Federal Election: Voting Newfoundland and Labrador Style

Well, it’s election day in Canada. After listening to the all the rhetoric from the naysayers about Danny Williams’ Anything But Conservative (ABC) campaign, I feel compelled to comment. Many assertions have been made by those who oppose ABC; the most often heard complaints are: we won’t have any representation in Ottawa; the premier is wasting time on this when there are issues more immediate and essential to the province; and that he is a dictator and is trying to tell everyone how to vote.

First, to suggest that should we not elect any Conservatives, we will be without representation in Ottawa is nothing more than fear-mongering. Further, I would like to remind you how effective the current "representation" was when they voted against the Atlantic Accord. And, bear in mind that any elected Conservatives in this province could only be effective if the Conservatives form the next government. That assumption negates the whole point of the ABC campaign. Remember, ABC is aiming to elect a new government, one that will treat us fairly. In that regard, do we really want to vote out of fear?

Second, the assertion that the premier’s efforts to oust Stephen Harper are better spent on issues more essential and closer to home is being blind to our reality. NL is a province of this country, and in order to get a fair deal in any realm, we need a federal government that deals with us fairly. Stephen Harper has not done that. Should he be elected (heaven forbid with a majority government), we stand to lose much more over the course of the next several years. Look what happened with the Atlantic Accord. So, in this regard, I believe the premier’s time and effort is very well spent on ABC. In fact, electing a prime minister we can trust is vital to our future. Once the election is over, I have no doubt the premier will attend to issues closer to home, over which he can exercise greater control. Yes, I dared to say ‘control.’

The premier has a reputation for being somewhat dictatorial in his leadership style, and that brings me to my next point. Conservatives love to assert that he is trying to “tell you how to vote.” Their hope is that in an act of defiance (of the ‘dictator’), you will vote Conservative. In my opinion, the premier is not trying to tell you how to vote any more than the plastic election signs along Prince Phillip Drive are telling you how to vote. It’s true; Mr. Williams is unabashedly trying to persuade voters. But isn’t that what politicians do at election time? (And, he’s doing it not just in NL, but right across the country.) For the good of the province, Mr. Williams has merely set out to remind us that Stephen Harper does not live up to his word and that, for that reason, he should not be re-elected. Of course, Mr. Williams surely realizes that when you are alone at the ballot box, no one can tell you how to vote.

One final note: we should remember how the whole ABC campaign got started. Mr. Williams, in an effort to convince Stephen Harper to live up to the full terms of the Atlantic Accord, asserted he would campaign against the Conservatives in any forthcoming election. And that is precisely what he is doing.

The premier has illustrated time and time again that he is a man of principle and that he has the best interests of the people of this province at heart. To not recognize that fact is to do ourselves an injustice.

When you vote, consider that while you are electing a local representative, ultimately your vote will decide who will be our next prime minister. And, if you think that your one, single vote doesn’t make a significant impact, bear in mind how very tight this election may be. One vote can mean the difference in your candidate getting elected. And one candidate may be the difference between who we will have as prime minister, perhaps for as long as the next four years.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians , under the leadership of our premier, head into this federal election with our eyes wide open. But, this province’s experience with Stephen Harper sheds much light on what Canadians can expect should he be allowed to continue as prime minister of this country.

That is why voting ABC is of great importance to all Canadians.

And, in case I haven't yet convinced you, take a look at this animation I put together: