It's nothing personal, but I don't want to vote for any one of you
That’s my message to Fredericton candidates. It’s nothing personal. I have absolutely no doubt those running here are all good, decent people. And I am not one of those who say “they are all the same” or that “they are only out for themselves”. I have been around politics enough to know better than to suggest that.
Photo Credit: CBC
Among the three candidates that have a valid shot, it’s not them; it’s their leaders I have issues with. It is why I find myself less enthusiastic about this election than I have ever felt about an election before.
Last time around I was proud to vote for Jenica Atwin, seeing her as impressive and feeling the Greens would add an important voice to the national discussion. And I was hoping for a minority government so I felt a vote for Jenica would perhaps help in securing that as well.
Photo Credit: Global News
Maybe it did. She won, and then the defection. We all have our own views on that. I blogged mine back when it happened. I don’t blame her for walking away given the impossible environment she found herself in and of which her leader fostered. Which is why I probably won’t be voting Green again as long as Annamie Paul is leader. Sorry Nicole.
I probably won’t be voting for Jenica either, because she’s now a Liberal and I have lost faith in Trudeau. First it was for breaking his promise on electoral reform. Then his disregard for the rule of law on SNC Lavalin, and then his inability to deliver enough on First Nations reconciliation. That’s three strikes. So sorry Jenica, but probably not this time.
Photo Credit: CBC
I hate making predictions because they have a habit of exposing how terrible I am at making predictions, but I’d bet a Picaroons Yippee that Andrea Johnson wins. It probably won’t be with my help though. Because Conservatives. Erin O’Toole is coming off as more moderate than his predecessors, but who is the real O’Toole? Is it the MP O’Toole who voted in favour of Conservative motions designed to gut unions, or the candidate O’Toole who claims to be a friend to organized labour? Should we believe the way he talked to win the party leadership, or the decidedly different messages he’s delivering now? I’m unconvinced the party isn’t still controlled by the far-right as it has been ever since it formed an alliance with the Reform Party in 2003. So no Andrea, if you make it, it will probably be without my help.
Photo Credit: TheStar.com
I’d like to see Jagmeet Singh win as he seems to be the most honorable of the bunch, and I agree with much of the NDP platform, but their candidate in Fredericton is someone by the name of Shawn Oldenburg, and despite my trying, I couldn’t find out anything about him. What I managed to find is a notice that he hasn’t gotten around to uploading his profile yet (as of Monday evening). That’s not good. Google his name and you’ll see what I mean. So no effort on his part means he doesn’t deserve a vote. So probably not voting for him either.
You may have noted a lot of “probably” in the above. That’s because despite not wanting to, I will be voting for one of them. I consider it my civic duty, but who? With no leader worth considering, you’d think it would come down to policies.
To my mind the NDP has the best overall platform, but the NDP isn’t going to win Fredericton, so it’s among the other three. And there’s not a lot to distinguish policy-wise among them. Hell, the Conservatives have even done an about-face on climate change, now agreeing that a carbon tax is a good thing. It begs the question - has the Conservative Party really experienced a “come to Jesus” moment on climate, or is this just lip-service because being so out-of-step on this issue last time hurt them so much?
That though, is just one issue. Whatever the issue – climate, healthcare, managing Covid, the debt, inequality, guns, childcare, whatever, there is little difference among the parties, certainly less than in previous elections. So no help there in making up my mind based on policy.
Now though, I have possibly found a way to decide.
Photo Credit: CBC
I signed an online pledge a couple of weeks ago promoted by the non-partisan Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. Signees agree to vote for the party that has the best policy on homelessness and affordable housing. I signed because to my mind it is a crisis and I believe if you fix these related issues, a whole lot of other problems will diminish as a result. In fact that’s indisputable. But it’s subjective as even on homelessness and affordable housing, there is no party whose platform is head and shoulders over anyone else’s, at least from what I see so far. All are inadequate when it comes to meeting the challenge. If that changes, I can see that as a determining factor in deciding whom to vote for.
But as is, I will be voting for somebody, but begrudgingly. It’s not a great feeling.
Thanks for reading. Shares are always appreciated.
