Keith McNenly
Special to The Lake Report

With all the political to and fro of late, a federal election could soon be in the offing. And there have been hints of one coming soon in Ontario.

Apparently, many Canadians are tiring federally of the “same old” syndrome and have a desire for a change of government.

A change to what, though?

The majority of Canadians’ values and views remain centre/left, with Liberal, New Democratic and Green parties garnering 52.7 per cent of the last total vote, while Conservatives captured 33.7 per cent, and Bloc, Peoples and other parties polled 13.6 per cent.

In Ontario, Doug Ford is continuing to reveal autocratic tendencies with stated leanings to politicize judicial appointments and a willingness to use a constitutional clause (never previously invoked in Ontario) to override court decisions.

He’s also demonstrated a disregard for the province’s environmental assets such as the Niagara Escarpment and Ontario Place.

Right-of-centre Canadian electors tried a two-party system back in the 1990s but quickly realized they couldn’t defeat the Liberals with a divided vote. The Reform Party represented the aspirations of the conservative populist movement in Canada, while the Progressive Conservatives represented centrist/right membership.

After just one federal election and a “Unite the Right” movement they merged into the Conservative Party of Canada.

The three left-leaning parties — Liberal, NDP and Green — collectively garner the majority of votes in elections, however by splitting support among three candidates in most ridings, they lose winnable centre/left ridings to the Conservatives, whether it’s at the federal or provincial level.

In our own federal riding of Niagara Falls, MP Tony Baldinelli won in 2021 with 26,810 votes even though the riding’s electorate overwhelmingly voted centre/left, totalling 37,891. (Liberal Andrea Kaiser got 23,650, the NDP’s Brian Barker 12,871 and Green Melanie Holm 1,370.)

In Ontario, a centre/left province, we have had a Progressive Conservative majority the last two election cycles. Ford has promised an early election, and with the centre/left divided into three parties competing with each other, he will likely achieve a third majority.

 How do the Liberals, NDP and Greens think their “party over province” ethos is beneficial to Ontario citizens and our environment?

Many have hoped for a “unite the left” movement in Canada and in Ontario, but it hasn’t happened. Alternatively, strategic voting requires research by electors prior to voting to determine which left-wing candidate has the best chance of winning, something most voters don’t do.

There is another option that could level the playing field and maintain the three separate “left” parties’ independence.

Prior to an election, in each riding currently held by a Conservative wherein centre/left voters are a majority, they could determine which party is likely to achieve the most votes if a single left-wing candidate takes on the Conservatives. The other two parties would agree to not run a candidate in that riding.

Such a non-compete arrangement need only apply in select ridings to achieve a centre/left majority. With an imminent election on the horizon can we try this in Ontario? Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie? New Democrat leader Marit Stiles? Green leader Mike Schreiner?

If such a “coalition of the left” was in place prior to the 2022 provincial election, Ford likely would not be premier; our health care system would not be so underfunded with overcrowded or closed emergency services and at risk of growing privatization; and Ontario Place, the Niagara Escarpment and the wetlands under the proposed Highway 413 would be safe from development.