What a frustrating federal election campaign this has been. Though a huge proportion of Canadians are genuinely concerned about climate change and want politicians to act, most parties have done their level best to either dismiss those concerns (the CPC and PPC) or convince the electorate they have meaningful plans for tackling climate change when they don't (the Liberals and the NDP).
Most frustrating of all, the only leader telling the truth and offering concrete proposals for addressing the problem, Elizabeth May of the Green Party, has been largely ignored - particularly by pundits and the media. This despite the fact that she's so highly regarded by voters of all political persuasions.
I can't help thinking the Greens would garner a lot more attention if their leader was an old white guy. As I've been heard to say often, never underestimate the effects of sexism and misogyny. After all, we've only ever had one female PM and no longer have any female Premiers - which says a lot about the state of Canadian politics. Essentially, it's a cesspool for female politicians.
With the election just two days away, I hear many friends talking about strategic voting, and/or voting for a candidate rather than the candidate's party.
It seems some people are willing to compromise a lot to avoid what they perceive to be the worst outcome - which is how the Liberals got such a massive majority in 2015 and may win more seats than they would have otherwise this time around. It's no wonder Trudeau dropped his promise to reform our electoral system. Playing on people's fear of another Harper-like regime is easier than earning people's votes. Here's hoping the other parties make electoral reform a prerequisite for agreeing to prop up any minority government.
Other people are prepared to ignore party platforms and vote for candidates they think are "nice people", who will be "good representatives", even when they don't like their parties' positions on some issues. That's a problem too. While it may be your preferred candidate doesn't like their party's positions any more than you do, and truly wants to represent you in Ottawa, their ability to do so is severely limited by the reality that free votes are a rarity in the House of Commons - especially on issues central to party platforms. Which mean, like it or not, supporting a candidate almost always translates into supporting their party's positions.
Of course, it's sometimes the case that people say they're voting for the candidate rather than the party because they're too embarrassed or ashamed to admit they actually like the party's platform. Or, at least, that the bits they don't like are less important to them than the bits they do. (Lower taxes for reduced access to abortion, anyone?)
For what it's worth, my advice to those voting on Monday is to read the party platforms this weekend, then vote based on which you like best, since they're what's most important at election time. It's not surprising the Conservatives released their platform so late in the game and the Friday before a long weekend. They know it's a weak document and are hoping no one reads it. By contrast, the Green Party's platform has been available for ages and their key proposals have been costed, with numbers approved by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Vote strategically if you must; otherwise, vote for smart policy. And, for goodness sake, remember there are no jobs on a dead planet. If we've any hope of ensuring our children having a reasonable future, the climate crisis needs to be top of mind when we go to the polls on Monday. To those who say a Green vote is a wasted vote, I say nonsense. Voting Green is a great way to let politicians of all political stripe know what matters most to you, even if your Green candidate doesn't win in the end.
Most frustrating of all, the only leader telling the truth and offering concrete proposals for addressing the problem, Elizabeth May of the Green Party, has been largely ignored - particularly by pundits and the media. This despite the fact that she's so highly regarded by voters of all political persuasions.
I can't help thinking the Greens would garner a lot more attention if their leader was an old white guy. As I've been heard to say often, never underestimate the effects of sexism and misogyny. After all, we've only ever had one female PM and no longer have any female Premiers - which says a lot about the state of Canadian politics. Essentially, it's a cesspool for female politicians.
With the election just two days away, I hear many friends talking about strategic voting, and/or voting for a candidate rather than the candidate's party.
It seems some people are willing to compromise a lot to avoid what they perceive to be the worst outcome - which is how the Liberals got such a massive majority in 2015 and may win more seats than they would have otherwise this time around. It's no wonder Trudeau dropped his promise to reform our electoral system. Playing on people's fear of another Harper-like regime is easier than earning people's votes. Here's hoping the other parties make electoral reform a prerequisite for agreeing to prop up any minority government.
Other people are prepared to ignore party platforms and vote for candidates they think are "nice people", who will be "good representatives", even when they don't like their parties' positions on some issues. That's a problem too. While it may be your preferred candidate doesn't like their party's positions any more than you do, and truly wants to represent you in Ottawa, their ability to do so is severely limited by the reality that free votes are a rarity in the House of Commons - especially on issues central to party platforms. Which mean, like it or not, supporting a candidate almost always translates into supporting their party's positions.
Of course, it's sometimes the case that people say they're voting for the candidate rather than the party because they're too embarrassed or ashamed to admit they actually like the party's platform. Or, at least, that the bits they don't like are less important to them than the bits they do. (Lower taxes for reduced access to abortion, anyone?)
For what it's worth, my advice to those voting on Monday is to read the party platforms this weekend, then vote based on which you like best, since they're what's most important at election time. It's not surprising the Conservatives released their platform so late in the game and the Friday before a long weekend. They know it's a weak document and are hoping no one reads it. By contrast, the Green Party's platform has been available for ages and their key proposals have been costed, with numbers approved by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Vote strategically if you must; otherwise, vote for smart policy. And, for goodness sake, remember there are no jobs on a dead planet. If we've any hope of ensuring our children having a reasonable future, the climate crisis needs to be top of mind when we go to the polls on Monday. To those who say a Green vote is a wasted vote, I say nonsense. Voting Green is a great way to let politicians of all political stripe know what matters most to you, even if your Green candidate doesn't win in the end.
Yup. When I say, get out and vote, what I mean is YOUNG PEOPLE get out and vote. You boomers can nap a little longer.
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