Who will be able to take on Donald Trump and make the necessary trade-offs to reach an agreement with the U.S. while keeping Canada together? Who will take on the interest groups and naysayers to modernize and diversify markets and the economy? Who will be able to keep our provinces united when the going gets tough?

Here are the choices.

Elizabeth May has been one of our great Canadians of this 21st century. The issues she has raised have made us proud that she came to our Island to win a vocal place in Ottawa. But many feel it is time to pass the torch (or solar-powered light) to a younger eco-warrior.

Her Greens will not be a factor in the election outcome, and the voters in her constituency have to balance loyalty and respect with strategic ­voting.

New Democratic Party voters face a similar balance, for different reasons, and tough choices.

A vote for the NDP might once again have them wielding power with a minority government. But non-party members who have been traditional NDP voters might vote strategically for the Liberals in an attempt to keep out the Conservatives.

Polls suggest holding existing NDP ridings might be difficult. Party Leader Jagmeet Singh is in a tough spot, with his party at risk of losing many of its seats.

The Vancouver........

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