An insider’s look at creating political platforms

Each party focused on what they thought would get them the most seats in the House. The New Democrats talked about affordability writ large, the Conservatives prioritized financial well-being, the Bloc put Quebec’s interests first, the Greens focused on environmental sustainability and the Liberals promised a suite of measures to help stop COVID in its tracks.

Months of intense planning goes into every election campaign. So how are these platforms conceived and developed in the first place? Who decides what makes the final cut? And what happens when something goes wrong?

On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, in partnership with Carleton University’s Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management, we held a panel discussion with insider experts on the creation of political platforms for Canada’s federal parties.

Panelists were Angella MacEwen (senior economist, CUPE National and 2021 NDP candidate for Ottawa Centre), Dan Mader, (founding partner, Loyalist Public Affairs and deputy campaign manager of Erin O’Toole’s successful campaign to lead the Conservative Party of Canada), and Tyler Meredith (director of economic strategy and planning at Finance Canada and former policy adviser to Justin Trudeau). They were joined by IRPP President and CEO Jennifer Ditchburn in a moderated discussion.