Federal opposition leaders toppled Stephen Harper’s government last week, forcing a federal election set for May 2. It’s a move local Member of Parliament Brian Jean says is “unnecessary and ridiculous.”
“We recognized that it was coming,” said Jean, who represents the Athabasca-Fort McMurray riding. “This will be the fourth election in seven years and I’m getting kind of tired of it. We didn’t want it. It’s unnecessary and ridiculous.”
The federal Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois voted 156-145 in favour of a no-confidence motion, revealing a distrust of the Tory government over issues of excessive military spending and corporate tax cuts. The Liberals also held the Tories in contempt of Parliament, and refused to pass the recent federal budget.
“They hold us in contempt. I hold them in contempt,” said Jean, referring to the opposition’s tactics to force another election.
Last week, opposition members chastised Harpers’s minority government for withholding information on the high costs associated with the purchase of new F-35 fighter jets, and their proposed tax cuts in the recently released budget.
Jean calls the allegations ‘baloney,’ arguing that the Liberals passed the corporate tax cuts in last year’s budget, and the cost associated with the jets is a small price to pay for safety.
“The Liberals voted in favour of the [military] spending in the last budget. I look at the jets as an insurance policy. The $1,000 per person [in Canada] the planes will cost is a small price to pay for safety,” he said, adding that the dissolution of legislature was a political maneuver that allowed the opposition to evade voting on a budget they would ultimately be on side with.
Political newcomer Karen Young, the Liberal Party candidate for Athabasca-Fort McMurray, supports military spending but said the jets, which will cost between $16 billion to $21 billion, are too much of a financial burden for taxpayers.
“I support our military, but I don’t support excessive spending,” said Young, adding that she suspected an election was looming after Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and other oppositional leaders continued to blast Harper’s government over alleged scandals.
“I saw it coming,” said Young, who is now preparing for a hard road of convincing her riding to send a Liberal representative to Ottawa. “It will be challenge. ”Our riding has always been Conservative. If Liberals in this riding could make it to Ottawa, we will make change.”
While federally there’s talk of the left joining forces to ensure the Conservative Party does not win a majority government in the spring, Young said she’s not interested in coalition politics, arguing that her voters chose the Liberals and not a left-leaning hybrid.
“I don’t think the coalition will happen,” she said. “ I’m supporting the Liberal Party and that’s who I will vote for.”
The NDP candidate in the local riding, Berend Wilting, was unavailable for comment, but his campaign manager Lou Arab disagreed with Young, arguing that tackling issues such as health-care may require a coalition government.
“We don’t play partisan games,” said Arab. “The NDP will work with all elected Members of Parliament to deal with issues important to Canadians.”
Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton began his campaign in Edmonton last Saturday.
