I got a good chuckle at the cartoon of the man and wife looking at their TV and saying the best thing about the election was that it would soon be over.
The pundits are calling for a close race and some even for a minority government. Which could be a good or bad thing depending on whether you are the type who sees a silver lining on every cloud on the horizon or those who think there might just be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow after the storm.
If you are not a dyed in the wool supporter of a particular party you might still be thinking about the issues and your vote. It looked for a while that the environment might be the key issue but that seems to have slipped into a second or third place issue. “It’s the economy, stupid!” rings a familiar bell as taxes, wages and investments are talking points.
However, I think there are regional issues that are going to be deciding points in this election. Bill 21 is going to sway voters in Quebec and the party leaders are treading very carefully when they talk about that issue. The Trans Mountain pipeline and its environmental impact is a hot button in BC and Alberta. Doug Ford in Ontario is a favourite target for Justin and that may or may not be a deciding factor to some. With the early snowfall on the prairies, Manitobans must surely be thinking about climate change and worrying about the mega tonnes of carbon pollution in the sky and the carbon tax that still looks like a semi-refundable tax grab.
Surely we have more important things to bother us than whether one of the front-runners unwisely wore blackface or the other has dual citizenship. They both have apologized – let it go. (Although I also laughed heartily at Jagmeet’s ‘Mr. Delay and Mr. Deny’).
The deficit worries me because I fear that interest payments are eventually going to eat into our social services like healthcare plans, lower-income housing, and education, although that is Provincial, the trickle-down will catch us all. Maybe we do have to collect more taxes and it seems only right that the Internet merchants should be paying something like their brick and mortar competition does.
Immigration keeps popping up in questions to the politicians; however, I think some of this may be a backwash from the United States and their policies (or lack thereof). People move to where they can improve their economic situation or safety of the family. They bring their customs and religions with them and will only change when they see a better way of living. It may be hard for some of us to believe that coming here and working for a minimum wage (or less) as being an opportunity, but it can be. Besides, all those Canadian entrepreneurs who rely on paying bottom wages want to keep that supply line open.
Yes, it is an interesting election and heaven help us if the party(s) in power keep their promises!
Speaking of Silver Linings, do not forget the Health & Wellness Information and Support Day on Saturday, October 19 at the Callander Community Centre (Silver Linings – before, during & after cancer). I’ll be there with the Warriors of Hope.
And if you need a good belly laugh after voting, go to 250 Clark in Powassan for the Powassan Players production of ‘No Body Like Jimmy’ October 21 to 24 at 7 p.m. I’ll be there too.
