TORONTO – Election day – the last one – seems already so far away. It was a momentary distraction from our everyday lives, a pattern that has come to define as Canadians. We like to be left alone to pursue whatever and any interruption is merely that, a brief pause lasting no more that the 15 minutes required to place an x beside someone’s name.
In some places, the pause was extended by logistical circumstances and by the lack of preparation by Elections Canada to execute the election in an efficient and timely manner. It did its best with the resources at hand; nonetheless, the issue of national broadcasters declaring victors and losers while electors were still in line ups must surely tempt some to challenge the fairness of some outcomes. There was an air of “third worldliness” about the whole affair.
As everyone already knows, not much [numerically] changed. On a personal basis, we should congratulate the winners and thank the less fortunate for placing themselves on offer. For those who were in office, but will be no longer, the adjustment period may be stressful at first.
The “winners” will be relieved, if not euphoric. They will be at it again in relatively short order. The National Media and Press, which thrive on disarray and instability will seize on every opportunity to stoke the fires of discontent. It is good for “their business”.
The process starts at the top. Already last evening the “spin doctors” offered these gems: the Prime Minister has a definitive mandate; he can be PM forever; the leaders of the Opposition will be looking over their shoulders; can they survive this loss? “They” being Jagmeet Singh, Erin O’Toole and Annemie Paul.
Neither Yves Francois Blanchet nor Maxime Bernier who garnered in excess of 800,000 votes (but no seats) need to worry.
Were this electoral outcome to have occurred in any European country – Italy in particular – Blanchet, O’Toole and Singh would already be in negotiations to present a united front to the Governor General in a bid to be accorded the right to form a government. Blanchet has nothing to lose. Singh is probably content to play the role of a compliant junior partner to Trudeau.
O’Toole does not appear to have the desire to present a challenge to the perceived protocol that accords the right of first attempt at government to the leader of the Party with the largest number of seats.
That leaves all the ambitious types to importune the new/old PMO to parcel out the available cabinet positions made available by “forced retirement” in their direction.
