Campaigning 101

In the second week of campaign, Paul Martin has continued to focus on two fronts- health care funding and portrayal of Stephen Harper as Satan himself who has ascended from hell to take over Canada. NDP are continuing their song of more services for the poor at the expense of the rich and Conservatives are harping on tax cuts, crime, better Army and little else.

Taking the low road speaks poorly of a Prime Minister. Instead, Mr. Martin should talk about what he will deliver. Canadians deserve to know what mandate he wishes to have which is so novel that he had to call election 18 months before the end of the term. The devilry of Mr. Harper and partial restoration of healthcare funding cuts he implemented as Finance Minister are not enough. He has to explain why his $40-billion platform is affordable while similar commitment by Conservatives will bankrupt the nation. He also has to revive his "democracy deficit" promise with some details. Finally, he has to convince the electorate why his Liberals are different than the tainted party he was so keen to take over and why should anyone trust a key lieutenant of the leader who made a habit of reneging on election promises

Mr. Harper is weathering the pile of dirt being dumped on him rather well. Elections are not won by opposition; they are lost by the government. Mr. Harper has to be more emphatic on Mr. Martin's record of downloading on to provinces, boosting fees, reducing social services and cutting Armed Forces and foreign aid that reduced Canada to second-class status. Mr. Harper is outlining the areas where he will spend more; we also need to hear where he will save to pay for tax cut. I am disappointed in his silence on how to improve our system of government.

Mr. Layton should ask himself why the poor vote for tax cuts that do not benefit them at the expense of services which do. Without an answer to this puzzle, NDP will always bark up the wrong tree. Ironically, a large part of NDP support comes from idealistic educated upper middle class who have most to lose from NDP policies. Mr. Layton needs to expand this base by persuading low-paid non-union workers and unemployed that a few dollars in tax cuts are offset by much more it costs them in education and healthcare services, inadequate childcare, public transport and affordable housing and in fees for services which used to be almost free.

Dissatisfied voters have turned to Green Party in many parts of Europe. If Greens want to attract normally sedate Canadians, they will have to promote issues other than the environment. Environment does not win the votes of North Americans and Greens will stay on the margins unless they widen their horizon.

The national parties should outline policies they honestly believe in. However, those who live and die for the polls can't be upfront with the electorate.