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It Happened to Me Toronto (a.k.a. Accordion City)

The Last of the Notes from the All-Candidates Meeting

And finally, the last of my notes from the January 11th all-candidates meeting for the Parkdale-High Park riding, complete with closing statements. If you’d like to see my other notes, follow the links below:

For all these notes, I’m wearing my “citizen journalist” hat. That means

that I have attempted, to the best of my ability, to provide an honest

account of what I saw and heard at the meeting. Any of my personal asides will appear in red italics.

Question 10: What are Your Energy Policies?

Peggy Nash, New Democratic Party  

  • Stop subsidizing oil and gas — more investing in solar and wind energy

    •   

  • Currently, we’re making substantial investments in non-renewable resources

    •   

  • Would advocate a slow phase-out from non-renewable energy — remember, many people make their livelihood off them

    •   

  • Look at alternative energy sources: wind, sun, ethanol

    •   

  • Alternative energy is a key part of the NDP plan

Rob Rischinsky, Green Party

  • End subsidies to all wasteful industry

    •    

  • Solving the energy problem also requires looking at the demand side of the equation

    •    

  • We feel that nuclear energy is a bad option — that’s what differentiates us from the NDP

    •    

  • Alternative energy sources can provide us with 10,000 Megawatts of power

Sam Bulte, Liberal Party   

  • In our 2005 budget, we invested in co-generation, wind and biodiesel

    •    

  • Our energy efficiency and retrofit programs

Lorne Gershuny, Marxist-Leninist Party

  • Stop subsidizing oil

    •    

  • Invest in wind power instead

Jurij Klufas, Conservative Party

  • The Conservatives will establish a national standard where all fuel is at least 5% ethanol by 2010

    •    

  • That would cut greenhouse emissions by 4 million tons [or is it tonnes?] per year

    •    

  • Biodiesel is also another solution

Terry Parker, Marijuana Party   

  • [incoherent mumbling]

Closing Statements

Terry Parker, Marijuana Party

  • Prohibition kills

    •    

  • We call for legalization

    •    

  • Legal marijuana will generate lots of tax revenues

Rob Rischinsky, Green Party   

  • We advocate a new style of thinking

    •    

  • The “left/right” distinction in politics is from the past

    •    

  • Our system was created in the 19th century, run by 20th century parties trying to solve 21st-century problems

    •    

  • We run campaigns based on hope; we believe hope trumps fear

    •    

  • We are diverse people, moving into a post-national era

    •    

  • The Globe and Mail said that we were the party making positive statements

Lorne Gershuny, Marxist-Leninist Party

  • In this meeting, there were no questions about the international situation

    •    

  • We would form an anti-war government

    •    

  • We are opposed to wars of aggression on sovereign states by the U.S.

    •    

  • We condemn the complicity of the Canadian government

    •    

  • Our reputation as peacekeepers is undeserved

    •    

  • Wars fought for “humanitarian interests” are a fraud

    •    

  • We are “junior partners” in the U.S. plan

    •    

  • Wars are fought for business

    •    

  • We would uphold the U.N. charter of non-interference

Peggy Nash, New Democratic Party   

  • In the last election, I finished a close second

    •    

  • This means that people want changes

    •    

  • The NDP will invest in:       
                 

    • Seniors

      •            

    • Education

      •            

    • Public health care — and stop its privatization

      •            

    • Environment

      •        

  • We will give you a clean government

    •    

  • I’ll consult with the riding regularly — “You won’t only see me at election time”
  • [Enthusiastic response from crowd]

Sam Bulte, Liberal Party

  • On January 24th, either Paul Martin or Stephen Harper will be prime minister

    •    

  • You can either have a fend-for-yourself system run by a man whom the lauded as “Pro-American”

    •    

  • Or we can strive together for a common goal

    •    

  • Canada is doing well: we don’t borrow, we are active in world social programs and we are a society where newcomers are welcome

    •    

  • What change do you want — a backwards fight where we rehash old debates, or moving forward and building

    •    

  • We are the party of “medicare to multiculturalism”

    •    

  • We are the party of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Jurij Klufas   

  • Do you want more of the same, or do you want real change?

    •    

  • The Liberals brought you the sponsorship scandal

    •    

  • They have an entitlement mentality

    •    

  • We would bring in a Federal Accountability Act

    •    

  • We would cut the GST from 7% to 6%, and then to 5%

    •    

  • The Liberals believe that parents can’t be trusted on how best to spend money on their children — they say you’ll spend it on beer and popcorn

    •    

  • We would make sure the immigration policy was fair

    •    

  • The Liberals say they are the unity party but have no credibility in Quebec

    •    

  • Mention of their man in Quebec, Jean Charest

    •    

  • On guns:       
             

    • We will crack down on illegal guns

      •        

    • We support mandatory sentences for serious gun crimes

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