Trudeau’s election gamble could backfire

The NDP and Greens missed golden opportunity as voters look for something different

Last week, Burlington’s committees got back to work with a vengeance. Committees don’t meet in summer. When they had previously, they were accused of meeting when residents were away.

Because of the imminence of the federal election, I’ll offer more city hall detail in my next column. Significantly, with two exceptions, it’s more of the same — developers wanting more towers and higher density — by my count, 13 very tall towers, housing 3,755 units plus accompanying commercial. But where will Burlington families with young children live?

The new initiatives include approval (finally) of a lobbyists’ registry, proposed by Coun. Lisa Kearns, but supported unanimously as a pilot project.

The big news is the city’s corporate COVID-19 policy. Following wide interdepartmental discussion, the new policy will make vaccination mandatory Oct. 1 for staff and council. By Oct. 4 those unvaccinated will have to undergo regular rapid antigen testing at the city’s expense. Those still unvaccinated Nov. 26 must get the tests, but at their own expense. Burlington is ensuring a safe workplace in this unique, fair way. Kudos!

The unnecessary federal election may prove so unnecessary that Justin Trudeau loses his minority. I, for one, would welcome a minority, of whichever stripe, because I dread a majority for any of them. When was the last time a federal or provincial leader truly inspired you? Probably before they stuck to scripted messages, provided non-answers to direct questions and sank to attackad level?

The timing is so bad, COVIDwise, that open public debates are virtually non-existent, where you can compare candidates. Even if you hadn’t attended before, the media had, and interested voters could at least get highlights of their takes on the pluses and minuses. Greg Woodruff blogged wide ranging interviews with available candidates which proved very interesting.

When did you last vote your conscience, instead of against someone to prevent getting someone worse? My guess is a box for “none of the above” would receive a majority today!

Desperation, insults and weasel words marked last week’s English leaders’ debate. It had such a poor format that probably few had a chance to really assess them. It would have been nice to hear good uninterrupted debating among them all on some issues. There were no obvious knockouts. All stuck to tightly scripted points. In my opinion, Annamie Paul did better than expected, given her Green party’s earlier attempt to self destruct.

In the vote auction, leaders are outbidding each other for the highest spending and longest running deficits — with our own money! With all the climate change rhetoric, why not preserve and expand our tree canopy, surely among the easiest, most cost effective solutions?

No leader or candidate deserves the Trumpian attacks evident this time. Protesting is fine. Threats, and preventing leaders or candidates from campaigning are not, and reflect more poorly on the attacker than the target. Weren’t Canadians always a cut above this Wild West mentality?

Burlington spans three ridings, but in the main one, Burlington riding, choice is between a Conservative gun rights lobbyist and the incumbent Liberal minister who recommended against Trudeau’s 2019 promise to abolish “first-past-thepost” voting. No doubt her marching orders came from on high, but she wears the fallout. (Burlington has vacillated between the two main parties for decades.)

In my opinion, the NDP and Greens missed a golden opportunity to field candidates who excel, and have name recognition, because this time voters are looking for something different.

The ultra right-wing People’s Party offers a strident anti-vaxxer, active in protests.

When advance polling began, I had received only Liberal literature. Knowing that COVID fears could increase advance poll turnout, and limited opportunity to interact with voters in person, wouldn’t smart candidates ensure early delivery? The advance poll I checked had a long, but well spaced lineup.

The irony is that, had the voting system been changed, would Trudeau have dared call this premature election, knowing people’s anger could backfire with even more dire results? Voter turnout may prove interesting.