Woman At Mile 0

Posted by Woman at Mile 0 on July 3rd, 2009 in British Columbia, Environment, Federal Conservatives, Federal Liberals, Global Warming, Green Party, Vancouver Island, Victoria

No offense to Elizabeth May, whom I admire and respect, but I am certainly never going to vote for a parachute candidate in my riding of Saanich- Gulf Islands.   I dislike the idea of parachute candidates.  Back when I was living in Williams Lake, I was involved with the local Liberal Riding committee for a short period during the 1997 election and they initially had no takers for a local Liberal candidate.  Considering Conservative MP’s have been elected there forever, I am sure most people considered it was a pretty long shot for a win.   Even if there was no chance for a win, it is still critical for the Liberal party run a candidate in every Canadian riding.  At a meeting we were told that a parachute candidate may be forthcoming.  I was strongly against it and even offered to run if they couldn’t find a local candidate but as an absolute last resort.   Running for office was last thing I wanted to do as a single mom with two young kids, full time job and still not a whole lot of money, but in the end a local did step up to run in the riding.  Thank goodness!   A politicians job is very important and I admire those who are willing to give it a shot because it looks like a incredibly demanding job in which your privacy is totally sacrificed 24 hours a day.  I am a public servant not a politician. I only mention it now because that was how dead set I was against parachute candidates.

A person should live and have at least some roots in the riding they want to be elected in.  I understand Elizabeth May had roots in Central Nova so it made sense to run there.  She has the right to run where she pleases though but I am just saying there is not a hope in heck of her winning here.   More likely the NDP, Liberals and Greens will just split the centre to centre left vote again and that loathsome Gary Lunn will come up the middle and take it once again.  I know a lot of Liberals in SGI are now rooting for Renee Hetheringon and although I don’t know her well yet, if she wins the riding candidacy she will get my vote.

Perhaps I am being overly negative, but with this weeks recent report announcing another major embarrassment for Canadians courtesy of our do nothing on climate change Conservative government, I am feeling pretty discouraged at the complete lack of progress.   3 years of Conservative stalling, blocking and complete incompetence has managed to ensure we are now last among the G8 in terms of action on climate change.   The US has now moved past us with their change to an Obama administration.  CBC reports,

Canada has been ranked last among the G8 nations in an annual climate change report funded by the World Wildlife Fund and the insurance firm Allianz SE.

“Nowhere else on Earth do fewer people steward more resources, yet Canada now stands dead last amongst the G8 nations in protecting our shared home from the threat of dangerous climate change,” said Keith Steward, director of WWF-Canada’s climate change campaign, in a statement Wednesday.

Here in BC we seem to be much more cutting edge and we actually increased our gasoline carbon tax this week.  It doesn’t actually doesn’t bother me at all though because I own a Honda Fit that gets amazing gas mileage.  I can’t help smiling every time I fill up the tank since I bought it a year ago.   It’s incredibly infuriating that we have the most to lose with our fast melting arctic but the Harper/Cons just won’t give a dam enough to do anything…anything at all.

As a final note I am off to Vancouver for the weekend to visit a friend and will be unable to moderate comments.  Comments will go through when I have approved a comment at least once.  Therefore if it it is your first time commenting here I won’t be looking at it until I get back.  Happy Pride to Liberals marching in the Victoria Pride Parade this weekend and to all Victorians.

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