TWO VIEWS ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION DECISION

The decision by the provincial government to proceed with October municipal elections can either be portrayed as bold with a ‘Carry On' sentiment or it could be viewed as hypocritical and even self-serving. First with the bold. COVID-19 will be in our daily lives, to a certain extent, for years to come. There is an argument that we will need to adapt (elections included) and if depending more on phonein or online balloting instead of the paper ballot is one of the changes that must be implemented then so be it.

Candidates will also need to adapt. The doorstep chat with the voter most likely will not be occurring anytime soon. Social media, phone calling and flyers will play a more prominent role. Candidates will need to adjust and those who are more open to change will most likely have a better chance at winning. We must focus on how we will operate over the next few years so why shouldn't municipal elections proceed?

Now for the hypocritical and selfserving.

The government is increasingly being criticized for running a oneman show without seeking input or being held to account by the opposition. Province House has not met since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic nor have Legislature committees met since February.

Why is the premier comfortable with continuing to close the democratic door on a provincial level yet advising full-steam ahead for the municipal governments who are, in fact, doing a much better job of continuing to meet and discuss COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 issues of the day?

Chief medical officers across the country predict a second wave of COVID-19 related illnesses, which makes sense over the summer and fall months as the economy again opens up. Will the premier shut down the Provincial House of Assembly and committees in the fall if this second wave occurs? Sorry, the argument that committees never meet during the summer or the house has already met for its historically brief sittings is rather thin drool to fall back on, especially during a global pandemic when large decisions need to be made and are being taken without input from the opposition.

If the second wave hits during the fall will the province help the municipalities with extra expenses that will be incurred to run an election? They haven't committed yet for additional funding, which means municipal election planning takes place with preCOVID-19 budgets.

Why not wait until 2021 to hold municipal elections, or would that make a decision slot in a provincial election while also having to deal with a possible federal election more difficult? Governments of all stripes are doing well in the polls across Canada as citizens like to rally behind their leaders during a time of crisis. The federal Liberals have widened their lead in the polls although the Conservatives have no leader at the moment and the provincial Liberals have widened their lead over an opposition that has been neatly tucked away in the broom closet by the premier.

Is the reason for no delay in fall municipal elections a sturdy attitude that we will persevere as tough Nova Scotians during this difficult year or is it simply a clearing of the deck of competing election time tables in 2021 to keep options open for either a spring or fall provincial election depending on poll numbers at the time?

I can't help but wonder.

James Kerr Glace Bay