It’s quite probable at this point, that the Canadian public will go to the polls on the same day as Americans. I don’t know if that has ever happened before. It appears the Liberals are spinning the Conservative budget as a Liberal-lite budget. It’s a really poor strategy and a blatant excuse for sluffing blame of their disorganization and unpopularity onto average Canadians.
Dear Liberal Friend,
As you know, earlier [Tuesday] the Conservative government tabled its third budget. Immediately following the Budget speech in the House of Commons, our Leader Stéphane Dion declared that the Liberal Opposition will not give the Conservatives the election they so badly want based on their latest budget because it adopts many of the measures that Liberals have championed.
The Conservatives have in effect presented a watered-down version of pre-existing Liberal policies. In fact, they appear to have repackaged many Liberal initiatives and commitments including:
…blah blah blah
So the Liberals are telling Canada, that even though a minority of voters elected the Conservatives, we’re happier with them in power than we’d be with the opportunity to put another party in their place? I know some people are going to tell me I’m missing the point, that Canadians aren’t content with the Conservatives, but just really don’t have the time/money for an election right now. I think that most people, the Liberals included, have realized they aren’t all that different from the Conservatives, and Canadians can’t do much about that [in the short term, anyway]. Americans are faced with the same dilemma when choosing between Democrats who are too scared to bring down the corrupt government there, and the Republicans who have lost all honour (if they ever had any).
==
The Green Party meanwhile is also sending out email, this time with a serious update. Not surprisingly, to me anyway, CTV and the big broadcasters are still refusing the Greens equal media coverage in the coming election (despite laws demanding the contrary).
They’d like supporters of open and democratic elections to sign the petition again, even if they have once (they claim to be able to clear duplicates, and just want to show the broadcasters that support hasn’t dropped over time).
I just spoke with the President of CTV. He called to let our leader, Elizabeth May, know that the heads of Canada’s broadcast consortium met today with representatives of the four parties currently invited to participate in the next nationally televised leaders’ debates: the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois.
“No decision has been reached”, he told me, in regards to the inclusion of Elizabeth in the debates.
You can really help, right now, by signing the Demand Democratic Debates petition. By signing today, a message will automatically go to the members of the television network consortium who ultimately determine who will be included in a televised leaders’ debate.
Sign today and then forward this e-mail to at least 3 other people you know who support the Greens or who simply feel that, in this country, all party leaders have a right to voice their party’s platform and be heard by the people who make the voting decisions.
It will only take a moment of your time and it will provide a meaningful push for free and democratic debate in Canada!
77% of Canadians say they want Elizabeth in the debates. Our Green Party polled ahead of the NDP last November as Canada’s third most popular party. We have tied the NDP again this month and have polled consistently ahead of the Bloc.
This is a matter of fairness and democracy. Please help - with an email to the heads of the TV consortium now.
Thanks so much,
Adriane Carr
Deputy Leader
Green Party of CanadaPS. If you signed some time ago, please sign the petition again. We’ll clear any duplicates, but this will ensure we have an updated list of supporters!
JimBobby | 27-Feb-08 at 1:36 pm | Permalink
Whooee! Dang right we gotta get Lizzie may in the debates. I signed the petition (again) and I also put a banner on my little boog. The petition site has a link fer “Bloggers” and they got a banner or button you can put on yer boog if yer so inclined. Maybe we can get a little boogin’ campaign goin’ an’ get a lotta these buttons and banners showin’ up in the boogeysphere.
JB
Saskboy | 27-Feb-08 at 1:56 pm | Permalink
Not a bad idea JB. I think the anti-Greens out there in the media won’t ever understand that 77% of Canadians is more than enough people for them to change their mind. There is something underhanded afoot, and it will take more than just protest to correct it.
Steven | 27-Feb-08 at 2:28 pm | Permalink
We HAVE to get Elizabeth into the debates. If the Bloc can participate, than so should we.
Re: the budget, my only concern is that if the Libs topple the government (they’re the only ones who, in concert with another party, can), aren’t we just going to get more of the same? For all of Jack Layton’s politicking (seriously. shouldn’t you READ the budget before deciding to vote against it?), the NDP are eroding their support to us.
The bigger picture is that neither major party is up in the poles, and unfortunately, looking at Green national support is misleading under our FPTP system. It doesn’t matter how many voters across the country say they want us — the only thing that counts is if a majority of voters in a specific riding do.
I got this e-mail too. My girlfriend asked a funny question: Is Adrianne Carr running for leadership? Where is her riding?
JimBobby | 27-Feb-08 at 3:03 pm | Permalink
Carr is deputy leader. She’s running for MP in Vancouver Centre. She and Lizzie are working closely together. I met them both in Waterloo a few weeks ago. They make a good team.
There are a few ridings where a GPC candidate has a chance — even with FPTP. My own riding, Haldimand-Norfolk, has been poorly served by Immigration Minister Diane Finley. She’s been largely absent on serious local issues like the Caledonia land claim and the Nanticoke coal-fired generator. It’s doubtful she could win again.
The LPC has nominated a star candidate, Eric Hoskins. Though born and raised in the area, he’s been out of ridng for about 25 or more years. He’s seen as a parachuter and a large number of Grits have come over to our Green EDA.
The Greens here have nominated a strong candidate, Frank Nightingale. He’s a farmer and a P. Eng. who’s worked all over the world but resettled on the family farm here about 18 years ago. Frankie’s the pres of the county federation af agriculture, he’s on a buncha energy advisory committees. He ran fer mayor of the county (half the H-N riding) and came in a close second.
There’s another possible winner up in Owen Sound, Shane Jolley, too.
I’d like to see an election to get the chance to tell Harper what I think of him but if we wait, maybe the whole Liberal Party’ll implode and join up with the Greens.
JB
Dwight Williams | 27-Feb-08 at 7:19 pm | Permalink
Signature duly updated. Not my party at the moment, but the principle and the law that’s supposed to support it should definitely be upheld in this instance.