The Election Platforms
 

For those of you who are interested, the Globe and Mail has compiled the parties 2004 election campaign platforms here:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...lDecision2006/


For this election they have a side-by-side comparison of policies, which they are updating as different policies are announced: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/bnfil...atform2006.htm

It's pretty cool how the Green party actually takes a position on virtually every subject of note, while the other parties just remain silent on so many issues.

That's because the Green's have to make some noise to get noticed.

The other parties are likely holding back on announcing their position on these issues until after Christmas so their position will be fresh in people's minds prior to the election.

I think to anyone reading the Globe's breakdown, it shows the Greens as having the courage of their convictions, and not waiting to react to whatever the other parties say and do, which is basically what Martin and Harper do all day long - react.

That's a good point.

Have any of them presented their platforms for this election (like the books we see from 2004)?

My opinion hasn't changed after reading this: The Green party is still the best.

I don't have a major problem with Gilles Duceppe being in the french language debate, but in the English language debate he should be replaced by the leader of the green party. I think it is ridiculous that they are not allowed to participate.

Duceppe should be in the English debate. There are still English speaking Quebequois.

BUT, the Green Party should be allowed to participate in BOTH debates.

point conceded.

I remember back when there was the US elections there was a quiz you could take that was about 20 questions on various issues and where you stand - it then told you which candidate/party most reflected your views. I wonder if there was one like that for Canadian politics, was pretty neat.

So it looks like the Parties have all come out with their official platforms excelpt the Conservatives.

You can still visit this page (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...lDecision2006/) where you can see the policy announcements in a rubric, or you can click on the links below to the get to the official party platforms.


Liberals: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/bnfil...latformoff.pdf
NDP: http://www.ndp.ca/ndp-drupal/files/p...-final-web.pdf
Bloc: http://www.bloc.org/archivage/blq-depsyntese-anglo.pdf
Green: http://dev.greenparty.ca/download/GPC_Platform_2006.pdf

Actually, I have a problem with Duceppe being involved in ANY debate. As a pro-seperatist party and of no meaning outside Quebec, they really should be ignored.

As for platforms, the Greens have as good a platform as anyone, and fear that they may not be fiscally as responsible as other parties is laughable when you look at the records. And, I absolutely agree that they have the strength of conviction to say, up front, what their platform supports and what it doesn't, even though the other parties still seem to utterly ignore them.

All we can hope is that they get a couple of members in the house this time around and raise the profile.

Peace,

Pierre

The only reason they ignore them is because it doesn't help their own chances if they work to legitimize the "upstarts". Better to ignore them and hope everyone else does as well.

If they win more seats or a greater share of the popular vote they will get more notice... as well as more money.