News Flash!

Conservative incumbent David Sweet representing the Hamilton area riding of Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale says that “Stephen Harper is not the bad guy some make him out to be”. I could follow that by saying something like “details at 11″…. but there aren’t many details…again.

True to form for this riding and in many other currently conservative enclaves, the incumbent said little of substance during an all candidates forum recently taped for the local cable TV outlet. When pressed about his government’s action on climate change he did make the relatively shocking statement that (presumably under Mr. Harper’s leadership) “Canada is working toward a global consensus on climate change”.

These comments come in the last week of an election campaign, for the duration of which the local conservative candidate has added to his record of relative silence and inactivity in his riding. Could this be because conservative members (who according to Sweet, Mr. Harper is “prepared to hear from at open mikes” during caucus meetings) seem to be on a short leash in public or is it because their platform was only released this week?

Credit to Green Party Candidate Peter Ormond for raising the question of muzzling of conservative MPs by party leadership when it comes to Climate Change and Global Warming. The entire country has been muzzled it seems, not just conservative MPs.

For example Andrew Weaver a world renowned Canadian Climate Scientist has stated that there has been a “war against science” carried out by the the Harper Conservatives. You may recall that Weaver a member of the Nobel winning IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) was snubbed by Prime Minister Harper who refused to attend a Parliament Hill event held earlier this year to recognize the IPCC’s Nobel prize. Weaver is not alone. The recently produced Health Canada report on the effects of Climate Change has been withheld and the public engagement process meant to go along with it cancelled by the Harper govenrment.

With NDP candidate Gordon Guyatt away in Europe at a medical conference, it seems that the riding is shifting into the widely endorsed hands of Liberal Arlene MacFarlane VanderBeek. The broad spectrum of support for her comes from within the riding as well from outside where climate change experts and concerned Canadians agree that the Liberal platform continues to hold out the greatest opportunity at the intersection of the environment and the economy.

Last night’s community meeting attended by “all Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale (ADFW) candidates” was a sobering reminder that politics can be as much about saying as little as possible as it is about recognizing and dealing with important issues. In an election campaign that was short enough to leave candidates little downtime, the cast of characters at the Dundas Lions Memorial Centre Tuesday evening seemed to lack both urgency and conviction. This was ridiculous just 14 days before a crucial election.

The crowd in attendance was primarily reflective of Dundas’ demographic (young seniors) as well as a cross section of voters including some students, party workers (read NDP “hall packers” mostly) and a few who indicated by their early departures that they expected more.

The format for the evening was questions for all candidates submitted by the audience to a panel prior to the meetings start, who then selected the questions that they wanted to ask with no scrutiny or discussion amongst them. There was no interaction between candidates. While this format may work well for US TV debates, it unfortunately set and secured the tone for this drab affair.

“What does supporting the troops mean to you?”.

This was the first question of the evening and provided the first respondent (a fill in for the local Marxist Leninist Candidate) the opportunity to garner the first of dozens of rounds of polite applause given each speaker for the remainder of the evening no matter what they said. To stay with this first speaker for a moment, her response was “bringing them home” which actually brought quite a rousing response from the audience. Good for her I thought, I like what she is saying…but she isn’t a candidate in this riding.

Every speaker who answered that question said more or less the same thing with the Liberal candidate qualifying her comments and the incumbent David Sweet going on briefly about the successes of the mission.

For the balance of the evening the questions for the most part appealed the tastes of NDP candidate Gordon Guyatt. Perhaps Dr. Guyatt, who is both a physician and a professor in medicine did better than the other candidates on almost questions because having unsuccessfully run for office so many times he’s had alot of practise (or is that practice!). He answered well on national health care issues and foreign policy.

He was the only participant who ran slightly against the pattern of the evenings format. He took a few opportunities to question the Conservative record on the economy (”I’m glad that Mr. Sweet is so confident that our economic fundamentals are in good order…but I believe that I was hearing the same thing from the US a month ago…”).  Guyatt also used his opening remarks to comment on food safety, another strong safe topic for him.

Unfortunately, with the “randomly selected” questions slanted for the NDP candidate by the large NDP contingent, Guyatt was unable to provide convincing proof that his party has a handle on any issue outside of withdrawal from Afghanistan (appealing but in reality not gonna happen in the timeframe Layton suggests) and no 2 tier health care (great but we don’t need the NDP to tell us that 2 tier is not good idea).

Which leads me to the conclusion that Dr. Guyatt is a great resource for his patients and the university that employs him not to mention the many national issues upon which he focuses by involvement in committees and studies. I’ll vote for him to stay where he is. As for Jack Layton, well he gives a great rally!

Unfortunately, the evening’s other disappointment was Green Party Candidate Peter Ormond. A professional engineer, Ormond would presumably be a good person to apply his knowledge and intellect to some of the pressing problems in this region. In particular one which he mentioned is the whole area of infrastructure. Although he didn’t personally articulate any of this clearly, there is an opportunity to make many improvements in mass transit (couldn’t believe that David Sweet actually took credit for new buses for “downtown Hamilton” as he called it), energy efficiency, utilities and others that would seem to fit a Green Party vision.

“The Green Party have a plan that you can read online”, Ormond told the audience. However, he didn’t seem conversant with it, and certainly did not come across as engaged in any of the issues that many in this community no matter what their politics might like to see addressed. By the evening’s end it was the greener David Sweet of the Conservatives who had proclaimed that he and Stephen Harper had “cleaned up the Randall Reef” (a toxic hotspot in Hamilton Harbour).

David Sweet, despite his attempts as noted above to proclaim himself a friend of the environment, was the prime beneficiary of the failed meeting format. With no interaction between candidates, Sweet was able to paint a happy picture (although the picture would have to be classified as abstract) and when he wasn’t the first to speak on a question simply followed suit with the other speakers. There’s leadership.

Not one question related to climate change made it through the “random vetting” process. Thus, Sweet could spin comments around his limited knowledge of Green Shift to a rant about “increased taxes” and less money for us. It was interesting also to hear him parroting Stephen Harper’s recently retired attack General Rick Hillier, and his comments about military spending…”we’ve come out of a dark era”…. Would Mr. Sweet care to estimate the cost of this new era of warmaking?

The response by the audience to Mr. Sweet was clearly polite dismissal. There is no doubt that people who take time to attend a meeting like this are: seeking information; taking an opportunity to support their candidate; more engaged than most in the community. So, while Mr. Sweet no doubt thinks he has already won this riding those in attendance were trying to tell him something else. No performance by this incumbent in Ottawa, his attachment to some very questionable ideals and fear of a Stephen Harper majority and all that that might do to the country earned him the political equivalent of a polite “bronx cheer” last night in Dundas Ontario.

Liberal Arlene MacFarlane VanderBeek has a huge challenge that magnified itself throughout the evening. Endorsed by many in the community, and now even nationally (www.voteforenvironment.ca) MacFarlane VanderBeek stands on the verge of returning the riding to the Liberals. The non-interactive nature of an all candidates meeting like this seems not to be the real means through which her goals will be achieved though.

Her responses to questions, often sandwiched between the comments of candidates with no hope of election (who tended to say whatever they thought would get a rise from the audience) gave her the appearance of a sort of unnatural hesitancy to take on the Conservatives. She was able to accurately reflect at numerous times, from a timetable for troop withdrawal…to Green Shift as both an economic and environmental plan…to the Liberal opposition to privitization of healthcare…to improved care for seniors…well known Liberal policy, (well, it might have been better known had Mr. Harper not chosen to spend millions on attack and discredit ads, but I digress).

The challenge for this Liberal Candidate is that many people are living with out of date information about her party and its policies. They don’t know enough about the strength of not only its leader but also the incredible front bench talent that the party would have in government. And, she may have assumed incorrectly that her own long term commitment to this community is well known and understood.

Part of this assumption may be forgiven (not really but here’s the theory anyway) that in the past, beginning with Conservative David Sweet and some of those who came before him, not much was expected from the local MP. Sweet has perhaps overachieved in this race to the bottom, but if one takes a longer range look this riding has put little pressure on either major party to perform here.

Thankfully, that is changing and Arlene MacFarlane VanderBeek would appear to be a refreshing force for practical solutions and re-connection between Ottawa and ADFW. Her further challenge will be to continue to update all voters on both the Liberal party and their Green Shift platform which best reflects the reality of 2008.

Her responsibility in the next several days would appear to be to reach out to the thousands of voters who see the need to prevent a further widening of the gap between Canadians and their government. In other words those who view the possibility of conservative government as a further shift to a right wing, republican type entity with no energy/climate plan that in no way represents as many as 60% of voters or their aspirations.

Last Saturday, Liberal leader Stephane Dion made a stop in St. Catharines to meet and greet voters at the Niagara Grape & Wine festival in Montebello Park. This is the third time that Dion has visited the riding of St. Catharines since becoming leader of the Liberals. Furthermore this makes Dion the first leader to make a stop in St. Catharines (With Jack Layton & Stephen Harper both coming to Niagara but skipping past this riding.)

Aside from a large contingent of local Liberals there to greet him as he arrived, Dion was working a very non-partisan crowd. Walking to several wine and food kiosks while stopping to talk to several people attending the festival. Overall Dion was very well received, giving a boost to an already surging local Liberal campaign.

Interestingly, while Dion was in Niagara he managed to do what Stephen Harper didn’t do, which is to talk about manufacturing and job losses in the area.

For the past few days, the local election buzz has been a YouTube ad entitled “It’s 3pm”:

Essentially, the ad reveals the fact that incumbent Hamilton Mountain MP Chris Charlton has her constituency office open until 1:00pm, Monday through Friday. Banham calls this an afront to democracy, Charlton states that she is always accessible regardless of her posted office hours. Regardless of who is right, the story has gotten some notice across the city.

The other night, CHCH news played the ad and yesterday the Banham camp introduced a new website to accompany the video, www.its3pm.ca.

The crux of the matter here is that this is a significant step forward in local campaigns. Traditional campaigns are generally fought by sign pounding and door knocking and this has taken it to a whole new level. In fact, its rather impressive.

No matter how you view the ad and the explanations, its good to see some life injected into these local races.

Last night was the first all-candidates debate of this election in St. Catharines airing on Cogeco cabel TV.

Probably the biggest shock that came out of the debate was Rick Dykstra, after being grilled about his party’s decision to raise taxes on income trusts, admitting that his party broke it’s promise not to tax income trusts and apologizing for adding taxes to income trusts after promising not to.

“We made a commitment. We didn’t keep that commitment, and for that I apologize to the people of St. Catharines who were impacted by that decision.” (Federal Election Candidates Debate, Cogeco, September 23, 2008)

This is the first real sign that Rick Dykstra is trying to run away from the record of his party. As Jim Flaherty, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have been completely unapologetic about flip-flopping on income trusts.

In what seems to have been a race anxiously waiting for a start, the candidates in Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale (ADFW) will face the electorate for the first time together…Tuesday evening at 6:15, McMaster University’s Student Union hosting. Voters from the area will have 3 other opportunities in coming days to see what the parties have to offer in this “all-candidates meeting” format.

Expect incumbent David Sweet to stick tightly to the party (read Stephen Harper) line. Voters seem to have been convinced to expect little from Sweet, and he has delivered. Local “Sweetwatchers” have found him to be active in a number of pursuits related to his personal priorities while on the Hill, but not so much elsewhere. All in attendance will want to know more details from his time in Parliament. Communications to the Riding while in office seemed to have been written by Stephen Harper’s staff.

Gordon Guyatt has saved a great many trees (reused signs) over the years by continuing to campaign on behalf of the New Democratic Party through election after election. His professional accomplishments are well documented and when it comes to health care issues Dr. Guyatt ought to be able to take on any politician in a debate. Some polls suggest that Healthcare is near top of mind with many voters. A riding with a healthy number of older adults may reward Guyatt. It seems that on previous election nights support for this NDP perennial was always the decisive votes taken from one or the other of the Liberals or Conservatives.

The Green candidate Peter Ormond has had some campaigning time (but still runs a distant 4th in the experience department) having run for the Greens in a nearby riding recently. A hard group to read, the Green Party trade heavily on their outstanding leader’s accomplishments yet seldom step forward at the local level as a unified group to address issues in a riding that is clearly on the doorstep (or closer) of one of Canada’s premier environmental hotspots.

(more…)

This election is already a week in the bag, but the candidates in Hamilton have been slugging it out for a while. A quick snap shot of the city: Niagara West Glanbrook A rural riding, and since re-distribution, a Tory stronghold. Dean Allison has been nearly omni-present in the riding since his victory in 2004 and shows no signs of stopping. Put this one solidly in the Conservative fold.  Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale Hamilton’s other rural riding and once again, a virtual Tory stronghold. The more urban area’s of Westdale, which is home to McMaster University, should be a toss-up for the NDP and Liberals, but the rural areas of the riding are key, and should reward Tory incumbent David Sweet once again. Hamilton Centre Another stronghold, but this time, and NDP stronghold. Hamilton Centre is perhaps tied with Windsor West as the safest NDP seat in Ontario. Another Christopherson victory in the works. But, this is where the easy predictions stop and the real fights begin…. Hamilton East – Stoney CreekIn this riding, we have Wayne Marston, who eeked out a narrow victory over Tony Valeri in 2006 and is hoping to retain the seat. His only problem is that he is facing off against former Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni, who by all accounts has a strong organization behind him and is ready to do battle against the local NDPers. This one will be a nail biter come election night. Hamilton Mountain Another nail-biter. Here we have NDP incumbent Chris Charlton facing a strong challenge from local employment lawyer Tyler Banham. From the first week, it seems clear that Banham has the edge organizationally and is winning the sign war. Once again, a riding to watch and a real battle shaping up.    

The 2008 election is going to feature a rematch of the Liberal and Conservative candidates from the 2006 election.

Incumbent Rick Dykstra is once again facing off against 4 term Liberal MP Walt Lastewka. This is going to be one of the top 10 races to be watching in the country, as this riding was decided by 246 votes last time (Or one vote per polling station).

Also running for the NDP is former Brock united church chaplain Geroge Addision and for the Greens is long time candidate Jim Fannon. Neither Addision or Fannon are expected to win. Interestingly, the local Green Party & NDP headquarters are next door to each other in downtown St. Catahrines.

The start of the campaign in St. Catahrines got off to a hot start with Conservative MP Rick Dykstra touting an announcement made days before the start of the campaign that the federal & provincial governments would be investing $140 into a new transmission line at GM in St. Catharines.

However, in what Dykstra & the Conservatives hoped would be a boost for them in St. Catharines turned against them when it was revealed in the local media that:

1. Federal funds for the project did not come from new investments by the Conservatives, but rather though investments that were made by the Liberals and delivered by Walt Lastewka back in 2004.
2. The provincial government announced support and funding for this deal months ago.

The timing of this announcement was nothing more that cheap political opportunism from Dykstra and the Conservatives. And out of the gate it has hurt them here.