By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—On Sunday, August 15, 2021 Justin Trudeau walked into Rideau Hall and officially requested the dissolution of parliament, triggering a federal election to take place 36 days later on September 20 – the shortest amount of time legally allowed for a federal election.
“The decisions your government makes right now will define the future your kids and grandkids grow up in. So, in this pivotal, consequential moment, who wouldn’t want a say? Who wouldn’t want their chance to help decide where our country goes from here?” asked Trudeau during a press conference following the announcement. “Canadians need to choose how we finish the fight against COVID-19 and build back better.”
Locally, three candidates have been revealed as of publication. Leslyn Lewis is succeeding retired MP Diane Finley as the Conservative candidate, and she will face opposition from Liberal candidate Karen Matthews and People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Kenneth Gilpin. Both Lewis and Matthews have been actively canvassing the community, even prior to the announcement, as Finley’s resignation earlier this year had already guaranteed a local election to replace her this fall. Campaign signs are already starting to pop up on lawns across the region.
“The campaign has officially begun,” said Matthews in a Facebook post earlier this week. “We had an amazing day speaking with residents in Dunnville to spread our positive message and discuss important issues of the day!”
Lewis posted on Twitter August 15, “Excited to be out putting up some lawn signs after church today. Thanks to our crew who is out across Haldimand-Norfolk painting the countryside blue.”
Challengers will face an uphill battle against Lewis, as Haldimand Norfolk has voted Conservative since 2004 when Finley first took her seat. The last election saw Finley win comfortably with 46.8% of the vote, although it remains to be seen how Lewis will fare as a new contender. Prior to Finley, Haldimand Norfolk voted in Liberal Bob Speller from 1988-2004.
Ultimately, the Liberal party is hoping to establish a majority government this election. Current poll statistics from CBC show the Liberals sitting at 35.6% of public support, with the Conservatives coming in next at 28.8%, and the NDP party trailing in third with 19.3%.
Leaders of opposition parties have been outspoken in their displeasure over the election, with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh urging the Governor General to deny Trudeau’s request and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole openly accusing the Liberal party of ignoring the dangers of hosting an election during the pandemic to further their own political goals.
“To the other parties, please explain why you don’t think Canadians should get a choice, why you don’t think that this is a pivotal moment? I’m focused on our real plan. I’m focused on the path forward,” said Trudeau in response to the criticism.
O’Toole commented on what’s at stake with the election at his official campaign launch: “This election is not about the next week, the month, or the next year. It’s about the next four years. It’s about who will deliver the economic recovery Canada needs. It’s about who will take action to protect Canadians from spiralling living costs, from rising taxes, from poorer services.”
The Conservative party is attempting to distinguish itself from the Liberal party’s philosophy on COVID, disagreeing with the recent Liberal decision to mandate federal workers get vaccinated, with O’Toole instead pushing for rapid tests that would identify positive cases in the workplace without forcing vaccinations on employees: “Conservatives would like Canadians to be able to make their own decision. We have to educate people, not force them.”
Maxime Bernier, the leader of the PPC party who has remained unvaccinated himself, took a hardline stance against what he called “draconian” vaccine mandates, stating, “I don’t want to be in a society where people are asking ‘show me your papers’.”
Singh also came out swinging on behalf of the NDP against the current prime minister: “Justin Trudeau wants to grab power and wants a majority. But why does he want a majority? It’s certainly not because he wants to help more people or help people more,” said Singh during his campaign kick-off. “It’s only because he wants to help people less, and people end up paying the price. He’s fed up with New Democrats pushing him to deliver more help to more people, and he certainly doesn’t want to put in place any measures to make the ultra-rich pay their fair share.”
The NDP platform for the election places a major emphasis on universal pharmacare, a guaranteed livable income, free tuition for post-secondary education, and a new tax to be placed on the wealthy to help fund these initiatives.
Although the NDP has yet to announce a local candidate, they stated on social media: “We have been seeking a local candidate for months now, and continue to work hard to find someone who is able and willing to run for the NDP, someone who actually lives and works in Haldimand-Norfolk.”
The statement targeted Lewis directly: “We reject the ridiculous notion that a political opportunist from Toronto knows this riding as well as a long-term resident, a notion the local Conservative riding association has embraced full-heartedly.”
The Haldimand Press will be holding a virtual town hall debate featuring the local candidates, with details to follow in next week’s edition of the paper. If you have a question you would like posed to the candidates, email it to publishers@haldimandpress.com.
