In general, voters tend to favour one of two options when they are voting federally. One is choosing the local candidate and the second is for the party leader – and the voter’s choice is not always in that order. Sometimes one negates the other, too.
The election of our two local Conservative MPs came as no great surprise. Both Gary Schellenberger and Michael Chong have served in a committed fashion and their commitment was rewarded with healthy victories this election. We are quite sure they will continue to work hard for the residents of Perth-Wellington and Wellington-Halton Hills.
For those selecting a new government by leader, the pickings this time were pretty slim for non-partisans.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has yet to win a majority government despite this being his third time in the running as party leader. We maintain the baggage of the Reform Party will always be with him. Liberal leader Stephane Dion fell victim to the Conservative machine, telling voters for months that he was not a leader. His green shift policy didn’t help his cause either. Elizabeth May, in her first national outing, failed to win her own seat, let alone see one Green Party member head to the House of Commons. Jack Layton, NDP boss, had little in the way of anything new to say. And Gilles Duceppe, of the Bloc, advanced the nation’s cause no further this election.
There are larger lessons here for the politicians involved.
First, when approximately 40% plus can’t be bothered getting to the polls, voter apathy is a key issue that needs work. The reasons for that apathy are numerous, but we believe in part it has to do with engagement with voters on critical issues. To us there is an absence of boldness when it comes to party platforms and offering solutions to the many problems facing the federal government.
Second, the nastiness of this campaign and the unprecedented pounding of the opposition leader prior to the election even being called must end. And many voters, Conservative supporters included, were not amenable to the use of MP mailers to discredit a rival politician. Despite claims that it was not illegal, it is easily argued that it was an unethical use of taxpayer funds.
Third, the ability of MPs to switch political parties mid-term has to be outlawed. Many who switched were dropped by voters in those ridings in this election. The closest example is Garth Turner, from Halton, who became a Liberal after initially being elected a Conservative. There were others.
Fourth, the Prime Minister has to let loose of the reins and allow other elected individuals to serve their role as cabinet ministers. Clearly, far too much is being handled from the Prime Minister’s office, and we find it more than ironic, that when Harper was in opposition he railed against Chretien’s use of power.
Fifth, parliament needs to tone down the theatrics of question period and work better in committees to develop palatable, sustainable solutions for Canadians. If 308 parliamentarians can’t develop a consensus, how do we expect millions of Canadian voters to get on board with a course of direction?
Sixth, the duties of each level of government need to be examined and some sort of charter needs to be adopted that sees each of those levels stick to its own jurisdiction. Currently, the system we have is very confusing and cumbersome, not to mention wasteful.
We need a new set of leaders that will encourage better dialogue – for the sake of everyday Canadians.
