Election Power Meter: Reformers up; Influencers down; CBC wins promise

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Welcome to National Post’s campaign Power Meter, where we will track the shifting tides of the election. As the race unfolds, we’ll rank parties, candidates and other characters based on momentum, performance, and public perception. Who’s gaining ground? Who’s losing steam? Keep checking in as we measure the moments that could shape the outcome.

PRESTON MANNING: In a blast from the past, former Reform Party leader Preston Manning kicked up a fuss on the campaign trail last week. Manning argued that a vote for Liberal Leader Mark Carney was a “vote for Western secession,” forcing the leaders  of both major parties to respond. Asked if he agreed with Manning, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said, “No, we need to unite the country.” Liberal Leader Mark Carney said that Manning’s comments were “dramatic” and “unhelpful.”
POWER METER RATING: WEST STILL NOT IN

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CBC: Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised to give CBC/Radio-Canada an extra $150 million funding increase if elected and promised to eventually nearly double the $1.4 billion the public broadcaster receives in taxpayer dollars Carney would also allow CBC/Radio-Canada to keep collecting advertising and subscription revenues, which the Liberal government had previously mused about stopping out of a fear of it “compromising its objectives of public service.” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to “defund the CBC,” but keep Radio-Canada alive.
POWER METER RATING: ELECTION DEPENDENT

ONLYFANS INFLUENCERS: An X-rated OnlyFans creator was living it up on the NDP campaign bus until she was booted by the party last week due to comments she made about the Holocaust. The influencer, who goes by Jessica Wetz compared remarks made by an Israeli member of parliament about “Palestinian babies” to remarks made by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis about “Jewish babies.” Wetz had been posting videos from the campaign trail on her Instagram account, including one where she speaks to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh about the Middle East.
POWER METER RATING: LOSING INFLUENCE

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