Vote Green

Ideologically I agree with the liberals. The Liberal party positions are closest to my own but policies aren't everything in a minority government. The Liberals will not be governing after the election is finished and in a minority I need to vote the party that will most effectively represent my interests.

Throughout Harper's first minority government the Liberals have voted not on their party values but on opinion polls. For too many votes Liberals have abstained and lacked the courage to bring down the government because they wanted to wait till a time when the polling numbers were favorable for them. I cannot give my vote to a party that allows the conservatives to govern like a majority and won't take a stand on major bills.

But the Liberal problems go deeper than that. Dion won the leadership a lackluster race where major contenders like Manley, Stronch, and McKenna didn't even run. Dion has failed to communicate the Green Shift to Canadians and allows the Conservatives to define him as a leader. Chretien's English was not perfect but at least he had the ability to defend his policies and attack his critics.

This election I will be voting for the Green party for the first time. Elizabeth May is Canada's most dynamic leader. Since becoming leader she has doubled the party's support in opinion polls and now one in five Canadians will consider voting Green. She has been an environmental activist for decades who has shown the ability to compromise with the right by working as an environmental advisor for Mulroney's government and repeatedly urging environmentalists not to limit themselves to the left-side of the political spectrum.

I will not be supporting the Greens solely for their environmental policies. For too long only two parties have controlled Canada's parliament and change is needed. We need to reform the senate, look at proportional representation, and other new ways of engaging more citizens in the democratic process. The Green Party has attempted to position themselves outside of the political spectrum and instead has tried to be seen as a party of change rather than a left or a right party.

I want a minority government that works beyond party lines and get things done. The Green Party will not be afraid to make decisions on important votes and represent their interests in parliament. No other national party MP will be a bigger catalyst for change than a Green Party.