Wedge politics backfires

In the aftermath of the just-completed federal election campaign that resulted in a Liberal majority government, one particular element of the campaign stands out as representative of the depths to which the debate often descended.

During the latter stages, the Conservatives latched onto the divisive niqab “issue” as one they hoped would resonate with their base. And, while the Conservatives stance against allowing the veils to be worn during citizenship ceremonies was supported by 82 per cent of Canadians (according to a national poll), there were no polls showing how many of those supporters actually understood applicants are required to show their face for identification purposes prior to the ceremony.

Regardless, the issue appears to have impacted the election in a way the Tories seem not to have anticipated. Support for the NDP in Quebec, where 92% of the population favoured the niqab ban, evaporated after party leader Tom Mulcair loudly opposed the idea of a ban. On election night, Quebec voters, who elected 59 NDP candidates in 2011, supported only 10 New Democrats.

The former NDP votes appear to have gone largely to the Liberals, who were elected in 45 Quebec ridings, after almost disappearing from the province four years ago.

Had the NDP held onto even a third of the seats that went Liberal, the Grits would have been denied the majority that effectively forced Prime Minister Stephen Harper from office.

It would appear that launching that particular wedge issue backfired on its proponents in fairly spectacular fashion. It’s unlikely any campaign strategists will remember the lesson when the next federal candidates hit the hustings. However, if a few do, perhaps parties can focus more on issues that matter than on those that simply inflame.