“That the House agree with the finding of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the government is in contempt of Parliament, which is unprecedented in Canadian parliamentary history, and consequently, the House has lost confidence in the government.” ~Non-confidence motion, March 25
My fellow Canadians: Who will you be voting for in May, or more crucially for what?
For me, the most pressing issues relate to environmental sustainability, without which there is no economy. I want to know how the people who court my vote are going to deal with the unfolding catastrophe of climate change, water security, species extinction, pollution, health care, transportation and energy policy.
I want to hear from politicians who are looking for solutions to the increasing environmental and economic costs of fossil fuel use.
Who will tackle these urgent problems as if the future depended on it?
The CBC has launched Vote Compass to help us judge which party’s platform most closely parallels our concerns.
Meanwhile, as the battle for Canadian minds shifts into high gear, not all the persuasion originates at home.
Last week, The Tyee speculated that profits from the Alberta Tar Sands was helping fund the right wing anti-environmental agenda of American billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, who are banking on bitumen.
Yesterday, Desmogblog—”the world’s number one source for accurate, fact based information regarding global warming misinformation campaigns”—reported on the expanding infiltration of the Koch lobby into our federal election campaign.
This is a critical moment in the history of our country—a test for Canadian democracy, sovereignty, and a chance to actually influence the future of our planet … for better or worse.
If this election is important enough for American billionaires to try to influence the outcome, it is certainly important enough for Canadians to think clearly about the choices we make on May 2.
Must-read from The Center for Public Integrity: The Koch’s web of influence
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Before I get into my thoughts on the parties, that Koch lobby article was quite interesting, and seeing how close Tim Hudak is to them scares the hell out of me.
Most likely he will become Ontario’s next premier come October. This is a guy who wants to spend Billions (B) on a new highway, cutting through green space and during Toronto’s mayoral election he criticized bikes.
As for who I’ll be voting for??? This is a tough one.
I’ve taken the CBC compass thing 3 times already, and it has always come up with the following:
1. Green
2. NDP
3. Bloc
4. Liberal
5. Conservatives
I have heard from many that it’s not accurate, however for me it’s pretty bang on.
In the past (both Federal & Provincial) I have voted Liberal, Conservative and Green. Actually the past provincial and federal I voted Green. I’ve yet to vote NDP.
I truly have taken a strong dislike for the Conservatives over the past few years, which if you knew me in high school you’d find it odd. I was always deemed “quite conservative”.
For me the environment is the main issue. My Dad and I have always said what you said…”environmental sustainability, without which there is no economy”.
So this brings me to who I’ll be voting for…As it stands now it’s a toss up between the Greens & NDP.
I have taken a liking to Jack Layton over the past couple of years. I also like Elizabeth May.
Of course there is the ‘strategic voting”. Although I think the Liberals have failed to produce a decent leader since Chretien, I have such a sour taste in my mouth with regards to Harper and his government.
Wasted money on super jails, fighter jets, tax cuts for big businesses and the thing left in the dark…G20.
If the Liberals were close in my riding, I would have to consider between voting to keep Harper out or voting for who I believe has the better policy.
It’s too bad Canadians don’t view the Greens as a serious party. The Greens are becoming increasingly popular in Germany, winning big in Baden-Württemberg.
With the exception of Guelph, ONT and a few VanIsland ridings, the Greens don’t stand a chance.
Funny you should mention Hudak. I hadn’t paid much attention until, minutes before I noticed your comment, I followed a Tweet to The Truth about Tim Hudak. Scary indeed!
The results of my profile at CBC Compass matches yours.
I have voted NDP in every provincial election over the last 40 years. Federally, I have voted Liberal a couple of times when I lived in ridings where it made sense strategically.
It would be good if we had a voting system where we did not have to resort to such things, where we could vote our conscience with a reasonable expectation that it might be reflected in the make-up of government …. speaking of coalitions.
Interesting to see that Canada is going to the polls soon. Over here in Ireland we had an Election last month which resulted in new government.
The Green Party which had 6 seats in the previous parliament (166seats in the Irish Parliament) did not retain any seats.
We now have a new government, a coalition of Right and Left Wing parties. However they have their hands tied by the policies of the previous government in relation to promises made to the IMF and European Union for the €100 Billion bailout we received last November. We obviously will have to wait a while to see how the new government performs before passing any judgement on them, they have had 3 weeks in power so far.
They have been left with a terrible mess to clean up from the previous government which served 3 consecutive terms lasting 14 years in total. Unemployment is at the highest level ever, the banks have been propped up with over €100 Billion (they will need another €30 Billion before the end of the week) which is secured by the taxpayer and the economy is in bits. Basically every man, woman and child in Ireland has a debt of €25,000 ($CDN34,500) to keep the banks going on top of what ever personal debt they may have.
Sadly the Electorate did not take policies into consideration when casting their votes, it was simply a case of getting rid of the old government and getting some new blood in to replace them, but as I wrote previously the deal with the IMF and EU is binding and so we basically have a new government which has to continue with the policies of the old one or else the IMF and EU will not give them anymore money, so the Country will go broke. What happens when a country goes broke? Does anyone want to find out? There are tough times ahead for sure.
I know what my solution to the Irish problem is, get out of Ireland! I am moving to Sweden this summer with my Wife, three dogs, two cats and hopefully my brother in tow.
Hopefully Canada will fare better in the future with a new government, the country is in better economic shape than Ireland and it’s natural resources haven’t been sold to companies who make massive profits without any return to the exchequer. All the oil and natural gas off the Irish coast is owned by Norwegian companies who paid a few thousand for the exploration rights.
To lighten the mood I will finish with a joke from the 1980’s back when Ireland’s economy was bad, but not as bad as today. The USA has Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Stevie Wonder! Ireland has no cash, no hope and it is no wonder!
Hi Conor:
Remember when we followed the course of the Nechako River together, on Hwy 16? I probably told you the story of Alcan’s control over that once-great river and plans for the “Kemano Completion Project” at that time.
I’m afraid Canada is no different when it comes to getting a fair return from corporations exploiting our resources. After all, our colonial history began with the charter “Gentlemen Adventurers trading into Hudson’s Bay” and nothing has intrinsically changed since.
However, as illustrated by the depredations you are suffering, and manipulations of Canada’s elections, what democracy the great unwashed have managed to wrestle from the plutocrats is disappearing with alarming speed.
One only has to look at Third World countries to see what happens once the IMF gets one under their thumb.
Welcome to the new 17th century.
P.S. Keep me posted on your experiences in Sweden. Depending on the results of this election, I may need a refuge. 🙂
Just an Update on the Irish situation. On Thursday the Irish banks got another 26 billion, but nobody can say how much more money the banks will need to keep them going. To put that into perspective there are less than 4 million people living in the country. I will keep you informed on the progress with Sweden.
Yet another update from The Emerald Isle. The IMF are flexing their muscle now. They have decided that the economic growth for this year will only be 0.5%, not the 09% that was forecasted when the bail out was agreed. In order to keep the IMF happy the Irish Government will have to make another €3 Billion in spending cuts and tax increases, or else the IMF will take their money elsewhere.
The burning question is what will be cut and what new taxes will they come up with??
This seems to be the topic of the day. I’ve just been corresponding with a couple of people on FB–here in Canada and the US–in relation to our government’s policies and as Obama announces plans to gut health care provisions for the poor and elderly.
As I said there, this is economic neoliberalism in full flight
There seems to be a similar situation going on here. In order to meet the IMF targets public services are being cut, most notable cuts are in healthcare (services are cut but no jobs are lost) and the minister for justice wants to cut the police force by at least 1,000.
Agree with your comments on strategic voting. Funny that Harper should use scare-mongering tactics based on a possible coalition. The only reason that Harper is PM is because the PC’s are a coalition of the Cons, the Reformers, and all the other fringe right-wingers who have realized there is strength in not splitting the right-of-center vote. Unfortunately, the lefties persist in finely differentiating themselves. What’s really the difference between the NDP & the Liberals aside from the NDP’s supposed rap for profligate spending? And what’s really the difference between the NDP & the Greens? As much as I like the idea of the Greens, I do not like Elizabeth May. So despite the fact that there are obviously more left-of-center voters in Canada than there are cons, the left vote is split three ways, giving the cons a golden opportunity to form a majority.
Since neither the NDP or Greens have any hope right now of forming a government, then because of our first-past-the-post system (which only makes sense when there are two parties in contention), a vote for the NDP (or Greens) is effectively a vote for Harper.
Of course, you can always throw in the towel & vote locally, hoping your NDP MP will shield you from Harper’s policies in your riding, but even then, I wouldn’t count on it.
We must either vote strategically (meaning voting Liberal), or we must change the electoral system. Runoffs would work; it would be interesting in ridings where the Liberals & NDP get the most votes. STI would also work; it would be the only way the Greens would ever get a seat.
The only time you can vote NDP is when there is a Liberal majority that is corrupt & unpopular, and the Cons are split at least three ways (among PC’s, Reform, Western Separatist, whatever). Under the current system, the only smart thing the left can do is to fold the NDP into the Liberals (just as the Cons have done).
But then I like Ignatieff. He appears to have some intelligence. I don’t understand why voters want someone who “resonates with the common man.” I want somebody who’s smarter than the average.
@Luis: Funny you should make these points; I was having this exact discussion, this morning.
As Jack Layton has gained (rightly) from the debates, the NDP is likely to make greater headway, splitting the vote further and, as you note, benefit the Cons in some ridings. The Greens will further erode the left vote.
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing May win her Saanich riding, but it’s a real gamble as things stand.
My riding is pretty stable NDP, so I’ll be voting for the incumbent Denise Savoie.
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