I think people blows out of proportion the importance of a some favorable polls for Polievre. Of course, he can win. If Trump or Meloni can win, anyone can win. However, given there is no election in the near term, current polls are more a signal for the government than anything else. Also, Polievre is also good to create its own problem: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-lgbtq-pronouns-schools-1.6950029
I have already lived through seeing Canada lose daycare and Indigenous reconciliation back in 2006, when the NDP took down the Martin government and gave us Harper.
The thought of living through another decade of Conservative destruction AGAIN just horrifies me.
We will miss Trudeau when he's gone, especially if his departure means a Poilievre government. The Liberals are far from perfect - they lack bold policy ideas, they're too cliqueish and therefore idea starved, they're prone to navel-gazing - but they're overall competent and their values are generally in the right place on all big picture items.
The carbon tax. Progressively scaled national child benefit. Aggressive pabdemic reaction. Loudly progressive on issues of equity.
Yes they are not perfect, but they haven't done a bad job. Nobody can live up to our expectations.
Of course Poilievre can win, but I think his path to a victory remains narrow and difficult to navigate. A coalition between the convoy people and the sane people tired of a Liberal government is a tricky one. It is going to be hard to keep both camps happy.
However, the Liberals need to put a credible and attractive alternative on the table. So far, they have been, perhaps for understandable reasons, absent. I believe the support that Poilievre has gained in the past months are soft supporters, it should not be that hard to win them back.
I am not certain there is a given anywhere in the world right now when it comes to politics. I am very worried about the potential of a CPC majority. I wouldn't mind a minority which would keep them on their toes and give folks a chance to see exactly how they govern. But here is the thing - I am not sure complacency is the answer. I think those of us who lean progressive, need to first of all pressure the government to make the right moves going forward. Housing comes to mind! And I also think we need to work hard when the time comes to get the progressive vote out! It would be very easy to throw up our hands because the Liberals were average at best at getting things done. I compare it to the US - Poilievre is Trump lite - from my perspective and I believe the progressive vote is the larger voting block here as well. We need to mobilize that voting block over the next couple of years.
I've told my Liberal MP this -- that his party needs to stop playing to those who won't vote for them and start playing to progressives who only need some good but decisive moves on housing and healthcare to cast a vote for the Liberals. And I'm seeing him (my MP) tomorrow with a couple of really smart and savvy people to talk housing. So -- we'll see. The Ontario federal Liberal caucus need to gang up on The Boss at the caucus retreat next month and tell him their jobs are at stake...not to mention the province and the country.
Tons of respect to you for writing this column. I wish more pundits did this. Also fully agree that the Liberals can win again. However, i's also possible, and in my opinion more probable, that the Liberals have not yet hit rock bottom.
I'm of the view that Trudeau will be largely irrelevant in the next election. If the Tories can appear normal to voters, then that's probably it for JT. If team Blue panders to their inner Jordan Peterson, then they could lose, though even in this case I think a Grit victory is no sure thing.
I think people blows out of proportion the importance of a some favorable polls for Polievre. Of course, he can win. If Trump or Meloni can win, anyone can win. However, given there is no election in the near term, current polls are more a signal for the government than anything else. Also, Polievre is also good to create its own problem: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-lgbtq-pronouns-schools-1.6950029
I have already lived through seeing Canada lose daycare and Indigenous reconciliation back in 2006, when the NDP took down the Martin government and gave us Harper.
The thought of living through another decade of Conservative destruction AGAIN just horrifies me.
We will miss Trudeau when he's gone, especially if his departure means a Poilievre government. The Liberals are far from perfect - they lack bold policy ideas, they're too cliqueish and therefore idea starved, they're prone to navel-gazing - but they're overall competent and their values are generally in the right place on all big picture items.
The carbon tax. Progressively scaled national child benefit. Aggressive pabdemic reaction. Loudly progressive on issues of equity.
Yes they are not perfect, but they haven't done a bad job. Nobody can live up to our expectations.
Mark my words: we'll miss them when they're gone.
Of course Poilievre can win, but I think his path to a victory remains narrow and difficult to navigate. A coalition between the convoy people and the sane people tired of a Liberal government is a tricky one. It is going to be hard to keep both camps happy.
However, the Liberals need to put a credible and attractive alternative on the table. So far, they have been, perhaps for understandable reasons, absent. I believe the support that Poilievre has gained in the past months are soft supporters, it should not be that hard to win them back.
I am not certain there is a given anywhere in the world right now when it comes to politics. I am very worried about the potential of a CPC majority. I wouldn't mind a minority which would keep them on their toes and give folks a chance to see exactly how they govern. But here is the thing - I am not sure complacency is the answer. I think those of us who lean progressive, need to first of all pressure the government to make the right moves going forward. Housing comes to mind! And I also think we need to work hard when the time comes to get the progressive vote out! It would be very easy to throw up our hands because the Liberals were average at best at getting things done. I compare it to the US - Poilievre is Trump lite - from my perspective and I believe the progressive vote is the larger voting block here as well. We need to mobilize that voting block over the next couple of years.
I've told my Liberal MP this -- that his party needs to stop playing to those who won't vote for them and start playing to progressives who only need some good but decisive moves on housing and healthcare to cast a vote for the Liberals. And I'm seeing him (my MP) tomorrow with a couple of really smart and savvy people to talk housing. So -- we'll see. The Ontario federal Liberal caucus need to gang up on The Boss at the caucus retreat next month and tell him their jobs are at stake...not to mention the province and the country.
That is awesome! There are so many of us out here that want to support them! They just need to give us the goods and we will have their backs!
A week is a long time in politics. How many weeks ‘til the next election?
I wouldn’t put a lot of faith in 2023 election polls: https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/quebec-election-polls-inaccuracies_a_23581725.
Tons of respect to you for writing this column. I wish more pundits did this. Also fully agree that the Liberals can win again. However, i's also possible, and in my opinion more probable, that the Liberals have not yet hit rock bottom.
I'm of the view that Trudeau will be largely irrelevant in the next election. If the Tories can appear normal to voters, then that's probably it for JT. If team Blue panders to their inner Jordan Peterson, then they could lose, though even in this case I think a Grit victory is no sure thing.