NDP places second, which is the first time a Canadian government has had an opposition party other than the Liberals or Conservatives.
It’s certainly a disappointing result, but hardly unanticipated. The Conservatives had been flirting with a majority for the previous three elections. That’s it taken so long for them to win is probably more the surprise.
The Liberal Party is hurting. Their support in Ontario simply collapsed. The more partisan Liberals have taken to blaming the NDP, which is itself unsurprising. However, it’s the electorate’s decision. The NDP has consistently opposed both Liberal and Conservative government policies throughout the generations. It’s probably easier to blame the NDP than to recognize one simply wasn’t acknowledged by the electorate. It’ll take a new generation of Liberals to rebuild its membership in the community, as both the Conservatives and NDP have themselves done in the past twenty years.
The BQ was nearly swept out of power, reduced to four seats. I would hope it’s a sign Quebecers are signalling the beginning of the end to their pursuit of their separation from Canada, but such isn’t likely. The NDP desperately need to rebuilt its provincial organization, which has been defunct since 1994, to provide Quebecers a choice from the liberals, separatists, and conservatives, and also to strengthen its federal vote with which to contest future elections.
With the Conservatives in a majority, I see hard times ahead for Canada. It’ll be the complete renewal of the Mike Harris times, under which Ontario had suffered during the nineties. The Conservatives will probably seek austerity, which is likely to prolong our recession, and perhaps even launch Canada into a depression such as what the USA is currently labouring under.
As a voter, and as a member of the NDP, though, I vow to remain opposed to Conservative policies with which I disagree. It’s the only way to defeat Stephen Harper, and his party, before they dismantle all the agencies and laws that set Canada apart from the rest of the world in terms of living conditions and freedom.
