Mike Lapointe

Unlike the embattled prime minister, 'no one has really any expectations' of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre before the election, says pollster Greg Lyle.

With both internal and external pressures on the Canadian Armed Forces, this is an 'extremely challenging' time for any new chief of defence staff regardless of background, says Mount Saint Vincent University professor Maya Richler.

Plus, Japan's Ambassador to Canada Kanji Yamanouchi plays a mean electric guitar, Kirbie hires Boissoneau, Grit MP James Maloney treasures friendship with Irish ambassador, and GG, Trudeau, O'Regan, and Furey pay respects to unknown soldier in St. John's.

Treasury Board President Anita Anand said the cost of expanding early retirement eligibility is estimated to include a one-time cost of approximately $175-million dollars and ongoing annual costs of approximately $21-million dollars.

Plus, House delists MPs' Hill office numbers from Commons website, Mercedes Stephenson talks about what it's like for the media to fly on the PM's plane, Doug Ford points the way to booze, and Rob Reiner says it's time for Joe Biden to step down.

Pierre Poilievre is already in majority territory without a big breakthrough in Quebec, says pollster Nik Nanos, alluding to how Stephen Harper had won many elections with just a few Quebec ridings.

Pocketbook issues 'play pretty well in Quebec with the Bloc voters, as they are in the rest of the country,' says David Boudeweel-Lefebvre, founder of Boudeweel Public Affairs.

Political science professor Laura Stephenson says a system of government that favours coalitions could ‘decrease some of that party hate' embedded in Canadian politics.

Plus, The Great Right North: Inside Far-Right Activism in Canada comes out in October; Canada Post celebrates Norman Jewison; Matt Luloff charged with impaired driving; and Kamala Harris goes shopping for record albums in D.C.

'Defunding media that rural, francophone, and Indigenous communities depend on is a non-starter, and anyone who wants to represent them should know this,' says NDP heritage critic Niki Ashton.