Numbers game in Canadian politics

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Numbers games or numbers rackets have been a form of illegal gambling for a very long time. Many governments around the world sponsor legal lottery games based on the numbers rackets, in order to increase government revenue. However, another kind of numbers game is present in democratic countries, it’s called an election campaign. On March 9, Mark Carney won the Liberal Party of Canada leadership race by winning 85 per cent of votes on the first ballot, and so became the 24th prime minister of Canada. Only 14 days afterwards he asked the governor-general to dissolve parliament, and call a snap federal election. That is to be held on April 28, following a 36-day campaign to elect 343 new members for the 45th parliament of Canada.

At Christmas time all political polls showed the ruling Liberal Party at only 21 per cent in popularity, with the Conservative Party at 42 per cent. Even the most fervent Liberal supporter knew their goose was cooked every bit as well as the magnificent goose that Ebenezer Scrooge gave to Bob Cratchit’s family in A Christmas Carol.

However, stranger things happen in real life than in Charles Dickens’ wonderful Yuletide tale of redemption, and on January 6, the unpopular PM Justin Trudeau announced he would resign after almost 10 years at the helm; giving his party two months to choose a successor. On January 20 Donald Trump was inaugurated as 47th president of the United States, and immediately initiated a trade war, threatening tariffs of 25 per cent on all goods from Canada. He also promised to annex the country to become his 51st state. Those belligerent actions really galvanised Canadians, and by March 23, when new prime minister Carney announced the election writ had been dropped, the three most credible political polls agreed that the Liberals had risen to 42 per cent in popularity, and the Conservatives had fallen back to 36 per cent. Federal election campaigns are usually full of promises that are swiftly broken, but this year it’s all about which party leader can better handle President Trump’s vicissitudes for the next four years. When campaigning is over, votes are tallied for winners and losers to be declared – like in every other numbers game.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada