An Election at Last

After a full year of false starts, the election campaign in Canada is on, with election day set for October 30. Thanks to George McGovern, it could be an interesting race.

The importance of George McGovern’s candidacy to the prospects for an exciting Canadian election illustrates the problem of operating an independent, autonomous country when more than 90 per cent of its populace are within range of American television, and when most Canadian-read magazines are published in the United States. If McGovern were a credible candidate, it would be impossible to have a Canadian election this fall that would be anything more than a sideshow to the great American spectacle. As it is, the Canadian election looks like a better show this year, because the outcome is not entirely clear. Even at that, newscasts here are giving equal billing to the American campaign.

DC

About the Author

Donald Coxe

Featured Tags

After a full year of false starts, the election campaign in Canada is on, with election day set for October 30. Thanks to George McGovern, it could be an interesting race.

The importance of George McGovern’s candidacy to the prospects for an exciting Canadian election illustrates the problem of operating an independent, autonomous country when more than 90 per cent of its populace are within range of American television, and when most Canadian-read magazines are published in the United States. If McGovern were a credible candidate, it would be impossible to have a Canadian election this fall that would be anything more than a sideshow to the great American spectacle. As it is, the Canadian election looks like a better show this year, because the outcome is not entirely clear. Even at that, newscasts here are giving equal billing to the American campaign.