Come On Leaders Light Our Fire!

A Brief Comment by Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper

Earlier this September, on the CBC Radio program ‘The Current’, a conversation between campaign strategists for Canada’s three mainstream parties turned to the topic of NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and how much time they are spending during this election taking shots at each other.

A message to Justin Trudeau and Tom Muclair. How about spending less time tearing each other apart and more time talking about your vision for Canada’s future. Inspire us. Fire us up.

At one point during the discussion, the Conservative Party strategist said the ongoing flare-ups between Mulcair and Trudeau are just fine with him and, he’d be willing to ‘pour gas on the fire’.

And so it was at this past September 17^th Leaders’ Debate with Trudeau) and Mulcair ripping away at each other while Stephen Harper stood there looking on with no gasoline can in hand.

Harper’s strategy seemed to be not to do anything to interrupt his opponents while they are tearing each other’s plans and policies apart. And it was a good policy because it left Harper looking like the guy in charge and the others  looking like they are desperately fighting over the spoils.

I have to say that I found most of what unfolded on the debate stage this September 17^th very disturbing. So much so that for the first time since this federal election officially got underway this August, I see a very real chance that Trudeau and Mulcair will end up coating each other with so much mud that Harper will receive just enough votes to march triumphantly through the middle.

How does another four years of Prime Minister Stephen Harper sound to you? Think it won’t happen?

Lest we forgot, it only took 37 per cent of the votes cast by Canadians in the 2011 federal election to hand Harper his first majority after six years of running a minority government.

Think about it people. In the last election less than four out of 10 of every Canadian who bothered to vote – and 39 per cent of eligible voters stayed home – delivered Harper enough seats to run the country like a dictator for the last four years.

Shortly after the September 17^th debate, there was Mulcair, who has a real crack at forming the first NDP run federal government in Canadian history if he plays his cards right, spending minute after precious minute with the national media on hand, dumping on Trudeau and his promises before finally saying his party would work toward implementing universal drug benefits for Canadians.

In that case as in others, Mulcair buried a great lead under layers of mud and hardly got the coverage he should have for a universal drug plan (also known as “pharmacare”) that Canada’s provinces and reputable members of the medical community have been advocating for a long now.

We are talking about nothing less than a drug benefit program that every other industrialized country in the world has and that study after study has shown could save Canadians billions of dollars a year. That should have dominated the press briefing – never mind more ripping at Trudeau.

Trudeau is wasting just as much valuable time tearing away at Mulcair, and who cares what Harper does. Let him throw the engaging in the same kind of hissing match, and who cares what Harper does. He’s got nothing more to offer than staying the steering the same disastrous course. Let him throw the mud.

As for Mulcair and Trudeau, they should turn to the play book of the late Jack Layton who’s positive, energetic 2011 campaign was responsible for placing the NDP within striking distance of forming a government this time out.

There isn’t much time left before the polls open this October 19^th so for the sake of Canada’s future, put the muck down.

Talk to us about your vision for the country. Engage us in a dialogue about how we can all work together to fulfill Canada’s promise as a great democracy and as a healthy and prosperous place to live, work and play. Let’s talk about the role Canada can play on the world stage as a voice for peace and a leader in humanitarian support and environmental security.

Do you want more young people to vote? Many of them are turned off. They have a multitude of reasons to feel concerned about what lays ahead for them and they don’t see any of the parties speaking for them. Give them a reason to feel more optimistic about their future.

Like I say, there are not many days left in this election. Use the time to engate us, inspire us,  to fire us up.

At long last, give us something to go out in droves and vote for!

Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary for and from the greater bi-national Niagara region.

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