Head on over to CBC Politics from this evening to see the unbelievable. At about the 34 minute mark you will see an interview with Donna Dasko, Senior VP of Environics Research Group. When asked if, in light of the allegations, whether this is a good time for an opposition party to trigger an election.
"Well, I don’t think Canadians want to go to an election at all. We had an election last year and Canadians got a chance to vote and they decided that none of the political parties had their confidence enough to form a majority government and quite frankly I don’t think the situation has changed…at all and I don’t think Canadians want an election and woe, woe be to the party or parties who may decide to force one because I think if one of the political parties, whether it be the Liberals or the Conservatives or others try to force an election I think they will get punished for Canadians about this."
[Emphasis added]
Are you clear on that? The electorate will not punish a political party for what appears to corruption and criminal activity (alleged). No, the ultimate political sin is to call an election that no one wants. Has this pollster done a poll to determine that this is the case, especially in light of the details coming out over the weekend, no, she is bowing to altar of consensus wisdom.
Update: April 5th. Nik Nanos of SES Research implied some of the same on CPAC this evening. He also suggested that the Liberal position in the next campaign is to make MP Stephen Harper into the pro-American boogeyman to suck up to Quebec voters and Ontario NDP supporters. He implies that the election will be decided on whether or not the Liberals can get the NDP voter to break their way again.
The future Primer Minister of Canada could be decided in the 416 area code...again.
