Unity and strength are what Canada needs now
This election will, realistically, result in either a Conservative government or a Liberal government. Given this, my reasons for voting for Taylor Bachrach are twofold.
First, I trust Bachrach in the role of casting a deciding vote in who will ultimately lead our country. Second, I trust Bachrach in the role of raising this region’s voice, no matter who governs Canada.
In sum, I am voting for Bachrach because I support Liberal leader Mark Carney for Canada. Carney is the right leader for our country, especially as Canada faces a trade war and other hostilities from our southern neighbour.
Like Carney, I believe that Canada’s focus in this unprovoked trade war should be on strengthening our economy, reducing our dependence on the United States for both trade and security, and leading the way forward on building a new international system that supports Canadian values and interests.
Voters in our region will have an outsized vote in the April 28th federal election for these three reasons:
- CLOSE ELECTION… The outcome of this election will likely be close and it’s not going to be predictable — we don’t know who will win in our riding… and it’s even possible that our riding could ultimately determine the outcome nationally (bottom line: every vote will count)
- CHOICE BETWEEN LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT… For our riding, the race is realistically between the NDP and the Conservatives, meaning that Liberal voters who want Mark Carney as Prime Minister should re-elect Taylor Bachrach as our Member of Parliament (bottom line: if you don’t want PM Poilievre, vote for MP Bachrach)
- BACHRACH IS GOOD FOR OUR REGION… Bachrach’s own approach to representing our riding makes it possible for him to defy the odds against him — simply because he’s good at reaching out and listening, he knows our region well, and it’s possible that he can win this riding (even if the NDP cannot) — Taylor Bachrach has earned our trust and our respect, making him a good MP for our region on his own merits (bottom line: Bachrach is someone who small “c” conservative voters and federal Liberals can vote for, even if they are not supporters of the NDP)
Prepare for a Close Race (every vote will count)
Given how quickly the political landscape changed, with a surge of voter support returning to the Liberal party after Justin Trudeau resigned and the United States launched its senseless trade war against Canada, we don’t know how things will turn out. But we do know that every vote will matter. Our region may even play a deciding role in which party forms government.
While impossible to predict any outcome for this election, it’s a good guess that the outcome will be close, perhaps ending up like the recent British Columbia election. The balance of power may even be based on how Prince Rupert votes, perhaps only a few of us will cast the deciding votes.
Ridings like ours could have an oversized role because we may end up defying predictions and polls. In the past, our riding was safe territory for the NDP. Now it’s up for grabs, with Bachrach fighting for every vote. How Prince Rupert votes, especially in terms of how many of us actually go to the polls, could determine the outcome for the riding, which in turn could decide which party forms government. Electing a pro-growth government that’s focused on building the Canadian economy and uniting the country around common cause, will be good for our region’s trade-based economy.
We have a clear choice, not just nationally but also locally
The realistic choice in this election, for our riding, is between the NDP’s Taylor Bachrach and the Conservative’s Ellis Ross.
Bachrach is our current MP. Ross was an MLA for the Skeena legislative district. This means that both candidates are well known politicians regionally. Voters therefore have a clear choice between these local politicians, especially since the two politicians present sharp contrasts in terms of leadership style and political priorities. Bachrach’s strong listening approach to government, built around community and unity, is good for our region.
As a member of the federal NDP, Bachrach’s party leader is Jagmeet Singh. In reality, Singh is unlikely to win a majority and there’s even a good chance, espcially given poll numbers in his riding and across Canada, that Singh won’t remain as leader of the NDP. This means that, for voters in our riding, a vote for Bachrach will likely either result in our MP backing a minority Liberal government or our MP being our voice as part of the constructive wing of the loyal opposition.
Voters in our riding should consider first, who do you want as Prime Minister: Mark Carney or Pierre Poilievre? Then, if you want a PM Poilievre, vote for Ross. And if you want a PM Carney, vote for Bachrach.
This election also presents local voters with a choice for our representative in Ottawa, not only in terms of who’ll they will support for who forms government. In terms of who will represent our region, the vote is simply a choice between the riding’s two frontrunners: Bachrach or Ross.
These two politicians offer their own approach to representation and politics. The contrast between them is clear. Bachrach is a good listener, he respects all sides, focuses on solutions, and builds unity across divisions. In my view, Bachrach stands out as the kind of politician (the type of leader, really) who I want representing my region, even if I don’t agree with all of his party’s positions.
MARK CARNEY: For GROWTH AND INVESTMENT
Truth is, had a vote for Bachrach been a vote for Justin Trudeau, I don’t know how I would have voted. Likely, I would not had voted for Trudeau. But Pierre Poilievre’s focus on the politics of division and distraction, without presenting a clear conservative or common sense alternative to Canada’s economic stagnation, doesn’t appeal to me either. But the election’s changed, with Carney replacing Trudeau.
With Carney, the choice is now between a “growing Canada” or a “dividing Canada.” Given the choice between growth or division, I choose growth. Carney presents a clear change from Trudeau, shifting the focus away from “politics as performance” to “politics for problem-solving.” Carney also points us to a government that will be focused on economic growth and strengthening the Canadian economy, which requires changes in investment and new priorities for the federal government.
In contrast, Poilievre offers us more division and distraction. He represents the unserious politics of the past. But these times call for something bigger and something better: “Big picture” politics that challenge us to unite around the challenges we face, not to get lost in the silly weeds of small politics. It’s time for Canadians to unite around a vision of our country as a country worth investing in, a government worth making better, and a future worth building together. Electing Carney alone won’t make all of this happen, but it will be a step in the right direction. It will at least allow us to move forward together.
Given the gravity of the United States attack on our economy, I support Carney’s vision of growth, strength, and independence at the centre of Canada’s response to these threats against our prosperity and our way of life. I also offer my support to the candidate who offers our country with a serious attempt to fix the other challenges we face, including housing, economic growth, stagnant wages, economic inequality, inflation, and public services — like health care — for all Canadians.
With Carney at the helm of the Liberal party, I am hopeful that the federal government will focus squarely on economic growth, investment in infrastructure, tackling never-ending deficit spending (for ongoing operations), and supporting a much needed reboot of government programs (making sure that they actually work as needed). That’s why I support Carney, which is why I will vote for Bachrach come April 28th.
I’d also like to see a parliament that includes people like Bachrach standing up for places like Prince Rupert and for our region’s workers, including the port workers, fishermen and fisherwomen, other resource and industry workers, and the service and community sector workers who drive our city’s economy.
Workers need more than economic growth. Beyond a growing economy, workers also require their fair share of the growth. Getting a fair deal requires good governance, strong unions, growing businesses, effective public services, and good wage jobs that can provide economic security for all.
Balancing the interests and needs of the economy’s different sectors matters for a community like Prince Rupert, one that’s dependent on cooperation, trade, and resources to secure the region’s potential for shared prosperity. Bachrach will continue to stand with workers. And he will continue to fight for our region, no matter which party forms government.
