Canadian politics have always been interesting, but only as I’ve emerged from my shell of general oblivion to the world outside of school and homework have I come to appreciate it. 2013 was perhaps Canada’s year: sure, the US government shut down, but Rob Ford probably got more attention then that.
Needless to say, here are three reasons to continue paying attention:
1. Harper vs. Trudeau
Justin Trudeau makes a fantastic character foil for Stephen Harper. More for his name and the attached allusion to his father’s legacy than his own abilities (perhaps best indicated by the misplaced word–from admitting to smoking pot to promoting marijuana legalization to school children or expressing “admiration” for some aspect of China’s dictatorship–he has made to other parties’ delight… could a rendition of the aggressive “Just Visiting” campaign be upcoming?), his charisma contrasts Harper’s seeming coldness and composure. The Liberal Party has certainly been taking advantage of Trudeau’s “saleable” nature: donations to the party result in a chance to win a dinner date or one of 12 special edition Justin Trudeau scarves.
Harper on the other hand, has been known for his composure and control of the situation, sometimes criticized for restricting media access, such as the “5 question limit.” It is rare for him to make a mistake compared to the gaff-prone Trudeau, yet recently, primarily with the Mike Duffy scandal and the resignation of his right hand advisor Nigel Wright, he too has come under fire. Although, perhaps in response to Trudeau’s personable campaign, Harper does have his own reality show now (albeit, only a webseries). The cats probably worked better.
2. New Democrat Party revival?
The last election heralded a great change to the Conservative-Liberal era, but the new opposition party’s success was dampened by the death of Jack Layton. Now the question of the NDP’s future lies with the seemingly enigmatic Mulcair, the “man no one hears.” At the same time he’s been complimented for the NDP’s new effective, efficient, and direct approach at question time—but whether it is turning the heads of voters appears to be a question for the next election.
3. Scandals galore
Ford, heralded as “Canada’s biggest news export” and “most successful comedy export” (this list is evidently out of date) is hardly the only one. Once you’ve got your fill of him, turn to the former Laval mayor’s charges of gangsterism or Brampton’s questionable spending. No wonder some are questioning the accountability of the municipal system and the lack of “big city control” for growing populations—still, trust for municipal officials remains much higher than that of federal.
After all, when we turn to the federal level: Patrick Brazeau, Pamela Wallin, and Mike Duffy have only increased the demand for the abolition of the Senate (some of it strongly championed by the NDP) and revealed the strain that the institution is under.
With all this, I don’t know why we need celebrities.
