Election call just a power grab
Up until now I have been supportive of the Liberal government and their handling of the crisis we find ourselves in because of COVID-19. However, after the self-serving call to an election in September in the middle of the fourth wave, I am absolutely now part of the “recoil effect.”
If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals really had the best interest of Canadians in mind, they would have worked collaboratively with Parliament to pass pending legislation and construct a recovery plan before calling for a spring election when we might be in a better position with the pandemic.
Instead, the clear motive is that the Liberals see a path forward for a majority mandate, and that is all they see.
This election call is utterly unconscionable and totally irresponsible.
Marika Costa, Burlington
This election will increase infection risk during a fourth wave of COVID-19, and takes many people away from the good work they are doing fighting the virus and keeping us all safe. The Liberals haven’t made the case strongly enough that an election is necessary.
I’m OK with the federal government as it currently stands. The Liberals lead a minority government with the NDP and/or the BQ supporting them on confidence votes, so that substantially they have been able to implement their program. Generally, the public, is happy with how things are going, sending the Liberals soaring in the opinion polls. But by the same token, the public, not wishing an election, has turned on a party in the past for calling one unnecessarily, seeking increased power as its only goal.
Laurence Gifford, Ajax
As I prepare myself to vote in this ridiculously timed election, there are two names I will remember — Jody WilsonRaybould and Dr. Jane Philpott. Both were swept out of the most recent government, one that I voted for; Jody for refusing to accept and honour the prime minister’s lies in the SNC-Lavalin scandal, and Dr. Philpott for simply not being able to stomach what she was seeing in government on a daily basis. Joe Spence, Ottawa
It’s 2021. Where’s our 21st-century election?
Re As politicians hit the campaign trail, the Star will hold them to account. Here’s how, Aug. 15
Of all the ridiculous, frivolous and selfserving decisions to be made in a the midst of a pandemic, calling an election takes the cake. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proven once again that political calculus trumps everything else with disdain including democracy.
Also, if there was ever a time to switch to an online voting system that would allow everyone with a cellphone or a computer to vote 24/7 in complete safety now is that time but the Luddite Elections Canada is instead preparing to run an election with physical polling stations and paper mail-in ballots the way we have voted for more than a century. While financial institutions cycle trillions around the world each day, Elections Canada cannot seem to figure out how to run an online election even though their recent E-Census worked perfectly and employed much the same data required for an election. Robert Bahlieda, Newmarket
Climate change should’ve been top issue years ago
Re Bring fire on climate change to the federal
election, Aug. 15
Your editorial makes the valid point that if we are to go to the polls, this election must be about climate change. While this might obscure the fact that the last two or three (or more) elections should also have been about climate change, the point still stands.
What your editorial overlooks entirely is that the government has a great deal of work to do if we are to meet our responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This work needs to be done immediately without either the delay or distraction of a (completely unnecessary) election campaign, wherein no work will be done.
The Trudeau Liberals have treated Parliament with utter contempt; stonewalling committees, frequently resorting to time allocation and omnibus bills. These are all abuses they rightly complained about when in Opposition but which they never hesitate to engage in as the governing party.
Rather than wasting our time on an unnecessary election, the Liberals should get to work.
Steve Soloman, Toronto
My hope is that the prime minister called an election at this time in order to get a strong mandate to take bold action on climate change.
Any action on this topic would be impossible with a minority beset by opposition parties that have done nothing but obstruct and criticize for the last two years, while putting forth no better alternative policy ideas.
If the result is a majority government for the Liberals, then I expect and demand that swift action is taken to curb emissions of greenhouse gases, and to ramp up and support a speedy transition to sustainable, renewable energy. Teresa Ganna, Newmarket
Re Bring fire on climate change to the federal
election, Aug. 15
Our elected leaders’ efforts have been inadequate to meet the challenges of climate change. I know many people who are so frustrated that they have become single issue voters — and that issue is the climate.
Now that climate effects are upon us, in the face of the horrendous fires in the West, none of the measures Gideon Forman suggests seem unreasonable. We need to choose a government that understands that oil and climate don’t mix.
Cathy Lacroix, Toronto
Election is a big waste of taxpayers’ money
Elections Canada tallied the cost of the 2019 federal election of 2019 and the result was a price tag of $502 million.
Election spending does not create a single permanent job. Since there is no valid reason for this election, it is an almost criminal waste of money.
As a taxpayer and long-time Liberal voter, I am absolutely disgusted with the Liberal party and its leadership. E.W. de Regt, Edmonton.
Re ‘Canadians deserve their say’: Justin Trudeau calls a federal election for Sept. 20
By calling an unnecessary election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is putting his crass egocentric interests ahead of the wishes and needs of Canadians.
The 2019 election cost more than half a billion dollars. The way Trudeau throws money around, wasting another $500,000,000 probably never crossed his mind. If it did, he most likely thinks that amount of money is worth spending if he gets to once again play the role of a truth-spinning leader with a parliamentary majority that will limit scrutiny of any of his dubious deeds.
Lloyd Atkins, Vernon, B.C.
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