Dear Editor:
The confusion reflects the chaos, and the chaos violates our calm.
Many Canadians are struggling with events south of our border. What once seemed like an absurd joke – annexing Canada – has become a repeated talking point, awakening an unexpected surge of patriotism. As we adjust to a new prime minister and prepare for our federal election, we must find ways to process the cacophony of voices attempting to frame our thoughts. I’ve developed three ballot questions to help frame voting decisions while maintaining inner tranquility.
1. Which leader can rally Canadians to respond to external challenges?
The question isn’t about who can directly confront the U.S. president. The leader we choose must unify provincial premiers, assess tariff impacts on our economy, identify pragmatic response options and distribute hardship equitably.
This requires someone who understands government tools – a leader with diplomatic skill, intelligence, stamina, consistent principles and wise advisers.
2. How different is Mark Carney from his predecessor?
Our new prime minister advocates for surprising policies: reversing capital gains taxes, eliminating the consumer carbon tax, building pipelines, reducing interprovincial trade barriers and streamlining government.
These align more with Conservative policies than Liberal ones. Yet Carney campaigned on these ideas and won 86 per cent of his party’s votes.
If you believe he can pivot the Liberal Party successfully, you might support them. If you prefer the party that has consistently championed these directions, you might choose the Conservatives.
3. Should we vote for candidate, leader, or party?
The more familiar you become with local candidates, the more likely you’ll engage with your MP after the election. During my time as an MP, I saw citizens with coherent proposals achieve meaningful results.
If you know your candidates, weight their individual merits more heavily. You’re far more likely to meet with your MP than with the prime minister. If you don’t know the candidates, your vote may depend on parties and leaders.
Moving forward
- Prepare for the flood of political messaging
- Use your key questions as filters to process information calmly
- Consider volunteering – candidates welcome door-knockers and coffee party hosts. These activities deepen your understanding of community issues
- Political donations also help, triggering generous tax credits for you while providing key resources for candidates
Whether you vote, volunteer, or donate, participate actively in our democracy. Engage thoughtfully and sleep well knowing you’ve contributed in a manner aligned with your values and focused on what truly matters for our country.
John Weston
West Vancouver
John Weston served as member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country from 2008 to 2015.
