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| Mike Duffy tells it like it is...“Oshawa is the canary in the coal mine” | |
| September 16, 2009 | |
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| Mike Duffy Member of the Canadian Senate |
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By Lindsey Cole The Oshawa Express Canada is not ready for an election. Canada doesn’t want an election. It’s all a matter of egotistical politicians looking to have their heyday on the throne. These were the thoughts and sentiments of Mike Duffy, long time journalist and former host of CTV’s Mike Duffy Live. Now a member of the Senate of Canada, Duffy has been able to truly delve into politics and was recently at the Oshawa Little Theatre to give his view on the potential election to a select audience. The event was put on by Oshawa MP Colin Carrie, who was thrilled to have Duffy speak on the election, which he too says is the wrong way to go. “Mike is always very enthusiastic,” he says, adding the idea of knocking on doors for 36 days doesn’t bother him but it won’t benefit the country.“If they decide to do it, we can’t really stop them.” Duffy says the parties aren’t thinking about the people, they are simply thinking about politics.“I think there is a growing disconnect between sort of middle of the road Canadians and hyper partisans,” Duffy told The Oshawa Express. “I think we are in a new age.” And Oshawa is in the midst of it all. When it comes to the city’s own specific set of politics, Duffy says we are the best example of why this election shouldn’t come to be. “You guys are like the canary in the coalmine. You were the first to see it (the recession),” he says, adding things are just starting to turn around for this community. “The egg is just starting to fry. You guys really have the most to lose. Here we are, you’ve finally got some traction.” Duffy also says the latest polls suggest that the Liberals and Conservatives are in a tie and the challenge for Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is a big one. The House of Commons holds 308 seats and the current minority government has 143 seats. According to Duffy, 156 seats constitutes a majority government. Thus, he says, the Conservatives are far better off than the Liberals.“I don’t see that the numbers are there,” he says. Duffy theorizes that both Ignatieff and Bob Rae are working together to make this election happen, but in essence they are both vying for the same spot as prime minister. “They both want to have their chance before they are 65,” he says with a laugh. While clearly a supporter of the current Stephen Harper government, Duffy says he doesn’t lose his journalistic sense when examining these situations. “We’re at that historic watershed. The media has more power than ever before. Does any of it mean anything? “An informed public is a hallmark of a democratic society.” |
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©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
