Poli Sci Prof Finds Debate 'Old School'

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. - UNBC Political Scientist, Jason Morris, says each party will no doubt find enough in the to-and-fro of this evening's federal leadership debate to declare their candidate the winner.

But, Morris says what stood out for him, during the two-hour tennis match was how "old school" it seemed, "We had multiculturalism, which was a debate we had in the 70's; we had language laws, which was 1980's in Quebec; we had gun control, 1990s.  And I wondered - are things not changing in Canada? Are we still debating and trying to work out the same issues."

He says, "Harper appeared pretty Prime Ministerial at times with his soft-toned voice - others are going to say that wasn't comforting, so much as condescending."  And the UNBC prof says Ignatieff's people will feel he succeeded in getting off all the Liberal messages on their 'hot points'.  "His talking points included the corporate tax cut, the crime, the contempt of Parliament," says Morris.  "And he kept hammering home on those things, so they'll think 'job well done'."

Morris says he was surprised by NDP Leader Jack Layton for attacking the Liberal Leader as much as the Prime Minister.  "I think in the back of the NDP's mind, they're really gunning for - or hope they can be, if not in this election, then down the road - a replacement to the Liberal Party of Canada," he says.  "Liberals and Conservatives have historically taken turns being government - the NDP would sure like to get in there."

Morris believes many in the West will question why Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe was even there, given the party is Quebec-only, and he'll be the top-billed player in tomorrow night's French debate.

While each party keyed in on health-care as a top priority during this campaign, Morris says the Conservatives, Liberals, and New Democrats all seem to be in agreement.  "The health-care debate was fascinating to me because it was almost a word-for-word replay of the debate in 2008," he says.  "This time around, we have the Health Accord that's expiring and all of the parties appear to agree to maintain the present accord or extend - in other words, if Canadians are looking for a difference of opinion from the parties on the matter of health, they won't find it."

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