Conservative bias in Canadian newspapers?

An analysis of newspaper election editorials from 1980 to 2021

The e-newspaper The Maple published research today on the editorial positions of Canadian newspapers in elections held between 1980 and 2021. Compiled by Davide Mastracci, the facts may be startling to those who believe that the media are left-leaning.

You can read the article here. It is not behind a pay wall although you may need to provide an email address.

Here’s the summary from the article:

Endorsements By Political Party (1980-2021)

• Progressive Conservative/Conservative: 115 (56 per cent)

• Liberal: 41 (20 per cent)

• None: 30 (14.5 per cent)

• Bloc Québécois: 8 (3.8 per cent)

• Mixed: 5 (2.4 per cent)

• Canadian Alliance: 4 (1.9 per cent)

• NDP: 2 (.9 per cent)

• Reform: 1 (.5 per cent)

Endorsements By Publication (1980-2021)

• Globe and Mail

  • 8 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015)

  • 3 Liberal (1993, 2000 2004)

  • 2 None (2019, 2021)

• Toronto Star

  • 12 Liberal (1980, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 NDP (2011)

• National Post

  • 7 Conservative (2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 Canadian Alliance (2000)

• Toronto Sun

  • 12 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 Mixed (2000)

• Vancouver Sun

  • 9 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 2 Liberal (1993, 1997)

  • 1 Canadian Alliance (2000)

  • 1 None (2004)

• The Province

  • 10 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 None (1993)

  • 1 Liberal (1997)

  • 1 Canadian Alliance (2000)

• Hamilton Spectator

  • 5 Liberal (1993, 2000, 2004, 2015, 2019)

  • 4 Conservative (1988, 1997, 2006, 2011)

  • 4 None (1980, 1984, 2008, 2021)

• Calgary Herald

  • 11 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 1993, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 None (1997)

  • 1 Canadian Alliance (2000)

• Edmonton Journal

  • 8 Conservative (1980, 1984, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 4 None (1993, 1997, 2000, 2004)

  • 1 Mixed (1988)

• Ottawa Citizen

  • 10 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 2 Liberal (1993, 1997)

  • 1 None (2000)

• Montreal Gazette

  • 9 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 4 Liberal (1993, 1997, 2000, 2004)

• Waterloo Region Record

  • 6 Liberal (1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2015, 2019)

  • 3 Conservative (2006, 2008, 2011)

  • 1 None (2021)

• Windsor Star

  • 10 Conservative (1980, 1984, 1988, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 Liberal (1993)

  • 1 Reform (1997)

  • 1 None (2000)

• La Presse

  • 6 None (1984, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2019, 2021)

  • 5 Liberal (1980, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2015)

  • 2 Conservative (1988, 2006)

• StarPhoenix

  • 8 None (1980, 1984, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2008)

  • 4 Conservative (2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

  • 1 Mixed (2000)

• Calgary Sun

  • 6 Conservative (2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021)

• Le Devoir

  • 8 Bloc Québécois (1993, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2021)

  • 2 Mixed (2000, 2019)

  • 2 Conservative (1984, 1988)

  • 1 NDP (1980)