The federal election is right around the corner, and the political games are beginning, with the Conservative government handing out $3 billion in enriched childcare benefits last week.
And surprise, surprise, fresh after a wave of feel-good announcements about the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit, the Conservatives got a sharp boost in popularity, giving the Conservatives the lead among decided voters, at 38 per cent, followed by the NDP at 27 per cent and the Liberals at 25 per cent. Others, however, were left feeling jaded, as accountants and economists warned that most of the money doled out to parents would be clawed back come tax time, since the government also removed the Child Tax Credit on tax returns.
Even though people have not warmed to him as a public figure, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s grip on power seems as impenetrable as his hair. Poll after poll has suggested that people see Harper as the best leader to manage Canada’s economy and its finances, even though the Conservatives have run a seven-year string of budget deficits. Despite pledging that 2015 would be the year that the government would balance the books, the parliamentary budget officer predicted last week there will be a $1 billion deficit for the 2015-16 fiscal year, based on Bank of Canada forecasts for smaller economic growth this year.
The shine has worn off new penny Justin Trudeau as well, as the Liberal leader faced a host of attack ads from the Conservatives that seem to have hurt him, and made mistakes of his own, for instance, misjudging public sentiment by voting against taking military action against ISIL. He also alienated supporters by supporting the government’s controversial bill C-51, anti-terrorism legislation that gives police and spy agencies more power to deter threats, even at risk of violating privacy and Charter rights, with opponents warning of a lack of oversight built into the bill. Trudeau has pledged to amend parts of the law should the Liberals win power, but by then, it will be too little, too late.
It remains to be seen if NDP leader Thomas Mulcair can pick up on the discontent with the Conservatives and Liberals and ride the orange wave of momentum created by Alberta’s NDP to power, but October’s election will decide all three leaders’ fates.
