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Jonathan Malloy - Week One Grades
Bloc Quebecois
Want an easy job? Be the Bloc Quebecois. While the English-Canadian parties
are busy attacking each other over helicopters and the homeless, Gilles
Duceppe is cruising Quebec in a bus asking for every disaffected vote
he can get. With Liberal governments in both Ottawa and Quebec City,
it's not too hard to make the Bloc the only alternative. Irritated
at some government, somewhere? Vote BQ. The Bloc platform is even less
relevant than usual, so Liberal attacks on separatism just miss the
point.
Conservative Party
The new and possibly improved Conservative party has jettisoned many of
its old hot button issues, and Stephen Harper is becoming so
bland and inoffensive that few seem to even care about his past
statements. But the old Reform snuck out this week with Scott Reid's
comments on bilingualism - a stupid move on cynical, tactical grounds
around, as if any other party was challenging them for the anti-Quebec
vote. But Harper quickly disassociated himself, which is something
new for the Reform/Alliance/PC/Conservatives or whatever they're called.
They do seem to have their act together more than their predecessors.
Liberal Party
The Liberals did the best they could this week - they survived.
There is already talk of firing the campaign manager and,
with the party teetering on the edge of the polls, everyone is
terrified of making a mistake. The Prime Minister is cruising
the country, giving money to cities and making other announcements
that surprise no one.
Will we see anything bold from a party seeking a fourth
term? Or just more of the current mediocrity?
New Democratic Party
When the NDP chose Jack Layton, they probably weren't expecting such a
shoot-from-the-hip leader. Mr. Layton's comments on homelessness and
Paul Martin have done the trick of keeping the party in the news and
firing up the core NDP faithful, and this is how Ed Broadbent used
to win seats. But too many over-the-top statements and Layton will
be the new Stockwell Day.
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