The Conservatives’ high-profile promise yesterday to cut the tax on diesel fuels likely won’t have much impact on the average Canadian family, but it’s big news if you’re a heavy user of diesel fuel. Truckers, farmers and fishers will likely benefit. It also sets up a nice contrast with the Liberals’ Green Shift, which would increase taxes on fuels. However, what I think is interesting is that it sets up a rural-urban policy showdown. Two of those three groups (and probably many truckers, too) are primarily rural.
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So much for dignified debate
Every election, we hope for dignified debate over policy. But eventually, the whole thing grinds down into petty partisanship. It only took until the third day, but we’re there. The Conservative website briefly had a puffin pooping on Stephane Dion.
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May Excluded from Leaders’ Debate
The big news on day one of the campaign was that Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party, would not be allowed to participate in the leaders’ debates. It’s easy to see why the other parties wouldn’t want her to participate. The Conservatives are weak on environmental issues and they know it, so having a leader wel versed on those issues would only show up their weakness in that critical policy arena. The NDP didn’t want her in because they’re worried about bleeding votes that way. The only one who seemed willing to have her participate was Stephane Dion and the Liberals, who have developed an understanding with the Greens.
What Will Low Voter Turnout Do in the Alberta Election?
I’ve been enjoying reading the comments of my University of Lethbridge colleague Professor Peter McCormick over on his blog at the Calgary Herald/Edmonton Journal Alberta Votes website.
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The Leadership Debate is Going to be Important
There’s always a lot of attention paid to the leaders’ debate, but frequently they don’t matter much. I think tonight’s debate might be different. Since no one has caught fire and voters don’t seem to be paying much attention, the leaders have a real opportunity here to turn this around. In addition, debates often make a difference when leaders perform significantly above or below expectations.
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We Finally Have Some Alberta Election Polling Numbers!
I’ve been waiting for some polling numbers and we finally have them, thanks to a National Post/Global TV poll done by Ipsos Reid. Basically, it shows the Conservatives well out in front, thanks to a commanding lead (46%) outside of Edmonton and Calgary.
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