Last week’s federal election results can be summed up by the French proverb: “the more things change the more they stay the same.” Lessons can be drawn from the results of re-electing a minority Liberal government.
With five of the last seven federal elections resulting in minority governments it is safe to say that Canadians prefer minority governments.
Minority governments should, in theory, provide legislation better suited to voters’ needs. Minority governments in the 1960s gave Canadians the Canada Pension Plan and public Medicare – two popular pillars of our lifestyle today.
It is doubtful if Canadians can count on minority regimes giving us better legislation this time around, simply because of the acrimonious atmosphere between political parties.
Sarcastic attacks on the prime minister will continue and Liberals will respond in kind. Unfortunately, the Golden Rule isn’t practised in politics.
Given his new minority Justin Trudeau can put through programming without considering the opposition parties. For they don’t have the money to fight another election. Nor do they want to raise the ire of voters by defeating government and forcing an election so soon after this one.
Yet it seems the message voters sent on election night was for the politicians to put aside their differences and work things out. A trip out behind the wood shed for a paddling would be in order.
The situation gives Trudeau the green light to proceed with his programs and deficits. Significant issues may be addressed.
After 20 years of Liberal promises the first steps toward a national low cost day care program will be taken.
Housing affordability, climate change and inflation can be addressed.
How the issues are addressed becomes important. The federal government’s debt has jumped to $1.2 trillion, about half of the country’s income production.
Around one-third of that debt has been accumulated in the last few years with pandemic spending accounting for most.
The ambitious promised programs will continue large annual deficits for the foreseeable future.
Plans to tax insurance companies, banks and the wealthy won’t raise as much tax revenue as thought. Extra taxes just spur the wealthy to spend more on legally avoiding taxes.
At least Canadian voters didn’t choose the party with the most expensive promises, settling instead for the middle cost of the three major party platforms.
Serious issues from handling the pandemic to day care, seniors’ pensions, homelessness, housing availability and affordability to climate change are now the most important matters facing this government.
Managing voter expectations is an issue that government must face.
It is the old story of “how do you keep them down on the farm once they’ve seen the bright lights of the city?”
Given the short time frame to develop COVID-19 vaccines, given the tonnes of cash poured into workers and businesses to avoid a depression, many voters wonder why can’t we solve other problems that fast.
Satisfying voters without turning the country’s finances into a near bankruptcy will occupy politics, unless the government continues its spending spree.
Instead of congratulating Justin Trudeau on his re-election in a statesmanlike manner, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe called this election the most pointless in history.
Since when is it ever pointless in a democracy to ask the voters for their opinion? Would Moe have described the election as pointless if Erin O’Toole had won? Moe’s comments are nothing more than sour grapes.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
