Anger on the Streets

If the Liberal Party was hoping that people would not notice all the reporting on Jean Brault’s testimony, their hopes have certainly been dashed. Here in Toronto, there is quite a bit of outrage over what people are hearing. But for the most part, it’s not helping Conservative fortunes here in the big smoke. It seems most people are still going to hold their nose and vote Liberal, or switch their vote to the NDP. Toronto, as you know, is filled with very smart people.

But the story is vastly different in the suburban 905-belt that land-locks Toronto, where the difference between Conservative and Liberal seats came down to very small margins * in many cases during last spring’s election. This time, outside of the city which is overly-friendly to the Liberal Party, the Conservatives may now be poised to paint the map blue.

Insiders suggest that overnight polling across the country has shown a sharp and remarkable trend that is out-of-favor with the Liberal Party, with the NDP and Conservatives jumping sharply in voter support completely at the expense of the Liberals. If reaction on morning talk radio across the country is any indication, the worst is yet to come in terms of damage to the Liberal brand.

As of this moment, the Conservative Party continues to insist that it wants to do exactly what Paul Martin is calling for. That is, wait until Justice Gomery tables his report.

At the outset, I too felt that this was probably the best router. However, it seems to me that the common knowledge that Canadians don’t want an election has been turned on its head. The public at large is pissed, and by and large, does want an election.

Adding insult to injury for the Liberal Party, at least one Liberal MP has reportedly stated that he intends to vote for the Bloc motion of non-confidence next week that is against the confidence of his own party.

John Nunziata, former Liberal MP, who appeared on CBC yesterday, characterized what he is seeing as a “fatal blow” to the Liberal Party. A sentiment which is reportedly being echoed under the breathe of some Liberal MPs themselves.

More to come…

* Wording changed on challenge of reader