So on April 28, Canadians will finally get what millions have yearned for/demanded over many, many months … even years: a federal election!
At last!!!
YET, it looks like millions of Canadians … many of the same ones who wanted this vote for so long … could vote based entirely on a single, emotional issues only two months old, that will likely be resolved within a few months, maybe even weeks: Trump’s trade threats.
That would literally be a “short-sighted” decision.
Because we are all going to have to live with the government we choose for probably the next four years …and by voting based largely on one issue, Trump’s stupidity, millions of Canadians could find themselves AGAIN yearning for/demanding an election years before the next one is due!
Canadians from coast to coast to coast who have wanted an election for a very long time should remember why:
Justin Trudeau himself? The carbon tax? Inflation? Housing costs? Health care? Crime ?Jobs/unemployment? Too many immigrants? Too many refugees, especially Islamic militant troublemakers? Drug issues? Lousy sentencing laws? Social issues? Indigenous reconciliation failures or pandering/spending? Foreign relations/stances/spending? Or just plain tired after 10 years of a Liberal government?
Just this weekend, Carney’s Liberal government announced it would contribute $1.9 BILLION to expand Montreal’s subway system another six kilometres and add FIVE new stations.
However, What in Vancouver, the feds also announced funds earlier for the six kilometre Broadway subway extension and SIX stations …. but will get $896.9 million … less than half of the amount given to Quebec, for a smaller project!
(Hopefully, now that I have exposed this Liberal double standard, the Vancouver/BC media will ask Carney and all BC Liberal candidates WHY BC is not getting its fair share!!)
Another clear example about why this election should be about more than just the Trump/tariff dispute.
Canadians should cast their vote bearing in mind the outcome will impact all our lives for years to come!
Long after the Trump/trade/tariffs dispute is way behind us.
Of course, that still doesn’t necessarily make it an easy “Throw the bums out!” decision.
Trudeau is out; Mark Carney is in … and his “CV” is impressive.
Former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, Carney holds a degree in economics from Harvard, a master’s degree and a doctorate from Oxford and had a successful career at the Goldman Sachs investment firm. (Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Carney )
And so far, Carney is looking/sounding confident, calm, capable and even statesmanlike on TV as Canada’s new PM.
However, 21 of his 24-member Cabinet are holdovers from Trudeau’s Cabinet … political veterans who helped form, pass, impose and defend all those policies and taxes so many Canadians came to hate … and, in many cases, suffered under.
And with so many recycled Cabinet members, so many of the previous Liberal government top bureaucrats/policy advisers/attitudes/beliefs will also likely be recycled.
Pierre Poilievre was … until Trump upset Canadas’ political equilibrium … the overwhelming choice for change.
Poilievre studied international relations at the University of Calgary and then went to work in Ottawa for Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day, before first being elected himself as an MP in 2004, later serving as Minister for Democratic Reform, Minister of Employment and then Conservative Finance critic. (Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Poilievre )
The Conservative leader won considerable support across the country with his “Axe the Tax” campaign and promises of a “Common Sense” government, and seemed a shoo in as Canada’s next PM … even if many suggested they’d hold their noses and vote Conservative just to get rid of Trudeau/government.
Until the Mad Hatter threw his tantrum.
Now it’s a whole new campaign … that will last just 37 days.
But Canadians will have to live under the government they choose … for a lot longer than that!
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to all new postings on this blog.)