Jack Harris, the current New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, admits he still harbours some shock at his loss in the 2015 election in an upset to Liberal candidate Nick Whalen. That unplanned four-year sit-out was tough, he shared honestly.

“I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t done,” he said as we chatted on a bench in Bannerman Park.

In May 2019, Harris successfully sought the NDP nomination for St. John’s East for that year’s federal election and defeated Whalen, regaining his old seat. He was, he shared, back in his comfort zone once again.

Now, as Mary Shortall prepares to take over the reins, Harris shared it’s the right time. “I’ve decided that I’ve had an active political life. I’ve done 26 years if you total up the cumulative federal and provincial time. I think that’s a good run and I’ve made my contribution,” he said with a grin.

’A NICE CHANGE’

As for what he’s planning? Maybe a book if he feels up to it when the time comes to reflect, or maybe he’ll just take some time to smell the roses, he said.

“I’m at a time in life that it’s time to let me look at other things that I would be interested in doing or things that I had put off. Or maybe I’ll just enjoy what people called retirement. I suppose not having the obligations that come with an active, fully engaged political life might be different for me, but it also might be a nice change.”It has to be asked. Does he feel like he’s accomplished what he set out to do back in the early days? Any thoughts as he reflects on how the NDP never made stronger gains in the province?

POSSIBLE PRIME MINISTER

“It’s all very interesting. When you look back to when I was first considering running in 1987, when I ran for the first time, the New Democratic Party had only ever won one federal seat before and that was in the West Coast. So the prospect of that kind of success (being the first NDP premier) or even the prospect of having a long term political career as a New Democrat in Newfoundland and Labrador wasn’t an obvious solution to long-term employment,” he offered, again with a grin.

Considering the full political career he has had, it’s quite telling. There obviously was a place for Harris – and the NDP – in NL politics.

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“When you think about it and I think anyone who knows and understands politics and political thinking, most New Democrats actually think like the most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. What they see government being, what they feel the role of government and the importance of government is and the kind of things they want government to provide.” But, he continued, NL’s political history with Confederation and the things that came with it via the ruling Liberal Party; the social programs, for instance, led to the landscape we have.

We ask who he felt the best NDP leader was that he’s worked?

“I worked with great leaders. When I was first elected in 1987, Ed Broadbent was the leader. Then when I was elected again in 2008 federally, I was with Jack Layton. Jack was a great friend of mine and he was a great leader of the party, and we just had the tenth anniversary of his of his death on the 22nd of August. I think many would say and others would agree that if Jack Layton had lived, he very possibly could have become Prime Minister.”

PARTY OR THE PERSON?

But there’s been many strong leaders, he continued.

“Under Thomas Mulcair, we were … the official opposition. He was a great opposition leader. But we heard the true goal in 2013 while on the campaign was for voters to get rid of Harper, essentially. So that’s what got Trudeau in.”

And now? Jagmeet Singh is “coming into his own,” Harris says.

“He’s reaching people. People understand the great authentic empathy that he has. I think that’s a very big asset and he’s very focused. I think he’s got a lot of great qualities and he would make a great Prime Minister.”

We ask, traditionally, if Newfoundland & Labradorians vote for the person or the party. Both, he answered. “Speaking for St. John’s East, they want to see somebody who’s engaged at the national level, who speaks out for the province. Someone who has something to say. And I think that’s important. But the party is important, too in terms of the values.”

How important is it to have different voices at the federal table, a mix of all parties?

“We now have six Liberals representing Newfoundland and Labrador and one New Democrat. If we were to have seven of any one party, even seven New Democrats this time out, it would not be a good thing. When you have people on the government side, who can speak out?” The “good thing” about those elected from this province, he added, is that they make their voices heard.

UNFAIR NL TREATMENT

Harris mentions the vote in The House surrounding his private members’ motion on a federal dental care plan. Some of our provincial Liberal MPs voted to support the plan, essentially voting against their own party’s stance.

“The Liberal caucus voted against it. The Conservative caucus voted against it … but there were four out of the six Newfoundland MPs that voted for it. That signals how important it was to our province, and it didn’t matter what the party’s stance was.”

Harris reflects on “some of the greats” in federal politics. “John Crosbie’s ability to work within the federal system to get things going – he was a great politician. When we dealt with the disaster in 1992 of the cod moratorium and the need for a TAGs program, John Crosbie was able to be there and that wasn’t a favour from the government of Canada. We needed someone strong in Ottawa to help deliver that. Jack Pickersgill, of course. Joey (Smallwood) was smart to get Jack because he knew how the system worked. But no government of Canada has treated Newfoundland fairly, in my view.”

As we prepare to leave the park, one last question. Now what? “I’ll be unwinding a little bit. When you’re involved in politics at any level, really, you’re on call. You respond to people’s needs and respond to requests for comments. I was on Bell Island yesterday helping out our candidate, Mary Shortall, and I had to pause at the end of a busy day and sit on a park bench in front of the ferry to do an interview with someone in Vancouver for a national news report.”

So, once the election is over, he’s ready to rest, he added. “I’m of an age where most people do other things instead of being … on your game all the time. I see other things that I can do more of in terms of hobbies or pastimes or maybe I’ll sit down and trying to figure out whether I should write something about this life I’ve lived. But I don’t know.”

But he’s not really ever going to be done with politics on some level, he admitted with a somewhat sheepish grin.

“I see myself still being very interested in all things political, even if at a distance. Like, say from this park bench.”

To browse all of our election 2021 coverage, including extended versions of our magazine features, click here

Lorraine Michael took the pandemic lock-down in stride, she shared when we sat in her home to talk federal politics and election 2021.  With the Confederation Building steps away, and a glorious garden beckoning through the glass, it’s easy to see how Michael could enjoy some downtime.

‘I FELT PRIVILEGED’

After a long career in politics, with many ups and downs – from a cancer battle to caucus revolts to being named the most preferred political party leader in Canada – Michael said she enjoyed walking and talking to people who, while she was an in-demand politician and party leader, never gave her the time of day.

“I felt privileged. I have all the resources I need. I had nothing to worry about, except that I wanted to be very strict about not getting COVID because at 78 years old that would not have been good. But I was fine, and that’s the difference between having resources and not having resources. For a lot of people I know it was a horrible time.”That’s why elections, be they federal or provincial or municipal, matter, she added.

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She’s a little worried that there doesn’t seem to me much interest – yet.“I think the majority of people whom I’ve spoken with, even casually, are saying we shouldn’t be having this election.”

Looking at what’s happened in other provinces with low voter turnout – from British Columbia to Nova Scotia – Michael fears the same will happen federally.

“Delta’s (COVID variant) going crazy so I think it’s going to affect the overall vote in the country. I think the change in the poll that’s happening right now (drop in Liberal support) might be an indicator that people are not happy with the decision to hold an election.”

‘WONDERFUL LEADER’

While Michael added she hoped some of the NDP upswing was due to federal leader Jagmeet Singh, for her, there’s little doubt he is ready for the big job.

“I think he’s a wonderful leader. He’s a caring person. He comes across as someone who certainly understands people’s lives,” she said.

Still, it always seems that voters sway between red and blue.  “People insist on this thing that it’s either Liberal or Conservative, even though Liberals don’t deliver on what they say they’re going to deliver and the Conservatives right now are the most right wing Conservatives we’ve ever had. So I don’t know where people’s heads are … I wish people would really think about where their vote is going.”

‘THE SILENT SIX’

Do voters want labour issues raised in the House of Commons? Do they want the concerns of workers raised in the House of Commons? If yes, then there’s one choice, she added.

Always a straight shooter, Michael is forthright in her stance on politics, and politicians. On the six Liberals currently elected to represent the province?

“Oh, I think they’re proving to the province that not having political diversity is a bad thing. I think they’re called the silent six, aren’t they? And the silent six, I think, is exactly what they’ve been. When it comes to the needs of the people of this province and speaking out for the needs of the people in this province, six Liberals are not doing it.”

Strong voices are needed, she continued. “Historically, when a Prime Minister is paying any attention to us, it’s when we’ve had a strong voice in Ottawa, whether a Liberal or a Tory. John Crosbie, for example, comes to mind. When Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister and we got the Atlantic Accord, it was because the premier (Brian Peckford)we had and the people in Ottawa were supporting our premier. Brian Peckford was like a bulldog and he wasn’t going to give up and Brian Mulroney finally did deliver.”

So having a strong voice in Ottawa is really important, she continued.

“The silent six are showing that they’re not effective for us. I think Jack Harris has shown that having him in Ottawa has been good in terms of raising issues that we’re concerned about. But it’s not healthy having just one party represented from a province. Opposition is really important in our democratic system.”

Of course, Michael is respectful of anyone who answers the political calling, she added, but you don’t have to be on the government’s side to make an impression. “It’s important for all voices to be heard. And we, I think, have to move away from believing that you only have a voice if you’re a member of the party with the majority.”

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

If a minority government is the will of the people, let it be so, she continued.

As for the polls, Michael shared she’s skeptical. “In recent times, we see that the polls are not being accurate so from that perspective, they’re less important. While they can be indicators they have to be taken with a grain of salt.”

We ask if any Prime Minister, in her opinion, has been fair to Newfoundland and Labrador. “Brian Mulroney because of the pressures from Brian Tobin. I am not sure anybody else has been really kind to Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Michael brings up Muskrat Falls. Even the fact that the feds supported that was poor politics.

“Ottawa agreed to the loan guarantee without seeing red flags that were clearly there. Now, some would say that wasn’t Ottawa’s responsibility … but … I think Ottawa had a responsibility to really study what they were saying yes to. Ottawa, in my books, is a partner in what’s happening in Muskrat Falls.”

Michael had an interesting time in politics, of that there’s little doubt. When times were tough, support got her through. “I’m a strong feminist and I know how to surround myself with the support that I need and that support was always there even at the hardest of times.”

Michael has been helping Mary Shortall’s campaign, making calls and doing what she can to assist. There’s a personal and a political reason to that. Besides helping a fellow NDPer, there’s also the woman factor as well.

“I want to encourage women to go into politics, but also, when we go into politics, be ourselves. Continue being what we believe in.”

Michael added she will remain positive that voters will get out on election day. She also shared she hopes to see a few Newfoundland New Democrats heading to Ottawa.

‘WE NEED INTEGRITY’

“I’ve known Mary for over 30 years … and she’s a woman of integrity. And we need integrity in Ottawa. We need integrity in politics. Amy Norman in Labrador, she is another amazing young woman and it would be very interesting to see what could happen there. Amy is a person who has principles and she, too, is a person of integrity.”

Michael thinks back to the moment she herself decided to run for the leadership of the provincial NDP. Jack Harris had just announced he would be stepping down, and right there, in the midst of his press conference, she made the decision.

“I literally said, ‘I think the time has come. Who’s going to run? I’m going to run,’ and just like that, I became a politician. So that was that. There was no looking back.”

To browse all of our election 2021 coverage, including extended versions of our magazine features, click here

While out on an evening walk recently, I took the opportunity to feed my starving soul by engaging in some political talk.

On the evening of the first leaders’ debate, I simply hadn’t found anyone interested enough to engage in a back-and-forth over who should get in – or out –  and I was hard up for a bit of political banter.

I kicked it off by stating that, in my opinion, all the hate we were seeing directed at the Prime Minister likely didn’t represent the real feelings of the majority of Canadians. Or did it?

POLITICS IS PERSONAL

Admittedly, politics is personal, and as a Newfoundlander, I offered that I didn’t yet have the stink of Stephen Harper (you know, all that A.B.C stuff back in 2015) off me enough to even consider that the Conservatives could possibly form government – minority or otherwise – so it was likely that my version of fact was based on feelings more than anything.

My friend reminded me of the recent election in Nova Scotia where the Liberals, in power since 2013, were tossed as the PCs formed a majority government once the votes were counted.

Anyone who follows politics has heard the phrase; governments are voted out, not in. That’s certainly been true in this province and the country. It happened to Harper, and it happened to Paul Davis, though such strategic voting has been going on long before those elections. As I sat to reflect following the first leaders’ debate I thought about what I’d heard. Jabs were exchanged over mandatory vaccinations, for one thing.

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While Justin Trudeau said he wasn’t interested in mandating vaccinations, only in restricting privileges for those who don’t, he was also highly critical of Conservative leader Erin O’Toole — who along with his wife had previously contacted COVID-19 —  for not requiring his candidates to get vaccinated. So is it mandatory or not, my son? Climate change was another debated topic.

As Jagmeet Singh hammered the Liberal leader over missing targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reminding the PM that Canada has the worst results on emissions of all the G7 countries, Trudeau countered by saying that O’Toole planned to make things even worse for the country by reverting back to the targets established under Harper. (Cringe. There’s that name again).

As I went about my day — from the gas station to the grocery store to the liquor express — I tried to engage anyone and everyone in a political discussion to gauge for myself where people stand. If there were three Care Bears running to lead the country, the folks I spoke to couldn’t possibly care less.

POLLSTERS PREDICT?

What do the polls say? Those numbers are also confusing. Even as pollsters predict declining support for the party in power, one I poured over said that 61 per cent believe that Tenderheart will remain in power while 34 per cent believe Grumpy Bear will win. Another poll had the two neck-and-neck. As for Friend Bear? Well, expect some gains, but not enough to count, the experts say.

So, what’s the fact? We’ll know on election eve, I guess. The only thing I know for certain is this: the people who care, care barely and don’t vote this go-round are actually the ones deciding which of their don’t-care-bears win and which ones don’t. And that’s a shame. Don’t just bellyache; vote.

To check out all of our Election 2021 content, click here. To send in letters to the editor, email Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, at pghent@nfldherald.com

Carol Anstey is a busy lady. Businesswoman. Community-minded volunteer. Wife. Mom of four  – including twins – so why politics? The answer is somewhat complex, but it comes down to one thing: Because she cares.

“I’m an entrepreneur. I came from an entrepreneurial family. I’m a person who’s pretty passionate about being in the province and wanting to stay in the province too,” she added.

NL PASSION

Like many, her family left for Alberta in the 80s.

“When my parents were starting out, they had to move to Alberta for a couple of years. My parents were actually making plans to move again away from the province because they weren’t overly optimistic about being able to keep their family here and my grandmother overheard me talking to my mom and she said, ‘what do you want for passing this year?’ And I said, ‘I want to stay here in Newfoundland.’”

Her family began to make changes to do just that, and that included opening their own small business. “They worked really, really hard to build that business up so that we could stay here.”

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Later, Anstey felt she had to move away too once she finished university.

“We were in Alberta two and a half years just wanting to be home. And then when we were back home, (husband Dwayne) had to fly back and forth to Alberta as a rotational worker. All that has made me passionate about wanting to live here in the province.”

Being a mom has solidified that, she added. “As a mom with four children, I don’t want to see them have to move away. I think families that can stay together and have grandparents helping  … and earn a good income here in the province is something to feel passionate about. And I feel more people should have that ability.”

A BATTLE AHEAD

Anstey knows she has a battle ahead of her. The federal Conservatives have not traditionally done well of late, however, the riding the last federal election did show there was an appetite for change. So, why Erin O’Toole?

“I believe that people, when given the ability to thrive financially and economically … I think that that’s the way to create communities where young people and people who are just starting out can really make a difference.”

‘CONSERVATIVE LENS’
Looking at rural communities and one of the biggest things you notice is that a lot of people have had to move away, she shared.

“You’ve got mostly older people left and that makes it difficult for services to continue on in these rural areas … I really feel like the Conservatives have a platform that supports small business and helps out that person who wants to create a robust economic situation for themselves. I guess that’s why I sort of look through that Conservative lens.”

She added she also feels the swell of support to move from the same-old-same-old. “I think people want change. And I think that’s a good place to start from. I feel like I have something to offer.”

‘RESPECTED LEADERSHIP’

As for O’Toole, what is it about his leadership that she admires, we ask?

“This whole process of me getting involved has been happening for several months, even before I became the official candidate. And so it was really important to me, even before I threw my hat in the ring, that I did my own research.”

She spoke with other Conservative female MPS and she asked how O’Toole was in terms of his leadership.

“I felt like in order for me to face this big uphill battle, I sort of had to be completely in.”

She heard nothing but good things, she added. “I always heard that (other MPs) respected his leadership. They respected the fact that he wanted more women in his caucus.”

He also took the time to speak with her at length she added. “I think the impressive thing for me was it wasn’t all me, me, me and what he believed. He wanted to know what my thoughts were. He wanted to know what I was hearing at the doors. He was interested. He wanted to listen and was very down to earth.”

As to the current lay of the political landscape with six Liberals and one NDP candidate, that’s perhaps not the best, she added.

‘The Liberals have dominated the Atlantic region for a long time. So I guess I put the question back, has that been helpful? Because that’s certainly something that you hear a lot that that’s a  little bit of an older mindset where you had to be the same colour as the government in power, because that means that we’ll get more. And I don’t necessarily agree for obvious reasons.”

She added that voters need to expect more.

“What I would say is I think there’s been a certain level of complacency as far as the Atlantic provinces are concerned, because it’s always just been a way of life that people vote Liberal. I think it’s almost something that gets taken for granted and complacency sets in. It’s like, ‘OK, well, we’re secure there.  From a political perspective, maybe there doesn’t need to be a lot of emphasis as to how we’re going to help that area grow.’ That’s that’s my perspective on that.”

STRONG WORK ETHIC

What does she bring to the table?

“Well, I think there’s a couple of things. I don’t think I’m the typical type of person that you see step up and run in this arena, because I have a younger family. And I think that when you’re at this stage of your life – like I’m not winding into retirement – I still have a lot of passion around the issues. That’s one thing.”

A strong work ethic is another.

“In every area of my life, whether it was having twins or growing a business or everything that I’ve ever been involved in, I do feel like I work really hard and it’s really important to me to do a good job. I think I will bring that to the table.”

She knows this isn’t going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

“In order for me to do this, it’s going to take a lot of hard work because I’m pushing against a mindset right now. I feel like I’ve had opportunity in my life to work in a lot of different sectors and for that reason, I feel like I’m in tune with some of the obstacles and struggles that the people in the riding are going through.”

Top concerns? “Some of our rural communities have some real big challenges. And some of those are access to health care, rising cost of living for our seniors, a lack of economic growth and opportunity, and just a lot of frustration, especially around the fishing industry. In a lot of these rural communities, that’s the anchor. So I feel like (fishing) is a big area of concern in the riding. And the other issue is the outmigration issue. We’ve had a declining population since 2006, and that’s something that we should all be paying attention to.”

‘ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY’

There are things that can change, she said. “I think that comes down to people wanting to have economic opportunity in the province. I can tell you, as a small business owner, one of the big things that I see is that with help and support, small businesses can start employing more people and really get anchored into their community and that needs attention.”

What’s her hope? That her hard work pays off and that she gets an opportunity to give back.

“I think as a business person, all that work lead up to this point in my life, I’ve had to learn balance. The longer you’re at it, the better you get at it. This is no different than anything else. You have to want it.”

Any last message, we ask?

“I would just say I think this is an important election. I think we have a unique opportunity. A lot of people want to come home. And I think if we pull up our socks and get to work and try to create a better economic environment, I think we’ve got a real opportunity to see some good things happen.”

To learn more about Carol Anstey, click here. To browse all of our election 2021 coverage, including extended versions of our magazine features, click here

Mary Shortall is positioned to replace Jack Harris as the New Democratic Party candidate for the riding of St. John’s East in the upcoming federal election. While many know Shortall as a fearless labour leader, what is it about the woman seeking the high-profile position? Meet Mary Shortall.

THE PUBLIC EYE

Shortall is no stranger to being in the public eye. The outgoing president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour has been a fixture in the provincial labour movement for many years. Shortall has been involved in the NDP for decades, but never as a candidate and when she heard Jack Harris would be stepping down just as her term as president was ending, she shared she felt the time was right.

Shortall has said publicly that economic recovery, climate change, health care and long-term care are some of the main issues she’s been hearing about so far at the doors, but when we sat down to speak, what she says is having the most impact are the individual stories. From dental concerns to having to choose between food and medications, Shortall shared she’s heard it all, and she knows what needs to happen.

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“From my past positions and experiences, I have some familiarity with how federal government leadership is so important to how we make change at the provincial and territorial level as well, and it really hits home when you go door to door and you hear the stories first hand,” she said.

Why is she running? We ask.

“I think Jack (Harris) being the MP that held that St. John’s East seat for a number of years, even though there was a break in between, was critical to how the issues – for not just the people of St. John’s East, but the people of Newfoundland and Labrador – how their voice was heard, and how they were included in the discussions that have to happen at the government level before a change happens,” she said. Having seven seats from the same party sent to Ottawa isn’t the best options, she added.

‘JAGMEET SINGH & THE NDP’

“It’s been mentioned at the door that we wouldn’t have had the same amount of money available to people in benefits during the pandemic … if not for Jagmeet Singh and the New Democrats. The NDP was able to pressure the government and put things on the radar of the government in power, things like dental care, something that’s not just important here but throughout the country. Those things would never have been on the radar if it wasn’t for that other voice,” she said.

If all the voices are the same, there’s a piece missing, she added.

“The NDP is recognized as a voice for working families, a voice that will bring concerns forward to government. And that’s really important.”

We ask if she’s finding people engaged as she’s going door to door considering there’s also a municipal election happening and we’re not long finished a provincial one. “I was actually surprised because I know people have voter fatigue when we’ve been in election mode forever. It seems nobody really wanted the election to be called except Justin Trudeau so I was anticipating a lot of push back at the door. But people are aware of the issues. I’ve been on the doors every single day, and I have heard maybe one person say, ‘I’m not voting. I just I’m done with it.’ People are asking questions about mail-in ballots. They are asking questions about special ballots. Young people are excited about voting. Seniors don’t want to ever not vote. I’m feeling positive,” she shared.

WHO I AM

We ask Shortall, who has been in the public eye now for many years if there’s something about her she’d like to share with readers.

“With me, the personal side is the political side. I wear a little bit of everything on my sleeve. I am who I am.” She’s been asked many times where she gets her energy, she added, and it comes from many places. “I spend a great deal of my day, every day, representing people, either as a union representative or now representing people as a candidate in a federal election. I have always done that. I don’t know another life, really. I’ve always had a very busy, full life. And it has become me. It’s not my job, it’s actually my life and who I am.”

Of course, she does take downtime too. She enjoys exercising and hiking and walking – and riding her orange Harley.

Because of her many varied interests, she says she’s found pockets of support in interesting places. “I was a fitness instructor as a volunteer for many, many years. I was involved in the Women’s Center. I’ve been a community activist. I follow a plant-based vegan diet to stay healthy. I enjoy hiking to relieve stress. I love riding my motorcycle, my orange Harley-Davidson, which I got because they are union-made, and I’m finding that people who’ve met me or who know me from all these different facets of my life are offering support.”

On the personal side, she shared the secret to her inner joy and peace.

“I really enjoy getting out on my bike, because when you ride a motorcycle – and I usually ride with other people, I don’t often ride by myself – but you can’t focus on anything else except riding that bike because it’s just so important for safety. You’re not always visible. Even a bright orange motorcycle sometimes is invisible, so riding gives you a chance to absolutely clear your mind. It’s just you and the road in the wind. You clear your mind and that’s a great stress reliever for me. Plus it’s pretty exciting,” she laughed.

‘LIFE IS INTERESTING’

Thinking on the life she’s lived and the support she’s been blessed to receive, she smiled.

“Life is interesting. If you didn’t have that time to get out on your motorcycle, you wouldn’t have that stress reliever, if you didn’t hike, you wouldn’t be able to clear your mind the same way to give you the energy to move forward.

“If I didn’t follow a healthy lifestyle, I might not have the energy to do what I do or have the passion that what I do takes. And if I didn’t talk to the people who I talk to every day in my life, I wouldn’t be as inspired to do what I do, because those are the people who propped me up and lift me up and give me the passion that I believe I have to do what I do and to follow through.”

‘A PERSONAL IMPACT’

As to what she has to offer, it’s helping her fellow Canadians receive “care from their head to their toes when they need it, because that’s what our country has been built upon,” she said.

“I’m very proud to represent issues that have a personal impact. I believed in them before I became a candidate and I believe in them as a candidate. The promise I’ve made to people at my nomination meeting and at the doorstep is that I will listen and I will be that voice. And I promise to put those issues forward and work as hard as I can to make sure that whoever’s in power in government understands the importance of those issues not just to the people of St. John’s East, but also to the people of the province.”

To learn more about Mary Shortall, click here. To browse all of our election 2021 coverage, including extended versions of our magazine features, click here

Dear Editor,

The Justin Trudeau Federal Liberals are determined to call an early election in the late summer, September 20th of this year! But do we want or need another federal election two years after the previous one (2019)? I say absolutely “NO!” This is not the time to have an unnecessary election in Canada! Why? Let me explain the main reasons why we don’t need an election at this time.

Reason #1

Canada, as well as the whole world, is in the midst of the fourth wave of the COVID 19 pandemic. While most Canadians have already received their first vaccine while others have both thus being “fully vaccinated” there is a great number of our fellow Canadians who are unvaccinated and there are cases of a stronger and highly contagious COVID 19 Variants, especially the  Delta variant outbreaks throughout different parts of our country. Even those who are fully vaccinated can still be affected by the variants. And, let’s not forget many Canadians will end up needing a COVID 19 “booster” shot due to their weak immune systems.

Yes, I can see that we are nearing the light at the end of the tunnel, but we’re not out of the woods yet. We don’t want to see another Newfoundland & Labrador winter election situation with numerous delays; mail-in voting issues, inaccessible voting, and low voter turnout.

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Reason #2

Our Federal Liberal government has a lot of unfinished business to do. Rather than have an unnecessary election, I would like to see our federal parliamentarians work on the real issues that affect most Canadians nowadays – the current coronavirus pandemic, fully implementing pharmacare, and basic livable income,  dental care, mental health, reconciliation with indigenous communities, investigating residential schools abuse, climate change and so on.

Our current federal Liberal Government ought to be more concerned about these real issues than looking after their own Liberal partisan interests. I do agree with both opposition leaders NDP’s Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Erin O’Toole that this is not the time to hold a federal election.

Reason #3

In 2019, The Federal Liberals were re-elected back into power, this time in a minority government situation. They have received a mandate to govern until 2022 or 2023 provided there is no “non-confidence” motion in parliament. Jagmeet Singh is right there; no non-confidence vote from the political opposition, especially from the New Democrats.

So in other words, our liberal minority government enjoys the confidence of parliament. While our new Governor-General Mary Simon may go along with Prime Minister Trudeau’s wish to call for an early election, she ought to say no.

This isn’t the right time! Canadian and British parliamentary history is full of cases where the reigning monarch or the Governor-General has gone against the dissolution of parliament for the one simple reason that such an early election goes against the nation’s interest.

Moreover, Her Excellency should point out to Prime Minister Trudeau that Parliament in 2007 adopted Bill-C16 which stipulates that a Federal General Election will take place on the fourth calendar year after the previous poll (October 21, 2019). And, she should remind the Prime Minister about parliament’s near-unanimous approval last May of a motion not to hold an election during the pandemic which he himself supported!

As of now, the Trudeau Liberals are up in the polls, but an early election may not guarantee a Majority Liberal Government. Instead, one of the opposition parties may end up winning a minority or even a majority government or we will end up having another Liberal Minority Government.

Justin Trudeau should ask former Ontario Liberal Premier David Peterson and the former Ontario NDP leader and now fellow Liberal Bob Rae what can happen during an early election? Anything in Politics can happen between August 15th and the expected September 20th election day!

So all I can say to my Federal Liberal friends, be careful what you may wish for!

– Edward Sawdon

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