GO OUT AND VOTE - WISELY

This month of April Canadian citizens will elect the members of the 343-seat House of Commons, which will form an integral part of the 45th Canadian Parliament.

While federal elections are a regular democratic exercise for Canadians (usually happening every four years), this year’s poll seems to be different in a crucial way as the results may pose an existential threat to the country and our cherished way of life given the posturing and pronouncements of US President Donald Trump relative to Canada.

Early this year, Trump repeatedly floated (jokingly or not) the idea of turning Canada into America’s 51st state. Canadians responded to this latest “trumpism” either with a shrug of their shoulders, dismissing it as another delusional imagining of a pampered billionaire politician, or with nationalistic fervour unseen since the founding of this great western nation.

Most recently Mr. Trump upped his ante by waging a tariff war with Canada even as his administration does so with the rest of the world. Again, Canadians and our leaders (irrespective of their political party affiliations) are one in condemning this latest attack on our country’s economic interests.

As responsible voters, the choice of who among the candidates — or which among the political parties — can best deal with this challenging national situation is ours. However, before we make our choice it behooves us to conduct due diligence on our candidates and the political parties that they represent. It pays to know our candidates well.

After all, if we have to vote, we have to vote wisely.