There must be something in the water or air with the recent outbreak of provincial elections in Canada and the possibility of a federal election; It seems voters want to axe existing governments to seek change.
Close to home, the Saskatchewan Party won its fifth-straight provincial election on Oct. 28, but with a reduced majority. The final count won’t be posted until on Nov. 9 with the Sask Party leading in 35 ridings while the NDP has 26.
The reduced majority could help make Premier Scott Moe’s government more responsive to voter issues on education, healthcare and affordability.
In British Columbia, the NDP won a single-seat majority in its provincial election on Oct. 19. The win came after the Surrey-Guildford riding flipped during the counting of absentee, telephone-assisted and mail-in ballots.
B.C. voters also sought change as well, but you can’t really say the province is New Democrat when the election outcome is that close.
Susan Holt became the first woman premier of New Brunswick as her Liberal Party ousted the Progressive Conservatives in power and its leader too. The Liberals won 31 seats to 16 for the PCs.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially ruled out an election this year, but continues to mull the possibility of an early ballot sometime in 2025.
Federally, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is appealing to voters with his catchy pre-election ad slogans like “axe the tax,” “build homes’’, “fix the budget’ and “stop the crime”.
Some critics, however, mock his slogans and claim, if elected, he will “axe the dental” and “axe the pharmacare” etc.
Poilievre’s pitches seem very simplistic and “magic wandy” to me. I don’t see how he can axe the carbon tax since it’s a huge revenue generator. He might be able to cap it, but not fully cut it in reality.
However, his slogans have touched a nerve as Canadians face affordability, security and housing worries along with a wish to put the brakes on immigrants. I can see the Trudeau Liberals being dumped as a result. I just bought myself an axe, too!
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