Guns for Votes: Wedge Politics in the Canadian Multiparty System.

This article examines the Conservative Party of Canada's (CPC) use of wedge politics through a coordinated electoral communication strategy focused on the elimination of the gun registry (EGR) between 2006 and 2011. Using quantitative content analysis of parliamentary debates and georeferenced voter data from Vote Compass, the study finds that the CPC strategically targeted rural voter segments and opposition MPs to exploit divisions within other parties and among cross-pressured voters—those torn between their ideological allegiance and their stance on the EGR. Empirical evidence indicates that this wedge strategy contributed to increased CPC support in the 2011 federal election, particularly among cross-pressured voters and in nine specifically targeted ridings. The article provides a rare quantitative analysis of wedge politics in a multiparty system, highlighting the role of political marketing and permanent campaigning in contemporary Canadian electoral dynamics.