Well when this whole mess started I was leaning towards a coservitive vote. I live in BC and i've seen what a mess NDP'ish governments can cause + I dont think they are very tough on foreign policy or to stand up for themselves for canadians against the millions of minority Groups (Appeasement, throwing money at them isnt negotiation for all of canada IMO). Jack Layton has done nothing to dissuade me from that notion.
On principal I WILL NOT vote LIBERAL as throwing a vote in that direction ultimately forgives them for the horrendous acts of public betrayal they've perpatrated.
I'm not from Quebec and I'M CANADIAN so the Bloc is totally out.
Stephen Harper sings a tune I like on Education, Health Care, Armed Forces etc But the guy scares me on Same Sex Marriage, (not on abortion, I believe him that he wont press that hot button.) Still I dont think he has enough reign on his people to manage them effectively and a lot of his people seem downright RABID.
So I was more than mildly surprised when I discovered I had another REAL alternative. The Green Party. They are hovering somewhere between 7 and 10% of the popular vote AND with every vote they get that places them OVER 2% they get a 1.75 in funding to better portray themselves.
Myself I've read all the platforms and to be honest I was quite surprised at what I found in the Green Party's Platform. They are not about to sack the military (THE NDP wants to phase out all offensive weaponry) Instead they want to reform it into a quick response force that can go just about anywhere to combat terrorism or keep the peace. Sounds reasonable.
"When crisis emerges or disaster strikes in any nation, Canadians are deeply moved to provide help. To play a role in international assistance missions, Canada must maintain a large, highly-trained and well-equipped Rapid Response and Deployment Force (RRDF). This will require new investments in long-range strategic air-lift equipment, disaster-relief equipment, state-of-the-art armoured personnel carriers, personal protective equipment and training for our forces."
What?! That doesnt sound 'Green' to me, it actually sounds responsible!
They also want to use Canada's influence to reorganize NATO (not scrap it like the NDP). Instead of 5 Veto Holders they want 15, 5 of the wealthiest, 5 of the most populous and 5 elected countries to form a larger more rounded security council. I'll be damned if that doesnt sound good too!
They plan on turfing the wasteful, ineffective GUN REGISTRY as well.
They want to implement a balanced set of Tax Cuts and Increases That:
*Lower taxes on income, profit and investment, to promote increased productivity and job creation.
*Raise taxes on harmful activities such as pollution, waste and inefficiency.
Shift taxes onto land values and away from building values.
*Reform the public sector to be more responsive and accountable.
*Re-focus government programs on promoting the long-term public interest; creating a world class education system and building strong communities. (Again not just looking to benifit your TERM in office but long term Canadian growth)
*Use tariffs when necessary to discourage unsustainable industries and human rights violations. (READ getting read of things that often end up replacing jobs in CANADA, as sweat shops always will and always do produce faster and cheaper than we will)
They also take a strong stance on Health Care providing incetive for Canadians to eath Healthier and excersice (which I think most of us will admit has a lot to do with the strain on our health care). All of this means that they will actually take the helm on the problem not just throw more money and a ailing system. They also plan on reducing pollution and cleaning up water (again who else does that?).
The one thing that scares me but probably makes others happy is the plan to reduce the standard work week for all canadians (stress=poor health). If they can pull that one off i'd love it, dunno how it can be done tho!
All in all the Green party platform (to me) seems the most comprehensive. I really get the feeling of a party that intends to govern Canada as if it was a life long job, not a 4 year term before we have to worry about it again (screw around for 3 years and then make false promises for 1 year).
Now I work within a circle of 20 people and i'm generally the most outspoken of the group. I tracked the voting trends at the begining.
8 Liberal
7 Conservitive
5 NDP
Before Debate (Mid Election)
5 Liberal
11 Conservitive
4 NDP
After Debate
4 Liberal
8 Conservitive
2 NDP
1 Green
5 Undecided.
(I was the Green Vote, formerly the Conservitive. Generally my circle was turned off from the debate, most of us agreed that Harper was the winner of the debate, clear and well spoken. Some of us just didnt like what he was saying).
NOW since then i've been sharing the Green ideas and having my friends go over the Green platform we now sit at.
2 Liberal
4 Conservitive
0 NDP
14 Green
By golly you know I think they may have a shot at Making a Minority or propping one up!
My suggestion, read the platform, share their ideas and see if you want to vote for em, and if you do inform others. They actually have a rounded, fiscally responisble platform that speaks to a lot of us.
www.greenparty.ca
btw prior to this i'm usually a staunch conservitive (because of economics not right wing views). I'm a supporter of what Klein did in Alberta, but a detractor of what Campbell does in BC (not as bad as his NDP predecessors tho).
All in all i'm sick of party fat cats riding promises to the top then throwing our money around like it was coming out of style once they get there.
So this election year I'LL be voting Green. And if not this term, but possibly the next I hope to see them IN OFFICE!