This coming Monday the most consequential election in modern times will be decided.
Advance polls report heavy traffic, so it can be hoped the Canadian public churns out one of its best turnouts in recent memory. People care about their country and its future.
Months ago, the Pierre Poilievre Conservatives appeared destined to clean up, with a majority government in their sites, according to polls.
The public had become entirely disgruntled with the Trudeau Liberals and policies that have contributed to the high cost of living. Change was in the air.
With Trudeau’s departure and the crowning of Mark Carney as the new Liberal leader, many policy choices like carbon taxes have been taken off the table. This has greatly disrupted the Conservative campaign, making “axe the tax” and similar slogans practically irrelevant.
While Carney has historically viewed carbon pricing and environmental issues as an important element of modern governance standards, the Liberals have stepped back from those commitments – for now, at least.
The Trump effect will impact the eventual result of this election. Canadians are looking for who best can deal with managing the political and economic chaos emanating from the White House. Just as the past provincial election was decided on strength of the leader in combatting Trump, voters will favour whomever they believe will help resurrect the Canadian economy now in tatters due to forces outside of its control.
Remarkable, but true.
An odd aspect of this campaign has been the late-hour provision of costed plans by each party. As of this past Monday, Conservatives had not yet released their plan. For a party in waiting that has attempted to topple the Trudeau Liberals since last fall, one would have thought their plan was ready months ago. Other parties aren’t a whole lot better, attempting to show their math late in the campaign, for countless promises that sound to us like a ton of money. But, debt doesn’t seem to bother people like it used to.
On pages 23-24 and 26-27 our editor has pulled together the federal election Q&A section for the ridings of Wellington Halton-Hills North and Perth-Wellington. Candidates have answered with approaches their parties would take if elected.
It is worth reading, and very much worth your while to vote this election.
