Let’s hear it for Ford and Legault. The premiers of both Ontario and Quebec sailed through elections this year with increased majorities. It seems the anger of the voters was not directed towards those two.
But, if not, why not?
Neither of the right-wing provincial leaders were condemned for the ineptness of their management during the depths of the pandemic. Whether to lock-down or open up seemed to be more political than medically inspired. They both survived.
Doug Ford of Ontario could call for a lock down and tell people to stay away from the summer lake country. It did not seem odd to Ontario voters that he then headed north to enjoy a little leisure time on the lakes. Hell, in Alberta, an alfresco lunch, during a lockdown, cost premier Jason Kenney his job.
It would hardly matter to François Legault in Quebec City that there was some rioting in Montreal. He would have said it was just a bunch of anglophones and allophones venting. They are not his voters.
After all, Legault’s success in politics is in dividing people, not bringing them together. He has to keep the Anglos and the immigrants from corrupting the purity of Quebec. One wonders why he bothers talking to some reporters in English?
One difference between the two premiers of Canada’s most populous provinces is that Ford has been known to back down when the going gets tough. He has been known to offer to throw money at problems to make them go away. Whether that money is actually ever spent is another matter.
Legault doesn’t make mistakes and he will tell you so himself. He hardly believes he is a bigot. Even though the evidence of his tribalism and bigotry is mounting. He is trying his utmost to wrest control of immigration from the federal government.
Legault panders to his rural strength in Quebec while Ford just accepts that in Ontario as his due. Neither is a man you would want for a friend.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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