Tag Archives: election

Is the pendulum swinging?

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Last year, globally there were 60 countries that had elections and, “the staying power of right-wing populism” was a noted trend. And if you looked at the polls just two months ago, it looked like Canada would follow suite with the Conservatives having a significant lead under a very populist leader.

But that all changed when Justin Trudeau resigned and Mark Carney became Prime Minister. Last night Carney was elected for another 4 years. And although I really wanted to see a majority win, a win is a win, and the fact that the upset happened is victory enough. Maybe, just maybe this is a pendulum swing away from more right wing populist parties? Maybe we can see some more centrist, less polarized views shine through across the globe in the coming months and years.

But hopes aside, here are a couple things that I think all Canadians can look forward to with Mark Carney as Prime Minister… no matter who they voted for.

1. Diplomacy

Mark Carney put the President to our south on notice from day 1. When he replaced Trudeau, who Trump was calling governor of the 51st state, Carney immediately did three things: He strengthened economic ties with with Europe & Asia; He reminded the US president that he could sell American debt; And, he signed a defence contract deal with Australia (a deal that would have gone to the US). He did not go to see the US president right away. And the President’s response once they did speak:

“I just finished speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney, of Canada. It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things, and will be meeting immediately after Canada’s upcoming Election to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada,”

No 51st state rhetoric.

And here’s the simple truth about Carney versus Poilievre… Carney starts with diplomacy and Poilievre lacks it. When Trump said this yesterday, on our election day, “

“Good luck to the Great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada
becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America. No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how
beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER.
ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It
makes no sense unless Canada is a State!”

Poilievre responded publicly on Twitter with,

“President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.

Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state.

Today Canadians can vote for change so we can strengthen our country, stand on our own two feet and stand up to America from a position of strength.”

This is not a show of power, it’s grandstanding. I would have been willing to bet real money that had Poilievre won last night, we would have seen ‘51st state’ and ‘Governor Poilievre’ rhetoric surface from the American President.

Carney won’t play the populist all-caps ‘NEVER’ kind of game, he will be firm, strategic, and straightforward. Last night he said,

“I have been warned, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. These are not these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, ever happen.”

And,

“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons that we have to look out for ourselves. … When I sit down with President Trump, it will be to discuss the future economic and security relationship between two sovereign nations, and it will be with our full knowledge that we have many, many other options than the United States to build prosperity for all Canadians.”

Not empty, boisterous rhetoric, but a firm message that we don’t only have to rely on America, with the underlying threat that this will cost America.

2. Fiscal Conservatism

The simple fact is that with respect to finance, I’d consider Carney more right rather than left on the political spectrum. He actually would have made a good Conservative candidate, one I could have voted for unlike Poilievre. Now that doesn’t mean he won’t run a deficit, but in these trade war times, no country is coming out unscathed. However, I believe that Carney will lead us out of the next few years as a global powerhouse, and Poilievre has neither the experience, skill, or ability to plan any such success. We would have been bullied by the US under him, and that simply will not happen under Carney.

So hopefully Canadians can drop the lift/right wars that seem to consume politics these days. Hopefully we can stand ‘elbows up’ with one another, and let the political pendulum swing a bit to center. While things are going to get tough economically, we have far more to hope for prosperity as a unified country supporting our new Prime Minister.

Election Day

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I’ve written about Smart Voting: “Unapologetically Political – It’s time to Smart Vote”. And I’ve said countless times over the years that it’s our civic duty to vote; that it’s a privilege to be in a democracy where it is our right. I am usually non-partisan in my messaging and intentionally so. I’m even glad there are people who vote differently than me, because I don’t want to live in a society where everyone has the same opinions and political views.

Yet, in this election, I really want to see Mark Carney elected as our Prime Minister. I think I would have voted for him no matter which party he was representing. Because this isn’t about a party, it’s about getting the right person for the job, and he’s the only person for the job right now.

I’m not trying to by hyperbolic. He has the global respect and influence we need right now. He has actually done his homework and has actionable plans to move Canada forward during unprecedented challenges… and he’s been in jobs as important as this in two other seriously challenging times and situations, both in Canada and internationally.

Meanwhile his competition, Pierre Poilievre, is a 20-year politician who doesn’t have a single bill to his name, and really didn’t even shine when his own party was in power for almost half of his career.

I doubt that on election day that I would convince anyone to change their vote. I could go on about why Mark Carney is the best choice we have, and it wouldn’t matter to most people voting against him. So I’ll just say this: It’s election day, your vote matters, take the time to do your civic duty, and when you do, ask yourself not which party you want to vote for, but who is in the best position to move Canada forward during these challenging times?

Vote or Hush

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I wanted to title this, “Vote or Shut Up!” But since that seemed a bit crass, I thought I’d let my inner Bajan shine through with, “Hush your mouth,” but that would not translate as well as it does in my head… and is still not accurate in enunciation, so ‘Vote or Hush’ will have to do.

No matter how clear, crass, or complex I might say it, the message is simple:

If you don’t vote, you should lose the right to comment later.

You chose note to complete your civic duty. You didn’t participate in your democratic right. You decided not to be part of the decision of who represents you in a free and open society.

“But my one vote doesn’t matter.”

Wrong!

Over 10 million eligible voters did not vote in the last Canadian federal election… more than 1/3 of the eligible voters chose not to do their duty and cast a vote. Do you realize how influential it would be for ALL of those people to vote in the next election?

And so, if you are one of those people, I say, “Vote or hush-ya-mout”. You could have ‘had your say’ and chose not to… that negates your right to have a say later.

Vote or zip it.

—

Ps. My bias this election: Unapologetically Political – It’s time to Smart Vote

Unapologetically Political – It’s time to Smart Vote

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I haven’t voted yet but my oldest daughter sent us a photo of her walk to her nearest polling station today. My youngest daughter lives at home and will either vote early or vote with my wife and I when we go. They have been going to the polls since they were in strollers. They checked boxes for us before they were old enough to vote themselves. And both of them have voted in every election since coming of age.

I don’t know who they have and will vote for, but I know who they won’t vote for. They did not, will not, vote for the Progressive Conservatives. Not because their parents told them not to, but because they agree with us that the principles of the party do not align with the free and open democracy we want to live in.

I am unapologetic for my influence on this.

The global conservative wave, literally at our doorstep, is not creating a political environment I’m comfortable with. Pierre Poilievre does not share social or political values that I have. I believe he will undermine Canada’s multicultural and socially progressive values and he will weaken our country.

I cannot stay silent. Decades of non-partisan promoting of voting as a civic duty are over. I’m not just saying ‘Go Vote’, I’m asking anyone who reads this to Smart Vote. Go to the polls, find your riding, and choose the party most likely to beat the Conservative Party in your riding.

The only party likely to beat the Conservatives in this election is the Liberal Party. I would love to see them win a majority because this is not the time for a weak minority government. However, if you are in a riding where the NDP is more likely than the Liberal candidate to beat the Conservative candidate, then vote NDP. Same for a Green Party candidate. Smart Voting.

I see some of the non-democratic decisions being made south of our border and they scare me. Pierre Poilievre is a populist, slogan peddling, empty-promises spouting lifetime politician who has done almost nothing to better Canada. He rode the right wing wave to the south and only started backpedaling when he realized that this was going to potentially cost him the election. Unprincipled, shallow, and weak. Not what our country needs right now.

I’m not planning on sitting silent and then wondering why our country voted the way they did. I can’t. I won’t.

Don’t just vote this election, Smart Vote.

Smart Voting

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For most of my adult life I have been someone who has pushed the idea that it is our civic duty to vote and have tried to stay non-partisan in that messaging. I’ve voted for three different parties in elections in the last 20 years and so I am not a cardholding member of any party, and can be influenced by policies and principles, be those the principles of the party or the candidate.

The reality that we are in right now in Canada has me choosing to vote ABC, ‘Anyone But Conservative’. But the key here is that I’m choosing the party in my riding that is most likely to beat the Conservatives.

My reasoning for this Smart Voting strategy is simple, the Conservative patry sits on one side of the political spectrum and the other two (or three if you count Green) parties all sit on the other side of the spectrum… competing for the non-conservative vote. The reality is that in the past this split has allowed the Conservatives to get into power.

With the turmoil and instability of US politics, and the wave of conservatism globally, I don’t see a Canadian conservative government under its leader as remotely good in any way for Canada. Polling suggests a Liberal win this year, which under the current leader, Carney, would be great…. As long as it is a majority government that can actually get things done. So this year I would want to vote Liberal (something I haven’t done in a while).

However, I’m going see where the polling is in my riding and vote ABC, because as important as a majority government may be at this time, preventing a Conservative government is more important to me.

It feels weird to be so open about my politics. I truly prefer to be a proponent of civic duty, encouraging people to take advantage of living within a free and open democracy, in a non-partisan way. However, I can’t stay silent when I think that one of our political parties will take us down a path that is undermining the very democratic freedoms and rights I believe in.

So it’s Smart Voting for me. I’ll vote to make sure that the Conservatives don’t get in.

As a side note, I’ve had some interesting conversations with a conservative voter. I don’t believe anything I’ve shared with him is going to change his mind. I’m disappointed, but also respectful of his opinion. Our conversations are civil and respectful, though a little animated. I wish more public political conversations could happen like this. Discourse is healthy, and necessary for a democracy to not just survive, but thrive.

Divided we fall

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I’ve restarted writing this three times now. I’m not going to try again. I’ll let the ideas flow and just see where I end up.

I wish that I was surprised. I’m not. I’m disappointed. I’m saddened. But I’m really not surprised.

There are some amazing countries where freedom and equality are almost synonymous. There are countries where political differences do not polarize people into opposing factions. The United States of America is not one of them.

Why does it matter to me, a Canadian? Because ideas are memes that travel beyond borders. Because our biggest and only neighbour seems to be on the precipice of four years of strife, unease, and constant political banter. Because representation matters and I’m not a fan of what’s being represented.

We are entering an era of division. A polarized world where I have more questions than answers. Questions about global battles in Europe, the Middle East, and potentially Asia. About the battle for rights based on gender. A constant battle of words between ‘the left’ and ‘the right’.

I don’t foresee unity, I see a great divide. I foresee a constant and painful to watch news cycle that is filled with vitriol and malice. I hope not to see a loss of freedom, a ‘loss of Inalienable Rights’, which should be an oxymoron, but might not be. I hope for the best… I’m just not expecting it.

Divided we stand

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The BC, Canada election is over… almost. There are two recounts and enough close battles that we need to wait another week to have the late arriving mail-in votes get counted.

If things don’t change, the New Democratic Party, at 46 electoral seats, will be the minority leaders with 47 seats needed for a majority. The Green Party with their 2 seats will actually have some significant influence to ensure the minority government can actually get things done.

Over 2 million people voted and that represented over 57% of those eligible to vote. There was only a 1% gap between the two leading parties.

As I look to the south, I see another election coming, and another close race with a divided vote in November. Having at least 2 strong parties is a good thing in a democracy, but having both be as strong as they are can create havoc when actually trying to get things done.

This divisiveness we are seeing is baffling to me. It’s like our provinces, states, and countries have split personalities. Dichotomies to an extreme.

But if the mail in votes change things up here in BC, I don’t think we’ll see civil unrest. There might be more recounts, but there will also be a peaceful transfer of power. I don’t see the same thing happening down south. I hope I’m wrong.

Divided we stand, I hope we don’t fall.

Civic Duty

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Another Provincial election is upon us, October 19th, 2024. I voted early, last weekend.

I’ll never get tired of pushing the idea that it is not just a privilege but a civic duty to vote. I wish there were tax fines for not voting. It costs an Australian about $80 to not vote. They get 90% or more people voting. Meanwhile, we’ve been on a decline in BC, which is representative of most of Canada.

I wish people understood how fortunate we are to be able to vote in an open and free election. When I hear things like, “My vote doesn’t matter.” Or, “All the candidates/parties are the same.” Or any other excuse, I feel the speaker is missing the point. We live in a democracy. We have a choice of representation, and we have a duty to cast our vote for the person who represents us.

If we don’t vote, we are literally shrugging off a responsibility we have. We are dismissing a duty placed on us. We don’t do that at work, why do we think it’s ok to do that in our community?

Unsure who to vote for? This non-partisan website, (originally created by a student at our school years ago, and still maintained for elections across Canada), is a great place to start: https://votemate.org

The hypocrisy of democracy

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Democracy is supposed to empower people by a representative government that acts on behalf of and for the people. The hypocrisy of current democracy is that you are told that every vote matters and that you are the one who decides who is in power. The problem with that is that the platforms candidates run on are seldom what they enact. So you aren’t getting true representation of your wishes… and yet that’s what you voted for.

I’ve voted in every election since I became old enough to. I will continue to vote, to perform my civic duty, for the rest of my life. A democracy doesn’t work without a participatory public, and I would rather live in a democracy than any other system of government, and so I engage in the democratic process as expected.

But I’m tired of the hypocrisy. I want to see a party that can actually get things they platform on done. I want to see a system that is rigged for success rather than built on conflict, grandstanding, and hidden agendas. I want to see a party, once elected, get the support of other parties to accomplish their promised goals. Yes, other parties need to hold the current government accountable, but that is the ‘check and balance’ of an elected democracy. Fighting every move, every bill, and every promise the winning party made, simply to make the current government look bad during the next election cycle, actually undermines the strength of a democracy. The system is rigged to fail.

Give a party too much power and it is likely to reduce democratic freedoms, but don’t give it enough power and it becomes completely ineffective. This is a power dance we are seeing across the globe. What I fear is that democracy is not working like it should, and less free alternatives are rising in both power and appeal. With this we are also seeing less freedom.

Ultimately, democracies are now about voting for the extremes, and the extremes do not represent the vast majority of the people. But the majority don’t have a choice but to vote in a polarized way. So we aren’t voting for representation nearly as much as we are voting against values on the extreme side that is least like us. We aren’t voting for who we want to represent us, we are voting to avoid the election of someone we feel would represent us least.

And no matter who wins, we really aren’t represented by these representative governments. How do we change this? I don’t know. I’ll keep voting and doing my part, I just wish elected officials figured out a way to do the same and protect the very democracy that elected them.

A deviously democratic plan

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You’d have to be living under a rock to be unaware that the USA has an election coming up. And I’m probably not the only one holding the opinion that neither candidate is up to the job. Well, here is a devious non-partisan plan that I’d love to see Biden enact in order to flip the whole election on its head.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision that, “Presidents and former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts they took while in office”… has created an opportunity for Biden to prevent Trump from running.

Step 1: Biden could pass an unconstitutional executive order making it illegal for someone who has committed Trump’s non-presidential related crimes from running for president. Now if Biden stops here, it would cause absolute chaos, and great civil unrest. So he’d have to do one more thing at the same time.

Step 2: Biden could choose not to run in the next election. What this does is that it completely levels the playing field for both Democrats and Republicans. It leaves both parties needing to find replacements at the same time. Both parties can then find new, younger, more suitable leaders, and maybe the craziness of the US election could become about platforms and not about people.

This won’t happen, but could you imagine if it did? I could legitimately see either party winning a fair fight. It would all depend on the candidates the parties choose. In both cases a moderate candidate would have a better chance than an extremist. A too far right republican candidate would not win over the ‘Never Trump’-ers’, and a too far left democrat candidate would push this same group and more to the republicans. Suddenly the entire election would be about the platforms and not personalities.

There’s the plan: A democrat using a republican biased court decision to rebalance an election. And the entire world would be in a better place than it is leading up to this election as it stands right now.