ROTHENBURGER: Tea leaves point to fall federal election, Liberal majority
SUDDENLY, A FEDERAL ELECTION is very much a topic of conversation. Oh, we’d always had our suspicions that we’d have to go to the polls again this fall, but it’s a near-certainty now.
In Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding, the parties are getting into campaign mode. The NDP has already confirmed its candidate, the Conservatives have several would-be replacements for retiring MP Cathy McLeod, and there’s chatter about the Liberal nomination. The Greens will come up with somebody and even the People’s Party of Canada has a candidate ready to go.
And the signs — no pun intended — are everywhere on the federal scene. Justin Trudeau is handing out money for major infrastructure projects and programs and he’s shaven off his beard and gotten a haircut. A clean-cut image is much better for the campaign trail. Other party leaders are sounding more and more resigned to having to fight an election this year, which isn’t necessarily a good thing from their point of view. The federal NDP, though clearly tired of propping up the minority Liberals, still aren’t ready to fight another election. Conservative leader Erin O’Toole has yet to establish himself as a credible alternative, and the Greens are imploding.