One week into the official election campaign, readers, print and digital, review their scorecards
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The general consensus on Thursday's Maclean's debate seems to be that it was a good debate but there was no clear winner.
To me the winner was Justin Trudeau, who well and truly demonstrated that he is indeed ready. Stephen Harper and others have been dismissing him as a lightweight, out of his depth, but he proved himself a match for both Mr. Harper and Thomas Mulcair, standing up to them with ease and with a mastery of the issues.
Michael Edwards, Toronto
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Justin Trudeau had to show he was ready. He did. Elizabeth May had to show she was more than a one-issue leader. She did. Thomas Mulcair had to show he could keep it calm. He did. Stephen Harper had to show he could defend his record. He did.
All of which leaves me more undecided than ever.
Audrey Campbell, Toronto
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Stephen Harper, in a stellar display of accusing others of his own sins, tells us on the day he called the election that he dropped the writ 11 weeks out because it's important that the money to campaign "come from the parties themselves, not from government resources."
He must think we're really stupid to swallow that line when half of what each party spends is recoverable from taxpayers and the parties can spend twice as much as they did in 2011 ($50-million each, up from $25-million).
Day one – and truth is already on life support.
Helen Campbell, Calgary
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I like Stephen Harper as a fatherly figure who is willing to protect me from terrorists and make sure that I learn to balance a budget.
I also find Thomas Mulcair to be a wonderful mother to me in providing universal daycare and upholding the rights of labourers.
But the age at which one is allowed to vote is 18, and as a voter, I prefer Justin Trudeau, who is gender-neutral. His ideas are not limited to his own views; he has the maturity to welcome a Senate as a place for experienced people to give us sober second thought. The other two leaders would rather banish the Senate, like a parent refusing grandparents' advice, as if the parents know what's best, period.
Isn't it time as a nation that we grew up by recognizing voters as adults and not children?
Or will maturity be the real change in this election?
Paul Loranger, Edmonton
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Thomas Mulcair's refusal to take reporter's questions at his first campaign event left me cold. Ten years of that kind of arrogance is enough. We don't need Harper-light in this country. Left or right, arrogance is arrogance.
Warren Simpson, Winnipeg
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Justin Trudeau writes a book (Common Ground) about growing up in a rich, privileged and political family. Thomas Mulcair writes a book (Strength of Conviction) about growing up in a poor, overpopulated (10 kids) family. Stephen Harper writes a book (A Great Game) about hockey.
Who is more Canadian, eh!
Danny Matenko, Toronto
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Stephen Harper has my vote and the votes of my young business owner friends and founders who create jobs in our knowledge economy. The other guys just want more red tape, more taxes, more government to make it harder. No thanks!
Patrick Postrehovsky, Vancouver
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If Thomas Mulcair had been Jack Layton, I might have voted NDP. He isn't.
Susan Major Conrad, Mississauga
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Thomas Mulcair is the only credible alternative to many Canadians who are determined to make Mr. Mulcair our prime minister, and we hope Mr. Trudeau will be Leader of the Opposition.
Two good men, who will return Canada to herself again.
Margaret J. Nyland, Campbell River, B.C.
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Stephen Harper is offering to exchange my vote for a chance to join other homeowners in a tax-credit scheme to help cut the cost of home renovations. Odd, but I generally don't feel wealthy, except by comparison to the thousands of homeless in our big cities. I'll say "no" to this and any other chance to swap my vote for my personal benefit. Even at election time, my tin cup remains upside down.
David Scott, Bracebridge, Ont.
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If the Liberals and NDP were serious about helping Canadians get rid of the Tories, they'd announce before the election that they are forming a coalition which would seek to form the government (something legally permissible and not without precedent). This would negate the vote-splitting between them that is likely to result in the Conservatives remaining in power (probably in a minority position, but with enough power to still pursue their particularly vicious right-wing mindset). It would also allow the two parties to pool resources against the financial advantage held by the Tories.
But because each party is more interested in grabbing its own little bit of power than in protecting the reputation and interests of Canada and its citizens, that ain't gonna happen.
A pox on all their houses.
Only when we get away from first-past-the-post will we ever see real democracy and MPs who actually represent their constituents, rather than merely mouthing the policies which best serve the interests of their parties.
Richard Webb , Ottawa
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Gone are the conservative moderates, replaced by Stephen Harper's team, which is the Canadian version of the U.S. Tea Party. The formula is the Karl Rove method of how to win an election. Someone should draw it to their attention that Mr. Rove's methods failed in the last two U.S. elections.
Mr. Harper's campaign spokesman, Kory Teneycke, and the latest boy wonder, Pierre Poilievre, are examples. Schooled to repeat the scripted answers to questions over and over, even if the facts are beyond the truth. So please stop referring to "the Harper Conservatives" and call them as we see them, " the Harper Tea Party."
If Mr. Harper can recruit ex-Toronto mayor Rob Ford he will have his Donald Trump equivalent. The match will be complete.
H. J. Brock, West Vancouver
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I have never before contributed money to a political party. I have never been polled or been asked for my opinion by any official or quasi-official political body. This was just fine with me.
Now, as an "ordinary" Canadian, so discouraged am I with the behaviour and politics of Stephen Harper's government that I am considering sending a donation to the campaigns of both Thomas Mulcair and Justin Trudeau.
I wonder if there aren't a great many Canadians who feel similarly. I hope so. Perhaps there is really no such thing as an apolitical man. You just have to be pushed far enough.
Larry Kramer, Brantford, Ont.
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ON REFLECTION Letters to the editor
Politicized courts
Re Accountability Needed: Why Justice Russell Brown? (Aug. 5): Stephen Harper has no use for any constitutional body designed to constrain his need for absolute power.
Clearly, the Supreme Court and the Constitution it oversees are impediments that the PM finds obstructive. Like the Senate before it, the Supreme Court can be destroyed from within by politicizing the appointments. What next? Justices Wallin and Duffy?
Stuart McRae, Toronto
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Values disconnect
It is not uncommon for humans to hold opposing beliefs without acknowledging a conflict. Luckily for many of us, we don't blog for all to read. The same can't be said for Russell Brown, the newly appointed Supreme Court justice.
That he could call the judicial appointment process a "disgrace" because of the lack of parliamentary oversight, then accept a spot on the highest court in the land without it being being subject to any kind of review tells us more about his mental gymnastics than I'm sure he'd care for us to know.
Brian Caines, Ottawa
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Tougher on the inside
Re Stephen Reid Says Prisons Have Changed For Worse (Aug. 6): I'm disgusted that a publication as prestigious as The Globe provided a platform to someone who is a bank robber and poster child for why Canada needs tougher laws and longer sentences for repeat offenders.
Rehabilitation clearly didn't work the first time in Mr. Reid's case and only someone like him could miss the irony. Where is an apology to his victims? Or acknowledgment of the harm he caused society?
Prison is a perfect place for him and his ilk.
Bryan Young, Vancouver
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Spending on the Suez
Re Egypt Spends Billions To Expand Suez Canal – And Rehabilitate Image (Aug. 6): The $8.2-billion (U.S.) spent upgrading the canal is described as possibly falling short on hoped-for economic gains. Compare this with the $10.7-billion marked for infrastructure for the 2016 Rio Games. The money would have to transform the city to be worth it. How many poor were displaced, what is being spent on them? It seems to me the Suez upgrade is a far better investment than the Rio Olympics, especially given the "benefits" from other Games.
Blair Humphrey, Victoria
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