Stephen Harper's 'old-stock Canadians': Politics of division or simple slip?

To rephrase the popularMeghanTrainor song, when it comes to the Conservative campaign,the theory goes,it's always all about that base.

This is whyEKOS pollster Frank Graves saidthatHarper'suseofthe term "old-stockCanadians" in Thursday's debate was a deliberate ployto energize his supporters, part of the overall strategy tocreate a sense of us-versus-them.

• Stephen Harper explains 'old-stock Canadians' comment
• 'Old-stock Canadians,' egg timertop debate's odd moments
• Harper's 'old-stock Canadians' line is part deliberate strategy: pollster
• Federal leaders trade pointed barbs during debate on economy
• What do voters hear in Conservatives' message on refugees?

Graves said it wasthe familiar "dog-whistle approach"send out amessage that will be ignored byall exceptits target audience.

But if that was Harper's intention, a kind of secret wink-wink to those in the Tory fold, then at least judging by the reaction, he blew a dog whistle of the wrong frequency.

During the debate, on the issue of immigration, Harperdenied his government had taken away those health-care benefits from immigrants and legitimate refugees, saying that those who had been refusedwere bogus refugee claimants.

"We do not offer them a better health-care plan than the ordinary Canadian can receive," Harper said."I think that's something that both newand existing and old-stock Canadianscan agree with."

Harper explains 'old-stock Canadians' comment.

9 years ago

Duration 1:32

Harper spoke at an event in Calgary Friday morning.

The "old-stock Canadians" remark, instead of going unnoticed, immediatelyunleashed an onslaughtof questions over what "old stock" meant,whetherit had racist overtones and whetherit waspart ofan overallConservativecampaignto engage in identity politics or stoke fears against other groups.

He wants to talk about the economy. Hedoesn'twant to talk about whether or not he's a racist.- Communications consultant Gerry Nicholls on Stephen Harper

Identity politics, or the politics of division, have been blamed for the Harpergovernment'sfight against allowing Zunera Ishaq, a Muslim woman, to wear a niqab while swearing the oath of citizenship. On Friday, the Conservatives refused to budge on the issue, saying thegovernment wouldseek a stay of a Federal Court of Appeal decisionthat would have allowedIshaqto wear theniqabwhile swearing the oath of citizenship.

'Random things happen'

Meanwhile, Harper hasbeen accused of playing to fears of othersand using security concerns as an excuse to keep Canada's doors shut to the plight of thousands of Syrian refugees.

"The fact that he is once again choosing to divide Canadians and to use fear in his politics simply isn't worthy of a prime minister of Canada," Liberal Leader JustinTrudeauon Friday.

NDP Leader TomMulcairalso called Harper's comments"very divisive language."

"I think we're all Canadians and I don't like dividing people into categories like that," he said.

Harper accused of dividing Canadians

9 years ago

Duration 2:03

Liberals and NDP point to Niqab case and Conservative leader's use of controversial phrase 'old-stock Canadians'

Communications consultant Gerry Nicholls, who worked with Harperat theNational Citizens Coalition, a conservative think-tank, suggested cheekily it's possible Harper's use of the "old stock" term was part of a secret plan, or that it was racist.

Or maybe, just maybe,hescrewed up.

"People in politics think ... there's nothing done by chance, there's nothing random. It must be part of some of plan. Well, not always. Random things happen," Nicholls said.

"Idon'tthink there was anything sinister to itbeyondthe fact that it was just somethingHarpersaid. Considering all thestuff that's going on, he'sprobablywishing he hadn't said it because, if nothingelse, it's gettinghim off-message.He wants to talk about the economy. Hedoesn'twant to talk about whether or not he's a racist."

On Friday, Harper was clarifying his debate remarks, saying his old-stock comment referred to"Canadians who have been the descendants of immigrants for one or more generations."

However, Nicholls said he does believe the Conservativesare mildly playing the"us vs. them" cardwith some ofthese issues.

But he thinks there's a disconnect with the media andhow a significant number ofCanadians feel about the niqab ban, or the Syrian refugee crisis.

For example, a recent EKOS poll suggested the country was relatively split on whether Canada was taking in too many or just aboutthe right number of Syrian refugees. And polls taken during the niqab controversy revealed a large number of Canadians sided with the Tories.

"I think it plays well, not only with his base, but it cuts well, it resonates well, appeals to people who might be voting Liberalor NDP. Those kind ofissues work well for Harper."

And as for the Conservative base, Nicholls said one issue is probably riling it up the most.

"Ifanythingis energizing his base, it'sthe media, Liberal and NDP attacks on Harper."