MINORITY GOVERNMENT POSSIBLE IN 2015
INSTALLMENT #2… DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK.
With a year left before Canadians are asked to go to the polls to exercise their democratic right to vote the political scene is already an unforgiving battle of the parties. Most Canadians do not support attack ads telling the voter people they chose in the previous election are manipulative or dishonest. The Conservative Party of Canada did gather more than sufficient votes to form a majority using attack ads as a weapon and promises to be a fair and open. Many of the promises were not implemented in the manner many voters probably expected.
Admittedly the surge of social media and personal technology over the past five years forced many changes for all the parties. The changes challenged backroom people running political machines for all parties to change direction and in the case of the government become less open. Selective news releases based on the best interest of the government and party in power became the norm. Younger followers probably accepted the changes as inevitable. Younger voters looking for a candidate that thinks in the same way as the newly coming of age to voter, or others including senior voters, are expressing dissatisfaction with the government when pollsters call asking for opinions and party support.
The changes led to an upstart “kid” leadership candidate opposition parties and entrenched media, accustomed to supporting the majority government, find difficult if not impossible to accept. No matter how much criticism was leveled at the younger candidate the polls have remained positive by a good majority in Trudeau’s favour. The opposition party that rose to power as opposition with the help of a strong leader who died before being able to realize the spoils of victory, often challenge the Prime Minister’s boast of negotiating a few international trade deals that haven’t completely found media approval. The government also tries to convince the electorate the years of unchallenged power brought the nation unexpected economic growth and stability that other nations are not privy to achieving. That claim is also challenged by the opposition almost daily in parliamentary Question Period sessions.
Even when the Prime Minister declared war by dispatching military planes to bomb a country in the Mid East citing an effort to stop a new insurgency that could threaten Canada the party’s polling rate did not move. The static polls over the past year or more undoubtedly frighten the CPC members making up the Harper government majority. A return to minority government (Canada often favors) would mean some would lose seats. The party appointees with assistant minister portfolios would lose added income at least. If another party led the minority government even cabinet minister posts would disappear.
The NDP leader has problems that probably match the government’s present dilemma. Party unrest seems to indicate the old NDP faction might be disenchanted with the leadership. Many seem to believe the way the current leader is leading is not traditional or a strong influence. Although apparently holding firm in Quebec where the surge in NDP seats upset 2010 Liberal fortunes, the party’s Ontario support has declined if recent by-election numbers are an indication. Recent election platform promises of a social nature such as a national daycare program are probably designed to shore up support within party ranks while offering young families great incentives.
The election is still a year away and almost everything could change depending on many factors. However if the opinion polls hold steady change is almost certain to be the outcome. A Conservative, Liberal or even New Democratic minority government for Canada might be an alternative.
With a year left before Canadians are asked to go to the polls to exercise their democratic right to vote the political scene is already an unforgiving battle of the parties. Most Canadians do not support attack ads telling the voter people they chose in the previous election are manipulative or dishonest. The Conservative Party of Canada did gather more than sufficient votes to form a majority using attack ads as a weapon and promises to be a fair and open. Many of the promises were not implemented in the manner many voters probably expected.
Admittedly the surge of social media and personal technology over the past five years forced many changes for all the parties. The changes challenged backroom people running political machines for all parties to change direction and in the case of the government become less open. Selective news releases based on the best interest of the government and party in power became the norm. Younger followers probably accepted the changes as inevitable. Younger voters looking for a candidate that thinks in the same way as the newly coming of age to voter, or others including senior voters, are expressing dissatisfaction with the government when pollsters call asking for opinions and party support.
The changes led to an upstart “kid” leadership candidate opposition parties and entrenched media, accustomed to supporting the majority government, find difficult if not impossible to accept. No matter how much criticism was leveled at the younger candidate the polls have remained positive by a good majority in Trudeau’s favour. The opposition party that rose to power as opposition with the help of a strong leader who died before being able to realize the spoils of victory, often challenge the Prime Minister’s boast of negotiating a few international trade deals that haven’t completely found media approval. The government also tries to convince the electorate the years of unchallenged power brought the nation unexpected economic growth and stability that other nations are not privy to achieving. That claim is also challenged by the opposition almost daily in parliamentary Question Period sessions.
Even when the Prime Minister declared war by dispatching military planes to bomb a country in the Mid East citing an effort to stop a new insurgency that could threaten Canada the party’s polling rate did not move. The static polls over the past year or more undoubtedly frighten the CPC members making up the Harper government majority. A return to minority government (Canada often favors) would mean some would lose seats. The party appointees with assistant minister portfolios would lose added income at least. If another party led the minority government even cabinet minister posts would disappear.
The NDP leader has problems that probably match the government’s present dilemma. Party unrest seems to indicate the old NDP faction might be disenchanted with the leadership. Many seem to believe the way the current leader is leading is not traditional or a strong influence. Although apparently holding firm in Quebec where the surge in NDP seats upset 2010 Liberal fortunes, the party’s Ontario support has declined if recent by-election numbers are an indication. Recent election platform promises of a social nature such as a national daycare program are probably designed to shore up support within party ranks while offering young families great incentives.
The election is still a year away and almost everything could change depending on many factors. However if the opinion polls hold steady change is almost certain to be the outcome. A Conservative, Liberal or even New Democratic minority government for Canada might be an alternative.
