Conservatives won’t allow reporters to travel with Poilievre during upcoming election
The decision by the Conservative national campaign director to bar journalists from traveling with leader Pierre Poilievre on his campaign plane and bus during the upcoming election marks a significant departure from past practices. This move ends a long-standing tradition of reporters embedding with prospective candidates to provide comprehensive coverage of the campaign trail.
In recent federal campaigns, major media outlets such as CBC/Radio-Canada, CTV, Global, and The Canadian Press have had journalists accompany Conservative leaders Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole on their campaign journeys. These embedded journalists played a crucial role in documenting the leaders’ announcements, asking questions at news conferences, and engaging with staff members and voters along the campaign trail.
The decision to do away with embedded journalists is attributed to rising travel costs and the increasing capacity for digital and remote access to public events. In a letter announcing the move, national director Jenni Byrne cited these factors as the rationale behind the party’s decision.
While journalists will no longer be allowed to travel with Poilievre, media outlets will receive advance notice of his event locations to facilitate coverage. The setup is expected to primarily involve local and regional reporters covering the events, with the party offering conferencing services for media availabilities and a professional-grade feed of Poilievre’s announcements for broadcasters.
Poilievre’s strained relationship with certain media outlets, including CBC News, and his pledge to defund CBC if elected have added a layer of complexity to the decision to exclude embedded journalists from his campaign.
In contrast, the Liberals and NDP have indicated that they will allow journalists to travel with their leaders, emphasizing transparency and accessibility in their campaigns.
As Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to call an election, with the vote anticipated in late April or early May, Poilievre’s Conservatives have seen a decline in public support following recent tariff threats and provocative remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The decision to bar embedded journalists from Poilievre’s campaign marks a notable shift in media coverage practices during federal elections, underscoring the evolving landscape of political communication and media access.
