Do the American election outcomes matter in Oakville – and may they? Our editor and Oakville political leaders (MPs, MPPs and the Mayor alike) discuss in regards to the state of civility and decency in politics right here and overseas
Whereas over 65 million votes have already been solid, a lot of the Western world can have their eyes on the USA tomorrow, Nov. 5, as voting concludes ultimately with Election Day 2024.
Tens of tens of millions extra will solid their votes for brand spanking new leaders on the municipal, state and federal ranges, together with the main choice of who can be their forty seventh president.
Regardless of the numerous related and well timed developments in Canadian politics that may evolve this week, for the subsequent 72 hours (and I’d argue for many of the final two weeks) the main political story domestically will nonetheless be whoever is elected to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Wait…domestically? Actually? Why would anybody dwelling in Oakville, Ontario, Canada care about the results of a presidential election for a rustic they don’t reside in – and extra importantly, why ought to they?
Whether or not we as locals in Oakville prefer it or not, there can be a tangible impression to our lives right here on the town. The simplified fact is that we as Canadians are straight affected by what occurs in the democratic superpower to our south.
But having lived in Halton for practically 30 years, the affect of American federal politics – particularly within the final decade – has undeniably had an impact on how each Oakville and all of Canada addresses politics in any respect ranges. That features our personal federal authorities and that of our city and area, which this information outlet covers.
These impacts have an effect on everybody in Oakville in at minimal some small methods, so it’s sufficient of a reputable motive to care sincerely in regards to the outcomes of tomorrow’s Presidential election.
There are a whole lot of 1000’s of Americans who reside in Canada. Stats Canada estimates there are practically 380,000 Canada/U.S. twin residents, and AARO (Affiliation of People Abroad) estimates there are practically 1.1 million folks in Canada which can be both partial or twin residents of the USA.
And do you know there are over 665,000 eligible voters within the 2020 election who reside in Canada? That’s a couple of quarter of the U.S. authorities’s estimated 2.8 million folks eligible to vote overseas.
If that quantity have been distributed proportionally throughout Canada (which it completely isn’t), that will imply practically 3,500 of these voters would reside simply within the city of Oakville. That’s 1000’s of individuals! It’s probably you as an Oakvillean know somebody eligible to vote on this election inside one or two levels of separation.
I wrote an extended (maybe overlong) story right here in Oakville Information again in October 2020 in regards to the seriousness of People (together with People in Oakville!) voting responsibly throughout the earlier presidential race. Again then, I wrote “there will be dire consequences if we don’t invest the time and effort to actualize why this race is so important.”
Learn extra right here: Oakville wants to speak in regards to the 2020 U.S. election
That story was revealed right here earlier than the Capitol siege and riots on January 6, 2021. That was earlier than the “Stop the Steal” motion exploded, undermining democratic processes not simply within the U.S., however in Canada too. That was earlier than the Individuals’s Social gathering of Canada (PPC) tripled their share of the favored vote between our 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
The impression of Donald Trump’s political influences have finished extreme and presumably everlasting injury to the integrity, belief and civility of politics. So what would occur if he gained once more – or misplaced once more? Will he ultimately settle for defeat or spur additional chaos?
I’ve been fascinated by this query since I started writing for Oakville Information in 2016. Greater than eight years later, I’m nonetheless curious how the American election outcomes will impression Oakville.
Possibly the end result is not about politics in any respect. I stand by the identical main concept I first wrote about right here in Oakville Information 4 years in the past: what occurs subsequent is a couple of fundamental understanding of what’s proper and mistaken.
What do Oakville’s native politicians must say?
To begin searching for a fact-based reply to the query of, “What is the state of civility in politics like, and what is our relationship to the U.S. election?”, it rapidly grew to become clear the analysis for this story wanted to broaden on the work Oakville Information did in fall 2020.
To put in writing about and perceive politics, it subsequently is smart that we should always interview our native specialists: the politicians. Our objective was to talk with all 5 native representatives of Oakville’s authorities at numerous ranges: municipal, provincial and federal. This may hopefully give us as many different voices as doable.
Having bipartisan opinions had me notably excited as a result of this actually isn’t a dialog about how events in Canada align or don’t with the mayhem of American’s gridlock between Republicans and Democrats. It’s about how our nations conduct politics otherwise.
Unusually, the very same 5 representatives who have been in Oakville workplaces 4 years in the past are all nonetheless in workplace as we speak:
Mayor Rob Burton
Anita Anand, Oakville’s Member of Parliament
Stephen Crawford, Oakville’s Member of Provincial Parliament
Pam Damoff, Oakville / North Burlington’s Member of Parliament
Effie Triantafilopoulos, Oakville / North Burlington’s Member of Provincial Parliament
In 2020, solely Mr. Crawford agreed to talk with Oakville Information, by which he gave a considerate and gracious interview. (You possibly can learn that full story at this hyperlink right here.)
This time, nonetheless, I used to be happy that Mayor Burton, MPs Anand and Damoff all agreed to take part – with Mayor Burton and MP Anand even making time for prolonged, in-person interviews. This meant 4/5 responding was an enormous enchancment over only one.
(MPP Crawford allowed us to share remarks from his 2020 story right here, however sadly, regardless of a number of inquiries by e mail and cellphone, MPP Triantafilopoulos didn’t reply to Oakville Information’ interview requests – once more.)
So what was the commonality in these interviews? The widespread theme was that no matter social gathering or coverage stances, empathy and character stay vitally essential when selecting a candidate for any stage of workplace.
In accordance with MP Anand, “The most importantly quality in a candidate is honesty. If you have no trustworthiness, or no one believes you, then your ability to be accountable is weakened.”
“Voters are placing your trust in you,” Anand continues, “and if they can’t trust you to represent them, or trust you to speak honestly when you can or can’t accomplish your goals, your service isn’t as powerful.”
Anand’s place is especially related because the discourse within the 2016 U.S. election was one of many main motivators for Anand to run for federal workplace within the first place.
“One of the reasons I ran was seeing that 2016 election, and I thought, ‘Maybe I could make a difference in electoral politics. Maybe I could be a reasoned and professional voice.’ And that was something I talked about when campaigning in 2019 and 2021.”
On the identical topic, Mayor Burton says he “likes empathy in a leader,” and mentions it as one of many main qualities in gaining respect from constituents.”
“I’m drawn when it appears to me that the person is a reasonable human being who can listen, sympathize and can feel me. I think leaders like that are generally who we get here [meaning Oakville].”
Burton continues saying that, “local politics are different here than the United States. When we have to decide something, there’s a tendency here in Oakville to meet in the middle. We seek consensus on council – we don’t get it every time, but we do a remarkable job getting to answers that actually might work.”
MPP Crawford affirms the identical concept: “There is more division in American society. In Canada today, what you see is more unity.” Referring to his municipal and federal colleagues Rob Burton and Anita Anand, he calls them “his partners,” saying they “like to focus on what they have in common so they can work together.”
Understanding this, what then is the worth of Canada and Oakville’s relationship to the USA and their presidential candidates?
“People in Oakville care about and pay attention to the United States election because the U.S. is not only our neighbour, but our closest friend and ally,” says MP Damoff.
“Canadians can have confidence that our government will continue to put their best interest at the core of everything we do,” Damoff continues, “including our continued engagement and partnership with our closest ally and trading partner.”
MPP Crawford too factors out that, “The U.S. are our, neighbours and it’s the world’s largest economy. What happens in the U.S. and its policies affects companies here in Canada.” He factors out too that features Oakville – such because the U.S. owned Ford motors plant right here on the town.
“Any change in government policy in the United States can have a major effect in Canada but also right here in our community of Oakville.”
That commerce relationship alone needs to be motive sufficient to care about who subsequent wins the White Home; in keeping with MP Anand, $3.3 billion in items and companies go throughout the Canada/U.S. border every single day.
“We have the longest undefended border in the world,” says Anand. “Our nations’ proximity signifies that, when it comes to our media, tourism and enterprise, we now have a particularly shut bond with the U.S., so there is no such thing as a mistaking the outcomes will impression Canada.”
She completed by saying, “The question really is how can we advance Canada’s interest regardless of who’s in the White House next.”
Each Anand and Damoff talked about initiatives on the federal stage which have strengthened our relationship with the united statesin the final 4 years, together with renegotiating NAFTA, asserting practically $40 billion for NORAD modernization, and offering help to Ukraine of their battle in opposition to Russia.
Anand additionally mentions her success from cross-country spherical desk conferences on how they’ve made cross-border commerce extra environment friendly, like their present challenge of shifting to digital manifests as an alternative of the legacy paper ones.
All 4 of them agreed that Oakville is a principally cordial and collaborative city, with a observe document of teamwork and co-ordination between totally different ranges of presidency.
However what if that modified? If Donald Trump have been re-elected, I consider the previous, inescapable affect of damaging and violent rhetoric would return – even right here at house.
Might America’s outcomes actually impression Canada?
I actually have witnessed what election fervour is like in America. Except for the actual fact I as soon as spent six months dwelling in Florida whereas in college, I even have family and associates in Texas, New York, Arizona and Georgia.
Between October and November 2016, I took three separate journeys to America for numerous functions. I spoke with locals from New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, California, and New Jersey first-hand in their very own states.
Their opinions between city and rural or pink and blue couldn’t have been extra totally different – and within the eight years since then, it’s solely turn out to be much more divisive. That rising divide between events and ideologies has intensified in Canada’s politics too.
With solely two decisions of main events in America, it’s straightforward to categorise the race as a one vs. one other battleground. And if the best way events are portrayed reverse one another fuels the hearth, what began it?
The elitist, exclusionary behaviour begins with Donald Trump, America’s most contentious fashionable president.
One thing modified when his unique marketing campaign started nearly ten years in the past (sure, it actually was that way back.) The division isn’t about social gathering membership – we in Canada even have starkly totally different opinions between events.
The division is about an angle of dominance in defiance of confirmed details – in a courtroom, enterprise room, on TV, and even within the oval workplace. That angle is the issue.
Trump’s angle is one primarily based in concern as a result of that’s how he exploits people who find themselves (or who he thinks are) poorer than him. The basis downside with Donald Trump is that he’s an evil, harmful particular person and a pathological liar.
His insurance policies have corrupted the integrity of American democracy and repeatedly threatened the lives of his personal residents. In some circumstances, just like the Capitol riots or his first assassination makes an attempt, his rhetoric has led to the lack of precise human life.
Is that this an excessive assertion? I don’t suppose so. In a separate story from October 2020, I went into particulars in regards to the terrible issues he’s stated and finished. You possibly can learn it right here under should you nonetheless aren’t satisfied of what Trump’s character really is.
Learn extra right here: Opinion: does Donald Trump matter to us?
And that is only the start. None of this contains the horrible issues he’s stated and finished since leaving workplace 4 years in the past. There’s an countless listing of the explanation why he is unfit to be the President:
He is been discovered responsible for fraud and sexual abuse
He is been banned from conducting enterprise within the state of New York
He personally owes over $500 million USD in fines and unpaid authorized bills
He is admitted in courtroom to accepting monetary items from international nations
He withheld sources throughout COVID-19 to extort the passing of his bills in congress, resulting in 1000’s of deaths
He violated part 60 of America’s federal regulation by campaigning at Arlington Nationwide Cemetary in August
and naturally, he orchestrated a months-long coup try to overthrow the certification of his loss within the 2020 election, adopted by years of mendacity in regards to the outcomes earlier than admitting he misplaced in a September interview this 12 months
On high of all that, he is additionally the one President who’s been impeached twice and he is a 4 time felony indictee, for crimes together with from sexual assault, monetary fraud and election interference.
Donald Trump isn’t actually a politician. Politicians perceive methods and the explanation why and insurance policies ought to and/or shouldn’t be carried out to learn who they characterize.
They do that by discovering correct details, information, science and analysis to know issues and attempt to discover options. Democracy, then, is the method of streamlining how we agree on one of the best ways of doing this.
However that’s not how Donald Trump works. The first attribute that qualifies you to do any of what I’ve described above is being a superb listener. Watch any clip of Donald Trump on tv or on-line – he doesn’t pay attention as a result of he’s too proud to take action.
As an alternative of being a politician, he’s abused America’s methods and its international standing to learn him, his companies and his checking account. The one time he strikes away from these behaviours is when he typically abuses these methods to assist his household or associates who helped him steal.
If an efficient democracy is a ruled state having affect into how their society runs, then Donald has rebuffed all effectiveness to as an alternative steal cash and freedom from the residents of the very nation that elected him. Then he makes use of cash from the Republican social gathering to deceive American voters and blame somebody, anybody, apart from himself.
Heck, that’s how he was discovered responsible of 34 felony charges simply six months in the past – for falsifying data to affect his 2016 presidential election win! And he’s nonetheless below investigation in 4 states for making an attempt to cheat within the 2020 race!
So if Donald Trump has popularized this type of felony exercise, it issues to us in Oakville as a result of our personal politicians in any respect ranges and from all events unanimously agree our existence and life are intertwined with the States.
No matter is feasible in America is feasible in Canada. And this type of behaviour from any politician has to cease. The PPC’s share of federal votes rose greater than 3 per cent nationally between the 2019 and 2021 votes, a determine no different social gathering in Canada got here near. The place else did that empowerment come from?!
Now that we perceive why this election issues to us and that Donald Trump, and never politics at its root is the issue, what are we going to do about it?
How will the 2024 U.S. election finish?
It’s clear we as locals, each as townspeople domestically and as residents of Canada who consider within the well being of democracy for all, must keep away from the form of political motion Donald Trump conjures up.
And guess what? There are issues we will do. It’s essential we do them as a result of if we do, we will override the concern that’s captivated the world in America’s 2020 election within the first place.
It’s probably you understand at the least one if not a number of individuals who can have a voice and a vote when it comes to who America’s subsequent president can be. And it’s vital to our personal political well being that you just inform them how harmful Donald Trump is.
I’ve had this dialog with numerous folks I do know. I’ve associates who’re American, each in America and dwelling right here in Canada. Even my very own two stepbrothers are twin residents, they usually’re each registered to vote within the state of Arizona – a key “battleground” state within the Electoral School. I’m proud in each of their choices to vote in opposition to Donald Trump.
These conversations are initially anxious. They’re additionally essential to Canada’s personal democratic well being. And Trump is only the start – he additionally has the help of an extremist agenda with “Project 2025” backing him.
I’ll admit there’s some small private bias in my condemnation of Trump: other than his violent calls in opposition to racial minorities, girls and political enemies, simply yesterday at his Nov. 3 rally in Lilitz, Pennsylvania, he informed the gang he “wouldn’t mind” if the information reporters on the rally have been shot within the head and killed. As a information reporter myself, I’ve a tough time regarding any world chief who jokes about and endorses my assassination.
This isn’t a query of politics. It’s a query of whether or not an evil man is entitled to the ability and affect he has knowingly exploited to steal, homicide, lie and keep away from felony prosecution for crimes he’s being investigated for and has already been discovered guilt of.
Is Donald Trump entitled to that energy over others? To me, the reply is a powerful no.
Some would argue we shouldn’t speak about one other nation’s race as widespread folks so it doesn’t seem we’re “interfering” with their election. That’s inane. If the outcomes impacts us, we now have a proper to debate it.
Once I interviewed MPP Crawford in 2020, he stated, “Stability, honesty and integrity are so essential in democracy. We must cope with whoever is elected President as a city, province and a rustic.”
Speaking about Kamala Harris’ insurance policies and enticing concepts as a motivator for one’s vote is secondary to the borderline evil that Trump’s phrases, actions and threats pose to the U.S., Canada and the world. It’s just like speaking about what color to color your new boat whereas it’s actively sinking in shark infested waters.
A major proportion of Republicans in America are conscious of how damaging Trump is just too. Again in February, 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney went on CNN and stated he wouldn’t vote for Trump, saying, “For me, character is most important thing.”
After 9 years of listening to Donald Trump throughout his political profession, the query is now not whether or not you perceive Trump’s character or not. The query is whether or not or not Trump’s character (or clear lack thereof) issues to you.
We as Canadians – collaborative, simply, and compassionate – are afraid Trump’s injury to politics in any respect ranges may at some point occur right here. Him profitable the 2024 presidential election dramatically will increase the possibility that may occur.
That’s why I consider the U.S. race tomorrow issues to us right here in Oakville, and it’s the most effective motive I can confirm it issues to all these discussing it right here at house.
However having spoken with Mayor Burton, MPs Anand and Damoff and MPP Crawford, what I felt most empowered by was a confidence that no matter what I personally agree and disagree with them every about, they’re empathetic leaders. They’re listeners. They usually imply effectively for our city.
We needs to be pleased with these 4 Oakville leaders for the work they’ve finished to mood politics and stay optimistic for what’s forward for us domestically.
Possibly the U.S. may study a factor or two.
Some interview quotes on this story have been edited for size and readability.
Whereas the lead creator of this story is the editor for Oakville Information, the views of this story are that of the creator completely and never of the group. Different members of the Oakville Information employees contributed reporting to this story.
