Economic priorities key concern for voter

There are many important election issues to consider but taxation and the management of the public purse is one of the most paramount.

The current election campaign has covered many issues — from dealing with the humanitarian crisis and ISIS to the environment — but it has turned into an election about economic performance.

Voters are being given some clarity on the various parties’ taxation and spending priorities. Ultimately, it will be the party most palatable to the average Canadian that will prevail.

Depending on which polls you believe, you can call it a three-way dead heat.

Yes, Tom Mulcair’s NDP and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are registering numbers ahead of the Stephen Harper Conservatives. That is not unusual for the party in power, especially one that has been government as long as this crew.

But political science dictates longevity can be a blessing and a curse.

Although the Conservative are lagging in the polls, recent elective examples suggest a proven track record will tend to attract the undecided voters to a higher degree than those in opposition will.

In other words, it’s a case of going with the devil you know, and on the economic front, it can be argued that — compared to the other G7 or G8 economies — Canada’s has performed as well or better than most, and economic forecasts are for a bounce back. Voters will ask themselves if this is the time to roll the dice. Harper’s taxback payments to average families have come under fire, mostly by Trudeau, as a vote buy, but there is a cash infusion right back in the economy as most families will spend that money on something.

Trudeau’s promises to tax the very rich and cut the taxes of the middle class, sound all Robin Hood-ish on paper, but strong economic performance by big companies trickles down in jobs and taxes, as opposed to what we are currently seeing in the oil patch where lots of activity and jobs have been put on the shelf. Is Canada ready to return to the tax-and-spend Liberal policies of the early ’80s? It can certainly be argued many in Western Canada likely don’t.

Mulcair’s economic plan is the least clear, it seems.

He has been very clear on the need for a national daycare and transportation strategy. It’s hard to argue with that, but how do you pay for it? He has avoided sending messages about increasing taxes, but you either have to cut or up the tax to pay. It’s that simple.

In October, Canadian will decide which fork in the proverbial road we will take.