing babies. And all indications suggest that's working. Ontario's okay with DULL.  The oppo parties will have to change that narrative if they hope to make any gains on Ford Nation.

Doug Ford was, well, Git 'er Done Doug, running to stay out of his own way. Andrea Horwath was running to be Leader of the Opposition. Steven Del Duca was running to be Premier. And everyone was wishing Mike Schreiner was the Premier.

There is no urgency, no call for change, no sense that any of the major parties speaks for Ontarians who are facing historic inflation rates at the pumps and in the grocery stores. COVID isn't an "issue" but the pandemic fatigue may well be playing into the lack of interest among voters. If this keeps up, Doug Ford sleep walks back into the Premier's Office.

Not sure what happened in the party war rooms in the past few days, but all four major parties have committed to increasing the Ontario Disability Support Program. The increases would range from about $60 to nearly $1200 a month. @CityCynthia joins the show to give her read of why this issue has spiked to the top of the political priority list at Queen's Park.

Media, whether it be defined as conventional, traditional, terrestrial, digital, or social, has evolved at a breathtaking pacing over the past few years. And that evolution has forced or prompted new habits and behaviours among media and news consumers. In years past, media would have been viewed as a primary source to inform voters during an election campaign. But in 2022, the consumption behaviour says as much or more about the consumer than the content may say about a political platform. In this episode of The Writ Race, Sussex Strategy Group VP Colleen Ryan weighs in on the effects these new behaviours are having on a campaign.

If Andrea Horwath were paying attention, she would commit to reinstating the licence plate fees to pay for her dental care plan. That $120 per plate per year, 10 bucks a month! would be enough to pay for 5 years of that plan at $360 million per annum! That would be an easy relatable sell. But the Writ Race crew says neither oppo party is prepared to roll back Doug Ford's $1.8 billion gift to voters.

Day one of the election campaign in Ontario was distracted by the abortion debate. Two weeks ago, the Liberals made headlines promising to ban handguns across the province.

Neither issue is relevant in this campaign. But they consume editorial oxygen because newsrooms are lazy. They don't want to explore the issues that are top of mind for families and businesses across the province. They simultaneously flash a shiny distraction then follow it! It's worth noting, the latest polling from Nik Nanos suggests Healthcare is the number one concern for Ontarians as we head for the polls on June 2. And its followed by a litany of affordability issues. Those issues are always tops in the list. That is the perennial call for change that is routinely ignored by media and political parties.

Today on the DAILY BRIEF: The Writ Race in Ontario. The provincial legislature was dissolved at 4pm on May3. That makes today the first full day of campaigning in Ontario.

As it stands, this is Doug Ford's election to lose. It's also a last stand for Andrea Horwath. And survey says most voters don't who is standing as the leader of the Liberals. Affordability is THE ISSUE but what does that mean among the major parties?

Today on the DAILY BRIEF: Lindsay Broadhead, Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs at the Toronto Region Board of Trade weighs in on the number one issue for Ontarians during this election period: Affordability. And she says that starts with the cost of housing.