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The Liberals and New Democrats have confirmed that media will be permitted to join their leaders on their cross-country election tours.

Typically, major federal parties invite media to travel — on their own dime — with party leaders, campaign staff and top aides during election campaigns. Doing so often allows reporters to accompany leaders on their campaign buses and planes, giving them access to key staffers and events like news conferences, campaign rallies and whistle stops. 

“As you are aware, costs for travel have risen considerably. At the same time, so has the capacity for digital and remote access to public events. Lastly, as you might recall, in recent years, media outlets often opted to deploy resources from their closest available local bureau rather than fly a journalist from Ottawa across the entire country for the entire duration of the campaign,” Byrne wrote.

“We would like to assure you that this campaign will be one of the most accessible and transparent campaigns in recent memory. We have taken multiple steps to ensure that Canadian media will be able to share any public events, participate in events on the ground, and ask questions remotely and in person.” 

Byrne said those steps include giving reporters advance notice of Poilievre’s travel plans and ensuring “an equitable balance at all press conferences between local and national media.”

Premier Doug Ford also bucked the trend of having media outlets join him on the campaign trail during Ontario’s 2018, 2022 and 2025 election campaigns, a move also adopted by the Ontario Liberals and NDP during this year’s contest. 

The Conservatives’ move comes as the political landscape has significantly shifted in recent weeks, with polls suggesting that the Liberals — who now have a new leader — have recaptured support they had previously lost to Poilievre’s Tories.