On October 19,2015, voters go to the polls in a Canadian election
For readers not familiar with the Canadian political system, there are currently
four main Federal parties:
The Conservative Party of Canada, led by Stephen Harper.
The New Democratic Party, leader Thomas Mulcair.
The Liberal Party of Canada, with Justin Trudeau as leader.
And the Green Party, led by Elizabeth May.
The Conservatives are in their third term as government, while the New Democrats
form the Official Opposition.
So far the campaign has been the usual pitch-fest of promises involving ruthless
spending and endless new programs. Both are typical of any Canadian election.
Politicians bribing us with our own money has been standard fare for generations.
It’s a tired formula but still garners attention.
In terms of political stripes, Conservatives are right wing, Liberals are left of
center, and the NDP is far left. The Greens represent the environmental vote.
The Conservatives and Liberals have governed on a federal basis.
The NDP have won numerous provincial elections, but never a national vote.
The only leader who has managed a ruling party is Steven Harper.
With no governing experience, what are the chances for Justin Trudeau?
Justin Trudeau is a school teacher with a famous father named Pierre Elliot.
The senior Trudeau was the Liberal Prime Minister from 1968 to 1979, and again
from 1980 to 1984.
The Liberals think a string of $10 billion dollar deficits are the way to go.
Mr.Trudeau has the misconception that he can “will” the economy into prosperity
by “investing and creating jobs for the middle class”.
And do it while robbing the rich at the same time.
Robin Hood of the 21st Century.
Governments has never been good at borrowing money and controlling its use.
The model lacks accountability because bureaucrats and civil servants are the
fund managers. Their motivation is completely self-serving.
However, with little practical experience in economic matters, a tax and spend
philosophy is a quick and easy way for the Liberals to facilitate change.
They are also the party that slid a $54 billion dollar surplus from the
Unemployment Insurance department into debt repayments and program funding
when Jean Chretien and Paul Martin were in charge.
Paul Martin is an adviser to Mr. Trudeau, so we’ve heard this song before.
How will a civil servant lead Canada?
Mr.Mulcair has a slightly more extreme dream. First of all being Prime Minister
would be the pinnacle of his career as a civil servant.
He started out as a Liberal, and switched to the New Democrats in 2007.
Being a lawyer and a career bureaucrat, he’s been compensated by taxpayers
his entire life.
But he thinks being raised as one of ten children makes him prime ministerial.
He also thinks multi-million dollar day care, and a massive civil service can be paid
for by borrowing billions and raising taxes.
When we look at the NDP performance at the provincial level, the record is not a
pretty sight.
In British Columbia, Mr. Clarke was elected in 1996 and created the Fast Ferry
fiasco. He then went on to get into trouble over a casino licence, and resigned.
Bob Rae leveled Ontario with a debt load of $60 billion, and tax increases in every
nook and cranny he could find.
Rachel Notley hasn’t governed much since winning the May 2015 election, but the
familiar NDP tax and spend philosophy is alive and well in Alberta.
Mr. Mulcair will be no different. Borrowing money and raising taxes are the main
planks in his strategy. The largest beneficiaries will be the civil servants
and public sector unions in charge of administration.
The economy plays a key role in every Canadian election
The Conservatives are led by an economist.
For most people that’s a pretty dry topic.
But considering that small business is a major force in driving jobs and the economy,
Mr. Harper has supported private enterprise with lower taxes.
The Conservatives have also balanced the 2015 budget which is a corner stone
to the financial strength of our country.
Governments don’t create jobs. They facilitate economic expansion with
favourable conditions like less government interference and lower taxes.
Public sector union jobs just don’t count as real jobs with respect to GDP.
Canada Post letter carriers are not contributing to anybody’s wealth but
their own.
There is a real difference between public and private employment.
Mr.Harper knows the difference.
Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Trudeau do not.
Now in defense of democratic governments, it is a thankless job.
The general population have become increasingly dependent on what
government can do for them.
The animosity toward the rich by those with less continues.
Endless social media access means everybody has a Tweet or Facebook
rant about something they don’t like.
People want it all now. And the Liberals and the NDP think they deserve
to have it all now too.
When the price of oil dropped from $150 a barrel to the mid $40’s, oil
companies reacted.
Thousands of workers were laid off and project spending all but disappeared.
Management was reacting to market conditions.
Profit and loss controls their world.
Government can’t think that way.
There is a massive social responsibility in governing.
As a result, all politicians have a spending problem no matter what their
party colour. The more revenue they generate, the more they spend.
When revenue slips, they borrow.
It’s a difficult cycle to break.
An endless work in progress, answering to many masters.
Who will get your vote?
The choice in this election is centered around change.
The Liberals and New Democrats want it.
The Conservatives claim it’s already happening.
Their party is not responsible for low oil prices, climate
change, or the Syrian refugee problem.
By default the government in power becomes embroiled in all those issues.
Solutions are complex.
As Canadians we have the freedom to criticize, and protest any decision
our government makes as long as it’s within the law.
Opinions are all over the map, but usually fall either left or right
of center.
Mr. Harper is certainly not a perfect Prime Minister, but on balance,
the least likely to blow us off the economic map.
If we strip away all the advertising, all the sound bites on the
six o’clock news and just look at the candidates, here’s what we see:
A school teacher. A career bureaucrat who is also a lawyer. And an economist.
From the standpoint of credentials the choice should be obvious.
Take the emotion out of the equation, apply a large dose of common sense,
and a long term perspective.
Who do you think has the tools to be Prime Minister?
I’m P. Axel Grinder LLBC
