2019 Federal Election Results. (Supplied photo/ Elections Canada)

By Angela Brown

Mixed reaction

Local leaders concerned about divisiveness reflected in election results

Oct 22, 2019 | 1:09 PM

Whether it’s having a Liberal minority government in Canada or regional voting disparities, local leaders expressed mixed reactions to the outcome of Monday night’s federal election.

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater is concerned about the repercussions of a Liberal minority government. He said there is a great deal of division but also an opportunity “where parties can come together and learn to work together.”

Bater is most concerned about the great divide shown in the election results.

“I think the big take-away for our region is that they say that Canada is a country of regions,” he said. “Last night, what we saw was all of those regions voting in blocks for different parties. It’s going to take an incredible amount of political skill for a prime minister to bring the country back together.”

Bater said it will be interesting to see how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chooses to approach the situation. The mayor is especially concerned the Prairie provinces’ voices won’t be heard, given the makeup of the election results.

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In Monday’s election, all Saskatchewan ridings voted in Conservative MPs, and similarly in Alberta 33 of 34 ridings chose Tory MPs. The outlier, Edmonton Strathcona, voted in NDP candidate Heather McPherson.

“The challenge for Saskatchewan and Alberta is that we no longer have any representation in cabinet,” Bater. “It has always been very important that communities like ours have a regional minister they can reach out to in government … It will be interesting to see how the prime minister addresses that without an actual Liberal Member of Parliament from either of our provinces.”

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said he hasn’t decided how he feels about having a Liberal minority government in Canada, although he too is concerned about how divided Canada is.

“The way the landscape changed in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, it’s a message,” Leslie said. “I am just not sure if the message of the voters created unity across our country, from coast to coast. At this point, I’m apprehensive at whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing that the Liberals have a minority at the level they do.”

The mayor said he is concerned about the clear divisiveness of East versus West.

”There are two completely different mind-sets… Four years ago (Trudeau) said he had the hope of bringing this country together. As of today, it just looks like we’re further and further apart as a country, and that’s not a good thing,” Leslie said.

Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak said the chamber is prepared to work with any elected government.

“There are several issues in this province that need working on – engagement on Indigenous issues, education, the pipeline perhaps – to get our products out,” she said.

Machniak said the chamber network will continue to promote these concerns with the new government.

“I think the chamber realizes that there is a new government and there are some gaps in the country, and that hopefully everyone works together to create a more united Canada,” she said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow