I Don't Know

If we had a Canadian federal election today, I have no idea who I would vote for. I know who I would not vote for, the New Democratic Party. I am not a socialist and I think their policies would slow development in Canada. I'm sure many of the party faithful are nice people but I live in a nation where it is ok to disagree on how to run the country and when it comes to Canada, I have and most likely will always disagree with the NDP.

Here's the thing, I'm not a card carrying member of any political party but I vote. Like many with no affiliation in Canada I am starting to get Harper fatigue. I don't think he has done a bad job but he's been the Prime Minister for a long time and a change is nice from time to time. It keeps things balanced. That being said, I am not getting swept up in any sort of Trudeaumania 2.0 and as time passes, I'm questioning his ability to be an effective Prime Minister on the national and more importantly international stage.

It isn't the Conservative Party's attack ads. It isn't anything from either propaganda machine. It is simply a feeling that if I had to step behind the cardboard stand, I don't know if I could make a choice.

The Conservatives have been faced with and made some very difficult fiscal decisions and I think that despite what a lot of people may think, the quality of life of the average Canadian is better for it. However, I'm not entirely a dollars and cents kind of guy and some of the cuts have come to programs that provide unique benefits to the community. We can live without them but do we want to?

I don't know what the Liberals stand for these days. They are not saying a lot of concrete things, but they have a very small presence in the House of Commons so they don't really have to say much. I'm sure as the next general election moves closer, they will have something to say. A lot of their popularity seems to be coming from charisma and floppy hair. I hope they are cooking up something a bit better than that for the long haul. They have made some mistakes, to the level that some people have publicly torn up their Liberal Party of Canada membership cards. That's never a good sign and I'm sure it will be brought up in the weeks before we go to vote. You can't give your political opponents those types of moments, especially if they are known for running attack ads.

I don't know if the Liberals were justified in not permitting some people to seek candidacy in specific ridings but if you are going to declare open and transparent nominations in all ridings, it should look like open and transparent nominations. Again, that is low hanging fruit for your opponents. If you can't keep your own house in order how can you run the country?

Ultimately someone will earn my vote. A lot will happen between now and the day we do vote in Canada and my choice will become clear. At least I hope it does, because nobody is impressing me now.