Canada's third election in four years is over - except for the weeping and wailing. The "winners" have been congratulated and the "losers" have given gracious concession speeches (sometimes!)
Really, though, the BIG loser from this election is Canada. Despite over $290 million spent on this 40th election - that saw the 10th minority government in Canada's history elected - voter turnout was the lowest in the nation's history. That is a sad commentary. Of course, many streeter interviews were conducted with "average" Canadians as to why they didn't vote, and the prevailing reason seemed to be: "Why bother?" Why, indeed. Stephen Harper and his Conservatives had been waging a negative ad campaign on a newly-minted leader, Stephane Dion of the Liberal party, from the moment he was chosen as leader, way before any election was called.
$290million and no change!
Throughout the months preceding the election, the Harper government waged a mean-spirited, ugly campaign against Dion, and they continued that right through to Election Day. Seems their mean-ness paid off, even though only 59% of the registered voters bothered to vote. Stephen Harper did manage to hang on to his job, even though he was denied the majority government he so obviously wanted to run his fiefdom. For the first time in history, the Green Party was a participant in the English Language debate, although this was only achieved after a groundswell of support across the country.
I have already given my views on the playground brawl that passed for the English language "debate", but suffice to say, Elizabeth May was not elected in the Nova Scotia riding she chose. She was up against a Conservative incumbent, Peter McKay, and got trounced. No Green Party member was elected anywhere, although they did increase the number of votes country-wide to 600,000 plus.
The Liberals, under Stephane Dion, lost seats across the land, and already the media is speculating on Dion's future as leader.
Towards the end of the campaign, I came to see that Dion is basically a decent man, who is passionate about this country. Dion the academic, though, really was no match for the seasoned political mudslingers. Yes, the Liberals went from 95 seats pre-election, to 76 seats post-election, but I would like to see the knives stay hidden, and Dion given another run at an election. And yes, I do forsee another election before we have all recovered from this one.
No shock to me, but maybe to Jack Layton: he woke up the morning after the election NOT the Prime Minister of Canada. Say it isn't so, Jack! It isn't so. Yes, they gained seats across Canada with 37 NDPer's elected at the end of the count.
Despite appearances to the contrary, there were actually 19 different parties vying for votes this time. Even before the western polls had closed, the talking heads were discussing how the Green Party had split the votes, at one point even mentioning Ralph Nader and Elizabeth May in the same sentence.
One bright spot for me came from Quebec: Justin Trudeau, son of the late Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada when I came to this country. Justin Trudeau entered politics and was elected in the Montreal riding of Papineau.
As the election night yawn (could hardly be called 'suspense') went on, some commenters on websites were really ugly about Justin Trudeau, and his father. Pierre Trudeau was a PM that everybody had an opinion on - love him or hate him. Justin is one of the heirs to that legacy, although he has worked hard, as has his brother Sasha, to carve his own niche in service to others. At one time Justin was a teacher in Vancouver, but the pull of political service apparently proved too strong, and now he heads into parliament. Justin Trudeau did not NEED to put himself, or his young family, into the public arena and set himself up for the inevitable slings and arrows, but the fact that he has, speaks volumes of his character to me.
He is the young blood of Canada, of the future. All I could hear in the debacle of the previous parliamentary session which was Harper's previous government, and within the election cycle, was an overload of cynicism, disrespect and old boys jockeying for their own agendas. I hope that the younger generation will be inspired, motivated by young Canadians like Justin, and become more involved in the political life, the future of their country.
I do believe we will be going back to the polls sooner rather than later. It is my hope that by the time the next writ is dropped, Canadians will be engaged, energised, concerned enough to be involved in the future of this great country. By the time the next election is called, maybe ALL Canadians will live the words of the National Anthem enough to exercise their right, their responsibility to VOTE!
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est un épopée
Des plus brilliants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Ros Prynn is a NewsBlaze investigative reporter and editor, who writes on a range of topics. Contact her by writing to NewsBlaze.
