Green Party Platform

[sensualsixty]

Just watched May's announcement of the full party platform. She has presented it in a complete format, unlike the other parties. There are some significant items in the platform, and she claims it can be done in a balanced budget.

For us in perb, the significant item is the repeal of Bill C36, along with many other Harper bad policies.

We have a strong local candidate - I may actually change my vote to Green.

sensualsixty

 

[badbadboy]

Just watched May's announcement of the full party platform. She has presented it in a complete format, unlike the other parties. There are some significant items in the platform, and she claims it can be done in a balanced budget.

For us in perb, the significant item is the repeal of Bill C36, along with many other Harper bad policies.

We have a strong local candidate - I may actually change my vote to Green.

sensualsixty

I'm leaning that way too. I had the Green candidate on my doorstep recently and she seemed like she gets the big picture.

 

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It's going to take a switch to proportional representation to give the Greens any kind of voice in Government. That change is long overdue, but until it happens I'm voting strategically to do my part to unHarper us.

 

[hornygandalf]

It's going to take a switch to proportional representation to give the Greens any kind of voice in Government. That change is long overdue, but until it happens I'm voting strategically to do my part to unHarper us.

A minority government may need the Greens to help with numbers, and so they may end up with disproportionate power compared to their size, and a voice in government.

 

[westwoody]

At least more Greens in Parliament would be more MPs to ask questions during Question Period.

Harper and his grovelling bootlicks make a mockery of democracy by their actions during Question Period. The more questions he gets the better.

 

[Rufus T. Firefly]

A minority government may need the Greens to help with numbers, and so they may end up with disproportionate power compared to their size, and a voice in government.

They already have power disproportionately low to their support and no voice in Government despite their support. I'd be OK with the error going the other way for a spell, especially given Harper's approach to environmental issues.

 

[leoghaire]

living in AB precludes me from voting Green due to the fact that I actually like having a job and the greenies would shut this province down

 

[apl16]

Lol,...........pretty funny.........Harper and his idiot friends pissed away all the oil money and left a one trick economy. Nobody can screw things up like he can.

 

[hornygandalf]

living in AB precludes me from voting Green due to the fact that I actually like having a job and the greenies would shut this province down

Oil prices at the current level for an extended period will have a similar effect, and possibly even worse. At least the Green Party wants to replace those jobs with a green economy (which would provide more sustainable employment for Albertans in the long-run), which would provide employment with a lower capital requirement (generally). Alberta is in a precarious position economically, being so dependent on such a noxious form of resource exploitation.

 

[westwoody]

Announcing a complete well researched platform in one go? Impressive.

Harper prefers to fly around at taxpayer expense announcing a project at a time for the last two years.

 

[CAEC]

It's going to take a switch to proportional representation to give the Greens any kind of voice in Government. That change is long overdue, but until it happens I'm voting strategically to do my part to unHarper us.

To vote strategically you need detailed information on your riding. Voting strategically is only needed in select ridings. Leadnow has identified 76 ridings on their http://www.votetogether.ca/ web site where strategic voting might be needed. The site will be updated as election day approaches.

If you are not in one of a limited number of Conservative swing ridings, you are free to vote for your honestly preferred candidate without any concern that you might help a Conservative. Depending on which riding you are in, you can probably vote Green without any risk of helping the Conservative.

 

[sensualsixty]

Thank you CAEC - I have checked out the http://www.votetogether.ca/ and it does appear to have the most logical approach to solve the anyone but Harper problem.

 

[Chef99]

At least more Greens in Parliament would be more MPs to ask questions during Question Period.

Harper and his grovelling bootlicks make a mockery of democracy by their actions during Question Period. The more questions he gets the better.

While that is true, let's be realistic, EVERY majority government has done the same thing since the beginning of time. This isn't just a Harper issue.

...Harper and his idiot friends pissed away all the oil money and left a one trick economy. Nobody can screw things up like he can.

I've always failed to understand why people think it is the government's fault (whatever party is in power) where private industry chooses to apply it's resources. Various levels of government can provide short term incentives to help nourish a fledgling industry BUT this has to be short term. From the beginning, it has to make economic sense or there is no sustainability. Bottom line, I firmly believe that in the long run government incentives don't matter (or really work) and corporations have to be a hell of a lot smarter. What the Canadian government needs to do is be corporate friendly so that it's a somewhat favourable climate for business to get established. That attracts a broad selection of businesses to the country and increases the chances of a healthy economy. So, although I blame the Harper government for a few things, I will not blame them for an economic downturn because oil is on a down turn.

 

[CAEC]

"EVERY majority government has done the same thing since the beginning of time."

That's why this election is so exciting. We could have a minority government and a few Green MPs could have the balance of power. It worked well in Germany for the Greens and minority governments have worked well in Canada.

 

[leoghaire]

Oil prices at the current level for an extended period will have a similar effect, and possibly even worse. At least the Green Party wants to replace those jobs with a green economy (which would provide more sustainable employment for Albertans in the long-run), which would provide employment with a lower capital requirement (generally). Alberta is in a precarious position economically, being so dependent on such a noxious form of resource exploitation.

Green industries have had an unfortunate tendency to go tits up as soon as the government subsidies disappear. Pretty much the opposite of sustainable employment

 

[Bridge]

I don't think that green industries/businesses are the only one to receive subsidies. Some businesses only survived 2008/9 because they were bailed out.

Also the economy isn't a static entity so industries will come and go, but as climate and technology changes green industries will become mainstream and either very big or taken on board by large, established and powerful companies.

Also some companies try to cling on by killing emerging companies … electric car and hemp are good examples here.

 

[Bridge]

I don't think that green industries/businesses are the only one to receive subsidies. Some businesses only survived 2008/9 because they were bailed out.

Also the economy isn't a static entity so industries will come and go, but as climate and technology changes green industries will become mainstream and either very big or taken on board by large, established and powerful companies.

Also some companies try to cling on by killing emerging companies … electric car and hemp are good examples here.

 

[hornygandalf]

Look at the level of subsidies and tax breaks that the oil industry receives. Green industries may need them initially to gain scale, but they are usually magnitudes lower than that required by oil and gas. How much has the BC Province given away to try and attract LNG? Criminal. And it is unlikely to provide anywhere near the benefits promised.
Compare that to the level of taxes Norway put on their oil (which didn't scare oil companies away).

 

[apl16]

Lol.....big oil needs no subsidies. They make insane amounts of money. Just the money they give Oil Ho' Harper and Corporate Christy would boggle your mind. Make them show their sponsored on the clothing.

 

[Oldfart]

In my heart I want to vote Green, but my riding will either go NDP or Cons. I cannot risk letting Steve Harper and his co-conspirators back for another gangbang of our country.