Canadian Election Issues that Dominate – Leadership
Number four in the list of five issues that are likely to dominate the Canadian election is leadership. The leadership of the parties strangely plays a large role in how we as Canadians vote – even though we are not able to all vote for a Prime Minister directly and rather the party.
We and the political parties place an undue amount of attention of the current leader of the party and their personal viewpoints than we do issues and promises made both by the party and the individual for that matter. So in keeping with the seemingly Canadian style of political attention misdirection, the wonk looks at the four leaders (four was all for you Liz).
Stephen ‘Ironman’ Harper
Although he has a six-inch thick exterior and most likely still falls asleep with a copy of the policy of the day in his hands, Steve has shown us middle class folks that he too sips his Tim’s from the same side of the cup. He has made an effort to arrange for funeral plans for the Liberal’s imposed image of a cold and hard person, by performing random acts of humanism, like playing the piano and describing that he is a lot like a fruit to a gaggle of salivating reports. His leadership will be defined by his ability to:
- Control party message – The Conservative caucus is a lot like those folks in the Hills Have Eyes movies, there can be much lurking at times and when everyone seems to thin it’s all good – BAM – they jump out and promptly shove their foot the mouth.
- Relate and relay important grass-roots issues to the voting public – For the most part he does this well, the GST reductions have resonated as have his 5 priorities strategy previously.
- Convince Canadians that his party (and himself) are capable of being responsible with a majority – You listening Quebec?
The Ironman tag was thrown in there because us at the wonk believe that underneath his thick exterior lies the personality and humour of someone like Tony Stark. PMSH would be our first choice to knock back some beers as we target shoot old pictures of Trudeau.
Stephane ‘ESL’ Dion
Stephane Dion is a nice guy. He’s the kind of nice you feel when walking through an animal shelter and the dog that keeps staring at you blankly is also the one that due to be put down shortly. We know how the Conservatives feel about Dion, but we also think the Canadian public really feels for him. This is truly a wonk-style election with Harper and Dion being pited head on against each other, and we think that Dion has a couple extra wonk points that Harper doesn’t have. But, that said – is Dion best left to the backrooms? Maybe, maybe not- here’s what we think will define his ability to lead the natural party of Canada:
- Taking Tom Petty’s advice – Dion cannot afford to back down again. He has shown Canadians all year that he is prepared to stand up for them only when the Liberal party is ready for an election. He has had his party abstain from House votes and changed directions more times than Myron Thompson changes livers. He needs to find the confidence issue that sides him with the Liberals and lay down in front of the Conservative steam train in order to show that he can make confident decisions.
- Carbon Tax (shhhh!) – The green shift is a great idea, but it’s not a lead platform. The idea that he spent a week a couple months back selling carbon tax to the general (driving) public is sitr crazy. Selling encyclopedias door to door in silicon valley would have been a more reasonable task. He has quieted up on the carbon tax since the writ dropped, but the public (read: transportation companies) remember well – especially in BC.
- Controlling the monster IggyRae – Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae wander around Dion like distance nephews at a rich aunt’s will reading. They both know what they want, Dion knows what they want, even the Canadian public knows what they want. They want to be the next PM as head of the Liberal party. Iggy and Rae are both smart enough politicians to know that if they stay on party lines and smile on the left and right of the temp filling the leader’s job, they will only have to worry about each other (sorry Martha).
Jack ‘Frat House’ Layton
Smoking pot? Nude candidates? Dropping acid and filming it? Looks like the Green party reached out to it’s membership and encouraged some free samples to select NDP members. This was the election of opportunity for the NDP – a weakened Liberal-party, scary economy on the horizon and plugs pulled on previous social programs that could start up again with the signing of a cheque. Jack, what happened? Instead for every Conservative apology we heard over the last week, we heard the second story as “NDP candidate drops out due to crazy-ass behaviour”. Here’s what handsome Jack’s defining issues are;
- Keep it together, KIT, KIT, KIT – The party is actually looking like a party lately. Jack needs to tighten the ropes and reel in the members and candidates – and maybe, just a suggestion piss testing.
- Go social – Quit talking about economic issues, the NDP is a social party (that sounds funny) and should be talking about social issues and how they envision solutions to those issues. Stay on daycare, stay on Aboriginals, stay on the social track.
- Resend your message – You are not the next prime minister. But you are a viable alternative the Liberal party. Use short, calm and pointed messages to delivery what you are saying. Seeming more reasonable takes away all moonbat arguments.
Elizabeth ‘Just Happy To Be Here’ May
Why wouldn’t she be happy? Already with one MP recorded in the House and well on her way to having 8-10 times that she has reason to always be smiling. Although the Greens seem to be a one issue party they are working on getting the message across that they have other, non-composting related ideas for the country. Liz (if I may call you that) has taken a lesson from Dion and stopped soapboxing carbon taxes even if that is in the party’s platform. Here’s Liz’s leadership issues:
- Choice – Not pro-choice, choice. She needs to have a Green candidiate in every riding possible to maximize her opportunity in this unique election. We can think of at least 5 ridings that will swing to her if she represents.
- Define other issues – From the party’s perspective, start detailing what the Green party will provide (other than environmental) for the nation. Even shadow speaking at this point would be beneficial – comment on the other leader announcements and show Canadians the difference of the party.
- Focus on the east coast – The left coast will be easy, the right, not so much. Ms. May needs to have to sets of speaking points that are clear and defined – and she needs to be able to rattle them off llike a robot at the drop of a GPS, depending on where she is in the country.
You thinking we forgot someone? No, we didn’t forget – by Quebec may have. Watch the Canadian Federal Election on October 14 and you’ll see.
The third issue that we will go into depth on will be the economy (queue disater music, crowds screaming and random people pointing to the sky).