TRENDING TO A ELXN 42 MINORITY OUTCOME
The writ has been dropped and Canadians are
headed to the polls in the distant future. It doesn’t seem to make sense for
any party wanting to govern with the best of interest of Canadians in view to
spend week after week attacking the other parties. We all know by now it is the
CPC Harper government methodology. Mostly it seems to avoid offering anything
of substance that might come to be expected if voters return Conservatives a
majority mandate.
A minority outcome for election Canada 42 seems a distinct possibility. Such an outcome would probably result in the Harper Conservatives or Mulcair New Democrats invited to form a government with the Trudeau Liberals holding the balance of power. Maybe if the Conservative advertising proclaiming Justin Trudeau is not ready to govern yet is true such an outcome could work to voter advantage. Although every party would huff and puff about an early election pointing to the polls each of the polling companies, that seem to be closely allied to one party or another dispense supporting one of the parties or another, toppling a minority government would be more than risky. Canada has a reputation of favoring minority governments and with majority governments over the past two decades displeasing many voters it might be difficult to find a poll justifying collapsing that minority sending Canadians back to the polls.
What is really needed from the parties vying for power? Here a couple of items that should be considered. Number one is a balanced committee of parliament constantly monitoring the retail price of gasoline for consumers to stop the obvious gouging by the oil companies. Sure the control will affect the escalated tax revenue to government from higher than necessary gas prices. However lower prices and trimming company profit would allow for more consumer money increasing personal cash flow.
Another item that has not been mentioned for review and change is the money currently paid to elected representatives and senators for travel, accommodation and other expenses that are much more lucrative than those enjoyed in industry or average commercial situations. Of course that does not include the exorbitant expense allowances enjoyed by corporate leaders usually subsidized by government funding. Every government finds excuses to fund corporate projects and programs assuring continued financial support from the corporate sector. The reason for financing is usually to create jobs or some other equally unnecessary reason using job creation as the criteria for the money. Often the jobs are short term or fewer than presented. Past governments have manipulated legislation to make certain corporate support does not appear as a direct payment to parties but does still exist. How else could the party coffers in some instances amount to millions if not billions of dollars?
A favourite tax increase is placing new fees on a myriad of goods and services that are needed either for pleasure or living. The federal parties will rightfully blame the provinces for increasing fees however all three levels of government are so interwoven every tax or fee increase at every level is always the result of one level or the other deciding to increase an item for a usually vague reasons. In the end the increases are a way to avoid cutting favoured jobs or services. The simple way for governments to justify increase is shedding usually recently hired civil servants or cutting services the other level of government deem necessary while the current federal regime feels is expendable.
Essentially all the promises to amend the situation is for naught since the real solution is to restructure all levels of government into a business model where expenses must meet income without the luxury of imposing new taxes or fees. That cannot happen without one party making an election promise to restructure the way government traditionally operates during the recent past.
The possibility of any party with a chance of winning the upcoming election promising such radical change is far beyond likely. The only alternative giving taxpayers the best chance of at least having the winning party stop the practice of instituting hidden or obvious tax increases is for a minority government where the parties have an equal say in keeping government in line. Politicking will play a major role with all the parties trying to gain the upper hand and convince voters to allow a majority. Past experience by all parties elected with a majority indicates the result usually, if not always, leads to a degree of dictatorship often influenced by an outside source such as a corporate body, trade union or lobbying association or all three.
A minority outcome for election Canada 42 seems a distinct possibility. Such an outcome would probably result in the Harper Conservatives or Mulcair New Democrats invited to form a government with the Trudeau Liberals holding the balance of power. Maybe if the Conservative advertising proclaiming Justin Trudeau is not ready to govern yet is true such an outcome could work to voter advantage. Although every party would huff and puff about an early election pointing to the polls each of the polling companies, that seem to be closely allied to one party or another dispense supporting one of the parties or another, toppling a minority government would be more than risky. Canada has a reputation of favoring minority governments and with majority governments over the past two decades displeasing many voters it might be difficult to find a poll justifying collapsing that minority sending Canadians back to the polls.
What is really needed from the parties vying for power? Here a couple of items that should be considered. Number one is a balanced committee of parliament constantly monitoring the retail price of gasoline for consumers to stop the obvious gouging by the oil companies. Sure the control will affect the escalated tax revenue to government from higher than necessary gas prices. However lower prices and trimming company profit would allow for more consumer money increasing personal cash flow.
Another item that has not been mentioned for review and change is the money currently paid to elected representatives and senators for travel, accommodation and other expenses that are much more lucrative than those enjoyed in industry or average commercial situations. Of course that does not include the exorbitant expense allowances enjoyed by corporate leaders usually subsidized by government funding. Every government finds excuses to fund corporate projects and programs assuring continued financial support from the corporate sector. The reason for financing is usually to create jobs or some other equally unnecessary reason using job creation as the criteria for the money. Often the jobs are short term or fewer than presented. Past governments have manipulated legislation to make certain corporate support does not appear as a direct payment to parties but does still exist. How else could the party coffers in some instances amount to millions if not billions of dollars?
A favourite tax increase is placing new fees on a myriad of goods and services that are needed either for pleasure or living. The federal parties will rightfully blame the provinces for increasing fees however all three levels of government are so interwoven every tax or fee increase at every level is always the result of one level or the other deciding to increase an item for a usually vague reasons. In the end the increases are a way to avoid cutting favoured jobs or services. The simple way for governments to justify increase is shedding usually recently hired civil servants or cutting services the other level of government deem necessary while the current federal regime feels is expendable.
Essentially all the promises to amend the situation is for naught since the real solution is to restructure all levels of government into a business model where expenses must meet income without the luxury of imposing new taxes or fees. That cannot happen without one party making an election promise to restructure the way government traditionally operates during the recent past.
The possibility of any party with a chance of winning the upcoming election promising such radical change is far beyond likely. The only alternative giving taxpayers the best chance of at least having the winning party stop the practice of instituting hidden or obvious tax increases is for a minority government where the parties have an equal say in keeping government in line. Politicking will play a major role with all the parties trying to gain the upper hand and convince voters to allow a majority. Past experience by all parties elected with a majority indicates the result usually, if not always, leads to a degree of dictatorship often influenced by an outside source such as a corporate body, trade union or lobbying association or all three.