Bettors strongly back Conservative win, despite a Liberal polling lead
A recent Postmedia-Leger poll last week found that the Liberals are hanging onto the lead in the federal election with 43 per cent of support nationally, five points ahead of the Conservatives who are at 38 per cent support.
But the sports betting site FanDuel, which only operates in Ontario and carries odds for political events, says that 70 per cent of the bets placed on the winner of the federal election are on the Conservative party, with only 28 per cent of bettors wagering on the Liberals. The company says that more than 80 per cent of the bets on the Conservatives were placed after March 25, when the election was underway and the Liberals were pulling away as favourites.
Canadians go to the polls on April 28.
National Post
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By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. CBC has denied Dhanraj's criticisms made in his letters. More than a year before his still reverberating resignation, however, a disciplinary meeting for Dhanraj was convened by CBC shortly after he made a social media post on April 19, 2024. His post on X said: 'At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed.' CBC's president Catherine Tait had been asked to appear on his show. 'We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead. Our request was declined. This is unfortunate.' 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We had been discussing putting a request in for some time and we thought there was a news hook to it because of the new development….' I find it problematic that we are in a meeting where we are discussing something that is in the interests of the corporation Lau: '… What is your understanding of the protocol and considerations when CBC journalists are covering the CBC?' 'It, it's the J.S.P. statement again,' Dhanraj says, likely referencing CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. 'Clear editorial separation,' Lau says. Dhanraj: 'So those who have the interest of the corporation should not be influencing reporters.' Lau: 'Yes.' Dhanraj: 'And if that is happening, well, that kind of goes against some core fundamentals of the public broadcaster.' Lau then says there are other aspects of the JSP involved. In a sentence in which some words are unclear on the recording, she says 'the principle of integrity and the perception of who has a stake in the matter,' finishing with 'perceived impartiality because, as I mentioned, you are an employee, and you are criticizing your employer.' The Post does not have a recording of the entire meeting. Chuck Thompson, CBC's head of public affairs, said the meeting was about more than just Dhanraj's social media post, for which Dhanraj was 'never formally disciplined for.' 'The discussions in April with Mr. Dhanraj were about a range of issues outside the tweet; there was a particular emphasis on CBC News policies about conflicts of interest, violations of journalistic standards and protocols on how we report on ourselves. 'Mr. Dhanraj violated these policies and was asked about them by his manager with his union representative present. He also secretly recorded the meeting after agreeing not to,' Thompson said. Lau could not be reached for comment prior to publication. An email sent to her on Friday was returned with an automated out of office message; a detailed message to her cell phone was not responded to. A CBC official had said they would alert Lau to the Post's request. Marshall, Dhanraj's lawyer, said what is heard in the recording is 'disturbing.' 'It shows that Travis was intimidated for simply doing his job as a journalist. He was hauled into a meeting with human resources, his boss, and the union. The purpose of the meeting, I think, was to intimidate him, scare him and pressure him, making it clear to him that he's not to do that, that he is not to post anything or say anything as a journalist that could be embarrassing to the public broadcaster,' Marshall said. 'This is deeply concerning. I think it demonstrates that CBC, in that moment, was far more interested in preserving its own reputation than allowing their journalists to do their jobs.' 'It shows that the CBC corporation has a disturbing level of control over their journalists and is involved in the types of stories that the journalists are covering or not covering. I think that speaks to significant concerns of bias and a lack of objectivity within the corporation.' Thompson said late Friday that Dhanraj is still a CBC employee although currently on leave. Marshall said CBC has still not accepted Dhanraj's resignation despite him voicing his clear intent and, in fact, are still paying him. 'I want to be very clear: The CBC doesn't get to hold him hostage. This is a free country. He's allowed to resign.' Marshall said Dhanraj is pressing a human rights lawsuit against CBC over his departure. • Email: ahumphreys@ | X: AD_Humphreys Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
