More Saharan dust in the air, with meteorological notices suggesting the small particulate matter will be with us for the next three days. The mountains are topped with a shroud of mist this morning but the haze looks more like fog than like dust filled air. In the foreground the neighbours’ fig tree is in full bloom. And the air is heavily scented as blossoms emerge on the orange tree and the shrubs.
And keeping our eyes on the Canadian electoral scene. Carney, of course, not technically prime minister yet, though obviously he will be. First Trudeau formally resigns and then the governor general is permitted to determine whether his successor will have the confidence of the House. It is clearly desirable but not formally necessary for the prime minister to have a seat in parliament. In less fraught times one would expect a co-operative MP in a safe seat to resign, thereby triggering a by-election. However this would presumably have the effect of postponing the expected general election. Alternatively, Carney could call an election and run for parliament, although even contesting a safe seat would presumably be a significant distraction from party/government policy in time of tariff war. Also, the present government is a minority one, so having the confidence of the House not as clear as it might be. Assuming election sooner rather than later. This will be one for the history books and I should really have prevailed upon J to write today’s blog, this being his area of expertise not mine.
The election is likely to pose a specific problem for us. The shortest time between issuing the writ and election day (normally a Monday) is thirty-seven days. That would be likely to mean an election before we return to Canada. It is possible to have a mail in ballot sent to another country and we did in fact do this once before following a government defeat in the House. Applying is easy and can now be done electronically. The ballot itself is paper and we are currently in a country recognised only by Turkey and, therefore not well served by couriers. Mailing it back to Canada perhaps less difficult as possible to ask someone to send it from UK. Our constituency in the provincial election was clearly going to be NDP with or without our vote. The federal riding less obvious. It and its predecessor constituency has been Liberal, Conservative, and - going farther back - NDP. Interesting times.