PETERS: Politics as usual from Trudeau may keep undecided voters away from the polls

Trudeau leaned too hard on then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to encourage a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC–Lavalin.

Months after Wilson-Raybould and her friend Jane Philpott were turfed from the party’s caucus, the Liberals had hoped the controversy was in the rearview mirror.

Instead, the Conservatives now have a big new talking point to hammer Liberal candidates with over the next few weeks.

As with elections in past years, this vote will not only be a gauge of what voters think about policy direction.

This will be a gauge of what voters think of the people running — based on character, background and behaviour.

Which voter base has the greatest willingness to plug its nose against the stench of stained integrity and vote for their favoured policy platform?

Is there any party that demonstrates both smart policy and unimpeachable character?

Already-decided voters may believe they have found that party, but the undecided voter is to whom the leaders are trying to appeal.

Local Liberal candidate Terry Lake was right about one thing when it comes to this scandal: it won’t change too many minds.

If you already hated Trudeau before this, you still will.

Likewise, if you supported the Trudeau government, it’s not likely you were waiting for an ethics commissioner’s report to cast doubts.

What it will do is further reinforce to young, undecided voters that Ottawa politics is always the same, regardless of what platitudes we hear from the leaders in the upcoming campaign.

Young voters are who you need to attract if you want to pump up turnout totals, so our dreams of higher voter participation may be dashed for another election.

You say you do things differently, Scheer and Singh, May and Bernier?

That’s what the last guy said.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by James Peters

PETERS: Politics as usual from Trudeau may keep undecided voters away from the polls

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