The dynamics and the mechanics of the Canadian electoral process to select the ruling political party and its leader are way different than that practiced by their neighbor. There are, of course, many differences in the very process of election toward the road to leadership in each country. But that aside, one very glaring feature is that Canada does not have huge amounts of money riding on their candidates and super PACS and big business patronage is not the order of the day.
Visibly absent in Canada is the in your face attitude of candidates trying to acerbically run down other candidates. In contrast, the American way appears to be to resort to blatant, negative campaigning, unashamedly, even within the ranks of its own party, with candidates hell bent on cudgeling each other.
The way Donald Trump has campaigned and others In the GOP have reciprocated is enough evidence to understand the zeitgeist of the American political reality. Everyone wants the other’s head. And think about it, the campaign has just begun and they are gleefully going against their own party representatives with no contrition. Indeed, there is no love lost between these overly aggressive Yankee candidates. This time it is more visible because the fight to leadership of the GOP has a chock-ful of hopefuls in the horserace with the big money purses backing them, which seem to be getting larger and larger every next election. And think about it, this is just the start and things are going to hot up more, as the party nomination, and of course, the election which takes place in two years’ time presents itself.
The story in Canada is different. This time around, in this recent election, a Canadian politician tried to copy the negative campaigning so much the norm in USA, albeit to a minuscule degree, and got rocked by a populace which was very critical of such tactics. There is still grumbling within the population not willing to forgive Stephen Harper, who by the Canadian measure crossed the line of a dirty campaign in the hope of grasping desperately to the tailcoats of perceived success.
Given the charisma and charm of Justin Trudeau, I was confident as were the majority of others, that he was a shoo-in for the top position in Canada and he would deflect any negative commentary directed at him. Notwithstanding the various voices from the media and spin doctors and political pundits, the voters presented him with a majority government. Sure he did not exude the Trudeamania his father Pierre Trudeau brought with him in 1968 before he took the coveted position of Prime Minister of Canada. Justin Trudeau gained more stature as the elections rolled around and post-election he has successfully reignited the Trudeamania his father is credited with.
In fact, speaking to a lot of people post-election, I am getting a response acknowledging Trudeaus’ victory as one of the greatest thing that could have happened to Canada.
He has breathed a new lust for adventure, excitement and optimism in what is considered to be a hard to excite population which is given to a graver disposition in keeping with the backdrop of a harsh climate and the hostile Nature in this vast and sparsely populated country. Canadian literature testifies to this pessimistic and austere attitude that has been the hallmark of this country as was presented by the earlier famous writers. For instance, starting from Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Traill, Frederick Philip Grove and a whole slew of writers including our contemporary beloved Canadian writer Margaret Atwood.
Granted this is the designated honeymoon period after the election of any popular figure, Trudeau has not wasted time in his remarkable choice of members for his cabinet. Fifty percent of the cabinet are women and all of them very accomplished, too. The rest of the cabinet comprises the crème de la crème of personalities.
Some have noted the representation of the Sikh community by the selection of four of its representatives is a bit of an overkill given that sikhs are a very small minority. And given that this community blocks its votes and thereby leverages their stature is something known to everyone. The Sikhs vote for their own community members affiliating with them without any question and with religiosity.
But a closer look reveals that the Sikhs chosen are highly proficient and dynamic people this time around.
The people did vote for the much promised change and Justin will have to deliver.