Warning: this article contains strong language and imagery
The definition of a “campaign issue” is elusive. Generally, it has to do with the self-interest of politicians and the reporters who cover them.
If the former think advancing a subject might mean more votes, they declare that “the people of Canada are concerned.” Journalists then decide whether it’ll sell papers, to use an old term. If the subject clears both bars, it’s a campaign issue.
That entire process took place with remarkable speed last week. The subject of Canadian arms sales to Saudi Arabia was raised, became an issue and died, all within about 24 hours.
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The revenant Bloc Quebecois leader, Gilles Duceppe, who has suddenly taken a great interest in anything pertaining to radical Islam, kicked things off during the French-language leaders’ debate last Thursday.
“As we combat ISIS,” he asked Stephen Harper, “We must realize that its ideology was financed and promoted by Saudi Arabia, and we are sending billions worth of arms to Saudi Arabia.
“Would it not be sensible to say that’s enough, we’re stopping arms sales to Saudi Arabia? Wouldn’t that be logical, given our fight with ISIS?”
Harper, a man who has portrayed his government’s foreign policy as more principled and less susceptible to the power of the almighty dollar than other governments, basically replied that there’s a lot of money at stake and thousands of jobs in London, Ont.
The contract to export $15 billion worth of armoured vehicles to the Saudis, he noted, is the largest in Canadian history.
Cancelling it would only punish Canadian workers, he said, and besides, the contract is “support for an ally.”
“Yes, Saudi Arabia is a great ally,” snorted Duceppe. “Wonderful. I’ve taken note.”
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