With Canadians heading to the polls next week, Global News is preparing to carry full, breaking election news with its Decision Canada coverage special. Continuing its Gemini award-winning tradition of timely and accurate election night reporting, Global News’ Decision Canada will provide viewers with an up-to-the-minute, multi-platform look at all the news breaking across the country as Canadians cast their votes. As the polls begin to close, Decision Canada will also cut away to local Global News stations across the country every 20 minutes, providing updates on all specific local ridings as the results come in. Decision Canada airs election night, Monday, May 2, 30 minutes before polls close in all time zones, with extensive coverage and live streaming of Decision Canada at GlobalNews.ca/DecisionCanada.
Led by Global National Anchor and Executive Editor Dawna Friesen, Decision Canada election coverage kicks off live from Global News’ election headquarters in Toronto 30 minutes before polls close in each time zone. Joining Dawna in-studio, expert reporter Eric Sorensen will update viewers on all breaking election news using Global News’ revolutionary virtual set. Public opinion and elections expert Barry Kay will also join Eric to analyze all of the national numbers and riding-by-riding results as they come in across the country. Global Correspondent Carolyn Jarvis will be on hand with expert pollster and CEO of Ipsos Global Public Affairs Darrell Bricker to examine the latest polling trends going into the election and through to the exit polls. This one-two punch combination gives Global News the best results and deepest polling information possible to correctly call the election – a distinction it has held ahead of all others over the past two federal elections.
Decision Canada viewers can also check out GlobalNews.ca/DecisionCanada for the latest news and results as they come in across the country. Viewers will be able to watch the Decision Canada special via live stream and comment on the night’s events in a variety of ways, including Globalnews.ca’s live blog and exclusive Rate the Leaders feature, which allows viewers to rate the all party leaders using an interactive voting tool, and then post comments through text or webcam. GlobalNews.ca has also teamed up with PoliTwitter.ca to collect and analyze real-time online discussions taking place throughout election night, and will distill the overall Twitter mood for each party even after the polls close. GlobalNews.ca will feature in-depth updates and analysis from Global News reporters and Decision Canada’s expert panel as the evening progresses. Breaking news, exclusive blog content and up-to-date maps analyzing seat projections from coast-to-coast will also give viewers a comprehensive look at the election as it unfurls.
Global National Correspondent Jennifer Tryon will be on hand during Decision Canada to update viewers on the results from GlobalNews.ca/DecisionCanada’s exclusive online content, as well as all the social media stories affecting the election. With all political parties moving online to convey messages to the public, the role of social media for politicians and voters alike has never been more crucial. Through timely, in-depth analysis, Jennifer will help bridge the gap between information surfacing online, and the top stories being reported on during the Decision Canada special.
During the broadcast, Dawna Friesen will be on-point to offer timely analysis of all breaking news alongside a team of party strategists and former MPs, including:
Conservatives: Jay Hill – Former Government House Leader and MP: Prince George/Peace River
Goldy Hyder – SVP & General Manager of Communications Firm Hill & Knowlton
Liberal: Sheila Copps – Former Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP: Hamilton-East
Penny Collenette – Former senior advisor to Michael Ignatieff’s leadership bid
NDP: Joy MacPhail – Former BC Leader of the Opposition in BC and MLA cabinet minister
Ian Capstick – Former NDP Strategist, Media Consultant/Owner at MediaStyle
Decision Canada will feature Global News’ award-winning team of reporters covering all aspects of the election from the main party locations and key ridings across Canada. Ottawa Bureau Chief Jacques Bourbeau and Correspondent Peter Harris will be at Stephen Harper’s Conservative headquarters in Calgary; Shirlee Engel will be with Michael Ignatieff’s Liberal camp in Toronto; Mike Drolet will follow NDP leader Jack Layton at his Toronto-area riding; and Robin Gill will cover Green Party Chief Elizabeth May from her Saanich-Gulf Islands riding base. Interviews and updates from over 20 remote locations across the country will keep Canadians up-to-date on all election information.
After completing his Decision Canada: Your Voice cross-country tour, Global National Correspondent Mike Armstrong will return to Saskatoon, Sask, the historic political stronghold and final resting place of The Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker. Reporting live from Winston’s English Pub and Grill in the heart of the city, Mike will speak with the local Saskatonians and provide Decision Canada with a grassroots look at the election.
Global National’s election night coverage begins at the following times on Monday, May 2:
Global Maritimes: 8pm ADT
Global Quebec/Toronto: 9pm EDT
Global Winnipeg: 8pm CDT
Global Regina/Saskatoon: 7:30pm CST
Global Calgary/Edmonton/Lethbridge: 7pm MDT
Global Okanagan: 7pm PDT
Global BC: 6:30pm PDT
