Unpacking the politics: Closed doors and strange comments at duelling conventions

For political watchers in Canada, it was an event almost as rare as a supermoon combined with a full lunar eclipse.

This weekend, two major conventions were held over the same two days, and both the Conservative and Liberal gatherings generated some surprises.

Author and journalist Susan Delacourt joined the West Block’s Tom Clark to unpack the politics of the duelling events, saying she wasn’t too surprised to see doors shut to the media for certain Liberal meetings — particularly the ones touching on strategy.

“Certainly this is a victory lap for the Liberals,” Delacourt said. “It’s one long, extended victory dance. But it means also that the party is getting a little more careful, a little more cautious about much it debates things in the open. It doesn’t want to give away any of its trade secrets for winning elections.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Certainly this is a victory lap for the Liberals," Delacourt said. "It's one long, extended victory dance. But it means also that the party is getting a little more careful, a little more cautious about much it debates things in the open. It doesn't want to give away any of its trade secrets for winning elections."

On the Conservative side in Vancouver, the doors were flung wide open, however, which was a marked change from previous Tory conventions.

READ MORE: Bob Rae apologizes for gag caught on camera during speech about Harper

But the party may have wished that reporters didn’t witness one comment in particular from interim leader Rona Ambrose, in which she seemed to take a swipe at Justin Trudeau by joking about him being Canada’s first female prime minister:

1:10 Rona Ambrose takes swipe at Justin Trudeau alludes to him as female prime minister

Delacourt said the comment quickly reached the Liberal convention floor in Winnipeg, and left many scratching their heads. But it plays into the broader Conservative narrative on Trudeau that has existed since long before he became prime minister.

“There has been kind of a gender element to their criticism of Trudeau since he landed on the stage,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There has been kind of a gender element to their criticism of Trudeau since he landed on the stage," she said.

The Tories have poked fun at Trudeau by referencing his hair, Delacourt explained, and alluded that his power and appeal stem mostly from his famous last name. There have also been suggestions that he’s too emotional, or not very bright.

READ MORE: Media described Trudeau in less masculine terms than Harper, Mulcair during election

“These are things that usually were said about women politicians, and it’s interesting the ways in which Trudeau has taken them on himself,” Delacourt said. “In many ways, what Ambrose said last night, I think inadvisably, was that it’s a bad thing to be a woman in politics.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "These are things that usually were said about women politicians, and it's interesting the ways in which Trudeau has taken them on himself," Delacourt said. "In many ways, what Ambrose said last night, I think inadvisably, was that it's a bad thing to be a woman in politics."

Watch to the full interview with Susan Delacourt above.