In the lead up to the 2021 federal election, Doppler invited local residents to tell us why they support their chosen party. We’ll publish their responses throughout this week, in random order.
Anyone who has been a leader or supervisor at any level in any organization will tell you it is not as easy as it may look. Despite best intensions, it is impossible to please everyone and not everything goes as planned. Being an elected representative, or minister, or leader of a municipal, provincial, or national government means you must deal with the full spectrum of difficult human issues and problems. So, I salute anyone who steps up to make such a huge personal and family commitment to the public good.
Every party and leader in history has had strengths and weaknesses. So, when we are doing a job interview for a political party or candidate, we must take time to consider the various kinds of education, life experiences, and strengths and weaknesses the party and its leader have to offer. Who is best prepared to deal with the threats and opportunities now facing our country? We are most likely to find those qualities in the centre of the political spectrum.
Looking back over the past five years, our national government has succeeded in dealing with the most difficult set of issues of any time in history except during the two great wars. To be fair, the Liberal Party has done not a perfect job, but a good job dealing with the most difficult US administration in history. In the most difficult pandemic that anyone alive can remember, Canada has the highest vaccination rate and by far the lowest death rate among comparable G7 democracies. Among many other things, the Liberals have passed legislation to enhance public safety by stemming the flow of weapons clearly designed for mass killing, not for sport.
After this year’s severe weather events around the globe, it should be clear to all of us that none of that will matter much if we fail to mitigate climate change. As one that has spent a great deal of time to understand the complex subject of climate change, I believe the Liberals have put us on a better path than any other country to reduce our emissions (which on a per capita basis are among the highest in the world), while creating the jobs and economy of the future. It’s always better to lead with positive change than to be a follower.
That has all been accomplished by an experienced and competent set of ministers and a positive good-natured leader who (very importantly) is known and respected by his G7 peers, and who provides overall direction but lets and expects each minister and their professional staffs do their jobs. That is what good leaders do. This is not to say that another “centrist” party could not also do a good job, but is this the time to spend a year in orientation and training? What board of directors risks changing the entire leadership of their company all at once, and expects instant good results on complex urgent problems? In my view, the Liberals are on the right track and deserve more time to finish their program.
See the Liberal Party platform here.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
Ray Vowels says
All I can say about that is Mr Holland has a complete different view of things than I do. What I see is a Prime Minister that has no idea of how to run a country or much of anything else. We all know he is corrupt has lied about most everything tried to get a cabinet minister to lie just to protect his friends. I could keep going but there is not enough room on here.
Anna-Lise Kear says
Mr. Holland, I agree that Canadians have fared much better during a pandemic under Liberal leadership than a Stephen Harper one (I shudder). Until the Conservative party becomes more progressive (remember the Progressive Conservatives folks?), more infused with much-needed science talent in their base and candidates, I find their policies and platforms a lost cause.
Further, there is a resounding echo chamber of inadequate leadership in some (not all) of their Provincial Premier partners (Harris-Harper hang overs).
Pandemic leadership from DF and JK has and continues to be slow, waffling, and late in public health safety. Further, the fiasco of the Alberta Heritage fund development, all in the name of no Provincial taxes belies the Conservative claim of financial management of resources for their future. However, like most PMs in the past, of all political stripes, JT will have to deal with the Canadian east-west relations in this next parliament.
Jim Bartlett says
I cannot support a leader who spends more in foreign aid than he does in looking after the seniors, veterans and aboriginals in our own country. Carbon tax is just a money grab it isn’t doing anything to curb carbon emissions. Fossil fuels are here to stay the alternatives are to costly. I also can’t support a local candidate that doesn’t live here and was just added because she lost her Toronto riding.
Anna-Lise Kear says
Mr. Bartlett; it seems to me that the carbon and energy issue requires a many-pronged approach, not an either/or – as I understand from previous column writers. A carbon tax is but one tool only. Fossil fuels will need to diminish over time. Why? Because they are not inexhaustible. That only makes sense. Fossil fuels are here to stay, as long as they last that is -until we run out of stuff we can take from the earth. I guess it depends on how much you are involved in long-range planning.
When we look out as to what is happening in other countries, it may help to avoid the problems arriving full front and center on our own doorstep. Again, some interest internationally can help Canada and Canadians. We don’t live in isolation from the rest of the planet.
jim sinclair says
Good comment from Hugh Holland and if you are a Liberal at heart then that is a good slant on things. But to vote in a selfish person who wants to be more then a one term minority leader is not good. If he gets voted out this time it will do Young Trudeau a world of good.
His theatrics do no good at meetings of International leaders, he has created a rift between one of Canada’s most important allies to the south of us and presents a barrage of phony promises that seems to get him whatever he wants. In short, he NEEDS to be elected if only to continue to stonewall the Ethics committee from exposing his tactics.
Greg Reuvekamp says
Trudeau gambled and blew a 10+ point lead and assured majority calling this election during the 4th wave. Instead of coasting and attempting to cement his legacy (blackface? weed legalization?) across the next four years, instead he’ll be spending the next 18 months managing a weak minority government. Now that the writing is on the wall, the backroom Liberal string pullers will be looking to replace him. I’m hopeful that it will be at least as entertaining as the painful Chretien to Martin transition. Trudeau has definitely made enemies inside the Liberal party, and no doubt there are lots more blackface photos, groping scandals, bribes paid to his family etc etc that will be leaked as they struggle to force him out. History will view the Trudeau era as poorly as it that of Donald Trump’s time in power. Rise in divisions, rise in debt, the economy faltering, forsaking Canada’s allies and instead bolstering it’s enemies…. these will all be Trudeau’s real legacy.
Monika Hoffmann says
I do not fully agree with either the Conservative nor the Liberal platform (and will not consider the ‘other’ parties). Canada has had, what I refer to as, a seesaw relationship with its Federal political parties over the decades. When the Conservatives are in power, eventually the Liberals get into power to even-out the balance and vice versa. It is high time that the Conservatives come into power, now, to clean up the financial mess. It’s time to turn ‘off’ the Liberal money printing press, and make our citizens accountable again for their income and expenditures and start repaying the load of debt the Liberals have created (and no, NOT by charging Capital Gains on our primary residences, which has been suggested by the Liberals!). Just as I was raised, and have raised my children, we, individually, and hence the Federal Government, must be responsible and accountable for our income and expenditures. Stop this incessant free-hand-out regime. It makes for a false sense of security and well-being. Look around, it appears all of Huntsville’s businesses are hiring, yet few people are motivated to work because there are still too many handouts available. Too many people don’t recognize the long-term value of the dollar earned, in lieu of the dollar handed-out. Yes, I know, so many jobs are offered at minimum wage, but you can slowly build on that, but you can’t build on temporary handouts. There are many issues to consider, but the current (ever-growing) financial debt on Canadians will only continue to grow if the Liberals continue to get their way. If we ran out households the way they run the (financial aspect) of the Government, we’d be broke in no time. That needs to stop.
And, should the Liberals win again, then we MUST ensure that the students of today acquire a SOLID understanding of numbers (math) and their values in budgeting, savings, etc applied to real Life, so they can go on to become the accountable leaders of tomorrow.
Thank you.
Ray Vowels says
I’m wondering if the people who want to shut down our oil and gas industry because we have to stop taking everything we can from the earth have ever seen a picture of or in person the area of open pit mining that is involved to extract lithium that is used for electric car batteries. And they only last so long and then what no one knows as yet I don’t think they can be recycled. I’n my view we are going to need oil and gas for a lot of years yet. For another thing just what will we replace all the things made from plastic now and that includes electric car bodies and most everything we use in this crazy throw away world. I think it’s going to take a lot more than getting carbon reduced to make even a small dent in the global warming. Maybe we should ask the trees and most everything else on earth just how they are going to survive without carbon.
Dave Wilkin says
Here’s my take on this. Justin Trudeau called the election that no one wants for one reason only, to win his coveted majority. Canada has performed relatively well in this horrible pandemic because of the sacrifices made by Canadians and businesses, the dedication and hard work of frontline workers, and difficult choices/heavy lifting done in the provinces. It’s not because of him.
The truth is that after almost 6 years of Justin Trudeau as PM, Canada has never been more divided: East – West, North- South, urban – rural, wealthy – middle-class – poor, left-right, between ethnicities, cultures … I could go on. Respect on the world stage and within the G7? Hardly. Canada’s role in the debacle in Afghanistan and his handling of all things China being just two recent examples of inept foreign policy.
On the big promises made, he has failed to deliver or broken all of them: balancing the budget/deficits, electoral reform, open/transparent government, ethics, pharmacare, First Nations boil-water, helping vets, carbon taxes (size, revenue neutral), emission reductions (they went up) and on it goes.
His words are often riddled with hypocrisy/dishonesty. The most damning exchange from last week’s leaders debate came with Green leader Annamie Paul when she said she “does not believe Mr. Trudeau is a real feminist”, pointing to his treatment of strong women in his caucus/cabinet who quit or were kicked out by Trudeau (Jody Wilson-Raybould, Jane Philpott, Celina Caesar-Chavannes). His glib response: “I won’t take lessons on caucus management from you”. Sad, but it says all you need to know about the man’s character. Many in his senior cabinet are weak and compliant.
Beyond the broken promises, Canada’s economy has lagged other G7 nations since he took office, he has piled on the most debt in the G20, fostered inflation not seen in decades. He has dragged the Liberal party way left, all but abandoning the political center, and his vision for the future of Canada appears even more delusional than when he first took office. He has become the PM of division, not unity. Some in his party understand this, and as his coveted majority slips away, and the battle for a simple win intensifies, the predictably pivot to the tactics of fear, truth spinning and framing the other parties/leaders as scary, dangerous has begun.
Has Justin Trudeau earned a third mandate? I say no. Canada needs better leadership than what he and his team can deliver.
Hugh Holland says
Dave Wilkin – Please do some fact checking. Since 2015, Canada’s economic growth trends have been very similar to the other G7 countries. The federal vaccination procurement program was key to Canada leading the G7 in Covid vaccinations and resulted in by far the lowest Covid death rate in the G7. And after 2 years of Covid relief programs, our Debt to GDP ratio in 2021 is 3rd lowest among the G7 countries and is expected to remain that way.
The latest (2019) UN Happiness Report ranked Canada #9 of 156 countries and well above all other G7 countries in overall well-being considering income, trust, life expectancy, social support, freedom, and generosity. That hardly sounds like the divided nation you describe. And that “weak” federal cabinet you describe can certainly match what any other party has to offer.
Dave Wilkin says
Hugh, I do check my facts and numbers. You are looking at different stats than I am. On the economy, I was referring to GDP per capita change. It’s a far better measure for how a country is fairing than just looking at GDP growth. We have indeed lagged the G7 average since 2015 on this measure. Here are the real numbers, right out of the OECD stats database: https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=PDB_LV
– 2019 GDP per capita (constant K US$): G7: $51, Canada $46, total % change from 2015: G7: 5.8%, Canada 3%. If you look at the OECD (38 wealthy countries) the growth is higher, at 6.2% over the period.
Regarding debt change, you can check out this link with a nice visual that shows how out-of-step Canada is compared with other countries since the pandemic began: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/debt-to-gdp-continues-to-rise-around-world/ . As I have pointed out before, you’re only looking at one element of debt, the Federal Debt, and even it expanded more than others, as the chart referenced above clearly shows. More important is Gross Debt, which is all gov, business and household debt. Why? Because when interest rates rise, as they inevitably will, high debt levels lead to high financial stress. It could easily trigger another big recession or worse, the collapse of many asset and debt bubbles that have been growing for decades. Global Gross Debt is about 350% GDP today, https://www.reuters.com/business/global-debt-is-fast-approaching-record-300-trillion-iif-2021-09-14/ . Canada is approaching 450%, among the highest globally. Trudeau has been PM through the largest spike in debt in Canada’s history, among the worst in the OECD. That’s a fact and it’s a big problem. Most Canadians don’t understand this.
All of this is readily verifiable I prefer the IMF Global Debt Database, because the stats are detailed and free: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2018/05/14/Global-Debt-Database-Methodology-and-Sources-45838, I also look at the IIF: https://www.iif.com/ but you need a login and it costs for the detailed reports.
On division in Canada, just look at the electoral map from the 2019 election. It speaks for itself. Far too many Canadians are slipping further behind as costs and debt rises faster than income. Eventually they will demand change. It may arrive sooner than the latest polls are suggesting.
Susan Godfrey says
Hugh and Dave..think on Mark Twain’s musing; “Lies, lies and damn statistics”. Of course I misquoted but i wish to guide your view to the fact that statistics can be interpreted many ways.
Stephen L Gesner says
Whether the Liberals have done a good job over the past 6 years is debatable. What is not debatable is that the Liberals were the government and could have governed for the next 2 years to ride herd on the pandemic and the rebuilding of our country. However the party decided 2 years ahead of the fixed election date to call an election. And for what purpose? To solidify its position of power seems to be the most likely reason as opposed to better serve Canadians. Incurring a tax payer funded expense of over $600.0 million to hold the election certain doesn’t seem to better serve Canadians. Perhaps the money would have been better spent on an infinitely long list of things which would better serve Canadians than holding an unwanted election. And with the recent “Three Eyes” announcement, it is clear the Canada Mr. Trudeau and the Liberals have not led for the past 6 years is not “Back”. Perhaps they don’t deserve to govern anymore.