This Sept. 20, we’re getting an election, whether we want one or not. (We don’t.) We believe minority parliaments should die a natural death, when the ruling party of the day no longer commands the confidence of the house.
For the next month, the federal government will be in “caretaker” mode, hobbling its ability to respond to rapidly changing situations — a fourth wave of a deadly pandemic, for example.
Justin Trudeau is counting on his current lead in the polls to lock in his Liberal government for another four years. If 2020’s equally self-serving B.C. election called by Premier John Horgan is any indicator, Trudeau’s gamble likely will pay off.
Like every election, this one has a lot at stake and there is a civic responsibility on all of us now to learn where our would-be MPs stand.
The province’s Interior is in flames and our carbon gas emissions are headed in the wrong direction. We’ve taken on previously unthinkable levels of federal debt yet we still have an acute affordability crisis for working class folks in the Lower Mainland. And every election brings with it the potential for new and bold ideas that set our country on a better course.
Until the polls are closed, we will be bringing issues-based coverage and analysis of the local races. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to double check that they are registered to vote. Whether you prefer to vote on election day, in advance polls or via mail, elections.ca is the best place to start. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Sept. 14. The regret that comes from failing to exercise your franchise, however, has no expiry.
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