It's down to the final dirty weekend. After what feels like one of the longest election campaigns in recent history, Canadian politicians have two days left with which to sway voters. The big question of the election has switched from; would the Conservatives be able to convince enough Canadians that the Liberals are too corrupt to rule anymore? To, have the Liberals been able to frighten enough people away from the Conservatives to prevent them from winning a majority government?
Polls at the beginning of this past week were showing support for the Conservatives inching into majority territory with their lead peaking at ten percent higher than the Liberals. As the week progressed that lead gradually began to erode again until it fell back into minority government land.
The fact that all poles are only accurate within a plus or minus 3% range means that both results are still equally possible. But the impression one got from the way the polls were conducted and released is that the public looked at the possibility of a Conservative majority and started backing away.
It's no coincidence that Paul Martin (Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal party) has spent the past week bashing away at the Conservative social agenda. Reminding people that the Conservatives are anti-choice, anti-gay marriage, and pretty much anti-anything else he can think of.
Steven Harper hasn't helped himself in that one with his speculation about the courts and their influence on legislation. Seeing how it was the courts that paved the way for gay marriage, and freedom of choice for women he was supplying a little bit of fuel for that fire. It might explain why he's turned back to attacking the Liberal party's lack of integrity.
This has been a campaign that has been mysteriously devoid of issues. Oh sure people will occasionally mention stuff like tax cuts, spending proposals or whatever, but it just doesn't seem like anyone really has their heart in it. Everybody knows that it’s going to come down to whether or not Canadians are going to be willing to entrust their country to Steven Harper and the Conservatives.
Obviously the Conservatives have gotten that message loud and clear. Somebody has gone around with a role of duct tape and sealed everybody's mouth in the party except for Stephen Harper. The Conservatives have imposed on the national consciousness the idea that no one else aside from him is running for the party.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
You typically don't think of Canadian politicans as hitting below the belt, or maybe that's just an American perception.
2 - gypsyman
Nah, our guys just say please and thank you, politness counts don't you know...
gypsyman
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Gypsyman,
In a different post, you implied that you were once close to the NDP. Are they your party of choice, or are you just holding your nose as you prepare to vote?
4 - gypsyman
Vote, you mean I have to vote in this mess?
gypsyman
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
When was the last time the Conservatives were in power?
6 - Triniman
The Conservatives were last in power in 1993. Kim Campbell took over from Brian Mulroney in June and in the October election, they were reduced to 2 seats with the Liberals under Jean Chretien winning the first of his three consecutive majority governments.
7 - RJ Elliott
For American readers:
A Conservative is like a Republican, except more liberal.
A Liberal is like a Democrat, except more liberal.
The NDP is like a socialist party, except - er, well, they're pretty much a socialist party.
And the Greens are just the Greens, regardless of what country they run in. They are watermelons - Green on the outside, and Red on the inside. Basically, it's the present-day ComIntern.
8 - gypsyman
RJ: That's not bad, in fact you nailed it pretty much on the money save for the Conservatives have moved a lot closer to middle of the road republicans than they used to be, and have now started to incorporate more of conservative Christian agenda which never used to play here at all, (still doesn't which is why they've muzzeled all their candidates this election)
This Conservative party has never held power. They are not the same party that was in power under Brain Mulroney..This is a party that is made up of primarly members of what used to be the Reform party...very much like the Republicans, including very conservative socially.
The two parties mereged prior to the last election, after ten years or so of sniping at each other. Quite a few of the old Progressive Conservative party people did not make the journy over to the further right Conservative party of Canda; and in fact filed court papers to try and prevent the name Conservative being used by the new party.
This will be their first time in government, none of them have experience as federal cabinet ministers I don't think, or if they do they are left overs from Brian Mulroney's days. They lack the experience to run a minority government effectively, so if they are not careful this could be the kiss of death for them.
gypsyman
9 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
"This Conservative party has never held power. They are not the same party that was in power under Brain Mulroney..This is a party that is made up of primarly members of what used to be the Reform party...very much like the Republicans, including very conservative socially.
The two parties mereged prior to the last election, after ten years or so of sniping at each other. Quite a few of the old Progressive Conservative party people did not make the journy over to the further right Conservative party of Canda; and in fact filed court papers to try and prevent the name Conservative being used by the new party."
Thank you Gypsyman. Not listening to "As It Happens" for 5 years has really cost me...
10 - gypsyman
Ruvy,
You should be able to pick up "As It Happens" on C.B.C. short wave/ or international. Or try cbc.ca they have feeds of all the shows there, including live broadcasts...of course that means you'd have to listen to the C.B.C. in the middle of the night...what time is it there when it's 6:30 pm here? figure it out and go online to Radio one or two and listen away
gypsyman
11 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
When it is noon in Toronto, it is 19:00 in Jerusalem - that means staying up till 03:30 to pick up "As It happens" live. I'll have to settle for the feeds from cbc.ca.
Thanks. Let us know who you voted for tomorrow - if you vote, that is...