MY CANADA is a column
or essay of items under discussion by a group meeting most mornings for Tim Horton’s
coffee time. The subject matter today is the feeling of most in attendance
about Canadian politics in general.
The choice of a leader with Canada and Canadian interests as a major concern or desire is definitely limited according to most comments. The majority of seniors as national polls indicate would like to support Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). However some of the programs or legislation enacted such as the recent C51 antiterrorism bill and series of omnibus bills passed without sufficient parliamentary oversight by the CPC majority seem to be loosening chances of repeat majority government in the October election.
Current trends according to the polls indicate the youth oriented reign in the polls of the Justin Trudeau led Liberals is waning. The fact along with the usual trend for people under 35 to neglect exercising the right to vote could spell Trudeau trouble in October. The NDP numbers seem to be reversed with Thomas Mulcair’s New Democrats struggling to hold onto polling numbers that moved the party into opposition status in the last election. Everything taken into consideration it appears the October election if current trends continue will lead to a minority Harper CPC mandate.
All media commentators appear to support the theory. The reason seems to be based on a comment as far back as the 1990’s by a tough, fair-minded, controversial now deceased respected Canadian journalist Marjorie Nichols. The lady by some considered the dean of journalism is quoted as stating. “Reporters today think scandal-mongering is journalism.”(The Duffy, Wallen and other scandals) She went on to explain. “The art of journalism is synopsis and has been lost. Much of today’s journalism has degenerated into mere commerce.”
The recent purchase of most leading daily Canadian and hundreds of community newspapers by Post Media are the latest example of concentrated and possibly corporate control of Canada’s print media. Added to the purchase the newly government approved Post Media ownership most remaining major newspapers are owned by eight major corporations including Metroland Media Group and TC Media. Corporate ownership of television and electronic media by Rogers and Bell is a well-known fact. In effect journalism cannot be considered an independent source of information by any stretch of the imagination. Media concentration and journalistic direction probably even from the aspect of current journalism teaching is likely influenced, if not controlled by the corporate sector.
With journalism and in effect news media controlled by Canada’s corporate sector the question seems to be whether the same corporate sector controls Canada’s politics. On the other hand does government control corporate Canada? Maybe influence by one side or the other might be a better question.
In any event the solution to the problem or situation might be reason for Canadians to elect a minority government. It would be difficult for any corporate entity to influence of even control all three political parties. Of course the threat of another election would always be on the horizon as the political planners from each party closely watch and try manipulating trends to determine the timing is right to defeat the minority in hope of obtaining a majority by forcing another election. The scenario usually takes at least a couple to three years for a party to gain sufficient voter confidence. Even speculating the voters will return a majority is always a tenuous supposition often returning another minority. The outcome of any election, even the October 2015 mandate is always speculation before the actual vote count.
Polling organizations are another issue. Results of many if not most polls prior to recent elections have not reflected the end result. Cynically the old saying that money can buy anything might be a factor. Media polling executives when interviewed often tend to reflect a leaning if not allegiance to one party of the other. The trend might be idealism or a need to satisfy a major sponsor with manipulation of figures. The result error trend could also be the fact contacts are not prone to revealing true feelings to call center organizations.
The outcome of the October 2015 election if the present government does not decided to ignore its own newly created law and extend election timing to the full 5 years previously allowed by legislation will undoubtedly be influenced by voter turnout. At this time it appears voters aside from dedicated party supporters are disinterested in exercising the all important vote process. The final result could point to the possibility of another CPC Harper majority government with a continuation of dramatic changes happening to traditional Canadian governing. A minority government could reflect more change in the national character.
The choice of a leader with Canada and Canadian interests as a major concern or desire is definitely limited according to most comments. The majority of seniors as national polls indicate would like to support Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). However some of the programs or legislation enacted such as the recent C51 antiterrorism bill and series of omnibus bills passed without sufficient parliamentary oversight by the CPC majority seem to be loosening chances of repeat majority government in the October election.
Current trends according to the polls indicate the youth oriented reign in the polls of the Justin Trudeau led Liberals is waning. The fact along with the usual trend for people under 35 to neglect exercising the right to vote could spell Trudeau trouble in October. The NDP numbers seem to be reversed with Thomas Mulcair’s New Democrats struggling to hold onto polling numbers that moved the party into opposition status in the last election. Everything taken into consideration it appears the October election if current trends continue will lead to a minority Harper CPC mandate.
All media commentators appear to support the theory. The reason seems to be based on a comment as far back as the 1990’s by a tough, fair-minded, controversial now deceased respected Canadian journalist Marjorie Nichols. The lady by some considered the dean of journalism is quoted as stating. “Reporters today think scandal-mongering is journalism.”(The Duffy, Wallen and other scandals) She went on to explain. “The art of journalism is synopsis and has been lost. Much of today’s journalism has degenerated into mere commerce.”
The recent purchase of most leading daily Canadian and hundreds of community newspapers by Post Media are the latest example of concentrated and possibly corporate control of Canada’s print media. Added to the purchase the newly government approved Post Media ownership most remaining major newspapers are owned by eight major corporations including Metroland Media Group and TC Media. Corporate ownership of television and electronic media by Rogers and Bell is a well-known fact. In effect journalism cannot be considered an independent source of information by any stretch of the imagination. Media concentration and journalistic direction probably even from the aspect of current journalism teaching is likely influenced, if not controlled by the corporate sector.
With journalism and in effect news media controlled by Canada’s corporate sector the question seems to be whether the same corporate sector controls Canada’s politics. On the other hand does government control corporate Canada? Maybe influence by one side or the other might be a better question.
In any event the solution to the problem or situation might be reason for Canadians to elect a minority government. It would be difficult for any corporate entity to influence of even control all three political parties. Of course the threat of another election would always be on the horizon as the political planners from each party closely watch and try manipulating trends to determine the timing is right to defeat the minority in hope of obtaining a majority by forcing another election. The scenario usually takes at least a couple to three years for a party to gain sufficient voter confidence. Even speculating the voters will return a majority is always a tenuous supposition often returning another minority. The outcome of any election, even the October 2015 mandate is always speculation before the actual vote count.
Polling organizations are another issue. Results of many if not most polls prior to recent elections have not reflected the end result. Cynically the old saying that money can buy anything might be a factor. Media polling executives when interviewed often tend to reflect a leaning if not allegiance to one party of the other. The trend might be idealism or a need to satisfy a major sponsor with manipulation of figures. The result error trend could also be the fact contacts are not prone to revealing true feelings to call center organizations.
The outcome of the October 2015 election if the present government does not decided to ignore its own newly created law and extend election timing to the full 5 years previously allowed by legislation will undoubtedly be influenced by voter turnout. At this time it appears voters aside from dedicated party supporters are disinterested in exercising the all important vote process. The final result could point to the possibility of another CPC Harper majority government with a continuation of dramatic changes happening to traditional Canadian governing. A minority government could reflect more change in the national character.
