Are you cool, popular, and well-liked? The federal cabinet might benefit from some of your tips at their retreat this week as they look for a way back into voters' good books.
Driving the news: The cabinet is gathering this week in Halifax for what will likely be the final summer cabinet retreat before the next federal election.
- The summit comes amid a slump for the governing Liberals that’s seen them fall to nearly 20 points behind the Conservatives in national polls, according to polling aggregator 338Canada.
Why it matters: It’s one of the last chances the government will have to reset their agenda — and, they hope, the public’s perception of it — before Canadians go to the polls.
What’s on the agenda: Housing is expected to be one of the top issues under discussion, with the vast majority of Canadians saying that housing affordability and cost-of-living issues are their top concerns.
- Heading into the retreat yesterday, Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced a plan to lease 56 federally-owned properties to housing developers.
- Also at issue: A plan for Parliament’s fall session and how to manage the supply-and-confidence deal with the NDP.
Yes, but: If you’re experiencing déjà vu, it may be because a cabinet retreat last year began with similar expectations but produced few changes and failed to arrest the government’s slide in the polls.
Bottom line: With an election right around the corner, the stakes are high for a government that is facing the prospect of a wipeout defeat unless the polls shift.