Canada Needs Clarity and Vision

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 109) February 17, 2016

The Canadian economy is spiralling in the wrong direction with some observers suggesting that current economic/political circumstances are erratic, if not out of control.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s answer to Canada’s economic uncertainties, stimulate the economy by tossing out huge amounts of money to the big cities and calling it “infrastructure” investment.  While the country will have to wait until March’s federal budget to see the details of his spending plans, the prime minister offered a rather ominous hint when he observed last week that the budget deficit for the 2016/17 fiscal year would be larger than the $10 billion he had promised and his government was going to find it difficult to balance the federal budget by 2019/20 – basically wiping out the economic promises he made in last year’s election campaign.  It is understandable that Mr. Trudeau would (should) re-assess his campaign promises in light of a clearly deteriorating international situation, but he might be going over-board.  My hope for March’s budget: that it will be a budget that reflects a vision for the Canadian economy; that it is progressive and sustainable; that it addresses the pressing issues at hand and focuses on the pressing issues at hand.  And what has to be avoided, that the budget is just an outline of a spending spree.

The Woes of the NDP

New Democrats will be attending their annual convention during the April 8 weekend in Edmonton.  At the convention, delegates will be asked to vote on having a leadership race – if the vote is over 50 percent, the race for leadership is on.  Thomas Mulcair indicated he is willing to carry on as the NDP’s leader, if he garners 75 percent support from the convention.  The party’s president Rebecca Blaikie has criss-crossed the country to assess the mood of the NDP membership in light of their major disappointments in the last election – she has openly concluded that Tom Mulcair will need 70 percent support if he is to remain leader.  As to other possible contenders for the NDP’s top job, Nathen Cullen’s name is often put forward.  Mr. Cullen is from British Columbia and is a well experienced Member of Parliament – apparently he is not interested in the NDP leadership job – at least for the moment.  While I’m not a supporter of the NDP, I think that Mr. Mulcair has proved himself as an intelligent, excellent parliamentarian.  If the social democratic party is to remain a viable option opposite the Liberals and Conservatives, a person of Mulcair’s stature is needed, if not required.  What is missing in the discussion and fundamental to the NDP’s future, is a frank discussion on how to carve out a center-left of center constituency that is attractive to a bewildered constituency fearful of what is to come.  As to the opportunities for the third party NDP, the party elite will have to think outside the box and structure a platform based on two long-standing issues facing Canadians:  Personal Freedom versus Responsibility to the Nation-State and Globalization versus Nation Building.