The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Political Relationships Politics, especially winning politics, is all about developing a trusting relationship between the politicos and the voting public. This is basic to getting elected. Once a connection is made with the voters, the problem all governments face is keeping the trust. That's not easy, as you sure can't satisfy everyone. As one successful politician told me: "Sometimes they just get sick of seeing your face." This is probably good for democracy, which requires change every so often. After 12 years, the federal Liberals had run out of gas but did everything they could to stay in power, including trying to bribe us with the surplus money they dug out of the overtaxed Canadian taxpayer's pocket. It didn't work because the Liberals were just too unsatisfactory for most of the country (except Ontario, especially Toronto). Now the Liberal Party is in serious disarray. They really have to get over the idea that they are still the government and work to rebuild the party. In any case, leadership conventions are divisive, and the sooner the Liberals' is over, the better for their party. There is also a spillover effect from federal to provincial politics, which is having a noticeable effect on Manitoba and Saskatchewan as the Canadian public continues to approve the policies and actions of the Harper government. The public is also apparently not forgetting the scandals and baggage carried by the Liberals, in spite of the "press releases" from the two local Liberal MPs who constantly complain about the new government. This effect is normal, and was most noticeable in 1957 when John Diefenbaker won his surprising victory. The Manitoba Tories under Duff Roblin quickly followed suit and stayed in power for more than a decade. The same effect seems to be happening now. The NDP has been in power since way back when Roy Romanow defeated a disintegrating Grant Devine government in Saskatchewan. Now led by the colourless Lorne Calvert, a former church minister with none of the political traits of Tommy Douglas, the governing party is losing favour with the Saskatchewan voters. That's despite countless press releases extolling their virtues and crowing about how good things are in this new "have" province. I received a message from old friend and political colleague, Bob Mason, now executive director of the conservative Saskatchewan Party. Bob was a heavyweight in the Devine administration, and no one is more qualified for the job. The message was about the June 19 Weyburn by-election won by his party with a huge plurality. The count was: Saskatchewan Party 49 per cent; Liberals 27 per cent; and NDP 24 per cent. That was the NDP's worst showing ever in Tommy Douglas's home area. The Sask Party received 1,300 more votes than last time. The NDP has been in power too long in Saskatchewan, and "time for a change" will be a big issue in the next election. Goodbye, Lorne Calvert! The federal spillover is also apparent in Manitoba, but there are other factors at play in a province that seldom re-elects a government more than once. The Tories have a new leader in Hugh McFadyen, a city guy with deep roots in rural Manitoba who is obviously appealing to a lot of voters the party needs. The rural areas are even a worse story for the NDP. Vic Toews and his federal Conservatives are very popular, especially since they have moved on the gun registry issue and other things dear to the hearts of rural Manitobans. As well, most rural areas are provincial Conservative strongholds, or should be after the next election. Rik Borotsic, popular former mayor of Brandon and former PC MP, has been acclaimed as the PC candidate for Brandon West. He surely should beat Scott Smith, a huge disappointment in Doer's cabinet. Ron Lemieux, former education minister, is also in clear and present danger in his rural riding, as is Stan Struthers in Dauphin. All polling, especially the most recent, shows the provincial PCs with well over 50 per cent of the rural vote Ð and getting stronger. As has been said many times, "When things start to go bad for the government, it only gets worse." Much more to come! Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
