Presented by Keith Baldrey, political columnist and radio/TV commentator
Tuesday September 15th, 2015, Diamnond Alumni Centre (DAC) , 11:30 am
Keith Baldrey, one of B.C.'s best known political commentators, will provide his insights into the 2015 federal election campaign. What are expected to be the key issues? How are the parties expected to fare with the voters? How important are the political party leaders to the election outcome?
Keith will also focus on how political parties are becoming increasingly focused on the demographics of the actual voting population, and how that focus translates into policies contained in their platforms. This has translated, in the past, to an emphasis on courting older and senior voters. Why? Because analysis of voting returns has shown that older people vote in much greater numbers than younger people -- and accordingly, that is reflected in some parties' policies. But will this hold true in this campaign?
As a journalist, Keith has spent more than 30 years covering both provincial and federal election campaigns, and B.C. politics in particular. He joined The Vancouver Sun in 1984 (just in time to cover that year's federal election campaign) and became its legislature bureau chief in 1989. He moved over to television in 1995, becoming BCTV's (now Global) legislature bureau chief in 1995. He has been a regular commentator on CBC Radio, CKNW radio, a regular contributor to BC Business Magazine, and has co-authored a book on B.C. politics. He also writes a syndicated column for a number of weekly Metro Vancouver newspapers, including the North Shore News, the Burnaby Now, the Tri-Cities Now and the Royal City Record.
This is the first in the Fall 2015 SFURA Speakers Program. Presentations are free and open to all members of SFU and the public. No reservations are required. They are held at 11:30 am on Tuesdays with a talk of approximately 50 minutes, plus a short question period.
Members of the audience are invited to join the speaker and executive board for lunch at the Diamond Alumni Centre following the talk.