Vancouver Centre All Candidates

Although I don’t often discuss political issues on my site, being a citizen of Vancouver I am fully aware that on November 15th we will have a civic election and even sooner than that on October 14th, we have a federal election. I always try to stay informed, keep up with the issues, and find out as much as I can so that I don’t have to “eeny meeny miny mo” my way around the ballot.

Update: Lisa sent this video around on Twitter and I thought right here would be a good spot for it in my post from this morning.

Even though this applies to the elections south of the border, the message is the same. Visit Elections Canada for more info.

When it comes to the federal elections, only two weeks away, here’s some quick info I was able to gather purely from the websites of those running in my riding, Vancouver Centre (I’m using the candidate websites as examples because well, my life and career revolve around the online realm and being present on the web):

Liberal Party – Hedy Fry, who has been our MP since 1993

Photo credit: Raj from UrbanMixer.com

Website notes – Hedy appears to have a Drupal-powered blog, which is cool but it doesn’t have comments enabled and each post ends with “sent from my Blackberry”.

Talking points – Seniors’ issues, GLBT equality, universal child care and early learning, arts and culture, Liberal plan for greener living, doctors and nurses, catastrophic drug coverage. [issues]

New Democrat – Michael Byers

Website notes – The site is nice enough, I like the simple layout, however the issues section features a bunch of pdf downloads then it redirects to the general NDP website for any other information.

Talking points – As collected from the main NDP website there is a focus on jobs and affordability, health care, environment, and other priorities which include: strong communities and safe neighbourhoods, protecting Canadian sovereignty and the North, First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples, supporting culture, the arts and our Canadian cultural identity, international trade: fairness at home and abroad, Immigration, Canadian federalism and public institutions, ethics and accountability, defending human rights, women: moving forward on equality, people with disabilities: opportunities for all, Canada: global leadership in peace and justice. [issues]

Conservative – Lorne Mayencourt, whom I saw recently at the Keall Fundraiser.

Website notes – Despite there being a php error on Lorne’s main page, the issues section appears to be working.

Issues Outlined – The economy – Mayencourt outlines what Harper and the Conservative Party has already done for the county (ie. 5% GST). Insite / DTES / housing / mental health and addiction – long term and permanent solutions are needed. The environment / the green shift – he has a lot of criticism for the carbon tax, and the last issue on the website is Afghanistan. [issues]

Green – Adriane Carr, that I had the chance to meet at the Green Living Show.

Website notes – Very “clean” looking website with a lot of useful information about the election in general.

Issues Outlined – Catching up to the Global Green Economy, implement a comprehensive plan on climate change, affordable housing, GLBT – moving beyond just rights, better transit – no more congested Gateway roads, forward-looking immigration policy, improving our health (food, environment, care), protect our environment, international leadership. [issues]

Libertarian – John Clarke

Website notes – Basic, yet it’s one of the easiest to navigate with the large menu buttons on the left.

Issues Outlined – Property rights, free enterprise, individual rights, socialism and interventionism, and Big Brother: “Do you remember George Orwell’s 1984? We do and that’s a large part of what we’re trying to prevent.” [issues]

Marxist-Leninist – Michael Hill

Website notes – They have a daily online newspaper and the yellow is a bit hard on the eyes. I haven’t yet found a site for the candidate. Issues can be found listed under “briefs”, click through to the individual pages.

Issues Outlined – Electoral reform and party financing, social security reform, citizenship and immigration, Quebec, Canadian unity and identity, foreign policy.

On Friday, October 3rd there is an “all candidates debate”on Art, Culture and Heritage from 8:00am – 9:30am at the BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street and there is another this Sunday, October 5 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard Street.

For a round up of local political blog coverage check out the VoterMedia selection.

Update: You can follow my election day coverage here. Hedy Fry has been re-elected in Vancouver Centre.