Defeat of Conservatives Good for Canadian democracy

Defeat of Conservatives Good for Canadian democracy

ETHEL TUNGOHAN, PhD (Reporter’s file photo)

Interview with Ethel Tungohan, PhD, on the results of the Oct. 19, 2015 federal election in Canada

By Hermie Garcia

The Philippine Reporter: What is your view on the Liberal majority victory? Is it generally good for Canada? Why?

Ethel Tungohan: The Liberal majority victory showed that Canadian voters were determined to oust the Harper government. While Trudeau’s message of ‘hope’ resonated, many voters were strategic and voted not for the party that they felt represented their beliefs but the party that could best defeat the Conservatives. This is why so many noted NDP MPs who have long fought for migrants’ rights, such as Peggy Nash, Olivia Chow, and Craig Scott, lost their races. Their departure from the House of Commons is bad for Canada. Generally, though, the departure of the Conservatives is good for Canadian democracy. It is just a shame that the NDP was decimated.

Justin Trudeau in a selfie pose with a Filipina at Earl Bales Park last June. Photo: HG

TPR: What does the Trudeau-Liberal victory mean to immigrants, foreign temporary workers, refugees and the visible minorities? Will it mean a reversal of Conservative immigration policies?

ET: During the election, the Liberals made many promises to improve citizenship and immigration policies. They promised to revoke parts of the Citizenship Act (Bill C-24). They promised to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees. Though this was not reflected in their official policy papers, Liberal candidates such as Randy Bouissonnault, who is now the MP for Edmonton Centre, said that the LPC would give caregivers status on arrival and would provide temporary foreign workers “pathways to citizenship.” These are all steps in the right direction but whether these promises will be kept remain to be seen.

TPR: In what other ways or areas of Canadian life do you think will there be significant changes? Economy, foreign policy, environment/climate change, poverty reduction, culture and media.

ET: Again, the LPC promised to make many improvements in these policy realms. They promised to refund the CBC. They promised to improve the economy by running modest deficits and rebuilding infrastructure, while also providing tax breaks for middle-class families. They promised to be less hawkish in their foreign policy. In fact, one of the very first things Trudeau did was to tell Obama that Canada will no longer be part of bombing campaigns against ISIS. If these promises are kept, then Canadian life will change significantly.

TRUDEAU at Philippine Independence Day picnic in June

TPR: Why did the Conservatives lose the majority in Parliament? What do you attribute the Liberal majority victory to? And the NDP loss of official opposition status?

ET: The Conservatives lost their majority because their campaign was chaotic, lacked direction, and, especially towards the end, relied on race-baiting and fear-mongering. Many Canadians were upset with their message of fear and sought the best alternative to remove them from power, which was why Canadians gave Liberals the majority. This is also why the NDP lost so much. Many voters who would otherwise vote for the NDP felt that they needed to rally behind the best party to remove the Conservatives; for them, this was the LPC.

TPR: How will the next four-year Liberal government be different from the past four-year Conservative majority government?

ET: Trudeau has promised that his government would be more consultative, more transparent, and more progressive. He said that he will build policy on the basis of what experts think, and also what Canadians feel is important. This is in marked contrast with Harper’s government, which has been marked by a disregard of experts and evidence-based decision-making and a disavowal of transparent community consultations.

(Dr. Ethel Tungohan is a Grant Notley Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Alberta, Department of Political Science.)

Justin Trudeau with Michael Levitt at Earl Bales Park Philippine Independence Day picnic and Philippine Reporter’s Hermie and Mila Garcia and two supporters. Photo: Ariel Ramos

Incoming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with wife Sophie campaigning in Filipino event.