Oh Canada!

What other way to spend a splendid Wednesday evening than to pour over the various party platforms in preparation for the Canadian election.

Today I received a bright orange envelop courtesy of TNT courier services. Inside I was excited to find the following: One envelop addressed to me c/o Mkombozi from Elections Canada, a "voting instructions" booklet for Canadians away from their electoral districts (complete with a cute map and a pathway from Ottawa to me in Tanzania! Ok maybe I made that up), there are 3 envelopes which go inside one another with the smallest to contain my vote! And a warning that it is up to me to get my vote to Ottawa before 6pm on October 14th. Oooooh

I feel like I am part of a secret society! A secret society of Canadians? Canadians Abroad maybe. For those that are abroad and haven't registered yet, it took approximately a week and a half between the day I faxed my form in and when I received my package. Living in a fairly remote city in Africa, I would bet most other cities would take less time. But I could be wrong.

So, since I am here in Africa with ample free time and a duty to take part in democracy, I have decided to review the 4 main political parties platforms and write my comments on my blog.

WARNING! This is my blog. I can write what I want, and my comments are going to contain some bias. Including the fact I haven't yet downloaded the Conservative platform because I wasn't actually going to read it. That’s just me being honest. Based on the news articles I have read about Harpers plans for the justice system and his well, conservativeness…I have no plans to write Paul Stanton's name on my ballot, but for the purposes of blogging, I suppose I'll let myself be entertained. Today I have provided some comments on the Green Party and the Liberals.

So with a nice mix of Hedley, Los Camesinos!, Bono, the Beatles, Hellogoodbye, Bedouin Soundclash, Linkin Park, Jack Johnson and Panic at the Disco playing on my speakers, lets get political!

I read over the Green Party Platform while eating dinner and surprisingly the platform has more flavour than my rice (yes i need to go grocery shopping again).

I found a spelling mistake (livably) and I don't know what "bulwark" means which is weird because why would they use such a word in their platform?

(note: my thesaurus shows the following for bulwark: fortification, embankment, earthwork, barricade, rampart, wall)

I'm not sure why they want to create a Guaranteed Income Program rather than the current programs in place (does that mean scrapping OW/ODSP? its unclear)

On page 8 of the platform there is a picture of a Pamela Anderson looking lady with a little black girl. I guess they are trying to say they support diversity/multiculturalism? I appreciate the effort but the photo looks awkward, the little girl is too old to be carried.

The party claims they will address the crisis in Darfur. Wow that is interesting for a platform. I'm currently reading the book " The Devil Came on Horseback" by Brian Steidle about his experiences as an American in Darfur. insane I can't believe this is still going on. (Everyone should pressure your friends in other parties to address this as well, unless they already are, this is my first platform review)

But otherwise its pretty impressive for a short overview of policies. I like that they are willing to raise the GST to 6% for infrastructure funding and eliminate the GST on food and children's clothes and books.
Usually the choice for the environment, their plans to create incentives for rural Canadians and regulations on genetically modified foods, they live up to their reputation.

My local (Simcoe North) Green Party candidate courtesy of CBC.ca is
Valerie Powell
Age: 58
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Education: Graduated from the Ontario College of Art and holds an honours BA and M.Sc. from the University of Guelph.
Profession: Psychogeriatric consultant
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Jamie
Children: Two - Elizabeth and Gray
Career Background: Works as a psychogeriatric consultant, with past experience as an executive director with the Lung Association and Alzheimer Society. Was a freelance correspondent and arts reviewer for CBC radio for 10 years.
Community Activities: Currently a volunteer with the Mariposa Folk Festival, serving the festival in many capacities including board member, co-ordinator of performer hospitality, marketing and now as co-ordinator of video documentation. Is on the board of Couchiching Jubilee House, a transitional house for women in Orillia. Other activities include participation in the Make Poverty History and Simcoe County Elder Abuse committees.
Political History
Cabinet: Seniors critic in Green Party shadow cabinet since November 2006.


TIME OUT! Ok I have to say I'm not exactly impressed with being interrupted in my political commentary THREE times by the same person to tell me he's sending me an email tomorrow. I guess this is where I share that the cell reception in my house is quite horrible. Mostly it is just frustrating because sometimes it kicks in around 11pm and I get text messages that were sent much earlier and if I'm lucky to be sleeping by this time it can really scare me. But otherwise, I have few people who I talk to on the phone at night so I’m ok with minimal cell service right now. Except when people think they have to keep calling back because the phone cuts out.



On to the Liberal Party. I have to be honest in my bias reviewing. I downloaded the platform of the Green Party but just cut and paste from the Liberal website. Which might be unfair because now I don’t know if the spelling mistake in the top line is from my own cutting/pasting handy work or if it is like that on the website. (the mistake I found is "exlanation").

They sure are pushing this Green Shift aren't they? Everything is about how taxes will be shifted from the lower, middle classes and seniors, those with disabilities and businesses investing in green economy. It reads well, but I have to say the Liberal plan comes across stiff. No, I'm not surprised, but after the warm cuddliness of the Green Party I feel like I'm talking to robots. Which is really unfortunate because I heard how much work went into this platform. The liberals held many a town hall forum to learn what Canadians want and need. I don’t' doubt there is more below the surface, but the surface is hard and cold.

Electoral reform. OK, now we are getting somewhere, although I admit the last time we went through all this I found it tiring and didn't agree with the proposed changes. I know very little about the Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) so please do not rely on me to inform you. But it does sound interesting. For those who would like to vote Green or NDP this is a way to get your vote in. You would rank your votes in order, say 1-Green 2-NDP 3-Liberal and you decide that’s all you want to write (hypothetically). If the Green party receives the lowest amount of votes then your vote automatically goes to the NDP. I'm intrigued. I look more into this….

The other aspect of the Liberal campaign that I managed to download is my local candidates proposal for a Multi-Use Recreation Facility. Granted it would be built in Orillia which isn't exactly within my "recreational centre" area but it sounds like something that could be needed and appreciated by voters.

Another campaign "promise" from Mr. Clark is investment in the Trent-Severn Waterway, which I'm not sure I've heard in an election before and sounds promising. As a boater's daughter I understand the importance of the waterway. Perhaps they will install an express lane at the Narrows so we don't keep getting yelled at for driving the speed limit.

Steve Clarke
Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Birthplace: Winchester, Ont.
Education: Has a degree in human kinetics from the University of Guelph.
Profession: Entrepreneur
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Chris Marsh
Children: Four - Joel, Jenna, Josh and Jacobi
Career Background: Was manager of the McDonald's restaurant in Midland for three and a half years. Joined the Kelsey's chain where he managed a restaurant in Kitchener and opened two new concept restaurants in London. In 1993, he and his wife opened their own restaurant, the Brewery Bay Food Company in Orillia.
Community Activities: Served on the board of Friends of the Environment and the Downtown Management Board. Coached various high school and community sports teams during the past 15 years.


So there you have it, or at least a tiny piece of it. I realize that this probably doesn't provide close to enough information to decide who to vote for, but its another opinion being thrown out there and you may choose whether or not to read it! In the next few days you shall find some info on the NDP and Conservatives. If anyone knows of any other candidates in my riding from other parties I'm up for reading about them as well, but CBC only has the big 4.

Hmmm Big 4….who is the Elephant? The Leopard? Giraffe? Rhino? Who is the real Buffalo?

Another site to check out: http://www.voteenvironment2008.ca/


Side note: this morning when I went to make breakfast I found a gecko in my sink....they are supercute on the wall, ceiling an outside, but in my sink? Not so cute. I even referred to him as a lizard in my mind brielfly. I hope we can still be friends.