For eight weeks, political hopefuls of all stripes flashed their best smiles, pumped flesh and made promises to win over precious votes in the tight race to control Ottawa.
During the campaign, The Asian Pacific Post talked to members of the ethnically diverse communities of British Columbia to find out what they consider as relevant issues that politicians must address.
We asked Asian Canadians if they believe whether or not politicians really understand their needs or are just baiting them with empty rhetoric.
When the smoke cleared, the Conservatives emerged as winners but not in sufficient numbers to go alone with their agenda. The Liberals fell behind, bruised by charges of corruption and hobbled by a non-inspired campaign. The NDP gained more seats but remains third fiddle party to the Tories and Grits.
The Asian Pacific Post went back to some of the Asian Canadians it touched base with during the campaign and this time we asked them whether or not they are satisfied with the results of the elections
Customer Service, Richmond
Officials must take their promises seriously so that some things could be done. They have to mean and do what they say. Take the issue of drugs. Having come from Singapore where they hang people caught with drugs like marijuana, I have never seen that much of a problem. They should also do something with the road constructions and the confusing operations of the international and domestic airport. Sorry to be so negative about this but I believe that all of us deserve a better living environment.
Editor/Translator, Vancouver
I’m not really satisfied with the results -- true, it shows that we don’t tolerate corruption (as if any government is ever corruption-free), but it also highlights that Canadian values are perhaps different from what they seemed back in 2004. Maybe we’re not so tolerant of gay/lesbian marriage after all, and maybe a lot of us are comfortable with a leader who wanted Canadians to go fight the war in Iraq. The Conservative party leader attends anti-gay conferences, writes anti-abortion letters to the Globe and Mail, and accuses Asian immigrants of ghettoizing themselves in western Canada.
Volunteer, Burnaby
If promises made during the campaign to win go through, it will be a success for the country. If the winning party doesn’t follow through and change policies, it will have a bad effect on the nation. We all have to wait and see how the nation will respond to whether or not campaign promises are kept. It may be too early. For example, the Conservatives promised to cut GST from 7 percent to 5 percent.
Sales, Vancouver
All we can do is hope for the best. Candidates made promises about helping Canadians have a better future so let’s see how they deliver on these. It doesn’t really matter which political party came out as winners. What matters is whether or not politicians are sincere and have the political will to institute changes. The saying goes that Canada is the best place to live in so let’s make this a reality for all.
Businesswoman, Richmond
I supported a Liberal but it’s good that overall, the Conservatives won. Their promise of a child care subsidy is good because I went through the experience of raising children as a single parent years ago. It’s hard to make ends meet and have the means to have your child taken cared of.
Writer, Vancouver
The victory of the Conservatives was a reaction to the scandals of the Liberals. Candidates made pronouncements about immigrant issues but we’ll have to see what happens next with the new government. The deportation of caregivers continues and it’s an issue that needs to be addressed.
