It's that time of year again. The snow is melting, baseball and soccer registration is underway. It’s a good time for another federal election.
Surely it’s something most of the federal parties will be happy about, even if the electorate is not quite so keen on the idea. Elections are a time to refill empty coffers with a generous per vote subsidy, courtesy of the taxpayer. So even if a party loses, it still wins, with a cash injection that goes on to fund further partisan politics, year-round. The Conservatives are the only party to oppose the measure, but can do little about it in a minority house.
And while most of us in the West are likely rolling our eyes at the thought of yet another election, the fourth in seven years, it is the perfect time for one. It is time for a referendum on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's leadership of the country. Harper's government has been one of the most successful minority governments - and longest lasting - in Canadian history. It's a badge of honour the Conservatives should wear proud as they approach the electorate asking for another mandate. The stakes of the election could be high, as it will be where Canadians decide whether or not to entrust the party with the responsibility of a majority government.
It's hard to fault the modest platform of the minority government these past years, as it has done a praise-worthy job of steering the country through the worst recession in recent history. The government and has taken steps to ending what some have termed the "decade of darkness" in National Defence, came close to getting rid of the long gun registry, and started reforming criminal justice system – big initiatives for a party with less than half the power in the House of Commons.
Other programs were started by their predecessors, like the F-35 fighter jet purchase, and have since run into stiff opposition from the party that initially got Canada involved in the multi-national program. With a majority, the Conservatives could get the extra thrust they need to make sure Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18s does not get grounded before replacements are secured.
It is difficult to know if opposition parities have set themselves up for a surprise by deciding not to pass the rather modest 2011 budget, instead passing a vote of non-confidence. Polls have consistently shown growth in support for the governing party. The Conservatives are up double digits over the Liberal Party by some polling, but as any politician knows, elections are decided on election day. It is a positive sign for the Western-based governing party that it has been able to slowly and steadily increase popular support. Now whether that support is enough to extend further across Canada into majority territory remains to be seen.
