Well, now, how much more money can we waste?
Seems it’s been a case of how the least can spend the most to do the least.
Only in Canada you say?
If the total turnout tally for Monday’s federal election remains at the currently calculated 59 per cent, it will prove up as the lowest ever voter turnout in a Canadian federal election. Congrats on overall apathy!
For the third straight dwindling decline of national voter involvement, Canadians have expressed a giant yawn. At a billing of $600 million our repeat premier has set a great example of fiscal foolishness, proving nothing while doing even less. Great leadership!
In contrast, our highest federal voter turnout recorded since confederation was in 1958, when 79.4 per cent of voters cast ballots suggesting they actually gave a damn what happened in their marvelous nation.
Our latest frivolous exercise in spending money has resulted in ounces of negative ink, and pounds of head scratching. What was the point?
With all the name calling and blood drying complete the political picture or the electoral map in the Southern Interior remains an identical snap shot of before voters went to the polls – bright blue and a lonely NDP island flag.
With no shock the two Kelowna ridings repeated their track records as first to be called for the Conservatives in the Thompson-Okanagan.
My good friend and Kelowna-Lake Country incumbent Tracy Gray bubbles appropriately about being “honoured” to return to Ottawa. A plethora of mail-in ballots still need to be counted however Gray thumped Liberal challenger Tim Krupa by a margin of about 19 per cent.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to work, doing my duty, standing up for our community,” Tracy said.
“Let’s get the Kelowna International Airport fully reopened and get the Okanagan Rail Trail complete,” Gray said, taking the opportunity to spank Prime Minister Trudeau for the cost of an unnecessary election.
Gray says it was “irresponsible of Trudeau to want a blank cheque for calling the election in the middle of a pandemic.”
No kidding. Expensive, dangerous, not needed and arrogant.
Meanwhile Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola, Conservative Dan Albas defeated Liberal Sarah Eves by 20 per cent.
South Okanagan-West Kootenay NDP incumbent Richard Cannings improved his victory numbers from his last win in 2019, when he won by less than 800 votes. Cannings defeated former city councillor and Conservative candidate Helena Konanz late Monday. Konanz is a wonderful person who served her area well in the past and will be missed.
In the big, big picture not a lot has altered despite the money and fuss. Looking nationally the results are more of the same – likely a Liberal minority that will need the support of other parties to govern.
Naturally Justin Trudeau claimed a clear mandate for his government as the end result.
“Some have talked about division but that’s not what I see,” Trudeau said, suggesting Canadians voted for a progressive Parliament.
In fairness at least Trudeau has acknowledged the anger over the timing of the election.
“I hear you when you say that you just want to get back to the things you love, not worry about this pandemic or about an election.”
A bitter Conservative leader Erin O’Toole suggests Trudeau will throw the country into another election within two years.
Regardless there’s no denying that the timing of this election was foolish and not warranted. Now it’s time to move forward.
I am glad Tracy can now settle in and do her job. We have lots that needs attention.
