Dear Readers,
The inconclusiveness surrounding the Brexit situation, seems to be getting worse by the day. Add to that the Labour Party's insensitive resolution that still has the Indian community on the edge, and we have a country similar to TRUMPISTAN. Erratic leaders, grumbling unhappy citizens, and a Middle Class in utter and complete denial. No, Canada's relative sophistication hasn't gone to my head. Having worked with Asian Voice for over four years now, Great Britain has a piece of my soul. Everything related to it is admittedly, personal.
Brexit is driving everyone mad. Heck, the whole ho-ha is driving me, someone based in Toronto, insane. The whole 'Will They – Won't They' game is honestly losing its charm. The European Union is visibly exhausted over the UK's lack of decision. Personally, I did not take to the Referendum in the first place. However, what is, is, and if Britain leaves now, not only will it take at least five more years to work out its new economic relationship with the EU, it will take more years to settle into the new status quo. As depicted by an economist, Britain will be economically worse off then.
Meanwhile, yet another “historical” vote failed to decide Britain's fate and the nightmare continues.
Canada votes : Justin Trudeau's Liberal just scrapes by
Speaking about deciding fates, the citizens of Canada decided theirs on Monday and as my first experience watching the elections here in the Great White North, it was exhilarating. As was expected despite the best performances by New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jagmeet Singh, the original race was between Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party and Andrew Scheer's Conservative.
Following a tight 40-day campaign that saw neither of them emerge as the hero, the Liberals won just enough seats in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario to secure a minority government. With final ballots still being counted in multiple constituencies, the Liberals have for now won 156 seats, 21 lesser than they began with, and the Conservatives saw a jump from 95 to 122 seats.
Singh's NDP stands at 24 seats. He promises his MPs will have a constructive and positive role in the new Parliament. Singh and the NDP rode a late-campaign bump in the polls, but that momentum failed to convert into actual seats. However, despite the seat losses, the NDP does appear to be in a position to extend its influence by propping up a Liberal minority government.
Singh had already taken a risk in the final half of the campaign, positioning himself as a federal kingmaker if no party could secure a majority. Over half way through his campaign, he had begun to lay down conditions a Liberal government would need to meet in exchange for NDP support.
The campaign was particularly difficult for Singh, the first visible minority person to lead a major Canadian federal party. Not only did he has personal cases of racism to deal with, he was constantly challenged on Quebec's secularism law, which would prevent public employees from wearing religious symbols on the job. He even faced a challenge from Trudeau about what the federal government should do about the law, which is still referred to as Bill 21.
Issues of race and culture were high on the leader's campaign notes and for me personally, Singh was a hero for handling the issue in a dignified and respectful manner.
