{"id":49775,"date":"2018-06-03T17:32:09","date_gmt":"2018-06-03T21:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=49775"},"modified":"2018-06-03T17:48:09","modified_gmt":"2018-06-03T21:48:09","slug":"listen-up-its-crunch-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/listen-up-its-crunch-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen Up! It’s crunch time"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler<\/p><\/div>\n

We are into crunch time with just a few days before the Ontario provincial election and the past week has been anything but boring for those who take an interest in what is going on around us. The final result has also become much less obvious.<\/p>\n

Last week I wrote about this election and was surprised at the depth of interest, passion and concern by people from all sides of the political spectrum. The column received more than 50 comments on our Doppler website and almost 6,000 views on Facebook, a clear record for anything I have written over the last five years. The response I believe, is indicative of a much wider divide among Ontario voters given the stark choices they have been given when it comes to electing the next government for this province. Clearly, the knives are out as we head to the finish line.<\/p>\n

The anyone-but-Ford movement has been in full force during the past week and there are signs that it is working. It almost seemed choreographed. First, there was an editorial in the Toronto Star, praising Kathleen Wynne, almost giving her martyr status and blaming Ontarians for treating her so unfairly. This was followed a few days later with another editorial by the same newspaper that basically said, forget Wynne, Ford must be stopped at all costs, support the NDP and ignore their flaws.<\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n

Then yesterday, something happened that, to the best of my knowledge, has never been seen before in the history of Canadian politics. A seated Premier conceded defeat in an election that has not yet taken place! It was an astonishing move and perhaps a clever strategy. It was clearly designed to throw a wrench into whatever momentum the Conservatives and NDP were enjoying. It was a plea for a minority government in which the Liberals, finishing in last place, would hold the balance of power, once again, effectively calling the shots in Ontario.<\/p>\n

At least at the outset, this strategy appears to be having an effect. Prior to Wynne\u2019s announcement yesterday, the Conservatives had a marginal lead in the popular vote over the NDP and with regional distribution a comfortable forecast for a majority government. In the past 24 hours, the NDP have stayed pretty much the same while the Conservatives have lost 1.4 per cent of the popular vote and the Liberals have gained almost exactly the same number. This indicates that some Liberals who were planning to vote Conservative have returned to the Liberal fold. It also means the NDP have regained a slight lead in the popular vote and the Tories are in danger of losing or not winning some ridings where the margin between the parties is less than 2 per cent. This could affect their ability to form a majority government.<\/p>\n

Today, of course, following the Wynne strategy, some media outlets are screaming for a minority government, effectively attempting to stop the Conservatives from governing. While some people believe that minority governments can be effective, the hard fact is that in the polarized climate of politics that currently exists, there is really no such thing. If the Conservatives do not win a majority of seats in the legislature, they will not be allowed to govern beyond a Throne Speech. If the NDP do not win a majority, they will be allowed to govern because the Liberals will support them at least until they get their own act together enough to risk another election. No matter what they called it, it would effectively be a coalition.<\/p>\n

My choice to vote Conservative in this election was not based on personalities. If it was, I would probably have voted in a different way. I fundamentally believe in less rather than more government. I also truly believe that failure to tackle our massive debt problem will eventually and inexorably lead to the government’s inability to provide essential services, especially to those who need it most.<\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n

Mike Wieler, I think he is from Huntsville, said this on Facebook. \u201cI personally think Conservatives are the best to clean up the books. As a business owner I cannot lose money year after year and stay open.\u201d To me, that says it in a nutshell.<\/p>\n

I also feel it is important to have respect for our institutions. It is therefore interesting to note that it is NDP candidates, not Conservative ones, that would ban the national anthem at sports events, refuse to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day, or carry a sign effectively telling police to perform a sexually impossible act!<\/p>\n

But all of that is just where I come from.<\/p>\n

In my view, voting, no matter your political leanings, is a very important civic duty. In my family we have folks who support all three of the major political parties. I am proud of that. I respect their views as I hope they respect mine. It is, I believe, this very divergence of views and the debates and discussions that result that ultimately ensures a strong society.<\/p>\n

No matter what happens on June 7, that is all that really matters.<\/p>\n

Hugh Mackenzie<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free newsletter <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are into crunch time with just a few days before the Ontario Provincial election and the past week has been anything but boring for those who take an interest in what is going on around us. The final result has also become much less obvious.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":49776,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[442,829],"class_list":["post-49775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","tag-hugh-mackenzie","tag-listen-up"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nListen Up! It's crunch time<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We are into crunch time with just a few days before the Ontario Provincial election and the past week has been anything but boring for those who take an interest in what is going on around us. 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