🗳 Endorsements

Saskatoon Mayoral candidates lean into endorsements, Poilievre asks Premiers to scrap sales tax on homes and Moe responds, and Angus Reid polls on how Canadians feel about the US Federal election.

November 05, 2024

November 5, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Good morning! The United States Presidential election is tonight. American voters will choose between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Here’s The SKoop for Tuesday, November 5:

  • Saskatoon mayoral candidates lean into endorsements,

  • Poilievre challenges Premiers to scrap sales tax on homes, and

  • Angus Reid finds Canadians prefer Trudeau to deal with Harris, and Poilievre to work with Trump.

Today’s Top Stories

Saskatoon Mayoral frontrunners tout endorsements

Saskatoon Mayoral candidates Cynthia Block and Gordon Wyant. (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The race for the Mayor’s chair in Saskatoon concludes next Wednesday when municipalities conduct civic elections across the province.

The two frontrunners for the job are incumbent councillor Cynthia Block and former MLA Gordon Wyant. Both candidates are flexing their organizational muscles, touting endorsements of prominent community figures on social media.

Block has garnered the support from Heather Kuttai, the former Paralympian and provincial Human Rights Commissioner who resigned in protest to Bill 137. Kuttai said, "For the past 25 years I’ve known her, Cynthia has been about consistency, commitment, and community. Where others will shy away from or stall on accessibility issues, I have watched her tackle them with swift decisive common sense. She isn’t about hidden agendas or dramatically dragging things out, either. She genuinely puts people first and that always makes me feel like she’s on our side, the side of all of Saskatoon’s citizens.”

Block also has the support of former Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock, Elder Roland Duquette, former Saskatoon Police Commission Chair Darlene Brander, and others.

Wyant has also announced some high-profile endorsements. Philanthropist and Saskatoon-based businessman Merlis Belsher endorsed Wyant, saying, “There is another quality that is apparent to anyone that knows Gordon; it is empathy. He has a heart and cares about people and their challenges. Whether it is young people just starting out or our older citizens, Gordon takes the time to listen and understand their challenges.”

Wyant also has the endorsement of former MLA June Draude, former MP Don Ravis, philanthropist David Dube, and others.

The most important endorsement is the support of the voters in Saskatoon. The municipal election will be held on November 13.

Learn more about the great work the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and its members are doing at saskheavy.ca.

Poilievre challenges Premiers to scrap sales tax on homes

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. (CBC News)

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Canada's premiers to match his pledge to remove the federal sales tax on new homes under $1 million by doing the same with provincial sales taxes.

"This is a significant step in fixing what has been broken and making homeownership more than just a dream for young Canadians again," Poilievre said in a letter to all provincial and territorial premiers, which was shared with CBC News.

"But there's more that can be done, and you can help."In his letter to premiers, Poilievre asked them to match his proposal "by axing the provincial sales tax (where applicable) on new homes under $1 million."

In Saskatchewan, the provincial sales tax (PST) is 6%. In response to Poilievre’s letter, press secretary to Premier Scott Moe, Julie Leggott said, "Any changes to taxation would have to be considered as part of the budgetary process."

During the election campaign Moe said a re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will make life more affordable for homeowners by introducing a permanent Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit and increasing the Saskatchewan First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit from $10,000 to $15,000.

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Angus Reid: Canadians prefer Trudeau to deal with Harris, Poilievre to work with Trump

Canadians will join with our southern neighbours to watch the results of the United States Presidential Election tonight.

American voters will choose between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Polling company Angus Reid surveyed how Canadians feel about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre may perform following tonight’s result.

According to Angus Reid, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has had a first run at dealing with Trump as president, from 2017 to 2021, is not seen as the best option to work with him this time around. That title falls to Poilievre. Two in five (38%) say Poilievre would be best, compared to one-quarter (23%) for Trudeau. That said, Trudeau is seen as better to handle a relationship with Harris over Poilievre by seven points (37% to 30%). At least 18 percent of Canadians feel neither Poilievre nor Trudeau will do a good job regardless of who wins the election.”

Across the political spectrum, views are divided. Two-thirds of would-be CPC voters say Poilievre would be preferable to work with Harris, while four in five Liberal and two-thirds of NDP voters choose Trudeau. Bloc Québécois voters lean more heavily into skepticism that either would be effective.

The full results of this poll can be viewed here.