Canadian Federal and Provincial Politics - The Northern Pundit

Despite my prior intense interest in Canadian politics and in particular the 2006 election, I have decided to cease writing updates and opinion pieces for this site [northernpundit.com]. The reason is simple - I feel this election, as well as Canadian politics is nothing more than a circus of fools.

This election has proven to me what I have suspected (and not wanted to believe) for some time - Canadian ‘politics’ no longer consists of parties with platforms based upon leaders lobbying for what they believe in. Politics has become a scramble for votes - a disheartening and frantic attempt to appeal to as many voters as possible by promising anything and everything. We are presented with a set of parties who will promise whatever they feel the majority of the populous wants to get and stay in power.

That appears to be the only concrete truth and basis of politics in our current society - do whatever it takes to get and retain power.

Instead of leaders defending party choices and stances, we now witness an about-face of a challenged viewpoint to appease the populous. Attempts are made daily to discourage support of the opposing candidate with an expose of mistakes made in the past. These mistakes get repeated over and over, in a twisted and sad attempt to ultimately convince as many people as possible that a contrary vote will be helping criminal and a degenerate do more wrong to our country.

We are in trouble and none of the parties that have a shot at winning appear poised to fix the problems. This leaves me feeling discouraged and unwilling to choose any of the candidates presented to me in my district - and it appears I am not alone. Elections Canada’s report on the 2000 election states that nineteen percent of non-voters claimed they did not vote due to some sort of distaste for the parties or candidates running. I will be curiously awaiting the results from this election when they are published in a couple of years - I propose the above mentioned reason will rank much higher.

So what is the solution? What is supposed to happen in a democracy when there are no acceptable candidates? Who is to blame? I am unsure of the answers to these questions, being a chemist and computer geek - not a political scientist. I suppose the answer is that we are all to blame, and someone fresh and new to must run as a candidate in an attempt to alter this political stalemate we are in. But is that not what every candidate running in this election is promising us? Besides, who would be the just and pure hearted soul to selflessly tackle the problem? It certainly will not be this humble writer.

What I will be doing, however, is heading to the polls on January 23rd, and my action and protest will consist of spoiling my ballot. Perhaps this small gesture will help me, if no-one else, feel that I have done something more than sit and complain.

JJS
Jan 13, 2006

Just a few thoughts quick about the English language debate tonight, further info tomorrow:

Best Dressed Leader - Gilles Duceppe - his Pinstriped suit and silver tie looked sharp.

Best ‘Sleeper’ Point - Paul Martin saying ‘it’s a testament to the liberals that we’re even debating surpluses tonight’

Strangest Faces Shown on Camera - Duceppe while Martin was addressing the separatist issue. Paul Martin when Layton suggested he didn’t support gay rights.

Worst Handler Suggestion - The suggestion that Stephen Harper smile during the his response to each question. It made him look creepy - I was waiting for the punchline to a joke.

Biggest Name Dropper - Jack Layton, who used a regional NDP candidate’s name in almost every answer he gave.

‘Would Not Stop’ Award - Jack Layton, who ignored the timeframe given more often than not.

The Ottawa Citizen HAD a story posted claiming that Jack Layton had accounced he would propose a ban on Private Daycare.

NDP Leader Jack Layton announces his party’s child-care commitment would see the creation of a Child Care Act that would ensure that money is targeted to..

It is currently gone - prank or truth? I did some mild heavy digging but couldn’t find another source reporting it.

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CCNMatthews service has story describing Jack Layton attacking the other parties by outlining what he feels are their secret plans for health care:

“Make no mistake about it. Medicare is being sabotaged by people who claim to be
protecting it. Paul Martin, Ralph Klein, Stephen Harper, Jean Charest and Gordon Campbell are all on the same wavelength,” Layton said. “They want to open Canada’s health system to the profiteers. They know that’s the last thing Canadians want.

“So instead of being honest about what they want to do, they’ve been sneaking up on
their goals,” Layton said.”

That may be the last thing his supporters want, but he does not speak for me. It is naiive to think that people aren’t highly profiting from our current public health care system and it’s closed minds like his that are going to sink our country financially. You cannot defend something at all costs” without sacrificing in other areas - which will they be?

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The Toronto Star is reporting on Jack Layton’s answer to the Daycare debate:

The program, to be phased in over four years, would enable parents to return to work, help kids get an early start in their education and even help eliminate child poverty, he said yesterday.

“We don’t do a very good job of looking after our kids nationwide,” Layton said, as he
unveiled his proposal at the Parkdale Beach Childcare Centre. He cited the examples of several mothers who were on hand with their children, saying they’ve had a tough time finding daycare, with waiting lists topping a year.

As the page says, this is really becoming a key issue in the election campaign. I hereby declare this election to be the RACE FOR THE SOCCER MOMS. Where is my Astrovan?

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The Globe has a report about Jack Layton’s plane being unable to land in Windsor yesterday.

“Canadians in their daily lives, particularly in winter, sometimes have to make adjustments because of the weather. Guess what? It turns out a winter campaign requires the same thing,” Mr. Layton said.

“I’m glad to finally be here in Windsor.”

Weather forecasters have suggested Canadians are in for a nasty winter, but Mr. Layton is trying to put on a brave face, saying he finds cold and snow “fun” rather than frustrating

Mr. Layton - you don’t always have to be positive and keen about things. Your plane got re-routed, that sucks. Putting a positive spin on everything gets annoying after a while.

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The Saskatoon StarPhoenix is reporting that Jack Layton announced a six billion dollar pledge for seniors from a Dartmouth, N.S., nursing home yesterday:

The promise includes transfers of $1 billion to the provinces in each of the next four years for home care and $500 million per year for long-term facilities.

Layton said he would roll back Liberal corporate tax cuts and dip into the federal surplus to cover the costs. He called the funding promise a starting point for seniors’ care.

Not really sure what to say here - more huge money pledges from Layton. I hope he realizes he is accountable if he actually is elected.

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I have created a page outlining the 2006 Election Campaign Promises for the major non-Bloq party leaders. Feel free to comment or suggest additions/etc to improve the page.

I have not included the Bloq candidates as they are simply not an option for most Canadians outside Quebec, and the main reason that they would recieve votes is due to the separatist issue.

Jack Layton expressed yesterday that he would “not repeal the Clarity Act” yesterday, reversing his stand on the issue during the 2004 election, according to the Globe and Mail.

Mr. Layton said he disagreed with Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair, who recently said his future government would not be bound by the Clarity Act should he become premier and launch another referendum.

The Clarity Act sets the terms under which Ottawa would negotiate the secession of Quebec after a Yes vote in a sovereignty referendum.

Unpopular among Quebec nationalists, the law says a clear question and a clear majority are required, but that members of Parliament will ultimately decide whether these conditions have been met to their satisfaction.

If he had any chance of votes in Quebec from Parti Quebecois / Bloc members, they’re gone now. Although, I don’t believe he did anyhow and is simply appealing to the Liberal vote in PQ.

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CBC is reporting that Jack Layton is promising to cut greenhouse gas emissions by one-quarter over the next 15 years:

Layton’s plan includes the creation of a new clean water act that would set national standards for drinking water; an act to force polluters to clean up, and a new clean air act.

He also proposed a $10-billion plan to retro-fit hundreds of thousands of homes with more energy-efficient technology.

This just adds another item to my previous list of Layton’s proposed changes with no fiscal explanation. Is there ever going to be an hint of where all this money will come from? Or is this simply election smoke and mirrors because Layton knows he isn’t likely to be elected into a majority? His ideas are really exciting, however being realistic about amounts of available money is not only smart, it’s necessary.

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