Actually, I have to disagree with you on the likely outcome. I believe the Liberals probably will get back into power in the next election, and here’s why:
Most Canadians are fairly center-left in their political views, and fit more naturally with the Liberal vision for the country than with the Conservative vision.
Harper and his Conservatives didn’t get into power last time because people had overwhelmingly moved rightward in their thinking; they got into power because people were overwhelmingly fed up with the corruption and scandal of the Liberals. Simply put, they thought it was time for the Libs to take a break and for someone else to have a turn.
Well, that someone else is having his turn now. He isn’t completely botching it, but from where I live around here, he might as well be. He’s lost almost all of the popularity and support he had for a short-lived period around here (especially here in Quebec), and Dion’s Liberals are perceived as being distant enough from the Chretien era to emerge, if not sqeaky clean, at least able to make their case for another chance.
The next election *will* be about the environment, and it’s likely a winning issue for the first time in history. Already, Dion is drawing lines in the sand, promising to reverse the GST cuts by the Tories in order to pour more funds into the environment. 5 years ago or even 6 months ago, this might have been political suicide, but in today’s climate (pun intended), it just may fly.
Whatever the case, I just hope the next election is about issues, not character attacks. It would be nice, for a change.
