Lessons from Canadian politics

When you’re in the stage of incomplete transition in another man’s land, you steer clear of your host’s politics. Canadians discuss politics at dinner tables without turning a solemn event into a WWE tables, ladders and chairs, TLC match. That’s because broadly speaking most Canadians have hardly shifted political allegiance from what was handed down […]

When you’re in the stage of incomplete transition in another man’s land, you steer clear of your host’s politics. Canadians discuss politics at dinner tables without turning a solemn event into a WWE tables, ladders and chairs, TLC match. That’s because broadly speaking most Canadians have hardly shifted political allegiance from what was handed down by grandparents. 

It’s election time in Ontario, Canada’s fourth largest region and the seat of federal politics. When Ontario votes, the rest of the country tends to listen. This is a tough election, because like Naija, the Liberals who control both the federal and Ontario’s government and its legislature are about to lose their grip on politics if the polls are to be believed. 

By comparison to the razzmatazz of Naija politics, Canadian elections are pretty boring. Canadians don’t see their politicians as demigods to be adulated ad nauseam. They make aspirants pound the pavements; reach out and talk. If you monitor the media, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that Canadians have the worst politicians ever released from the seedy crevices of political Hades.

The June 7 polls are pretty interesting. Three major parties are in the news – the Liberal Party which currently controls federal and Ontario government; the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, PC for short and the Ontario New Democratic Party, NDP. Okay, add the Green Party of Ontario excluded by the media treats as paper tigers because it has no seat in the Ontario legislature.

Election build up proper is absolutely colourless by African standards. No mega rallies featuring area boys and aso-ebi wearing party faithfuls. Canadians spend their times between work, family and relaxation. There are no drums, no gongs, and certainly no frenzy-dances and loud ululation; just boring reporters sniffing out candidates for old and current scandals; jingles, endless talk shows, polls and debates. Indeed, the last debate was held on Sunday between the three leading contenders – Kathleen Wynne current premier of Ontario and the longest standing political actor with nearly two decades under her belt.

 Then there is Dough Ford of the FordNation who was a councillor in Toronto where his late brother was Mayor. Andrea Horwath, the last contestant is a circumstantial candidate. She became leader of the NDP after a sex scandal accusation knocked out the party’s frontline contender. Basically, there are three women and one man in the race.

Advertising fuels campaigns and political actors heckle each other to high heavens. Parties scrutinize candidates; making sure they have neither skeletons nor rotten flesh in the cupboards. 

If you were used to hunting for bargains at garage sales, you’d be excused for thinking that every street corner has something to sell – Liberal and NDP colours bear uncanny resemblance to garage sale signs. Conservatives are the guys in blue while the Green Party are – green. 

Although Wynne is openly gay, her sexuality is not the subject of campaigns. Canadians have moved on. In religious circles, there are grumblings over the teaching of sexual education in kindergartens and a law that de-genderises children born to Ontario parents. The space for gender is marked ‘X’ based on the believe that kids do make up their minds about what gender to adopt as they grow rather than have that right taken by parents who would rather pick a gender based on what lies between their legs. Thus far, only Ford has used the expression ‘God bless you’ a couple of times, otherwise these politricians have left God out of the campaign. We’ve no way of knowing how the angels are taking this slight.

 With a $346 million debt profile, Ontario is one of the most indebted provinces in Canada and the challenge is to balance the budget, pay up the debts without compromising on the standard of living of Ontarians. This impacts on how parties stand in relation to employment and taxes. Liberals HAVE used the back to work legislation to prevent crippling strikes even after increasing the minimum wage from $11 to $14. Many employers have laid off staff and some small businesses have closed shop. These are campaign issues.

 Ontario electricity tariffs are still the highest in the country even after the Liberal government reduced rates using loans that some have described as a Trojan horse. Ford wants the head of the partially privatised HydroOne sacked and promises to cut rates further after HydroOne executives voted millions of extras for themselves.

Healthcare is a hot topic. Ontario has children and an aging population whose pensions do not cover needed medical care. Again the Liberal government recently announced measures to cover childcare, kindergarten and youths with promises to do more, but opponents are not happy. Ontario legalizes marijuana this July and parties are called to weigh in on plans for distribution, use of tax revenue and issues ancillary to that making drugs and alcohol campaign issues.

 Environment, energy and transportation bring in issues of carbon tax and reduction of green gas emissions. There’s a market for car exporters as Canada subscribes to a global plan to phase out carbon vehicles.

 Wynne believes she has run a good race as Premier but knows how much she is disliked and offers no apologies. Her government’s minimum wage raise makes Ford unhappy. He vows to turn back the clock and warns that companies would migrate to America if Horwath wins.

 If you love holidays and election curfews, don’t aspire to live here. No part of Ontario would be shut down as a result of this election. In fact, voting has already commenced – by post. No multimillion dollar voters card contracts, as citizenship proof is sufficient for voting. This reduces traffic on Election Day.

Maybe someday, we could ask Canada to show us how to organize elections without shutting down the nation. It eminently qualifies. It is 150+ years as a nation and except for its shameful treatment of its indigenous population, has no intention of conquering or dominating any nation or territory. Is the wish that Naija or Africa reach this level of politicking a future impossible tense? According to the polls, on June 7, Ontario would have a Premier and it might be a woman.