Wanderings – A unique campaign like any other

The 2025 Federal Election is nearly here, and it has been an interesting campaign to watch on a national and local level. A 36-day campaign period is short by most election standards in Canada, but it also allows a lot more to be packed into the campaign.

Many in the pundit class have said this is an election like no other – that’s a bit much in the hubris department. Election campaigns are one-offs. Rarely are the issues, leaders, and geopolitical environment of the day duplicated from one campaign to another. That said, this is a really interesting election to watch from the back of the classroom with popcorn ready to fling.

One question I’d ask multiple party leaders is how can a party be so ill-prepared for an election when one could have been called at any time? The previous federal election was in October 2021 and we’ve had a minority government for over three years. Those can, and do, change at the drop of a dime. Why were so many of the parties not ready for this election? Not one campaign looks like a well-prepared entity. In campaigns past, you’d see platform books with promises costed-out, and signs everywhere. This campaign is one of fits and starts. As I write this, one of the three main parties has yet to release its platform, and there is a week left in the campaign. Another party is struggling to keep up with sign demands, with their printer unable to deliver fast enough. These are basic things you do in a campaign.

Another question I’d ask specifically to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is why was there no ‘Plan B’ in case Justin Trudeau resigned? It certainly looks like the party put all their eggs in one basket, banking on Trudeau running for a fourth term as Prime Minister. That smacks again of poor planning. Having been involved with a few campaigns in the past, you plan for every contingency. That is a pretty big contingency to miss.

I am really surprised by the lack of fire and support for the NDP nationally. I remember seeing their epic drops in support in the post-Ed Broadbent times and I believe they are heading to an even worse drop this time around. Having more choice at the ballot box is always a benefit, if for nothing else than to bring new ideas to the table.

Having interviewed all five candidates in the riding I work in, there were some interesting things that jumped out. Three of the challenger candidates couldn’t speak fast enough in favour of protecting Canada’s Supply Management system for dairy, poultry, and eggs.

All three reiterated in their interviews how important Supply Management is, and how it was a non-negotiable in dealing with the current tariff climate with the U.S. – the Conservative candidate never once mentioned Supply Management in any of his answers to me. And only once in another newspaper did he comment about protecting supply management. In recent campaigns, Conservative MPs and candidates would fall over themselves to speak of their support of Supply Management. In rural Canada, the farm vote is the base of Conservative support and the first that is addressed. Looking around at some campaigns in other ridings, those Conservatives are also quiet about Supply Management. It’s interesting to see when everyone but the front runner is talking about something important.

Another local observation is seeing more red and green campaign signs up in areas that normally are a sea of blue. Most signs this election are on people’s lawns, not public land. And that is why it’s more notable the colour options. People are choosing to put more red and green signs up. On some streets, red beats blue by a two-to-one margin. Odd again for a riding where the old joke is if someone painted a post blue, people would vote for it.

I don’t make election predictions because they are usually incorrect. I am curious to see who will resign as party leader first on election night: the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh, or the Conservative or Liberal leader who did not win government? As no one could have predicted the polling numbers and changes that happened this election, no bets will be taken here either.

This column was originally published in the April 23, 2025 print edition of The Morrisburg Leader.