My Thoughts on the 2021 Canadian Election

Was this election pointless? Did Justin shoot himself in the foot by calling it? What will be the future of Canada be post COVID? These are the questions running through my mind right now.

I’m a Liberal supporter through and through, but I’m honestly struggling with this election. I find myself having a hard time understanding why it was called. In the beginning, it seemed like it made sense. A stronger government with a majority seemed like the best thing for Canada. Minority governments historically don’t last that long with the record being 18 months. Harper’s Conservative government from 2008 to 2011 was the lone exception.

For a lot of people, I think it was the timing. Cases are slowly rising back up across Canada and I personally don’t think it’s a big deal. Sure, it’s not good but what danger is there to vote in person? The United States held it’s most important election ever during the middle of all of this and it turned fine ( minus the mail in ballots and the events of January 6th). Sure it was incredibly tense and Trump being an absolute asshole with his lawsuits and threats of violence against voters, but there was no big dramatic showdown in the Supreme Court or a Second Civil War didn’t start.

It went way better than I expected and went far smoother than I expected, despite Trump. Having an election during an pandemic isn’t ideal, but it’s not world ending. We’ve all been living our normal lives, going to concerts and sports games with thousands of people, sometimes not social distancing. We’ve been seeing loved ones and friends without masks and no distancing. So, I don’t see the problem with going into a stuffy little room in some library or community center, fully vaxxed and masked and spaced out to vote. We’ve been living our normal lives to the best of our abilities and I find it hypocritical of people to say they’re angry about voting in person but they’ve been going out to massive parties not distancing. Those places you’re more likely to get COVID, not from voting in person.

And if it’s too much of an issue, you can vote by mail. Problem solved. It’s not perfect but again, not world ending. This whole idea of calling an election during a fourth wave, honestly kind of feels like an opposition plot to get votes.

But let’s look at the issue from the other side of the coin. During this fourth wave, it does seem kind of selfish to call an election, when a public health crisis is ongoing. It can seem like an unimportant power grab or selfish. I find myself struggling with why it was called. Rising cases brings rising anxiety over fears of new lockdowns and losing your livelihood and some of that anger is honestly very well placed and understandable.

To quote the Washington Post on the issue:

“The country’s 44th general election is unnecessary right now. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been doing his best to make the case that Parliament is dysfunctional and toxic, laying the groundwork to justify sending Canadians to the polls during a pandemic. In fact, during this minority government, Parliament has been inclined to keep the governing side accountable and to participate in shaping the policy agenda. Moreover, Trudeau maintains the confidence of the House of Commons and thus the right to govern. But the Liberals know this moment may be their best chance to secure a majority government before the vicissitudes of the fall and winter — and another coronavirus variant — change the political landscape.“

Despite the claim, that the government is toxic and dysfunctional, I can understand the meaning of the statement. I think given the We Charity scandal, the aftermath of SNC-Lavalin and the early problems with the vaccine rollout, people want change. I remember as a kid, the thing that popped into my mind, that Liberals were plagued by scandal and corruption. Looking at Paul Martin’s government with the sponsorship scandal and the gas plant issue with the Liberal government in Ontario, it’s unfair that they’ve developed this reputation. Any government, regardless of political party is capable of generating massive scandals and corruption. Look at some of the moves Doug Ford has made with COVID over the past year and his lack of inaction when it comes to that. Look at the NDP in the early 1990s in Ontario and how much of a disaster that was.

I think the main reason why people are angry is because they’re tired of the pandemic and the restrictions we have lived under for a year. And I can understand that. 30,000 Canadians are dead, millions lost their jobs and loved ones and businesses. But resorting to anger and violence is not going to do that.

This right wing, anti-lockdown, anti mask and anti vaccine populist movement has been fueled by social media and Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party. And to a lesser extent, Erin O’ Toole . I will admit O’ Toole is a good man and I agree with alot of his social stances as he’s socially progressive. But the biggest issue I have with him, is not mandating vaccine passports and saying that getting vaccines is a choice, not a responsibility. By saying this, he’s been able to tap into the anger of these mobs of people who are angry over the pandemic and not believing in science, but more subtly than Bernier.

This has created a very toxic political atmosphere in this election, with social media and Bernier contributing to a lot of this. I know Bernier is the leader of a minor party and he has no real chance of winning seats, but he still holds some sway with his actions. By being against lockdowns and mandatory vaccines and other COVID restrictions, he’s become a platform for this right wing populist movement of anti vaxxers and anti maskers. O’ Toole is indirectly benefiting from this, as by his statements and support of the vaccine being a personal choice for Canadians instead of a responsibility. Alot of the support and ideas of anti lockdown and anti vaccine rhetoric has been given a more socially acceptable and more glossy package under O’ Toole.

Therefore by tapping into this, O’ Toole may stand a chance at winning.

Who do I think is going to win this election? Right now, based on polls and uncertainty, I’m somewhere between I don’t know and O’ Toole might win. Polls have been proven wrong in the past, especially in the case of Trump in 2016 and 2020. but beyond those two blimps on the radar, they have been reliably accurate. But there still could be some surprise on Election Day or in the time in between or Trudeau gives a good debate performance.

The reason why I’m afraid of an O’Toole win is his party’s own lack of acceptance of climate change (despite his own personal beliefs), the idea of treating getting vaccination as a choice and more right leaning elements of his party influencing his policies. O’ Toole has used Trumpian like language in the past such as ” Take Canada Back Again”. But that’s issue to talk about at a later time. I will admit myself, I have struggled with the idea of mandatory vaccines as I believe it could lead to people being fired from their job unwarranted and lead to potential discrimination despite the fact I find some of their beliefs utter garbage and nonsense. And at the end, it is still a personal choice despite I believe and feel but I think there should be a balance between respecting people’s rights and public health imperatives.

Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed my late spiel about the Canadian election and please share your thoughts and leave constructive criticism down below.