Canada Voters Flex Muscles

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Manitoba Province.
Carla Compton won the Tuxedo by-election for the NDP, a party associated with workers' rights. 
Tuxedo, a rich area of 'old money' had voted Conservative since the beginning of time. Photo Credit: Online pic.

Let me explain Canada's system of government first, before I get into the nitty-gritty of this blog.

1. Governor General of Canada. Justin Trudeau is the Prime Minister of Canada. No, he is not the head of state. King Charles 111 is, because he took over as the ‘Canadian Monarch’ after his mother Queen Elizabeth passed away. Canada was a British colony and chooses to remain in the British monarchy ambit. The office of the Governor General, represents King Charles 111 in countries such as Canada.

2. Prime Minister. He is the political head and is based in Ottawa, where Canada’s Parliament (House of Commons) is situated. Prime Ministers are the result of general elections, held every four years.

3. Premiers. They are the political heads of the 10 provinces. They run their own elections every four years and make laws about general life in provinces. Citizenship, immigration, indigenous affairs, currency, war, health etc. are no-go areas because they are federal matters, decided by Parliament in Ottawa.

Big Question. Do voters in provinces base their choice on who the Prime Minister is? Let’s say I used to vote for the Liberal Party. I suddenly decide I don’t like Justin Trudeau, the leader and the current Prime Minister, anymore. A by-election comes by where I live and I flip. I vote for the Conservative Party or NDP.

Toronto- St. Paul By-Election

The above question is prompted by the surprise results from this riding. Apparently, it has been in the Liberal Party family for more than 30 years, but it voted Conservative a few days ago. The question is why. Some people feel that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the reason. They believe he is unpopular. That is why the Liberal Party lost Toronto-St. Paul.

I don’t think so. Voters flex their muscles from time to time, to remind presumptuous politicians, who is the boss. It doesn’t have anything to do with who is Prime Minister. It is a lesson that no political party should take voters for granted. Voting choices begin with home, where voters are. They change voting allegiances when circumstances around them change.

A good example is what happened in Manitoba, one of the 10 provinces. Tuxedo is an affluent area which has always voted Conservative. Heather Stefanson, the last premier, a Conservative, had represented Tuxedo since 2000. Her party lost the 2023 provincial election. Her seat became vacant. A by-election was called and Carla Compton won the seat for the NDP.

Voters are not swayed by TV debates. It’s what is on the ground that matters.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Blogger Without Borders

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