Debate night two-step

The Bloc leader's inclusion this time really didn't endear me to the debate format, or the purpose of the debate at all.

I can think of better ways to end two weeks of watching Question Period in the Alberta Legislature — a generally demoralizing experience that I often regret — than watching back-to-back leadership debates. Voting, for example, and being one step closer to getting on with the business of letting someone else sweat the big stuff, is one.

Advance polls are open today, it’s Easter weekend, we have places to go, dinners to prepare, and maybe some sleuthing, too; so let’s get on with it.

There’s a general consensus that no one really “won” the debates, and no one really “lost”, which is generally good news for the incumbent, even if he’s only been in the position for a month.

The good

I’ll tip my hat to CPC leader Pierre Poilievre first because when he’s not feeding garbage to his most loyal supporters, he actually seems like a less hateful and ignorant ass. Though that may have angered some of them if they tuned in. For those who are blessed enough to have chosen something else to fill their days with for the past decade, he may have appeared like someone who is not a horrible choice. That might placate some of the more wary conservatives who are still supporting that wing of the party.

Liberal leader Mark Carney held his own well enough. Anyone who had already decided to support him was not likely put off by the fact that he’s definitely not used to being asked to speak and then constantly interrupted while he tries to answer. I don’t think anyone was looking to him for political gamesmanship, however, so I expect no one is changing their vote over it.

After watching his share of the vote evaporate over the past four months, Jagmeet Singh wasn’t quite at the DGAF point; he’s still trying to hold onto his own seat. He was chirpy though, and did get a few digs in around the room. His performance was fine, overall, I’m just not sure if he solidified the support his party is clinging to.

Yves Francois Blanchet is in that incredibly privileged space of being a person who doesn’t give a damn about the rest of the country on a stage with people who want to be chosen to lead it. In his home province, the liberals are projected to win twice as many seats, mostly at the Bloc’s expense, as Donald Trump’s threats on our sovereignty have created a groundswell of patriotism within its borders, too. And that’s all I can muster for that one.

The bad

I get that Mr. Blanchet leads an independent party whose only goal is to put forward the interests of his province but his badgering about it as a stand alone priority really got under my skin. As it turned out, hearing that “me first, last, and always” crap from people in my own province, also annoys me greatly, so it’s not actually a personal slight, just something I dislike generally.

As Mr. Blanchet tried to apply pressure over pipeline access, he was put on the spot when Mr. Carney mentioned that there are talks within Quebec about ensuring they have reliable energy delivery from within Canada’s borders. It had the effect of making Mr. Blanchet look out of touch.

The Bloc leader also gave us a moment of deep irony when he said that whoever forms the next government should look to partner with him rather than “sitting all alone in (their) kingdom.” It made me realize that we really don’t put enough emphasis on the fact that Quebec does not solely send Bloc representatives and the power Mr. Blanchet was attempting to wield is not as great as his position on that stage suggested. As Mr. Carney responded, there are representatives in the Liberal cabinet from Quebec already.

I have seen some rhetoric from Quebec saying this election is too important to sit on the sidelines with the Bloc. We’ll see if it has any effect.

Mr. Poilievre, as I mentioned, had a decent showing and Mr. Carney’s was slightly lacklustre. It’s not a fair fight, though, because the things Mr. Poilievre is good at, and the reasons people like his party for the next government are not the same things that people are looking to Mr. Carney for; and vice versa.

Unfortunately for Mr. Poilievre, he has no experience outside of the House of Commons to offer Canadians. For all the blustering about “common sense”, you don’t ask the ambulance to drop you off at a wellness centre, and you don’t ask your mechanic for an eye exam. Likewise, when you’re looking for someone to steward your economy, you don’t ask a guy who has never had to worry about whether his boss could afford to keep him on the payroll because some jackass decided he wants to tariff everything you make.

The bad news for Mr. Singh is that his vote share collapsed, half of NDP supporters are willing to change their votes, and there really wasn’t much he could offer to those watching, aside from chirping his opponents. He did manage that, at least.

There’s a lot of talk about strategic voting. Sure, strategic voting works great in small groups where you can speak to everyone who is going to vote and where you know most of them well enough to be able to rely on them to vote with you. That is not the case with motivated voters, as we’re seeing nationally.

Voter intention looks solid for each the liberals and conservatives. The Bloc has been bleeding support to the liberals, and I’m not positive that Mr. Blanchet stopped that over the last two days.

The NDP’s support is far more fluid with almost half of their supporters willing to change their vote, and where it will go is anyone’s guess; there’s a blue-orange switch and a “progressive” switch available and I’m unsure of how that plays out for either party.

Then there’s the Green Party, who would run for the whole country but because they didn’t have enough seats over the past four years, didn’t make the cut.

Are we doing this right?

After the leader’s debates in 2019, I was head over heels for Mr. Blanchet. I thought he did a fantastic job. Obviously, I was much less impressed this time around. Perhaps the issue is that Mr. Blanchet has been losing support and it will affect the power he has in the House that’s making him cranky and much less likeable this time around.

Each year, I think, there’s been conversation at least at some level about whether we’re setting the best possible stage for our leaders in these debates.

I’m just not sure that the electorate is served by having the Bloc recognized in a debate between people who want to lead the entire country, when we won’t even allow the Green Party on the stage.

One of the fairest rules around that would simply be to require an interested party to actually be running for Prime Minister, which the Bloc will never do. I’m not entirely sure that we’re served by watching the Bloc leader throw wrenches when the Prime Minister won’t be “partnering” with the Bloc — they’ll be working with the Premier of Quebec. The Bloc may have leverage with those elected at a provincial level but they are not decision-makers either in the federal government or the province.

It was a connection I’d never really made while watching the other leadership debates over the past three federal elections.

Perhaps it’s just one other way that this election is different.

Although Mr. Blanchet tried to argue that Mr. Trump (may) be gone in three years, Canadians have been jolted out of feeling safe and secure with one of the world’s superpowers right beside them. We have, for too long perhaps, treated our neighbouring country as a friend when we always should have kept more distance between us.

Even if Mr. Trump disappeared tomorrow, most Canadians (as well as the rest of the world) have realized that we cannot rely on a “friend” being elected to the White House. We have to embrace the coming changes and work towards a common goal, which should be disentangling our economy, building up our military, and protecting our sovereignty.

It will take all of us making the effort; no matter who wins the election.

Thanks to everyone who reads, shares, and becomes a free subscriber. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support my work; to those who have, your support is greatly appreciated!