Last week I touched on the Ontario election and the need for governments across each of Canada’s provinces as well as federally to do a better job of observing and counting votes cast for “no one”.
Just when I thought that would be the end of my Ontario election columns, Kathleen Wynne came out and gave me another reason to write about their election.
But why?
For the first time in my knowledge, Wynne, who is the current premier of Ontario, announced her concession before the election even happened.
With the election set for June 7, Wynne made a surprise announcement on June 2, effectively conceding the fact her five-and-a-half year reign as Ontario premier, and the Liberals’ 15 year reign as governing party will end on June 7.
Wow, what a bombshell.
It is a very interesting decision, but was it pre-meditated?
Shortly after her announcement the Liberals came out with campaign ads urging voters to vote Liberal, not to help them win but to help keep either the NDP or the PC Party from emerging with a majority.
An interesting decision and one I cannot wait to see played out.
Will people adhere to their urges and vote Liberal, possibly giving the Liberals another reign as governing party?
Will people avoid voting Liberal because they do not want to vote for a party who has already given up on winning?
Or will people ignore it altogether?
June 7 will give us our answer.
And while some of you reading this may be thinking ‘who cares, I live in Saskatchewan?’ you should care.
Manitoba is sandwiched between Ontario and Saskatchewan, but governments across this country still need to work together, they still need to trade together.
Heading into the United States election I heard a lot of people laughing at them, ridiculing their choices, and acting as if what happens has no bearing on Canada or Saskatchewan.
Ask the farmers how that has gone with Trump seemingly willing to destroy the North American Free Trade Agreement.
In fact in recent days Trump has indicated a desire to eliminate NAFTA altogether instead, eyeing agreements with Canada and Mexico separately.
How those play out will have a large impact on Canada, and Saskatchewan, especially our hard working farmers.
Ontario in a way is the same.
So whether politics are near the top of your list of important items, what happens in Ontario this week will have an impact on this province.
And while the election was setting up to be must-see television before, Wynne’s concession makes for a whole new level of interest heading into June 7.
