TORONTO – Elections are always about numbers. Politics is about developing programs reflecting the priorities of the results produced by those numbers. Victory or defeat in a political environment is usually the outcome of the choices made by decision-makers to reflect the “wishes” of the “democratic will” – greatest number of voters who may be impacted. 

La Salle-Emard-Verdun (LEV), Tuesday will continue to have heads spinning with speculation about the why and wherefore of the contest for a government with a lot to lose and little to gain. The seat for LEV is vacant after the unceremonious exiting of the Hon. David Lametti (a Canadian of ITALIAN origin), the former Minister of Justice, from Cabinet and then from Parliament.

The by-election has already prompted controversy and some quizzical decisions.  Some fifty staffers of the Liberal Government caucus issued a letter wherein they declined to participate in the election campaign to protest their government’s “position on Gaza”.  Mainstream Media/Press reported them as all Arabic or Muslim origin. The Corriere has not been able to access a letter of dismissal which presumably would have followed, if one exists.

The NDP announced it will no longer respect its obligations under the Agreement it signed with the Prime Minister and his Party. Five Chiefs of Staff to Ministers thought it an opportune timing to declare themselves available for other job opportunities in the marketplace. The Bloc Quebecois made known its availability to support the government – for a price convenient to provincial interests of Quebec.

Here is a demographic breakdown (of the seven largest groups), according to Census 2021, of who lives in the riding (see pie chart). Of the “other” group (colour “red”), seven ethnic-religious groups are indicated according to their self-identification – numerical presence in brackets: Greek (885), Palestinian (85), Syrian (215), Lebanese (692), Punjabi (315), Pakistan (110), Muslim (320). The total is 2622, or 2.4% of the population of LEV, assuming the group, including the Greek component, votes as a block.

Here is how the three parties stand in voter intention, as of September 8, according to 338Canada.com (chart) It is not difficult to see why the Block Quebecois register such a high response: while 23% of respondents to census 2021 self-identified as “French” , an additional 9% said they preferred to be known as Quebecois. Liberals and Conservatives both have Italian candidates. 

Graphics and research by Priscilla Pajdo, NEPMCC, Internship 2023-24