A vote against Harper is a vote for the environment
2011-04-26 by Rob - Categories: PoliticsWith the approaching Canadian federal election (May 2) I’ve heard much debate lately about which party is most worthy of the vote of an environmentally concerned individual. But “Which candidate or party will be best for the environment?”, I think, is the wrong question. The right question is “Where will my vote do the most good for the environment?”
Unfortunately Canada’s electoral system is broken. We do not have proportional representation so for most Canadians, voting for who you like in this election is as good as not voting at all. If you want your vote to count, you need to vote strategically. Currently, a very possible outcome of the election is a Conservative majority which would be the absolute worst case for the environment.
If you want to make your vote count for the environment, your best option is to vote AGAINST a Harper majority by voting for whoever has the greatest chance of defeating the conservative candidate in your riding. You can find out who that is at www.projectdemocracy.ca (you can also consult www.catch22campaign.ca, last time, and www.leadnow.ca.).
Make no mistake. This election is bigger than your local riding. You are either voting for a Harper majority or you are voting against it. Set local issues and candidate preferences aside and think federally when you vote on May 2.
Fruitcake bunch? Sure sounds like it!
Vote for Harper!
FRUITCAKE?
The list of those Harper and his government has shut down, fired, bad-mouthed and threatened is scary. It hits close to home for many organisations and people I know, especially those concerned about women’s equality, international development, the environment and science/research. (See http://dennisgruending.ca/pulpitandpolitics/2011/03/25/stephen-harpers-hit-list/.)
This government has a history of bullying and dismissing efforts to be held to account — for unnecessary fighter jets, for the war in Afghanistan, for the disgraceful position on climate change/global warming and the tar sands, for de-funding Kairos and other organisations that might challenge a very right-wing view of the world, etc.
Check out the website shitharperdid.
Speaking of voting strategically, note that a harper candidate can win with only 29% of the vote. How representative is that? Pair voting tries to deal with the inequities of our first past the post voting system by vote swapping – entirely legal and hopefully effective. check them out –
http://www.votepair.ca/
Thanks for your post, Robl
Thanks Rob, a Harper majority would be a disaster on so many fronts.
Yes you are absolutely correct.
The concept of party system gives us the broken system. All representatives should have to run as independents. All bills would be independent and the elected representatives would vote for the different department ministers and for the prime minister.
Right now we voting for gangs – with gang warfare. This means that good people who are members of parliment cannot vote with principles and for the best bills.
I wanted to vote Green party – but as you say in this broken system that is just another way of helping the disgusting Conservatives get in again. I hate Harper’s against the environment and for war in Afganistan stance. Canada has become an ugly lackly boy of the USA. We used to be the world peace keepers – not we are the destroy the planet and wage USA wars.
BTW the Canadian govt still allows drag net trawling – can you believe it?
Popular science has an article about the plight of the worlds oceans – worth a read if you can stand the pain of humans ugliness.
Isn’t placing “”vote for ” signs on city property illegal as the city must be seen as neutral?
I had hoped that Harper would not win a majority, and voted against it. As it happens, a few days after the election I left Canada for Germany, which is much more progressive on the environment. At the German technical museum in Munich, there was an entire section devoted to global warming and technologies that will help to slow it. It is great to be in such a progressive country, but also good to see once again that others in Canada share my concerns. Hopefully when I return in the fall I will be able to work with others to make some amount of difference.