Prof. Tamara Small, Department of Political Science, spoke to CBC Politics about how federal political candidates used Twitter in this last election campaign.

A CBC analysis found that most candidates — except those from the People’s Party of Canada — simply retweeted messages from their parties and leaders.

Small said most candidates are aware that their success is related to their leader’s campaign, which is why they tend to retweet their leader’s messages as well as favourable news articles about the individual.

“…(C)andidates are making sure they amplify the national party message,” she said.

Small researches digital politics: the use and impact of the internet by Canadian politicians. In addition to conducting research on e-campaigning, she has published work on political memes and on the regulatory framework for digital technologies in Canadian elections.