Ontario Election Deja Vu

The big takeaway from the useless Ontario election last night was that people just like Doug Ford.  Non-traditional conservatives support him, because well he’s not really conservative. Conservatives support him, because he’s the only real choice they have.

I am on record for saying that calling an election was a mistake. Obviously not for political reasons, but because I believe calling a needless election in the midst of a national crisis represents an abuse of power.  While I do believe a majority of people felt the same, like many of Ford’s blunders, it was muted by Doug’s charm. Likeability is a political superpower. If you have it, you can skate over a lot of mistakes. If you don’t have it, you better be damn perfect. Just look at Pierre Poilievre who was riding high till a new smiling face came along. Being likeable doesn’t necessarily make for the best leaders, competence does, but the Federal Conservative leader has to remember that likeability wins elections. 

As for my own local riding of Guelph, we again have the distinction of having the leader of the Green Party represent us for a third time. While I believe Mike Schreiner is a competent, well spoken leader for his party, he does nothing for Guelph. A two seat party in a majority government, has no power or influence. For the third straight election the Greens remained stalled at around 5% of the vote. All Mike’s effort to use Guelph as a springboard for a Green Party wave has flopped.  At some point Guelphites are going to realize that they need a leader who puts the needs of their City first, instead of being used as a political vanity project.  

As for the other left leaning parties, if they remain stubbornly opposed to merging - then they must do a much better job of explaining how they are different. They both fall over each other fighting for the same public sector (nurse/teacher) vote and money. In doing so they have abandoned many of the private sector unions and marginalized workers for the PC’s to court. The Greens do this as well, leaving environmentally concerned conservatives to support Ford. 

The left now has another four years to get their act together. They better hurry. What's to stop Ford from calling another early election again.

By Gregory Cawsey - 100 percent Human