Fred, these lines in your outstanding article caught my attention: "Because Trump didn’t just start a trade war. He changed the test Canadian politicians are being graded on."
And the thing that stands out to me is that PP is failing the test and has a grade of "F." The recent by-election results certainly indicate broad support for our PM. The pathetic results for the CPC point to the huge unpopularity of PP. I and many others find him very unlikeable, and IMHO, the CPC will continue to be unelectable with him as leader. Canadians sure dodged a bullet in our last federal election.
Yes, and I have never missed a vote (municipal, provincial, federal) since I was able to vote. But PP is NOT doing his party any favours by remaining as leader. They must have people far more competent, knowledgeable, and equipped with life experience gained by working different jobs, than him, to have as the party leader.
I find your post interesting from a different perspective. I follow the 338Canada poling results quite frequently, and all your numbers are correct, of course. But in our current and not-likely-to-change-any-time-soon method of vote counting, that translates into 228 Liberals seats and just 88 Conservatives seats with a smattering of PQ, NDP and Green, which is a far greater lead than the 13% difference in the poll percentages. That more accurately reflects the winners under a Proportional Representation system.
Which should be a strong argument for proportional representation/ voting. I do wish we had all parties pushing for electoral reforms. One can only dream.
When voters see that the going has got tough I think they tend to approve of competence and a determination to fight their corner.
Trump tried to make it tough. Canadians we're offended. Carney kick back hard, fast and effectively. Then he went on a spree building better new friends for Canada.
I don't think many countries would not love a leader like that. We're all jealous.
I'd like to think that we've ready to Move Beyond the shifting alliances to the future, where we can not only survive but plot a course of responsibility, to and for humanity in a changing world.
Unfortunately, we're in a period of Reformation, taking our energy to formulate the way forward, with people of similar vision...
But, our current rallying around Carney and his vocalizations of a plan is just a rare moment in time, where we can agree on a general direction. We are choosing to move forward, sitting at a table! Not on someone else's menu or idea of how We should meet the future!
I agree that it’s exciting to actually see not just the possibility for change but to actually see some changes to how Canada is doing stuff. Time will tell if this will work, but early indications are that things are moving and hopefully more progress will be made.
Another thing pushing the needle hard is the Conservative turn toward the extreme right. Most Canadians do not like fundamentalist religious rhetoric and find it repellant. Christian nationalism will not fly in this country.
We also don't respond well to the "bash the other side" sloganeering that the US and PP are so fond of. Now that the US is being ultra aggressive, we find it repugnant.
The overwhelming majority of Canadians like having access to abortion, gay marriage, legal weed, etc. Live and let live, knock it off with the judgy stuff. The separation of church and government is very much a Canadian demand.
Interesting point. I know for myself, my politics have shifted much more dramatically that I ever thought possible over the past few years. Both because of how I expect leaders to behave on the world stage, and the policies that are at front of mind.
The lean toward US style politics has bothered me for a while. With it blowing up in their faces down South, I am hopeful that our own "far right" will reign it in a bit. Get back to the old conservatives that were more about the economy and less about policing what's in people's underpants. What they are doing now is landing like a bad joke.
Interestingly, when it come to competence or incompetence as the case may be. Smith in Alberta, Montana in Saskatchewan and lastly Ford in Ontario are all in a neck-and-neck race for most incompetent Premier in Canada. Currently it is far too close to call.
Now onto municipal elections. We here in Ontario are in this process right now. Election day, October 26th is not far off. I happened to be in Niagara Falls this morning. Seeing the election signs sprouting up everywhere is indicative of the process we are about to undergo.
I am utterly gobsmacked by the number of supporters of "right leaning" candidates. The current mayor is firmly in the pocket of Doug Ford. There are a number of sons and daughters of former die hard Conservatives also running. Maves, Baldenelli, and others that are clearly small "c" conservative. Except those small c conservatives are preaching some clearly fascist thinking. I am guessing that their offspring who are running in this municipal election hold similar views.
So, if Canadians are rejecting conservatism at the federal level, why is it seemingly so strong at the municipal level.
The move of our nation to the political right, at ANY level of government is truly distressing.
In the past decade or so, conservatives have demo started that they do not like immigrants, do not vote to support increasing spending on Healthcare or education. Whine and complain if their taxes increase but happily use the electrical and water and sewer systems.
I must admit that my bias against conservatives is growing. I also notice that their utter disregard for anyone else is astounding.
I sincerely hope that in the forthcoming municipal election in Ontario we start to have a very hard look at where these candidates want to take our towns and cities.
Currently u Der Conservative leadership that is nowhere good.
Ms. Findlay sounds like a PP acolyte; 'I'm not going anywhere'. Just like PP continuing to occupy free housing in Ottawa when he has done NOTHING to improve this country.
What an absolute pile of crap! We're not anti-American. Most Canadians (read the polls, Eric) are anti-MAGA and cannot stand Donald Trump. We cannot fathom how he could have been elected for a second time, given the horrific events of January 6th. Many Americans are disgusted with MAGA, Trump, and his sycophants as well. We're hopeful that the American voters will come to their senses in the November midterms, and a tsunami of Democratic victories will occur. Even if this should occur, and because we are so informed, we're not so naive as to assume that our relationship with the US will miraculously improve once Trump is gone. We read posts like Geezer Wise to expand our knowledge of important current events. So, elbows up, and we'll continue, in large numbers, to support our hard-working and totally competent PM Mark Carney. With all due respect, Eric, you're the one who's utterly ignorant.
It might be reasonable inferred from that sentence, and from the posters you subscribe to, that the ignorance to which you refer is ignorance of your personal version of reality, and which version is not in accord with that of most everyone else. It is astounding that people do not believe in a flat earth, when all they have to do is look out the window.
Pro-Canadian does not equal anti-American, FYI. And PM Carney is enjoying such a high level of support because he has a long term vision to diversify our partnerships with trustworthy countries who are not overtly hostile to us. In other words, he’s taking concrete actions to safeguard our sovereignty and keep Canada Canadian.
I’m not sure where your disdain for the elbows up movement comes from. It’s just Canadians taking action at the grass roots level to protect our economy and thwart the US economic coercion.
Again, it’s not anti-American; it’s Canadian patriotism, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Fred, these lines in your outstanding article caught my attention: "Because Trump didn’t just start a trade war. He changed the test Canadian politicians are being graded on."
And the thing that stands out to me is that PP is failing the test and has a grade of "F." The recent by-election results certainly indicate broad support for our PM. The pathetic results for the CPC point to the huge unpopularity of PP. I and many others find him very unlikeable, and IMHO, the CPC will continue to be unelectable with him as leader. Canadians sure dodged a bullet in our last federal election.
Jerry, that’s exactly the line I keep coming back to.
I’m less interested in what team Canadians say they belong to than in what they now expect from their leaders.
Trump changed the test.
The polling and by-elections suggest voters are paying attention to who they believe can handle it.
Bang on. PP has to go.
The voters will ultimately decide that, Leslie.
But right now, the numbers are certainly giving the CPC something to think about.
Yes, and I have never missed a vote (municipal, provincial, federal) since I was able to vote. But PP is NOT doing his party any favours by remaining as leader. They must have people far more competent, knowledgeable, and equipped with life experience gained by working different jobs, than him, to have as the party leader.
I find your post interesting from a different perspective. I follow the 338Canada poling results quite frequently, and all your numbers are correct, of course. But in our current and not-likely-to-change-any-time-soon method of vote counting, that translates into 228 Liberals seats and just 88 Conservatives seats with a smattering of PQ, NDP and Green, which is a far greater lead than the 13% difference in the poll percentages. That more accurately reflects the winners under a Proportional Representation system.
Good point, David.
That’s one of the quirks of our first-past-the-post system...
a national polling lead can turn into a much bigger seat advantage depending on where those votes are concentrated.
The 13-point gap tells one story; the seat projection tells another.
And that’s why I’m watching where the movement is happening, not just the national number.
Which should be a strong argument for proportional representation/ voting. I do wish we had all parties pushing for electoral reforms. One can only dream.
And that’s a whole other conversation worth having, Kalyrn.
Our voting system can turn a fairly modest difference in popular vote into a huge difference in seats.
Whether we change it or not, Canadians should at least understand how the damn thing works.
When voters see that the going has got tough I think they tend to approve of competence and a determination to fight their corner.
Trump tried to make it tough. Canadians we're offended. Carney kick back hard, fast and effectively. Then he went on a spree building better new friends for Canada.
I don't think many countries would not love a leader like that. We're all jealous.
That’s exactly what I think we’re seeing.
When things get serious, competence starts mattering more than political theatre.
Canadians felt threatened, and suddenly the question became less “What team are you on?” and more “Who can handle this?”
Thanks for the view from across the pond, my friend.🏴
So Canadians are voting on based on competence to run Canada, rather than by party.
Jane, you just summed up my whole article in one sentence. 😂
That’s exactly what I think may be happening...
less loyalty to the jersey, more attention to who Canadians believe can actually do the job when it matters.
That’s exactly how I chose to vote. I knew what we had in PP and I was NOT voting him into the PMO.
And that’s the shift I’m talking about, Stacy.
You weren’t voting for a jersey... you were deciding who you trusted with the job.
I suspect a lot of Canadians made exactly that calculation.
I'd like to think that we've ready to Move Beyond the shifting alliances to the future, where we can not only survive but plot a course of responsibility, to and for humanity in a changing world.
Unfortunately, we're in a period of Reformation, taking our energy to formulate the way forward, with people of similar vision...
But, our current rallying around Carney and his vocalizations of a plan is just a rare moment in time, where we can agree on a general direction. We are choosing to move forward, sitting at a table! Not on someone else's menu or idea of how We should meet the future!
That last thought nails it for me, Bernie.
Canada doesn’t need to withdraw from the world...
we need to decide for ourselves how we participate in it.
Sitting at the table as an independent country, not appearing on somebody else’s menu.
That’s a direction Canadians from a lot of different political backgrounds can rally around.
I agree that it’s exciting to actually see not just the possibility for change but to actually see some changes to how Canada is doing stuff. Time will tell if this will work, but early indications are that things are moving and hopefully more progress will be made.
Exactly, Kalyrn.
I’m encouraged by the direction, but I’m not hanging the “Mission Accomplished” banner yet. 😄
Plans are one thing.
Results are what count.
For now, though, Canada does seem to be moving instead of simply reacting...
and that’s a welcome change.
Another thing pushing the needle hard is the Conservative turn toward the extreme right. Most Canadians do not like fundamentalist religious rhetoric and find it repellant. Christian nationalism will not fly in this country.
We also don't respond well to the "bash the other side" sloganeering that the US and PP are so fond of. Now that the US is being ultra aggressive, we find it repugnant.
The overwhelming majority of Canadians like having access to abortion, gay marriage, legal weed, etc. Live and let live, knock it off with the judgy stuff. The separation of church and government is very much a Canadian demand.
That gets at another part of the question...
not just what Canadians want their government to do, but what kind of politics they’re willing to tolerate.
I think the interesting thing now is watching whether voters are moving because their policies have changed...
or because their expectations of political leadership have changed.
That distinction matters.
Interesting point. I know for myself, my politics have shifted much more dramatically that I ever thought possible over the past few years. Both because of how I expect leaders to behave on the world stage, and the policies that are at front of mind.
The lean toward US style politics has bothered me for a while. With it blowing up in their faces down South, I am hopeful that our own "far right" will reign it in a bit. Get back to the old conservatives that were more about the economy and less about policing what's in people's underpants. What they are doing now is landing like a bad joke.
The old relationship with the USA is over. Aside from basic trade, I don't see the level of trust we had return.
That’s the part I keep coming back to... trust.
Governments change, but once a country learns that dependence can become leverage, you don’t simply forget the lesson.
Whatever happens next, I think Canada will keep building more options.
Interestingly, when it come to competence or incompetence as the case may be. Smith in Alberta, Montana in Saskatchewan and lastly Ford in Ontario are all in a neck-and-neck race for most incompetent Premier in Canada. Currently it is far too close to call.
Now onto municipal elections. We here in Ontario are in this process right now. Election day, October 26th is not far off. I happened to be in Niagara Falls this morning. Seeing the election signs sprouting up everywhere is indicative of the process we are about to undergo.
I am utterly gobsmacked by the number of supporters of "right leaning" candidates. The current mayor is firmly in the pocket of Doug Ford. There are a number of sons and daughters of former die hard Conservatives also running. Maves, Baldenelli, and others that are clearly small "c" conservative. Except those small c conservatives are preaching some clearly fascist thinking. I am guessing that their offspring who are running in this municipal election hold similar views.
So, if Canadians are rejecting conservatism at the federal level, why is it seemingly so strong at the municipal level.
The move of our nation to the political right, at ANY level of government is truly distressing.
In the past decade or so, conservatives have demo started that they do not like immigrants, do not vote to support increasing spending on Healthcare or education. Whine and complain if their taxes increase but happily use the electrical and water and sewer systems.
I must admit that my bias against conservatives is growing. I also notice that their utter disregard for anyone else is astounding.
I sincerely hope that in the forthcoming municipal election in Ontario we start to have a very hard look at where these candidates want to take our towns and cities.
Currently u Der Conservative leadership that is nowhere good.
Colin, you’ve raised the part I find most interesting...
Canadians don’t necessarily vote the same way at every level of government.
Someone can support one party federally and make a completely different choice provincially or municipally.
That’s another reason I’m reluctant to call what we’re seeing a simple move left or right.
Something more complicated is going on... and that’s worth watching.
Leadership matters. When we see it, we recognize it. When we need it, we reward it.
Exactly, Lee.
And when the pressure goes up, I think we recognize the difference between leadership and political theatre pretty damn quickly.
Yessss! When the winds come up, we look for the steady tiller…!!
Exactly, Sue.
When the water gets rough, nobody asks which party built the boat.
We want somebody who knows how to steer the damn thing. 😄
Absolutely! And in the right direction !
Ms. Findlay sounds like a PP acolyte; 'I'm not going anywhere'. Just like PP continuing to occupy free housing in Ottawa when he has done NOTHING to improve this country.
I hear the frustration, Leslie. 😄
What interests me more is how long political leaders can keep saying “I’m not going anywhere” when the numbers around them are moving.
Ultimately, voters get the last word.
Yet she resigned today. 🤷🏻♀️
The abysmal ignorance of the elbows up, anti American, low information, Carney supportive crowd truly astounds me.
Eric, disagreement is welcome here. But “low information” doesn’t tell me much.
Pick something in the article you believe I got wrong, bring me the facts, and we’ll have a conversation about it.
That’s how this place works.
What an absolute pile of crap! We're not anti-American. Most Canadians (read the polls, Eric) are anti-MAGA and cannot stand Donald Trump. We cannot fathom how he could have been elected for a second time, given the horrific events of January 6th. Many Americans are disgusted with MAGA, Trump, and his sycophants as well. We're hopeful that the American voters will come to their senses in the November midterms, and a tsunami of Democratic victories will occur. Even if this should occur, and because we are so informed, we're not so naive as to assume that our relationship with the US will miraculously improve once Trump is gone. We read posts like Geezer Wise to expand our knowledge of important current events. So, elbows up, and we'll continue, in large numbers, to support our hard-working and totally competent PM Mark Carney. With all due respect, Eric, you're the one who's utterly ignorant.
Jerry, the distinction between being anti-American and opposing the actions of an American administration is important.
I’ve got no quarrel with Americans.
I do have a quarrel with policies that I believe hurt Canada.
Those are two very different things... and elbows up doesn’t require hating anybody.
It might be reasonable inferred from that sentence, and from the posters you subscribe to, that the ignorance to which you refer is ignorance of your personal version of reality, and which version is not in accord with that of most everyone else. It is astounding that people do not believe in a flat earth, when all they have to do is look out the window.
😂 Brad, I’m going to leave you two to debate the shape of the planet.
I’ve already invited Eric to show me what I got wrong in the article.
If he brings facts, I’m listening.
Pro-Canadian does not equal anti-American, FYI. And PM Carney is enjoying such a high level of support because he has a long term vision to diversify our partnerships with trustworthy countries who are not overtly hostile to us. In other words, he’s taking concrete actions to safeguard our sovereignty and keep Canada Canadian.
I’m not sure where your disdain for the elbows up movement comes from. It’s just Canadians taking action at the grass roots level to protect our economy and thwart the US economic coercion.
Again, it’s not anti-American; it’s Canadian patriotism, and there’s nothing wrong with that.