Election in the Air/Party Conventions

I have been attending political party conventions for four decades now mostly as a member of the media. It’s where I meet new people and a few old friends with whom I engage political conversations. The food is free, as is always for the media, and sometimes you get fed by a morsel of unconfirmed political story which can lead to a bigger story, if you choose to follow it up.

With the pandemic, all conventions are now done virtually. Not that much fun but with the virus still raging and the need to stay home until April 28, we have no choice if we want our cases to go down. The new normal seems abnormal to me but then, this is just me expressing my frustration on political conventions during the pandemic.

My political affiliation is an open secret among Filipino-Canadians in Ontario, notably Toronto. In the 80s, I openly campaigned for someone who got elected to Ottawa. I’ve always had liberal views and have been consistent in upholding them. The sitting government is Liberal but in a minority position which makes it vulnerable to a snap election. We all know that a minority government does not accomplish what it wants, exposing itself to political concessions from other parties. Just a few months ago, it was able to avoid a snap election because the NDP chose to not go there, with conditions, nonetheless. The way I see it, this party will not favour an election if it can get whatever it dangles in the face of the Liberal party. Fair enough. Politics plays this way and I understand.

The Conservatives started out rosy after it chose its new leader. And made issues with Trudeau’s government ethics and spending related to COVID 19. Government ethics circled around the WE scandal which broke out last year. It involved a student volunteer grant program and led to the resignation of the Finance Minister. This abrupt departure by the MP resulted in a by election in my riding, something that constituents didn’t want to exercise but were forced to so that the constituency will be represented in Ottawa.

What’s worth noting is the coming budget announcement. The passing of the budget is something people like me watch. It could be the breaking point.  If it does not pass, the government will collapse and an election will ensue.

In case anyone is watching all these unfold, we are in a raging third wave of the pandemic. We here in Toronto have a stay at home order for almost the whole month of April. I for one don’t want to trek down to the polling station to cast my vote. The average Canadian doesn’t want this at this time. There are serious worries about money, rent, mortgages and grocery. Nothing new will come from an election. The Liberals are using climate change as front and centre in their government. While Erin O’Toole believes in it, most Conservatives do not support programs that have to do with climate change. As for NDP, Jagmeet Singh doesn’t seem to know where to stand in this issue.

This pandemic will end. How and when it will end, no one knows. One thing is certain though. We need to use whatever measures there are to address climate change, not for ourselves but for our children, grand children and future generation. Our generation is not taking care of this planet but it’s not that late yet to reverse our bad habits.