The NDP takes British Columbia and the Pope Takes our Minds off of Elections for a few Minutes

British Columbia is a long way - three time zones away - from Québec, and it’s even further during these pandemic times. Many Montréalers might be excused for not realizing that there was a provincial election in the works, given the constant political din from our neighbors to the South. Yet this weekend British Columbia pulled off a quick election under pandemic conditions and commentators largely saw it as a referendum on the current NDP government’s handling of COVID-19. 

  Voters, it seemed, largely approved of the job that British Columbia’s government was doing. On Saturday, in British Columbia, the NDP secured a majority government and returned Premier John Horgan for a historic first: this is the first time the province has returned the NDP for a second term. For the past three and a half years the NDP has been ruling British Columbia in a minority government, with support from the Greens. But through heavy wins in the Vancouver metro area, including in ridingsRiding (noun): term for the district or area responsible for electing a member of a legislative body in Canada and the United Kingdom. that traditionally have favored the right-of-centre BC Liberals, the NDP proved victorious, validating Premier Horgan’s handling of the pandemic. Considering Horgan’s noted deferral to experts, perhaps Dr. Bonnie Henry deserves a raise and a dozen roses for her skillful handling of the crisis from the beginning. Also of interest is the B.C. Liberal party’s abject failure, a potentially career-ending series of gaffes Gaffe (noun): An unintentional and careless mistake that causes embarrassment to the person who committed it. When a politician or one of his surrogates makes a verbal mistake that costs the campaign political support, that mistake is sometimes called a gaffe. for Andrew Wilkenson.
It’s difficult to say, of course, what ramifications this far western election may or may not have for the rest of the country or continent: Vancouver, of course, is on the other side of two impressive mountain ranges, and its political culture is informed by its distinctive history. Still, the election was one of the first in North America in the pandemic era. Monday is Saskatchewan’s turn, and tightening polls suggest that the NDP may pull off a surprise victory there as well, or at least gain seats. If you have been living under a rockLiving under a rock (expression): Anglophones use this expression to discuss someone who appears to be disconnected from current events and developments. , perhaps you haven’t heard that the United States will also be having a general election a week from Tuesday, where polls generally have Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump by about 10 points.
Could the pandemic era, much like the depression of the 1930s, herald a general shift back to the political centre, or even the left? Perhaps the question is too big, and of course it’s too early to tell. But perhaps COVID might refocus voter’s attention away from international politics, immigration, and nationalism, and back to local governance.

by Nathan R. Elliott

The Longform Read of the Week/In Other News: The Pope briefly put the Catholic Church into the headlines after he signaled support for same-sex civil unions in a recently released documentary. Canada’s news satire site The Beaverton’s headline captured something about my reaction to the news: “Pope Francis Supports Gay Civil Unions in an Attempt to Bring Catholic Church into the 90s.” Joking aside,  Paul Elie at The New Yorker has a coherent take on the Pope’s approach to sexuality in general as well as issues affecting the LGTBQ+ community. The long and short of itLong and short of it, long story short (expressions): These expressions are used to summarize more complicated points into a single, easily remembered phrase or short sentence. : the pope’s support is important, but there needs to be more of it. 

1. “NDP secure a majority government in B.C. after calling a snap election.” The Globe and Mail, Oct 25, 2020. 8 mins. Intermediate. 
2. “B.C. NDP will form  decisive majority government, CBC News projects.” CBC, Oct 24, 2020. 9 mins. Intermediate. 
3. “Opinion: B.C. NDP’s pandemic election gamble pays off.” The Globe and Mail, Oct 25, 2020. 7 mins. Intermediate. 
4.  “Dr. Bonnie Henry says we’ll get through 2nd wave because ‘people in Canada listen.’ CBC, Oct 8, 2020. 9 mins. Intermediate. 
5. “B.C. Liberal Party faces leadership questions after worst night in a generation.” CBC, Oct 25, 2020. 6 mins. Intermediate. 
6. “Election-Eve Poll shows NDP-Sask Party lead narrow to 18 per cent.” CTV News Saskatoon, Oct 25, 2020. 4 mins. Beginner/Intermediate. 
7. “9 days to go: Biden’s lead over Trump is holding, while Clinton’s was collapsing at this point.” Oct 25, 2020.  6 mins. Intermediate. 
8. “Pope Francis Supports Gay Civil Unions in an Attempt to Bring Catholic Church into the 90s.” The Beaverton, Oct 21, 2020. Intermediate. 5 mins. 
9. “Pope Francis Supports Same-Sex Civil Unions, but the Church Must Do More.” Oct 25, 2020. Advanced. 10 mins.