The Election Nobody Wants, But We're Getting Anyway

Posted by Laura Steiner Sep 11, 2009

Canadians don't want an election. We never do; it could be because there's really not much of a choice right now; nobody in the race to inspire us to shake off the cynicism and vote. Or it could be because we're getting tired of elections; if this happens, it'll be our fourth in five years.

And each of them have ended in a minority government. You'd think by now, our elected officials would get the message: Canadians want you to work together. Mr Harper: We like you enough to keep giving you a shot, just not with a majority. The thing is; we all have to work with people we don't like- so smarten up and do it. And Mr. Ignatieff: We don't really know you all that well; you've been out of the country for the past few years. At least give us some time to get to know you. You can oppose without causing an election; you can present alternative policy ideas or use committees get some of your ideas across. Give us time; I don't think we're ready for you to be Prime Minister yet.

Canada is exiting the recession. This means the economy right now is still a little bit unstable. And any political instability might set us back. This election, if it happens will cost $300 million- enough to buy a whole subdivision, put a whole lot of students through a year of university. With unemployment at near record levels, isn't the money better spent elsewhere? Why not take part of it and put a down payment on the deficit?

And speaking of unemployment; this could be an election fought over employment insurance reform; an issue that should be addressed. But I don't think it should be addressed in an election campagain. It's a serious issue that affects people's futures; if I ran, I'd wait and address it when I had a majority and could do something. It will get lost in all the bitter sniping, and grandiose promises made along the way. There is no overarching issue to campaign on; our troops aren't due home from Afghanistan until 2011, and nobody has begun seriously mentioning the word: extension yet. Nobody has recently been caught with their hand in the cookie jar, or doing something they shouldn't be, so we're good there. The deficit is higher than anticipated, but is that really enough to justify an election, especially one caused by a party whose main answer to the question of reducing the deficit is: "you'll see".

I appreciate Ignatieff may have gone too far to turn back now. But an election now ignores the will of the people- quite simply: we don't want one, and there are better ways to spend the money. The bottom line is: we put you guys there to work together, not make a grab for power every year or so. In all likelihood we are going to the polls sometime in November, and will likely be back to exactly the same point we are right now: in a minority government situation. Maybe this time they'll get it?

For more information see:

Three Opposition Parties To Force Election

Canada's Parliament: Majority vs. Minority

Harper-Ignatieff Reach A Deal On EI