As you know, one of my favourite topics to write about is where are the new Greens on the political spectrum. I have believed that the election of Elizabeth May as leader put them firmly on the left of Candian political parties. With quotes like these I think that can be confirmed.
...She has harsh words for the NDP's decision to join with the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois in toppling the minority Liberals just over a year ago, triggering the election that made Harper prime minister.
"The party has gotten so wrapped up in its pursuit of power that it's losing its touch with its principles," she says.
The New Democrats won 11 more seats in the Jan. 23 vote, but May argues those gains came at a terrible price in the defeat of the Liberals.
"What was lost? Kyoto (climate-change commitments), the child-care plan, the Kelowna accord (to improve native communities)," May says.
Kyoto, child-care and Kelowna - I can still hear Ken Dryden echoing in my head. This is not Jim Harris' Green Party, this is the NDP redux. Why you would want to pitch your tent on such crowded turf is beyond me but that is what Elizabeth May has decided to do.
Comments (3)
Sorry, but blaming the NDP for the fall of the Liberals is the exact sort of dodging responsibility behaviour that conservatives and rightwing liberals engage in. May’s quote does the opposite of what you claim.
Posted by Robert McClelland | December 16, 2006 10:39 AM
Posted on December 16, 2006 10:39
The Liberals were a do-nothing government for 13 years…they made no progress on climate change despite signing the Kyoto accord and in fact went backwards so far that George Bush had better progress on climate change…Elizabeth May is clearly misguided if she thinks the NDP are to blame for liberal incompetence, and for her to jump into Dion’s bed is cynical and stupid…liberal propping up of the BC Green party almost got Gordon Campbell defeated when disgruntled liberals saw they had somewhere else to go…the American born Federal Green Party leader is in for a shocking ride…welcome to Canadian Politics.
Posted by p kelly | December 16, 2006 12:11 PM
Posted on December 16, 2006 12:11
May’s position is more a matter of expediency than preference, I believe. If there is an election within the next 12-14 months, she probably won’t have enough time to go through a policy convention to re-position the Greens off their single-issue past (generally speaking, that is). Also, the Liberals and the NDP are doing her heavy lifting if she uses Kyoto, Child Care, et al as codewords. Lastly, she wants to get soft greenies from the Libs and NDP, so if she can appear to offer similar main planks, her potential supporters may just say, “well, it’s easier now”.
It’s a decent short-term strategy given time constraints and the amount of internal support she has. It also has the benefit of keeping voters focussed on either-or (left-right) choices for environment, daycare, and whatnot. Introducing a third option requires a lot of selling time, per issue, and she has enough on her plate right now, as it is.
Of course, her key differentiator will be “we are the true environmental custodians … the others are just pretenders or dabblers” … which is an easy message to sell. Remember too that priority #1 for May is to get Seat Number One, not to be the balance of power or to form a government.
And, for once, I agree with Robert’s comment at the top. The NDP was and is incapable of affecting any election outcome. More so as time passes with glorious comrade Laytonovich at the helm. I suspect he has worn out his welcome with voters. After all, there’s a limit to the amount of pandering and mendacious statements that any Canadian can endure. And Neville Layton pushes Canadians past that every day.
Example: Big Oil and Big Gas. But what about Big Automakers, Jack? Still OK to put money in their outstretched palms, and more if the opportunity arises? I guess the oil & gas workers aren’t “ordinary Canadians”, or union workers, or public servants, that Jack represents.
Posted by Erik Sorenson | December 16, 2006 1:05 PM
Posted on December 16, 2006 13:05