The political landscape is shifting and changing in Canada, and much more change is looming on the horizon.
The federal Conservative Party chose a new leader in Erin O’Toole, exactly one month to the day before Parliament will resume sitting in Ottawa.
Just like dark clouds mustering on the horizon on a hot summer day, we can’t be sure exactly what will come of when the storm arrives. There may well be a wild storm with a lot of wind, rain and lightning, or it might just be an uneventful rain shower.
The clouds in question relate to what may develop in Ottawa on Sept. 23, as the federal Liberals’ new Finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, introduces a new budget along with a Throne Speech, with a confidence vote. With a minority government in place, this could well lead to a federal election only a year after the last one.
Such an election at this time would be a major test of the Conservatives’ new leader — and it may well be time to throw a scare into the Trudeau administration, with an unresolved scandal hanging in the balance and a trillion-dollar debt mounting.
But here in Saskatchewan, it may not be the greatest thing to happen, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with provincial, municipal and school board elections all due to be held this fall.
That’s a lot of politics at any time, but to have this during a health and economic crisis is asking a lot.
If the winds of change are blowing out of those dark gathering clouds, it may be well that all of this political activity will be happening this fall. Good leadership is required during a crisis, but on the other hand, changing things up while we’re all still dealing with that crisis may just result in more confusion and disarray.
One question that might come up is, who is willing to step forward and let their name stand, whether it is for a seat in the Legislature, in the House of Commons, in Weyburn’s city council chambers (or council chambers of an area town or village) or the school board table?
Democracy needs participants to make it work, and good democracy needs good, willing candidates who will offer their expertise, passion and ideas to help lead the way.
Time will tell the story whether O’Toole will provide good solid leadership to the Conservative Party, and voters will get to render judgment upon the Saskatchewan Party this fall, which includes MLA and Environment Minister Dustin Duncan in the riding of Weyburn-Big Muddy.
This also applies to municipal councils, and to the school boards for Southeast Cornerstone and Holy Family — do you like the representation provided by the current members? Do you think you could do better? Then it’s time to step forward and get your ideas out there.
