We enter a new week in Ottawa with the Facebook group ‘Canadians against Proroguing Parliament’ (CAPP) having achieved an incredible 200,000 members
Polls that came out last week seemed to each suggest the Conservatives have lost support since the Prime Minister prorogued Parliament at the end of December. At the same time, the polls did not seem to suggest that either the Liberals or New Democrats were seeing a corresponding increase in popular support. What may be happening is those upset about prorogation are parking their votes and waiting for the political parties to give them a reason for their support and activism.
It is this potential activism that may be most valuable. If the 200,000, and growing, members of CAPP can be harnessed as a political force, it would make whatever movement they choose to work for an incredibly powerful player in the lead up to the next campaign. What is not clear is if CAPP members can be harnessed or even if they speak with one voice. From looking at the group’s site, it appears more likely that CAPP, like Canada, is made up of many disparate voice and views and thus far with no clear partisan intent for any political party.
The parties will be watching CAPP closely and asking themselves some questions as it does so. How will its members respond once the House of Commons returns? Will its members go beyond the simple task of joining a Facebook group and become active for a political party? Are the declining polling numbers for the Conservatives and the growth of CAPP interconnected and how will this affect the government’s approach to Parliament this spring?
We are entering an interesting period this week in Ottawa, with the Liberal caucus meeting and a cabinet shuffle of some sort also taking place. It is becoming clear our federal politicians may have 200,000 new reasons this week to be paying very close attention to what is going on.
