Leaders Debate

Various Canadian news outlets are talking about the fact the Canadian leader debate is scheduled at the same time as the US VP candidates debate, and how people are going to be sucked into the US debate because of people wanting to see if Sarah Palin can live up to the hype. For me, I want to see if any of the leaders of the Canadian political parties can live up to the hype. I'm still undecided about who I want to vote for, and this debate will hopefully go a long way in helping me make up my mind.

Dion has done nothing to impress me, but here's his chance to explain how the Green Shift will affect me in a positive way. Right now, I am buying into the Conservative ads that it will definitely increase my cost of living. I suspect the assessment is correct, at least for the first year or so, until the tax rebates/refunds kick in. I really need Dion to prove that preception wrong or distorted. I also need to see that Dion can provide anything resembling leadership, and that he can actually stand up to Harper on real issues with more than token disagreement. That would definitely lean me towards the red corner again.

Harper has to prove to me that the Conservative agenda isn't just about touting what a great guy he is, or what a horrible leader Dion is. For me, neither inspires confidence in a party. If you have a plan to sell, lay it out, highlight the good points, and let me decide. I also want to see that the Conservatives have more of a plan than "You can criticize us because the Liberals did this too". You were elected partly on a platform of being better than the Liberals in terms of accountability and leadership. Using the Liberals as a benchmark means that you aren't even aspiring to be better than the Liberals. Sell me on the notion that you have a plan for Canada, and that it is a plan that is good for me, and I am willing to vote blue.

Layton I can never bring myself to vote for, so when he's speaking, I will be chuckling at the great job the Air Farce will do in parodying him. I know, I know, I should cut him some slack, but the "We need someone better than Harper" ads don't lead me to the conclusion that the someone we needs is Jack Layton. And god forbid that Olivia Chow actually becomes Canada's first lady. I would have to stop eating dinner and watching the 6pm news at the same time.

That guy from Quebec isn't running any candidates in my riding, so when it's his turn, that would be a good time for me to go to the bathroom. The end result will likely be the same.

Finally, this is May's chance to prove that the Greens are ready for the big times. The focus of the debate will largely be on the economy, and it will be her chance to show me that the Green party isn't a one issue party. Like Harper, she needs to show me that she has a plan for Canada, and that it is a plan that is good for me. (The plan to increase the GST by 1% and give that money to cities (hopefully) to fund public transit and infrastructure is a good start). More importantly, she needs to show me that she can stand up to the other leaders, that she is able to receive the punches and give back just as much. (And please, no Republican-style Sarah Palin whining about sexism if you lose).

In the end, I suspect that the Liberal candidate in my riding will win by a huge margin, and my vote will count for naught in the grand scheme of Canadian politics, but then if we undecided always voted for who we thought was going to win, our vote is worth nothing.

On the lighter side, tonight was the season premier of The Mercer Report (or Rick Mercer Report), and this was the highlight of the show - the funniest and cutest political parody ad of all time: