With Canada’s election on Oct. 19 probably still too close to call, opinion surveys indicate that about 35 percent of Canadians are focused primarily on the economy; but many also have major concerns about personal security and peace in an era of the Islamic State (ISIS) and Vladimir Putin. The international scene is clearly playing a greater role in this election than is usual.
Assessing the four national leaders, my ranking from the best downward would be Thomas Mulcair (New Democrats), Elizabeth May (Greens), Stephen Harper (Conservatives), and Justin Trudeau (Liberals).
A major problem in the race with the Conservatives is that there are three center-left or left parties competing in our long outdated first-past-the-post and winner-take-all electoral system.
