Canadians are waking up to election signs this week, as we find ourselves confronted with a mammoth, 79-day election. This past Sunday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, speaking from Ottawa, made the announcement that the 42nd Canadian federal election would be the longest since 1872. With the economy in a recession and the NDP running high in the polls, Harper is attempting to use the extra-long election period to out-spend his opponents as he opts for his fourth term as prime minister.
Normally, a federal election would only be 37 days long, with election spending capped at $25 million for each political party. This increases by $675,000 for each added day, placing the maximum expenditure amount well over $50 million for this election. When candidate spending is taken into consideration, this figure balloons up to $127 million per party. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that this is to the benefit of the Conservatives, the favored party of big business in Canada. The Conservatives have many more rich friends, which has enabled the party to raise more money than all other major parties combined. In 2014, the Conservatives finished the year with almost $31 million in their coffers, including federal and riding association funds. This is compared with around $17 million for the Liberals and $10 million for the NDP. Donations are of prime importance for political parties, as they are the sole source of funding ever since the Conservatives phased-out the per-vote subsidy that was introduced by the Chretien government in 2004.
Focusing on two key issues, Harper launched the campaign stating, “This is an election about leadership on the big issues that affect us all, our economy and our nation’s security.” Using the oldest card from the Conservative playbook, Harper is attempting to fear monger to win the election. Referencing the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and “Russian aggression,” he is trying to scare people into voting for the Conservatives. He made jabs at his opponents stating, “Some people will say: Let’s take a chance with Justin or Mulcair. But our future is not a lottery,” and then openly taking a dig at the union-backed NDP saying, “Greece took a chance with a left-wing government … which took a terrible situation and made it worse.” While speaking in Quebec recently, Harper also criticized NDP leader Thomas Mulcair’s policies for being “Socialist and protectionist.”
While claiming that the Conservative government’s actions have been “prudent,” the struggling economy would seem to disagree with this, having posted five straight months of negative economic growth. There is continual contraction in the tar sands as the price of oil has once again plummeted below the $50/barrel mark. On top of this, there has not been a return of manufacturing jobs due to the lower value of the Canadian dollar as many had hoped, but instead more layoffs have been announced. Even the service sector has been troubled, with store closures at big chains such as Target, Futureshop and Sony this year. In this uncertain and dismal context, it is only natural that working class Canadians are being shaken out of their apathy and are starting to look for political alternatives.
The Turn to the NDP
A major story over the last few months has been the rise of the federal NDP. People are starting to connect with the party’s call for a $15/day childcare, $15/hour federal minimum wage and opposition to war and “terrorism” legislation. In fact, the first poll since the announcement of the election put the NDP at 39%, a full 11% ahead of the Conservatives and 14% ahead of the Liberals. This situation explains the reasoning behind the cold and calculated move by Harper in calling this extra-long election. He is seeking to drain the coffers of the NDP and control the political discourse with attack ads.
Harper has a long history of illegal maneuvering to get his way and guarantee his grip on power is firm.
This is a well-established fact that most Canadians are now aware of. In a poll conducted at the end of last year, nearly 70% of Canadians surveyed stated that they were concerned that political parties would attempt to “Manipulate the outcome of future elections through illegal activities.” Recent changes to the election law have bolstered the ability of Conservatives to suppress the vote of those who are least likely to vote for them. From the well-known robocall scandal during the 2011 federal election, to the more than $750 million spent on government advertising to boast about the Conservatives’ accomplishments, this is just another attempt by Harper to manipulate the federal election in order to guarantee that the agenda of the capitalists has a steady hand on the wheel.
The context to this election is one of economic crisis, both internationally and nationally. The NDP were catapulted to power in Alberta due to the crisis in the oil patch. Labour discontent is on the rise as workers face layoffs and attacks in both the public and the private sectors. Governments everywhere have been forced to attack workers and youth. This forms the general backdrop to this election.
But what is to be done? Will Harper be able to triumph through fear and money?
For Canadian workers and youth who are hopeful about defeating the draconian Harper regime, it is only natural that millions are looking towards the NDP. The NDP clearly cannot compete with big Conservative dollars and will likely be worn down over the lengthy campaign by the constant barrage of Conservative attack ads. The NDP cannot win by trying to beat the corporate parties at their own game. The strength of the left is in numbers.
The way to win is by mobilizing an army of volunteers. While the Tories will use money to suppress the vote and demonize their opponents, the real change comes from committed volunteers knocking on doors. But these volunteers will only come if the NDP adopts bold socialist policies that will make a real difference in the lives of workers, youth, immigrants and women. By putting forward radical policies that go to the root of the problems facing us today, the NDP can mobilize and inspire tens of thousands of activists across the country and sweep Harper into the trash can of history where he belongs!
