Canada votes too…Part Deux!

We left off our last discussion of Canadian politics touching on the ramifications of minority government.  Let me just add here, the plus side of the House sitting with a minority.  It breeds compromise.  It brings into play all those social skills we hopefully learned in childhood, and puts them to work, in a grown up setting.  For a little while anyhow.  By necessity, a government who sits with a minority and wants to stay in power must take into consideration the Opposition’s opposition as they must, on all issues, receive enough votes to pass legislation and avoid a vote of non-confidence.  But eventually, something comes up for which compromise is unachievable and then a critical vote will come into play.  This can bring high drama to the Commons floor and melodrama to the backrooms, as MP’s have been known to ‘cross the floor’ on issues of large importance.  Or, in rare occurrences, ignore the Party Whip and take a stand against Party lines, often a kiss of death for one’s political career.  More often than not tho, Party lines are respected…and then it comes down to an independent who, with a single vote may upset the balance of power.  And that’s all it will take, one vote.  Power, in Canadian politics, can sometimes be a fragile thing.

So let us take a quick look at what the political landscape is comprised of in this multi-party system.  And lest you think i am making some of this up, go here to see my source.  This page links to all the web pages of the active registered federal political parties.  I personally checked each of them out (and then went to Wikipedia for a plain English translation) and will try to give a brief synopsis of their mission statement in this post, but feel free to explore them on your own time.

*oh…and it’s ok to skim the list, even i didn’t know it would be this long and weirdwhen i started it, but i’m nothing if not pig-headed committed about finishing something i start   *

Registered Political Parties

The Little Guys

• Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada- an environmental focus, against using animals in research, seal hunts, trapping etc (not on the Mayor of Wasilla’s christmas card list) usually runs one candidate to maintain status, but generally endorses candidates from one of the major contenders
• Canadian Action Party  – interesting group, opposes NAFTA and globalization, supports monetary and electoral reform and a conspiracy theory that proposes that the US intentionally allowed 9/11 to happen…huh…interesting…
• Christian Heritage Party of Canada - supports the bible.  As a basis for government. Enough said.  Probably gets a Christmas card from Alaska.
• Communist Party of Canada - i think it’s name speaks for itself.  It’s last convention drew 65 members.  Bless their hearts for their staying power, after forming in secret in a barn in Geulph, Ontario in 1922 .  They have an 8 chapter pdf document on their website which makes for interesting reading and explains their mission in detail.
• First Peoples National Party of Canada -advances the interests of Canada’s indigenous peoples, a relatively new party (2004), running 6 candidates in this election from BC, Alberta and Ontario
• Libertarian Party of Canada - a right leaning party that lost a number of its members to the now defunct Reform party (defunct in that it became a part of the Alliance party, which now calls itself the Conservative party…hmmm…) anti government, anti-tax, anti-welfare,  pro-civil liberties and property rights
• Marijuana Party- not (quite) what you think, their primary focus is the de-criminalizing of marijuana.  After their first blush of relative success in 2000, they have lost popularity due to several of the other major parties also supporting de-crimialization 
• Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada - pro social programs, support and advocate the need for a new constitution based on non-discrimination,  and electoral reforms that include the right to recall elected officials, withdrawal from such organizations as NAFTA and NATO, and democratization of the UN ( i like how some of these smaller organizations spell everything out for you on their websites…fascinating reading)
• neorhino.ca  – a party party, first heard about them (or at least their precursor The Rhinocerous Party) when i was a member of the party nation that is known more commonly as ‘University Life’…
• Newfoundland and Labrador First Party - again, the name is self-explanatory, and is primarily concerned with the unique issues of this province including such things as fisheries boundaries, the Atlantic Accord and Hibernia…a very young party with a youthful core, it employs youtube,  facebook and a blog in it’s efforts to get it’s message out…
• People’s Political Power Party of Canada - another young party (2006) has as it’s mantra ‘peace, love, equality and respect’…website is heavy with ideas and but light in actual plans…but you have to respect their idealism…claim to be centrist but methinks a little right of centre 
• Progressive Canadian Party  – the remnants of the once powerful Progressive Conservative Party, down to just a few candidates that were holdouts form the merger between the PC’s and the Alliance, a centre-right leaning organization
• Western Block Party - a separatist party from the other end of the country…ie BC, Alberta, Sasaktchewan and Manitoba…goal is secession because they feel that Western Canada is getting a raw deal from from Ottawa…  
•  Work Less Party - they are exactly what they say they are…in pursuit of a 32 hour work week, better minimum wages, increased party cultural activities and decentralized government…sounds like my kind of political organization…

In fairness, it should be noted here that changes in the Election Act  in 2004 have resulted in political organizations being given official party status if they have as few as one nominated candidate registered for the General Election.  Many of these parties have only one nominated, some have a few, few have many.  Some, like the Animal Alliance will nominate one to achieve official party status so that their concerns can be heard, but will actually endorse one of the candidates from one of the major contenders in hopes of actually achieving representation for their cause in the House.

 

The Major Contenders

  

• Green Party of Canada - a green party, now achieving even more recognition after being included in the televised debates along with the other 4 major contenders, currently one sitting member  in the House, candidates running in 303/308 ridings, some of their proposed policies and reforms have been accepted and adopted by the other major contenders, have been accused of being in cahoots with the Liberals  re:strategic voting…
• New Democratic Party - a centre left, progressive social democrat organization promoting environmental and social programs, our nation as peacekeepers, aboriginal rights, workers’ rights,  public health care, senate and tax reforms etc…anti-corporation… 
• Bloc Québécois - a Quebec focused organization, promoting Quebec’s interests, separation and sovereignty, campaigning only in Quebec…yet ironically sits 3rd largest in our federal House of Commons…odd,  i know…
• Liberal Party of Canada - a centrist organization that promotes liberal socialism , campaigning on promotion of programs focusing on the environment, a Carbon Tax, job creation, reducing poverty, childcare and tax cuts, while remaining fiscally responsible within a balanced budget…lengthy pdf on their website outlining the platform in full…
• Conservative Party of Canada - conservative to the bone, fiscally and socially, pro- law and order, military, Arctic Development, decentralizing gov’t, senate reform, anti de-criminalizing marijuana, anti-gay marriage, favours copying harmonizing with the US, pro-corporate business…extensive website delineating their plans for our future…

 

Whew!!…who knew this would be such an epic journey down political party lane.  Interesting for me, i learned a lot about a number of parties i’d never heard of before…and i now know where to go find out even more about each and everyone of them.  My thanks to Wikipedia and Elections Canada for their wealth of information.

*coming in Canada Votes too…Part Three…What Thistle Thinks…for what it’s worth, a brief rant commentary on my feelings toward the Canadian Election…in which i will clearly not say outright how i plan to vote*