26-05-2004 06:27									#91
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Ah... but you see, if you vote NDP even though they're sure not to win this election, they may have a shot at next election. If you "park" your vote with the Liberals, the NDP will never win.

	26-05-2004 06:35									#92
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There will be only one way for the NDP's to get into power, the same way the Progressive party did.

	26-05-2004 08:01									#93
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quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi There will be only one way for the NDP's to get into power, the same way the Progressive party did.

Merge with the Conservatives, eh? Does Stephen Harper or Jack Layton get to be leader?

	26-05-2004 08:17									#94
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I'd pick Jack Layton right about now, but it ain't done yet.

	26-05-2004 08:28									#95
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Or sell your soul to the Liberals to form a consolidated left wing.

	27-05-2004 11:38									#96
	Suffering from ads?

Snippets of the bios for the candidates in Dejons' riding. Who would you vote for without knowing the party?

Candidate A
"I have been the principal of my architectural practice for some 30 years, and throughout that period have gained extensive proficiency in successfully realizing the completion of complex projects extending from the schematic design phase through final construction."
...
"During my leisure time, I am an avid sailor, and in the past have competed with my Canadian Champion Golden Retriever at dog shows internationally. As an ardent scuba diver, I have been involved in underwater photography for some 25 years"

Candidate B
"A gifted communicator, she is passionate about Canada and about engaging citizens in our democracy. She is a champion for health care, the environment, women in politics and persons with disabilities; and she is recognized as a strong voice for Israel in Ottawa."

Candidate C
"In 2000, I was asked to be the PC candidate in St.Paul’s for the federal election. Growing up in a political family, and having volunteered for local candidates like Ron Atkey, Michael Walker, Barbara MacDougall, Isabel Bassett and David McDonald, I considered it seriously. I decided that the Tories were not addressing the issues that mattered most to me. The party did not seem to me to be progressive or interested in conservation. At that point I happened to check out the XXX website. I had heard about the party but never bothered to find out about it. As I read about XXX policies, it was as if somebody had taken the issues that I cared most about and made them into an international political party."

Candiate D
No bio on Globe site. No bio on party website (There are no bios for any of the party's candidates).

	27-05-2004 11:48									#97
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Candidate D has me convinced

	27-05-2004 15:43									#98
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Can I play? C)

	27-05-2004 20:34									#99
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I'd lean toward A. An outsider who hasn't been corrupted by the political process yet.

B sounds like a windbag who doesn't actually do anything.

C can't resist a potshot at an opposing party -- may be too concerned with being right as opposed to doing what's best for the country (if I may hazard a guess here, Green party?).

	27-05-2004 20:46									#100
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quote: "A gifted communicator, she is passionate about Canada and about engaging citizens in our democracy. She is a champion for health care, the environment, women in politics and persons with disabilities; and she is recognized as a strong voice for Israel in Ottawa."

As if Israel needed her help.

	28-05-2004 02:32									#101
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You will elect me to go to Ottawa and do this:

quote: "I have been the principal of my architectural practice for some 30 years, and throughout that period have gained extensive proficiency in successfully realizing the completion of complex projects extending from the schematic design phase through final construction."

...But what I will really do is this:

quote: "During my leisure time, I am an avid sailor, and in the past have competed with my Canadian Champion Golden Retriever at dog shows internationally. As an ardent scuba diver, I have been involved in underwater photography for some 25 years"

	28-05-2004 02:45									#102
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My first bit of unasked for advice is for everyone to go out and attend an all-candidates meeting. I'd rather see the Commons filled with decent MPs from crappy parties rather than crappy MPs from decent parties.

And remember that a vote for a candidate of your dreams that has no hope of being elected makes a bit more sense now that their party will get some money to advertise with next time around.

As far as BC goes, forget about an NDP breakthrough. Davies is secure but now that the Greens are seen as a viable alternate for many voters everyone else is in big trouble. And Svend's latest drama isn't helping. But I don't see any Greens elected this time around. Although they will get a seat or two in the provincial LA if we adopt proportional representation.

	28-05-2004 03:01									#103
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quote: Originally posted by RedFred Although they will get a seat or two in the provincial LA if we adopt proportional representation.

I thought the Greens got 12% of the provincial vote, that is more than a seat or two...

	28-05-2004 03:45									#104
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quote: Originally posted by optimus2861 C can't resist a potshot at an opposing party -- may be too concerned with being right as opposed to doing what's best for the country (if I may hazard a guess here, Green party?).

Interesting - I interpreted it as an attempt to gain political points from his family's political legacy, even though from a different party, I mean...what's with all the name-dropping?

	28-05-2004 03:52									#105
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quote: I thought the Greens got 12% of the provincial vote, that is more than a seat or two...

One of the vagarities of Canada's first past the post system.

Only the top vote-getter in each riding gets in. Everyone else gets squat.

12% is absolutely useless, unless you manage to concentrate all your support in one riding.

	28-05-2004 05:31									#106
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The same applies to the "decent MPs from crappy parties rather than crappy MPs from decent parties" sentiment. Sounds nice, but means dick-all in the Westminster system.

	28-05-2004 05:59									#107
	Tired of ads?

Well, it actually means something in Westminster.

	28-05-2004 06:11									#108
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True enough, I guess this has to do more with party discipline. But how Canada has used the parliamentary model hasn't helped.

	28-05-2004 06:13									#109
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quote: But how Canada has used the parliamentary model hasn't helped.

Yeah. It would be nice to have an elected senate and free votes in Parliament.

Or how about a cabinet composed of members from all parties?

The mind boggles.

	28-05-2004 07:12									#110
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Geez, you'd think maybe Canadians could be clever enough to base their voting on who actually represents the riding, like say by looking at voting records on bills.

Naw, that would be way too far-fetched. I mean, if a guy knew he was a goner if he voted against the interests of his constituents, maybe that guy would be more prepared to tell the PM where he could stuff the signature on the next round of nomination papers. That could never work.

	28-05-2004 09:53									#111
	Day 5 Got spare money?

Has Layton blown it already?

60 billion in increased-tax fueled spending? The Libs want 9 billion in spending, the NDP can go twice that and then tax for a further multiple of 3?

But that's not all. How exactly does he think Canadians are going to react to his accusations that the PM is personally responsible for deaths of homeless people in Toronto (and elsewhere, I would presume). That is the sort of stuff that demagogues throw around.

Between the 'it's moving, let's tax it' policies and the completely bizarre comments about Martin and the homeless, I can practically hear the undecided, and a good number of soft supporters, shifting their choices, and the NDP are not going up the list.

	28-05-2004 10:04									#112
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1. the taxes are, for the most part, just rolling back the tax-breaks the very wealthy have been handed over the past couple decades.

2. Martin, as finance minister, cut funding to social housing and social transfers to the provinces. That put a lot of people out into the street. You live on the street in a city like Toronto (especially if you're old or you're not in perfect health), there's a good chance you'll die. The amount of money needed to solve the homeless problem is such a small proportion of the budget, it is criminal that it's allowed to continue.

We've had a huge transfer of wealth from poor to rich over the last few decades, it's about time it started to go back the other way.

	28-05-2004 10:06									#113
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Layton is being smart. He's saying enough with the cut back in services. Enough with the underfunding to health care. Enough with Ottawa downloading costs to the provinces (which is big reason why we end up with more homeless people).

It's time for the government to say what they will do instead of what they will cut.

It's time for Martin to take responsibility for his actions. Yes, he balanced the budget, but at what costs.

The move to tax millionaires makes sense, as does rolling back to tax handouts to corporations.

From a marketing point of view, Layton is differentiating the NDP from the Libs and Conservatives by offering a positive policy platform.

Are you going to argue against more money to healthcare ($29 billion over five years). This is money that is needed.

Not taxing the poor makes sense, particularly for the unemployed.

	28-05-2004 10:14									#114
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Are gay marriages going to be an election issue?

	28-05-2004 10:16									#115
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It doesn't look like it so far... although it might make a difference in some ridings.

	28-05-2004 10:36									#116
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Taxes are too high in Canada, given the massive surpluses the Liberals have been running for the last few years.

quote: just rolling back the tax-breaks the very wealthy have been handed over the past couple decades.

That's the sport. If it moves, tax it!

NYE, are you trying to sew up my sig?

60 billion is insane... what are the NDP thinking?

	28-05-2004 10:38									#117
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quote: Are gay marriages going to be an election issue?

Yup. The Canadian parliament ought to have a say, in a free vote, rather than just booting the issue over to the courts.

It's packaged in the overall 'democratic deficit' of the Liberals.

	28-05-2004 10:41									#118
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quote: The move to tax millionaires makes sense, as does rolling back to tax handouts to corporations.

Right. Kill Air Canada and Bombardier.

Like that would ever happen.

Same for the millionaires. Just not enough of them to make a difference. BTW, the tax raise is going to be all those over 250,000 CDN, not 1 million, which is a substantial difference.

quote: From a marketing point of view, Layton is differentiating the NDP from the Libs and Conservatives by offering a positive policy platform.

Senate Reform is not part of a positive platform? That's an odd critique.

	28-05-2004 11:03									#119
	Tired of ads?

quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Same for the millionaires. Just not enough of them to make a difference. BTW, the tax raise is going to be all those over 250,000 CDN, not 1 million, which is a substantial difference.

No, the inheritance tax will only be on assets of $1 million and above, not including farms and small businesses.

Most Canadians aren't millionaires so this idea will sell.

quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Senate Reform is not part of a positive platform? That's an odd critique.

Since when is creating more bureaucracy and more politicians a good thing?

And outside of Alberta, the idea that the Canadian government should be more like the American government won't sell. It hasn't in the past 20 years and it won't this year.

	28-05-2004 11:09									#120
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quote: Originally posted by Ben Kenobi Same for the millionaires. Just not enough of them to make a difference. BTW, the tax raise is going to be all those over 250,000 CDN, not 1 million, which is a substantial difference.

Face it. You can't have a good social net and low taxes at the same time.