All your election questions answered
Dear Tim: Do you think we can trust Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to keep all of their campaign promises?
Leery in Lennoxville
Dear Leery: Why not? After all they kept their last election promises. Well, except for bringing in proportional representation, new fighter jets for our aging air force, more open government (remember SCN Lavalin), a new fleet of destroyers for the navy, a solution for our oil pipeline problems, an increased presence in the Arctic, better relations with the aboriginal communities and a chicken in every pot.
Dear Tim: I don’t trust the Liberals any more but I’m not sure what the Conservative platform is. What exactly do Andrew Sheer’s conservatives stand for?
Confused in Compton
Dear Confused: This is a difficult question to answer and one that is on the minds of everyone following this election including most journalists. The problem is that only the most harden political junkie can remain completely awake once Mr. Sheer starts to speak. It’s not so much what he is saying but his oratorical style which is somewhere between a Sunday sermon and an ad for prescription drugs. Your best bet is to go on line and google: “Andrew Sheer, what did he say?”
Dear Tim: Why are people so concerned with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s turban? Are Canadians a lot more racist than we admit?
Angry in Ascot
Dear Angry: There are definitely a lot of voters out there with less than charitable feelings towards minorities but not all of them are racist. On the other hand, it seems a bit odd to me that anyone would believe that being religious requires wearing what is basically a 15th century head piece, not cutting or shaving your hair and carrying a ceremonial dagger. I can’t speak for everyone but personally I wouldn’t vote for a nun wearing a traditional habit or a priest who campaigned in his collar either.
Dear Tim: Is the Green party set to win more seats this time around?
Wondering in Woburn
Dear Wondering: Since the Green Party in Prince Edward Island managed to double its seats in the provincial legislature during the last election, environmentalists across the country have sensed a political shift that they feel will soon spread across the country. Don’t hold your breath. First, the nation’s smallest province has only about 800 voters to begin with so it’s more like an Angus Reid poll except that it’s not valid nineteen times out of twenty. The goal of a greener nation is a good one but to make any major breakthrough Elizabeth May will have to convince Canadians to give up their love affair with the automobile. Not going to happen.
Dear Tim: I’m thinking of voting for Maxime Bernier’s new People’s Party. What do you think?
Bold in Bury
Dear Bold: Rule number one when it comes to picking a political movement: Never vote for any party with “People” in its name. You can be sure it has nothing to do with the every day Joe or Jane. Witness the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to name just two. At least Maxime Bernier has learned to keep his important papers under his pillow and not on his girlfriend’s bed side table.
Dear Tim: Will the Bloc Quebecois make a recovery?
Upset in Ulverton
Dear Upset: Members of the Bloc have been so busy fighting amongst themselves since the last election that they haven’t had much time to even check their mail. Right now you would have to be a French-speaking, pure laine, Quebecois with a serious interest in politics to even name the Bloc’s leader. But you never know.