Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John
Baird has resigned since posting the article below commenting on “the Federal
campaign shifting into gear.” The reason
for the completely surprising turn of events has been less than public. A
practice not unheard of in CPC actions but one which is probably causing a fury
of media research and questions to everyone connected with the situation. If
the usual action in such cases follows tradition the research and questions
will not reveal a great deal with regard to the true reason.
Conservative Party of Canada tradition is to preplan most activity by every high profile politician. In that way unexpected or unusual actions often surface. Baird’s resignation might have an ulterior motive aside from the announced ending a political career. With an election on the horizon and many problems pointing the end of a majority government reelection the wheels of CPC might be planning ahead. Should the Harper government stumble into minority territory or even face defeat it is almost a foregone conclusion Stephen Harper will resign.
The result would create a situation where the strongest most visible and respected candidate for the top job would need to be selected. With a large selection of high profile candidates with at least a decade of familiarity to Canadians as Ministers of the Crown the back room battles would begin that the public only getting whippets of information through media leaks. What better a time for an “outsider” with strong political background but separated from the battleground to appear as a late leadership contest contender. It would almost guarantee the outsider candidate would win the post.
If the 2015 election were to result in a minority decision the “new” party leader could claim the people of Canada not only his former CPC party are clamouring for a stable majority government. The issue could plunge the country into another election in 2016 or at the latest 2017. Maybe there is a reason for John Baird announcing leaving parliament for a corporate position that has not even been hinted about as a positive move. Corporations usually use appointments of the John Baird kind to bolster an image. It is said the greatest plans of man can sometimes go astray, but not always.
Conservative Party of Canada tradition is to preplan most activity by every high profile politician. In that way unexpected or unusual actions often surface. Baird’s resignation might have an ulterior motive aside from the announced ending a political career. With an election on the horizon and many problems pointing the end of a majority government reelection the wheels of CPC might be planning ahead. Should the Harper government stumble into minority territory or even face defeat it is almost a foregone conclusion Stephen Harper will resign.
The result would create a situation where the strongest most visible and respected candidate for the top job would need to be selected. With a large selection of high profile candidates with at least a decade of familiarity to Canadians as Ministers of the Crown the back room battles would begin that the public only getting whippets of information through media leaks. What better a time for an “outsider” with strong political background but separated from the battleground to appear as a late leadership contest contender. It would almost guarantee the outsider candidate would win the post.
If the 2015 election were to result in a minority decision the “new” party leader could claim the people of Canada not only his former CPC party are clamouring for a stable majority government. The issue could plunge the country into another election in 2016 or at the latest 2017. Maybe there is a reason for John Baird announcing leaving parliament for a corporate position that has not even been hinted about as a positive move. Corporations usually use appointments of the John Baird kind to bolster an image. It is said the greatest plans of man can sometimes go astray, but not always.
THE FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN SHIFTS INTO GEAR
MY CANADA will attempt to make some sense of the current federal election lead-up most Canadians must deal with if contemplating participating in the voting process. The election is scheduled for the spring, fall or whatever, if at all, during 2015.
The problem facing voters seems to be one of leadership and possibly the threat to democracy. The threat cannot be fully blamed on any specific party leader although many political analysts are targeting the current Prime Minister and his political party. Stephen Harper and his followers appear at times to believe their role since receiving a majority mandate from less than half of Canadian voters is to rule. The indication derives from reluctance if not an outright practice of passing mandates into legislation without traditional parliamentary consultation. The exercise hardly reflects leadership of the kind most elected leaders practice to convince opposition members and the public their legislation is best for the entire country. It is almost as though the desires to enforce Stephen Harper party mandate supersedes anything anyone opposed might propose.
The history of the rise to power of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) is different than the traditional way Canadian political dynasties are formed. From a beginning as head of an upstart Reform Party to overpowering the traditional Progressive Conservative (PC) party and reforming a tradition CPC party will probably become a part of Harper’s historical legacy.
Some of the changes that might affect voting trends in the upcoming election are the CPC’s failure to attend meetings and consult en masse with provincial premiers. Another is reluctance to speak with the country’s media before announcing new direction for the country with foreign media. A perchance for enacting legislation or new rules without parliamentary discussions even though his majority of voting members would likely pass the legislation tends to curtail input from elected opposition members. Some issues resulting from the practice include media reports that Canada’s troops are engaged in front line military action not approved by parliament. Another is the number of senators and party members facing or convicted of illegal spending or election fraud. All of which tend to indicate a lack of leadership including CPC having a system in place to promote government activity for the benefit of Canadians regardless of political opposition. The practice tends to promote political expediency ahead of researching the actual desires and needs of Canadians.
The present New Democratic Party (NDP) Opposition party seems to be suffering from a similar lack of leadership. The NDP leader is hard pressed to convince voters to support his election initiatives with several elected members leaving caucus. The NDP proposed election platform is often attacked in the media as spending tax dollars for wants rather than taxpayer needs. Though support seems to remain fairly strong in British Columbia and Quebec the Ontario vote appears to be leaning to CPC or Liberal candidates according to recent polls. Leader Thomas Mulcair to his credit and maybe an advantage is an especially effective orator. Even with some strong cabinet potential in NDP ranks the party seems to have returned to the low voter popularity usually present prior to the Jack Layton inspired upsurge in NDP seats. Change in those numbers must begin if the NDP expects to win or even hold onto the opposition party status after 2015.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is so far an unknown when it comes to ability to lead Canada. Party loyalty appears to be substantial according to polls but there is a wait and see feeling according to most media analysts. The election platform that every Canadian and especially hard-line CPC supporters are waiting for will undoubtedly be devastating attack advertising as is traditional with the CPC. Whether the constant media attacks will be effective or rejected by Canadian voters is an unknown at this time. The attack ads are a highly successful tactic in the past and will likely be effective during this election campaign unless the Liberal come up with something to counter the effect. Trudeau’s leadership qualities appear to rest on the fact that his father Pierre displayed the qualities needed while prime minister. The easy going young leader with an apparent young following might rise to the occasion. The one uncertainty and it will be a big issue is whether the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) is able to get the young people to vote. The chances are pretty slim since a voting young person is not traditional. A minor Trudeau problem so far is his weakness as an orator. When replying to a media question the reply is often filled with ahs and ums which might lead to a reflection of immaturity.
MY CANADA will attempt to make some sense of the current federal election lead-up most Canadians must deal with if contemplating participating in the voting process. The election is scheduled for the spring, fall or whatever, if at all, during 2015.
The problem facing voters seems to be one of leadership and possibly the threat to democracy. The threat cannot be fully blamed on any specific party leader although many political analysts are targeting the current Prime Minister and his political party. Stephen Harper and his followers appear at times to believe their role since receiving a majority mandate from less than half of Canadian voters is to rule. The indication derives from reluctance if not an outright practice of passing mandates into legislation without traditional parliamentary consultation. The exercise hardly reflects leadership of the kind most elected leaders practice to convince opposition members and the public their legislation is best for the entire country. It is almost as though the desires to enforce Stephen Harper party mandate supersedes anything anyone opposed might propose.
The history of the rise to power of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) is different than the traditional way Canadian political dynasties are formed. From a beginning as head of an upstart Reform Party to overpowering the traditional Progressive Conservative (PC) party and reforming a tradition CPC party will probably become a part of Harper’s historical legacy.
Some of the changes that might affect voting trends in the upcoming election are the CPC’s failure to attend meetings and consult en masse with provincial premiers. Another is reluctance to speak with the country’s media before announcing new direction for the country with foreign media. A perchance for enacting legislation or new rules without parliamentary discussions even though his majority of voting members would likely pass the legislation tends to curtail input from elected opposition members. Some issues resulting from the practice include media reports that Canada’s troops are engaged in front line military action not approved by parliament. Another is the number of senators and party members facing or convicted of illegal spending or election fraud. All of which tend to indicate a lack of leadership including CPC having a system in place to promote government activity for the benefit of Canadians regardless of political opposition. The practice tends to promote political expediency ahead of researching the actual desires and needs of Canadians.
The present New Democratic Party (NDP) Opposition party seems to be suffering from a similar lack of leadership. The NDP leader is hard pressed to convince voters to support his election initiatives with several elected members leaving caucus. The NDP proposed election platform is often attacked in the media as spending tax dollars for wants rather than taxpayer needs. Though support seems to remain fairly strong in British Columbia and Quebec the Ontario vote appears to be leaning to CPC or Liberal candidates according to recent polls. Leader Thomas Mulcair to his credit and maybe an advantage is an especially effective orator. Even with some strong cabinet potential in NDP ranks the party seems to have returned to the low voter popularity usually present prior to the Jack Layton inspired upsurge in NDP seats. Change in those numbers must begin if the NDP expects to win or even hold onto the opposition party status after 2015.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is so far an unknown when it comes to ability to lead Canada. Party loyalty appears to be substantial according to polls but there is a wait and see feeling according to most media analysts. The election platform that every Canadian and especially hard-line CPC supporters are waiting for will undoubtedly be devastating attack advertising as is traditional with the CPC. Whether the constant media attacks will be effective or rejected by Canadian voters is an unknown at this time. The attack ads are a highly successful tactic in the past and will likely be effective during this election campaign unless the Liberal come up with something to counter the effect. Trudeau’s leadership qualities appear to rest on the fact that his father Pierre displayed the qualities needed while prime minister. The easy going young leader with an apparent young following might rise to the occasion. The one uncertainty and it will be a big issue is whether the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) is able to get the young people to vote. The chances are pretty slim since a voting young person is not traditional. A minor Trudeau problem so far is his weakness as an orator. When replying to a media question the reply is often filled with ahs and ums which might lead to a reflection of immaturity.
