Political Alternatives
Published on February 23, 2010 by Farah Kalbouneh
As I have met with residents while canvassing in recent weeks, many have expressed unhappiness with the current Liberal and Conservative parties. However, many of these same residents have never given any serious thought to supporting the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Many residents I meet have never encountered any of the NDP’s policies, except when they are taken by the Liberals and repackaged as their own. Many have never thought of voting for anyone but the Liberals or Conservatives, even if they at the same time cry out for “an alternative” to these two parties. Why?
I have been repeatedly told that Bob Rae ruined Ontario, but he ran Ontario almost 20 years ago, and is arguably the weakest example of an NDP government in Canadian history. What of the fiscal prudence of Roy Romanow in Saskatchewan, now a “have” province, or sensibility of Manitoba’s Gary Doer, now Ambassador to the United States?
Lawrence Martin of the Globe and Mail noted in December … that the NDP has the best policy ideas of any federal party. Yet New Democrats are still commonly dismissed out of hand, without any recognition of what we actually stand for.
The New Democratic Party tried to prevent the federal government from sliding into its current $36 Billion deficit, first by opposing the meaningless 2% cut to the GST, and then by opposing $50 Billion in corporate tax give-aways. Had Harper heeded our advice, Canada could still be running budget surpluses.
New Democrats alone opposed the McGuinty government’s decision to place a huge power plant in the middle of the taxed Clarkson airshed, a principled stance that was based on science and community interest.
The Mississauga South NDP was one of only two community groups to oppose the city’s move to abolish Public Question Period, which was successfully retained only after persuasive arguments to Council. At all levels, we are engaged and offering solutions that benefit everyone, not just an entitled few.
We are a big-tent party, with proven ideas, effective leadership, and we are growing every day. New Democrats work hard to bring the interests of ordinary Canadians – not multi-national corporations or trust-fund millionaires – to the forefront of our political system.
I invite you to consider casting your ballot for the NDP in the next election. If you take the time to investigate our policies, to review our history, or to speak to our candidates, I am confident you will be impressed with what you find.
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