Federal Election Time In Canada

It’s that time again – time to trudge out to your voting booths and vote for the next generation of MPs.  Or maybe to vote for the same generation to once more sally forth in your name to try to make the world a better place.

Sure, Harper broke his own law and called the election early.  Don’t hold that against him though – I’m sure it doesn’t reflect his general approach.

Who am I voting for?  I’m really not sure.  I’ve tended to vote Green in the past – even in the face of friends and family telling me I’m wasting my vote.  Apparently voting strategically is really the way to get yourself represented in Canada.  Yeah, I’m confused by that statement too.

Last week I read a re-cap of an all-candidates meeting.  The issue of same sex marriage was raised and whether the candidate supported same sex marriage.  The response of David Blair, the Green candidate, pretty much squashed any chance of him receiving my vote on October 14th

“Yes, I do (support same-sex marriage),” he said. “As long as it does not involve me, personally.”

If something so vital to equality and a healthy community is a joke for you, Mr Blair, I bid you good day.

So who else to vote for?  I’ve read all the newspaper coverage of the candidates, their interviews, their debates, etc.  Even with all those words spent on the issues I don’t have a clear idea of who these peple are, what they stand for, and what they hope to achieve if they are elected.  Sure, I can go read the national party’s statement, but I was more interested in voting locally.

So I wrote a letter.  I sent them each a copy at their email address.  I sincerely hope I hear back from them.  Do I expect unique, hand written, verbose answers?  Not really.  If they have published statements about the issues I call out I’m happy to hear those.  I just haven’t been able to find them yet.

If you’re interested, the letter is below.  I’ll also let you know if anyone responds and what their responses are.  In the past Mr. Hiebert has written me back and I hope that trend continues even in these busy times for them.

Oh, and if you’re also not sure who to vote for, here is a nice summary of the party’s approaches to key issues.

Dear candidates,

I have been unable to determine where you stand on a couple of issues that are of vital importance to me and to the Canadian public at large in my mind.  I have included a few questions below that I hope you will read over and respond to.  Please note that I am interested more in what you as my representative would do were you to be elected rather than what your party’s leader/platform dictates would happen.  I am able to research the party platforms but am unable to direct my questions to you in person, so I would sincerely value your responses to or thoughts on the following questions and issues.

1. Copyright reform – Bill C-61 has raised a great deal of discussion and thought on Canadian copyright reform.  I would like to know your thoughts on what reform is needed on our copyright laws, if any.  Is Bill C-61 going the right way?  Are there any improvements you would want to see in the Bill or the discussions surrounding it before it is passed?
2. Digital Rights Management – there has been some discussion about introducing laws about digital rights management.  Where do you stand on this technology, its current and its projected uses?
3. Environmental change at the expense of popularity – most of the environmental visions advertised in the election try to get around one very important point: changing people’s habits related to their carbon footprint may need to be done in a way that temporarily or permanently reduced your popularity rating.  Some change is hard and not everyone is going to be onboard.  How do you plan to manage this delicate balance, and what are your priorities in these matters?
4. Child care – as a new parent I can speak directly to the lack of adequate child care support in White Rock and South Surrey.  What do you plan to do to change that in the next years or two?
5. Green jobs in your riding – There is a lot of talk about “green jobs”.  How do you see your riding benefiting or changing as a result of these initiatives?  Where would our “green jobs” be found?
6. Support for local green initiatives or citizen efforts?  There are many people in your riding, including myself, who are already making changes to their lives in order to minimize their impact on the environment.  Do you have any plans or ideas on how to support private citizen-based initiatives?
7. Homelessness – Do you feel it is a problem in your riding?  If so, what is your vision for addressing it?  If not, how will you continue to manage it?
8. LGBT issues and vision – Do you feel the LGBT community’s needs are adequately met in your riding?  If so, how do you plan to maintain this state?  If not, how do you plan to address the problem and what is the most pressing problem you want to address?
9. Preventative healthcare – Health care is certainly an important part of your campaign.  I would like to know what preventative initiatives you would create or support that would help prevent disease and illness rather than simply spending more money on reactive measures.
10. What do you see as the number 1 issue in your riding, and what is your vision for addressing it?

I apologize if these questions were addressed in the all-candidates meetings, but I was unable to attend them.

I sincerely hope to hear from each of you (or someone who can speak to your campaigns and beliefs) before the election.

Thanks very much,

Kirk Bridger