January 23 (UPI) — It is election day in Canada.
Election-day in the 2nd largest country on Earth, substantially larger than the United States. A country which boasts a higher GDP per head than France, Germany and Japan- 6th in the OECD. A free market to be proud of, ranked in the top 12 of the Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report. It regularly ranks as one of the best and safest countries to live in. Its forests and prairies are among the grandest and most pristine on God’s earth- a country so successful it is self effacing. All this, while being the 5th largest world trader.
It is election day in Canada.
Yet, with some exceptions, the 2006 elections are not being covered in the United States. Even Europe is covering the elections. Canada is the United State’s largest trading partner by far accounting for 20% of all US international trade. Canada’s border with the United States is 5500 miles long, roughly the distance from Seattle to Shanghai – the longest undefended
border in the world.
It is election day in Canada.
What is at stake is immense. They include: Security Border Controls- by 2007 all Canadians and US citizens will need passports to cross into each other’s countries; Terrorism – the United States accuses Canada of not being vigilant, Canada sees its sovereignty violated for having to collect passenger flight lists for Canadian Domestic flights crossing US airspace; Exchange Rates to Tariffs – the efficiency of NAFTA and free trade is fundamentally effected; from air pollution to water purity, from agricultural conflicts- i.e. mad cow disease- to fishing right disputes – a huge issue in Washington and Alaska- when one country sneezes, the other feels it.
It is election day in Canada.
I remember my first road trips to Canada in 1978. Later, in the early 80’s, I regularly traveled to Canada with my Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers from Syracuse University. Syracuse to Kingston was only 1.5 hours away, with Toronto and Montréal being between 5 and 7 hours driving. On the drives up, I would think of the many Canadian Forces family members who attended Heidelberg American High School with me – we always enjoyed shopping at the Canadian PX which was in Lahr Germany, about 1.5 hours away. These memories crossed my mind on my first trips. And let me be honest, as the drinking age changed in New York, we were quite happy to go to Canada.
It is election day in Canada.
Canada is the symbiosis of the United States and Europe. It has traits of both. It is bilingual – trilingual, if you count the heritage of the Inuet. The original inhabitants of the country have this century seen the creation of Nanuvut, their own province. Canada is one of the least xenophobic countries on the planet. A recent Pew Research Poll asked if immigration is good or bad. Nearly 80% of all Canadians answered that immigration was a good influence on the country. In the United States it was 48%.
It is election day in Canada.
The Prime Minister will either be the current incumbent, the Liberal’s Paul Martin or the Conservative’s Stephen Harper’s. The Bloc Québécois and its leader André Boisclair will probably not play the same spoiler role they have in the past. The real winner might just be the NDP (New Democratic Party) and its left of center social democratic leader Jack Layton, who might end-up becoming the power-broker.
It is election day in Canada.
Paul Martin has been in power for 18 months, previously serving as Finance Minister under Jean Chrétien, who served as Prime Minister for 11 years. Martin gained a reputation as a fiscal conservative and is credited with reigning-in public finances. The last years between Martin and Chrétien were ripe with acrimony, Martin having essentially engineered Chrétien’s retirement. Malaise at the Liberals has set in, and voters are tired of the government despite low unemployment, a strong economy and excellent growth. Martin has taken to substantially criticizing US policies during the campaign, stressing Canada’s independence. Final polls have Martin’s Liberals at 27%.
It is election day in Canada
Stephen Harper lost to Prime Minister Martin in the 2004 election, having been perceived as too socially conservative and close to US interests. But at 43, he has cleaned-up his public image, and made virtually no gaffes in this election cycle. Harper has a youthful image and has touched on themes which appeal to Canadians – including lowering the national sales tax (GST) and a Patient Wait Time Guarantee, a huge health care issue in Canada. Harper must make serious gains in Ontario, take a few seats in Québec, and hold his base in Alberta and British Columbia. Harper has argued that Canada should move close to the United States. Final Polls have the Conservatives at 37%.
It is election day in Canada.
Jack Leighton has been president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, a Toronto City Councilor, a University Professor and chair of the Toronto Board of Health. He is considered a scholar and is the only candidate with a Ph.D. He is appealing to many dissatisfied Liberals. He was born in Montréal, Québec. His campaign theme has been to emphasize practical, principled and socially minded solutions. Final polls have the NDP at 18%.
It is election day in Canada.
Bloc Québécois leader André Boisclair only become leader in December 2005. He is mostly famous for being young, gay and a drug user. So far he has shown none of the charisma of the party’s founder, René Lévesque. The Bloc Québécois sees itself as the only party capable of representing French Québec, and looking out for Québec’s sovereignty. Final polls have the Bloc Québécois at 13%.
It is election day in Canada.
I suggest we watch the returns.
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Marc S. Ellenbogen is President of the Prague Society