Issues
The leaders we choose as a society have an immediate impact on the issues that are brought to the table during a governmental mandate. And there are unexpected elements that incumbent governments can not avoid, such as the recent judgment approved by the Supreme Court of Canada on assisted suicide in the case of deemed intolerable suffering. The Harper government was opposed to physician-assisted death. The next government will, by February 6, have to decide whether to amend the Criminal Code to comply with the judgment of the Court, or whether to invoke the notwithstanding clause to avoid the judgment.
Moreover, the party that takes power in the October 19 elections will have to deal with a program of milestone anniversaries to be celebrated in 2017: the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal.
For the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation, federal officials rack their brains. The problem of the inclusion of Quebec: how to give the greatest number of Canadians, especially Quebecers, meaning to the festivities. Let us recall that Quebec did not ratify the Constitution during its repatriation in 1982. "How can we engage Quebec in terms of shared history with the rest of Canada in 2017?" There even was the talk of opening the constitutional debate again!
For the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal, Mayor Denis Coderre (who supports the diocese of Montreal in his approach) has taken an initiative in relation to the other levels of government and invited Pope Francis to come on an official visit to Montreal 2017. But will we sufficiently hear about the founders and the historical truth during these celebrations? Here is another big issue!
Not to mention Canada's Christian roots will also be in the background on election day: October 19 is the feast of the holy Canadian Martyrs!
Jean Lapalice