YORKTON - So we’re in the middle of a federal election in case you missed that fact.
It’s pretty easy to be disengaged from the election – at least in Saskatchewan right now – for a number of reasons.
Of course the continuing trade war barrages being fired in the daily tantrums out of the ‘Oval Office’ by US president Donald Trump of course are a main focus, as they must be as he is the overwhelming threat to Canadian trade and sovereignty.
In that regard Trump has more or less taken this federal election hostage, as how one deals with his arrogance and often petty machinations is a key issue one could not have envisioned even six months ago. In many ways we need to elect a Prime Minister best suited to babysit the American president, without just giving him what he wants -- ‘Canada’.
That sort of spins into the second reason the election lacks a certain fervour here. Many eyes are watching Premier Scott Moe and his reaction, or lack of reaction might be more precise, in terms of tariffs, Trump’s 51st state nonsense, and the equally inane idea of some configuration of western separation.
Canada is far from perfect but it is better than options of joining the quagmire that is the current US, or having to be beholding to the US as some land-locked creation trying to go it alone, and Moe should be making that clear as Premier.
Then there is the realization of the provinces Saskatchewan and Alberta will solidly support the Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre, although to be fair you could substitute any name for leader and the support would be there. The right wing blinders are rather large in the two provinces.
Those blinders have been good for the Conservatives in filling seats but less so with the two provinces having a voice on the ruling side of things in Ottawa.
And when it has come to issues of importance here – agriculture issues as an example – there is little reason for the ruling Liberals to listen – we don’t vote their way and really the few seats here have little impact on winning.
It’s not a great scenario, politics aside, having long stretches with no real voice on the side with their hands on the levers of power.
So how much interest is there in farm issues this election amid the bluster emanating from Trump and the near forgone conclusion Saskatchewan and Alberta will vote Conservative no matter what? The answer is sadly that the interest in farm issues is low.
Even in a Conservative win the party would ‘owe’ ridings in other provinces for the victory and one shouldn’t expect Prairie Ag to suddenly be a priority.
So we find ourselves awaiting the decisions of others in determining who best deals with Trump from a Canada first perspective, and hoping in the end we are not completely forgotten by whichever party forms government.
