Well, folks, it's officially one week until the weary voters of the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot head back to the polls. (Unless they're casting their ballots early, which in Canada is called advance voting.)
We're paying attention to this race not just because we care about the True North, but because things are getting so bad south of the 49th parallel that we're looking abroad for glimmers of hope and/or amusement. And it's possible that the good people of Battle River-Crowfoot will provide some of that on August 18.
The reason they're having this silly election in the first place is because Trumpy Tory leader Pierre Poilievre lost his Ontario seat in the April 28 federal election, and a fellow Conservative from the richly right-wing province of Alberta helpfully resigned so PP could run there. This is not unusual in Canadian politics (but slightly odd for an incumbent party leader). There's every reason to expect that the election will be uneventful, and that the voters of Battle River-Crowfoot will return PP to Parliament to lead the Tory fight against the mighty Mark Carney.
But, maybe not.
As the CBC reports, reliably Conservative voters in the riding seem ambivalent. Farmers, especially, are worried that if he becomes their MP, Poilievre will have his attention focused elsewhere — in Ottawa, on federal politics — and not on their interests. Gee, why would they think that? Is it because PP and the wife recently campaigned in a vintage Rolls Royce? (What a man of the people!)
The reports are purely anecdotal, but if we were on Team Poilievre, the fact that any members of their base are questioning their allegiance to the party would worry us. Thankfully, it's not our problem. We cats will watch the election results with great interest, and we PURR.
No comments:
Post a Comment