Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative MP Alex Ruff says he doesn’t support a snap federal election, as rumours circulate the Prime Minister may soon go to the Governor General to ask for one.
“It would be somewhat hypocritical of the Prime Minister if he does go to the Governor General and seeks a federal election before we return to Parliament at the end of September because he’s already voted saying that there’s no requirement to have an election during the pandemic,” says Ruff.
Ruff points out that back on May 25th, the Bloc Quebecois put forth a motion indicating the government should do everything within its capability to not call an election during the pandemic.
“I’d note that it received unanimous support less one MP (Independent MP Derek Sloan) but that included the Prime Minister and the Liberal government all voting,” says Ruff.
Ruff says in 2019, Canadians gave the Liberal Party the mandate of a minority government to work with the opposition parties to come up with better legislation, “I think the Prime Minister is betting that Canadians will somehow think that he’s done a good enough job over the last year and a half with the pandemic and he’s hoping to capitalize on that feeling.”
The Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Tory MP feels there are pandemic risks that would come with holding an election right now, “The potential for case counts to go up with the Delta variant. Obviously the pandemic isn’t over yet, because we’re all still wearing masks, we’re all still following certain restrictions,” says Ruff, noting, there are increased interactions with people during the campaign and election process.
Ruff says rallies, campaigns and get-togethers would all be curtailed significantly because of the pandemic, noting, “Everybody’s got to stay within their health guidelines.”
The other way an election can be called outside of the regular cycle is if the government of the day loses the support of the House of Commons with a vote of no confidence.
Ruff says it has not lost that support, “There’s no legislation, the House isn’t sitting so there’s no requirement for the Liberals to seek an election at this time because they control the house, they still have their minority government,” he adds, “The Liberals have successfully found a dance partner on every piece of legislation so far since the last election because that’s the only way that they’re still there.”
Ruff says the NDP have also been very vocal in their opposition to an election. Back in July, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh sent a letter to the Governor General asking her to say ‘no’; if Trudeau asked her to dissolve Parliament for an election.
An online survey published August 3rd of about 2,000 Canadians by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that 29 per cent of respondents would vote for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals if an election was held at that time, while Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives had 24 per cent support. Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats were polling in third with 16 per cent of respondents indicating they would cast a ballot for them.
Ruff says,”I don’t put any credence to any of the national polls, most of them that are coming out are done with very small sample sizes. They’re an indicator– it is what it is. We’re ready…we have more of our candidates confirmed right across the country.”
He points to the fundraising success the federal Conservative party has had since Erin O’Toole became leader of the party. Elections Canada recently released data showing in the first half of 2021, the party raised $13.6 million, double the $6.8 million the Liberals raised.
“We’ve set quarter after quarter records because Canadians that support the Conservative Party do want the Prime Minister replaced and therefore we’re getting that support wholeheartedly here from our Conservatives and Canadians that are willing to donate their money,”says Ruff.
He says, “As much as I would like to see the current government defeated and a Conservative government formed, at the same time it should be done when it’s the right time to do it, and not just because the Prime Minister somehow thinks he’s ahead in the polls and that he can seek a majority government because he doesn’t like having to negotiate or work collaboratively with the other opposition parties,” says Ruff noting, a federal election can cost roughly half a billion dollars.
Ruff is optimistic about his party’s chances of forming a Conservative government regardless of when it happens, but says, “We should be doing it based on common sense, and what’s safe for Canadians, not just because the Prime Minister is trying to seek more power.”
He adds, “If an election comes, I’m going to do my best to work hard, and again seek the confidence of the voters of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. If that happens, then that happens and I’ll just do my best to earn that confidence and earn that trust.”
