Editorials
October 16, 2008 11:54 PM
Our third federal election in four years and what have we learned, York Region?
That things can change.
That there are fewer safe, shoo-in ridings, especially if you’re a Liberal.
That national trends mean something here in the land north of Steeles Avenue and south of Lake Simcoe, even if we’re a little late with them.
York Region residents elected four Conservatives and three Liberals Monday night.
That’s a far cry from two years ago, when York-Simcoe’s Peter Van Loan was the lone Tory elected.
Both elections saw Conservative minority governments elected nationally. Locally, it was a delayed reaction.
Veteran Liberals Lui Temelkovksi, edged by Paul Calandra in Oak Ridges-Markham, and Susan Kadis, ousted by former Toronto candidate/news anchor Peter Kent, are gone. Former Aurora mayor Tim Jones, was unable to hang onto Belinda Stronach’s Liberal seat in Newmarket-Aurora.
We weren’t alone. Liberal support dove across the 905 region.
What does it mean to residents of York Region?
Perhaps the results are a closer reflection of this area’s political roots.
Maybe it’s good to have more MPs on the benches of the party in power.
Will it mean more federal money for York Region?
Hopefully, especially when it comes to dollars for jobs, transportation and health care.
Will any of the four MPs be named to Stephen Harper’s cabinet. MPs-elect Kent, Calandra and Van Loan have been mentioned as ministerial material.
Hopefully, they can carry the message to Mr. Harper that if the Conservatives in this incarnation ever hope to win a majority they might have to moderate their stances on some issues.
By not giving them a majority, again, are Canadians saying they don’t really want to see some of their notions, including incarcerating 14-year-olds for life, to ever become policy?
Fortunately, they won’t become policy because in a minority situation the Conservatives likely won’t have the votes to push all of their agenda items through.
Which will lead us to the next election.
Hopefully, that won’t be anytime quickly.
And it shouldn’t happen soon if the Conservatives adhere to their standard election date legislation, this time around.
We can all use the break from election spending and promising.