Editor: The overwhelming majority – roughly 70 per cent – of Canadians no longer want the Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper, to govern Canada.
I agree. For me, the most compelling reasons to vote ABC : Anyone But Conservative:
The Tories were first elected upon a platform of accountability (and not efficiency as many businesses understood their platform). Since that time: government has become less efficient. Public service morale has fallen precipitously. Government generated corruption – particularly around the senate, which has dominated headlines for nearly two years.
Veterans – traditionally a conservative-leaning demographic – have felt abandoned and disrespected. Contempt for democracy. Twice the government has prorogued (suspended) parliament when it was politically expeditious. This is alarming and must not be tolerated.
Contempt for the international community. Canada has not respected international commitments and our standing in the world has clearly been diminished during this government. Economic management: despite unrelenting chest pounding, the Conservatives have proven to be poor economic managers. An un-ending string of deficits, mixed with a resource-based model that clearly did not factor in the collapse of oil prices and no concrete effort to simplify accounting and taxation for small business, has left the Canadian economy in a weaker position. Canadian banks did survive the 2008-09 crisis due to the rules brought in by Paul Martin (and opposed by the Tories at that time).
So why and how ABC?
Our British parliamentary system means a local candidate can win a seat with as little as 30 per cent of the vote. The party with the most seats forms a government. There are currently five federal parties with a chance to win seats and three with a chance to form a government.
Evaluating the different platforms, I do not (and cannot) support the separatist Bloc Quebecois (as they only run in Quebec).
As with many Canadians, I am very impressed with Elizabeth May and the Green party. I am glad she is in parliament and think the green voice is good for our national debate. She is secure in her seat of Saanich Gulf-Islands. Perhaps she could be offered a voice in government so that the 6-10 per cent of Green voters across the country in all other ridings may lend their votes to ABC.
For all of the alarmist rhetoric around leftist politics, I respect the fiscal, moral and political platform of the NDP. Our democracy needs a real change and as happened in the Alberta provincial elections, the NDP has most clearly articulated a positive vision for this country.
In my riding I am voting Liberal. Our local candidate is excellent, organized, positive and the most likely alternative to the incumbent Conservative.
Although I lean NDP, I am not afraid of coalition governments and note that the Liberal and NDP platforms share many common points. A clear majority of Canadians share these views and in a coalition, fringe voices in each party can be contained.
In deciding how to vote ABC, I encourage you to visit: http://www.threehundredeight.com/p/canada.html.
Through this comprehensive polling, you can examine your specific riding and decide best where to cast your vote. It is unreasonable to assume that every vote will coalesce around ABC, so therefore while mathematically possible to defeat the Tories in almost every seat, there are a few swing ridings that will make a huge differentce to ABC:
In B.C., the Tories are only polling above 40 per cent in three ridings. ABC can defeat them in all other seats.
In Alberta, Calgary Centre should go Liberal. There are two other Calgary seats that can be taken from the Tories and one in which the Liberals are already leading. As happened provincially, much of Edmonton is leaning NDP – have a look at your riding and vote accordingly – Edmonton can totally remove all Conservative seats, if Liberal and Green voters help out by voting NDP.
In Saskatchewan, Regina is the swing city and should be split Liberal/NDP – have a look at the numbers and vote accordingly.
In Manitoba, the Charleswood riding can be wrestled from the Conservatives by the Liberal with solid NDP support.
Ontario has so many three-way splits voters will need to be quite focused. Brampton centre, for example, is 34 per cent Tory and 30-30 Liberal NDP. Based on the numbers, half of the Liberal voters should lend the NDP their vote.
Conversely, in Burlington, NDP supporters should enthusiastically support the Liberal candidate. This is also the case in King-Vaughn. Oakville should also go Liberal. Look closely at your own riding and vote accordingly – as with B.C., the Tories are polling around or below 40 per cent in many of the ridings in which they have a lead. This can be defeated.
Quebec is exciting for the NDP and the many new MPs who were elected in the last round have proven dedicated and competent. Additionally, the NDP appears to have solidly usurped the separatist vote and therefore is good for the whole country. Beauce can go ABC if local liberals support the NDP. This is also true in Megantic.
In Atlantic Canada, the Liberals are strong and with the support of the NDP, they can take both Fredricton and Saint John. Beautiful Nunavut can swing Liberal with NDP support.
And that is how we can remove the Conservatives while generally maintaining levels of support for the parties we support.
Patrick Twomey,
Canmore
