A word from the wise: pick your candidates carefully
Dear Pierre (if I may call you that):
You seem to be doing very well in my little corner of the country. I write a column in this newspaper which is circulated in communities perched on a piece of rock stuck out into the North Atlantic.
Etobicoke we’re not.
The best part of this gig is reader feedback. I offer my email address at the bottom of my column, and I am always heartened by the response.
However, rarely do I get as strong a response as when I mention issues related to your opponent: the current Prime Minister, his crew, his policies, or his allies. I am often stopped during my daily travels by folks who freely express their opinions about Trudeau and company. They aren’t fans.
I am sure I don’t need to tell you this but there is a lot of seething anger out there regarding the current federal government. A lot. Time and again I am told people are afraid to speak out on issues for fear of being attacked, branded idiots and called names merely for expressing opinions contrary to the government’s. And don’t get me started on the carbon tax. More than once, I have heard someone mutter to me, “Just wait ‘til I get in the ballot box.”
I am sure you know this, and I am also sure, providing you don’t put your foot in it, you may do very well in the next federal election. Very well indeed.
Which brings me to the point of this letter. Politics being what it is, there are suddenly a lot of folks lining up to jump on your bandwagon. I don’t know how involved you are in candidate selection, and I do know our paltry seven seats doesn’t make us a high priority for you, but I hope you heed my concern.
What am I worried about? Tory retreads who had a hand in forcing the disastrous Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project on the populace who are now surfacing hoping to become federal members of Parliament under your banner.
Muskrat Falls is a sore point down here. I have often been asked over the years why there weren’t any criminal trials, convictions, or jail time connected to this fiasco. Many have grumbled to me that those involved should be stripped of their pensions for what they’ve done. I hear their frustration but point out they were duly elected at the time and did what they thought (or were told) was right. I have no stomach for any such punishments.
But to reward them?
Why would you want candidates with that amount of toxic baggage in your campaign? No doubt they will campaign on their record, their judgement, their vast years of experience. We have a saying here in Newfoundland: “The face on ‘em!”
I remember watching them, along with their colleagues, force through a huge project without allowing any review or criticism. I remember them demonizing and personally attacking anyone who expressed doubts. Is this what you want in your government, should you be successful?
Surely, Pierre, with the momentum you seem to have going, you can find younger, brighter, fresher candidates for the seven ridings. You talk a lot about real change. These folks aren’t it.
Believe me when I tell you I am not trying to provide aid and comfort to the other party’s candidates. Nothing, as a former premier loved to say, could be further from the truth.
Perhaps your people have advised you that voters will hold their nose and vote for the Tory candidate anyway. Perhaps they will. Maybe you want pliant MPs who will clearly do whatever they are told without thinking. If so, they are the ones for you.
Yes, it’s early days. No one has yet to be officially nominated, which is why I am writing this now. There is still time to consider my suggestion. I sense a great thirst in the electorate for real change. My guess is if any of these tired old retreads get your nod it will sour many voters and increase the chances of a local Rhinoceros Party candidate!
Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com