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Professor Nelson Wiseman shares his wisdom on Canadian Politics
January 15, 2014
As one of our resident experts on Canadian politics, Professor Nelson Wiseman is often called upon by the media for his insight into current Canadian issues.
In an article by The Guardian on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford titled “Allies and enemies say Toronto mayor Rob Ford could yet bounce back again,” Wiseman had this to say:
“Rob Ford did not win on the basis that he was upstanding morally and didn’t do drugs,” said Nelson Wiseman, a politics professor at the University of Toronto.
The mayor’s core support group – “Ford Nation”, as his family calls it – is unlikely to desert him now, his polling holding steady, in Wiseman’s estimation, at about 25%. “What they are about is that taxes aren’t going up, and that he cut spending by the city, so they cut him some slack on other things,” Wiseman said.
To read the full article click on the following link:
Allies and enemies say Toronto mayor Rob Ford could yet bounce back again
More recently the Toronto Sun interviewed Professor Wiseman discussing Rob Ford’s chances for re-election. Professor Wiseman had the following to say:
Nelson Wiseman, an associate professor in political science at the University of Toronto, said in order for Ford to win in 2014, he can make himself appear more like a leader — as some said he did during the ice storm.
“He isn’t a leader, but he can try to make it as if he is,” Wiseman said. “He’s going to make it look like he’s running against the establishment but Rob Ford doesn’t need a strategy, he does what he wants to do.”
Wiseman warns Ford won’t have the advantages of steamrolling his “Stop the gravy train” platform, which worked for him in 2010. On top of that, there is the possibility police may still charge him and “in the eyes of the public, once someone is charged, their name is tarred.”
“Last time in the debates, he kept tearing strips off George Smitherman for squandering all that money,” he said. “So who is he going to tear strips off? John Tory or Olivia Chow? They’re going to tear strips off him — ‘Hey, look, are you going to be smoking crack-cocaine again in your office?’”
To read the full article click on the following link:
Path to Rob Ford’s re-election unclear but not impossible
During the Nov. 2013 Canadian Federal byelections, the CBC interviewed Professor Wiseman inquiring about his thoughts on the Senate scandal and how this would translate into votes:
At least one analyst believes the unfolding scandal in Ottawa might overshadow local issues at the ballot box.
“I would say the Senate scandal is now reverberating, so that’s going to have an effect,” said University of Toronto professor Nelson Wiseman. “Then the question becomes: is it going to benefit the NDP or the Liberals?”
To read the full article click on the following link:
4 storylines to watch in today’s byelections
Additionally, Radio Canada International (RCI) interviewed Professor Wiseman for a segment on the byelections:
Carmel Kilkenny spoke with Professor Nelson Wiseman of the University of Toronto’s Political Science department. Professor Wiseman makes some predictions and explains why the conservatives are likely to hold onto one riding, but the other 3 will either stay, or become liberal ridings, signalling Canadians’ discontent with the ruling party.
To listen to the interview click on the following link:
By-elections in 4 ridings in central Canada
As Canadians are well aware, Justin Trudeau has been on a campaign to position himself as the next Prime Minister of Canada. When Reuters Canada wanted to contact an expert on Canadian politics they looked no further than Professor Wiseman:
University of Toronto political scientist Nelson Wiseman said the Liberals are now clearly the main contenders to replace the Conservatives.
However, he said Trudeau’s novelty could wear off in the next two years, especially if voters start to question his judgment.
“Intellectually he is a lightweight compared to Harper and (NDP leader Thomas) Mulcair, and in a debate, while we don’t know if the debate will matter, they could turn him into mincemeat,” Wiseman said.
Responding, Trudeau said: “There is nothing new about people wanting to criticize me for all sorts of different things. I remain focused on Canadians.”
To read the full article click here:
Trudeau’s Liberals boost claim to be top contender for power in Canada