Dubai: Post-election thoughts

By Anna AbouZeid (Dubai, U.A.E.)

The results of the election have been disappointing for many but, I must admit, I'm not all that surprised myself that the Conservatives are at the helm once again. I just wasn't sure they would manage to swing a majority.

Sentiments here in Dubai are mixed. Some Canadians here, like Taufiq Rahim, a visiting scholar at the Dubai School of Government, are trying to look on the bright side. "Hopefully the election of a majority Conservative government will mean that Prime Minister Harper will treat the issue of UAE-Canada relations with more depth and seriousness that is less prone to special interest groups back home," he said. "Harper should use the wide mandate he has, to revamp what has been a middling approach to foreign affairs that needs to be far more innovative, engaged and balanced."

My younger brother, Hassan AbouZeid, is also a Canadian who was living abroad during this election. (H is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto but lives in Geneva where he conducts his research.) He was disapointed with the outcome. "I can't say I'm enthused about the prospect of a Conservative majority government. While I am opposed to Conservative policies and agenda, any other majority Conservative rule would be preferable to a 'Harper Government' majority," he said. He feels the way Stephen Harper has run his government, including proroguing parliament and controlling his MPs contact with the public and media is worrying.

For my part I think the election results speak volumes about the perception of the Liberal Party in Canada. A party that seems to rest on its laurels, on the fact that 'Canada is a Liberal country' is simply not good enough anymore. I'm hopeful that this will be the much needed wake-up call for the party to re-group and re-establish its connection to the people and see what it is that Canadians really want.

Barring that, I'm extremely excited about the new role of the NDP as the official opposition. This is the time for new blood and the possibility for real change. Let's see what happens.