Thursday Morning Ideas

Interesting to see our federal election prospects raised in light of latest EKSO poll. Also to hear Liberals invite NDP/Green supporters to vote Liberal to defeat Stephen Harper.

Under our system there will be 308 contests in the next election. If Canadians vote strategically (which I believe they should do in the next election) then where the Liberal candidate has the best chance of beating a Conservative, then yes NDP and Green supporters should seriously consider voting Liberal. BUT a belief in strategic voting means where the NDP stands the best chance of beating a Conservative, then Lib/Green supporters should seriously consider voting NDP. And if there is a Green candidate who has the best chance to beat a Conservative, Libearl/NDP suporters should seriously consider voting Green. This all seems to make sense to me but I worry this will not happen in all cases. All the current opposition parties should publicly declare they will respect results of any upcoming election and should a 'minority' or 'hung' Parliament result, they will seek out other parties' co-operation.

The next federal election cannot come soon enough!!

Heard this morning the TD Bank reported $1.81 billion in net income in its most recent quarter. It seems to continue to do very well thank you very much. But sort of makes one wonder whose interest they serve. We see all the 'banking can be this comfortable' ads apparently directed at customers. But are they directed at customers for customers' sake or for their shareholders.

That bank (I am sure others do too) have things like 'customer appreciation' days where they offer coffee and cake to customers. Given their huge profit margins why don't they really show customer appreciation and have 'service fee free days'. Say they pick a day when for 24 hours any transaction normally charged a fee, will be done at no charge for that day. That would REALLY show 'customer appreciation' but of course it would 'cut' in their bottom line. A financial institution that did this in Canada would, in my view, attract a lot of new customers (yours truly included).