Campaign Gaffes 2015

It is great to be a Canadian; with socialized healthcare, hockey, poutine, manners, and the CBC. Americans just don’t get it. What else do Americans not get? An election which is really a collection of threehundred-thirtyeight mini elections. So unlike our neighbours to the South, where a presidential election is a tightly controlled and scritped dog and pony show, a Canadian election is a free-for-all of candidates. These candidates are not carefully vetted and closely monitored by the party brass (at least not as much as an American candidate would be). So we get to see a myriad of stars, brains, smiles, and yes- some losers and wingnuts.

Gilles Guibord was a Conservative candidate in a Montreal riding riding until he was outed by a local blogger for sexist remarks he spewwed on social media. Some “wisdom” that Guibord shared in a blog included the opinion that men “have authority over women” not only thanks to Biblical scripture, but also due to man’s physical strength over women. Guibord also challenged aboriginal historical rights to land, saying that it is actually the French who hold ancestral rights to the lands in Quebec. We, the public, still don’t know if Guibord resigned acfter his gaffes came to light, or if the Conservative Party fired him, but there is yet no Tory replacement for him in the riding of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie.

William Moughrabi, Conservative candidate for Ahuntsic-Cartierville deleted his Facebook account after the media blasted him for extremely violent posts as well as some very sexist ones. Moughrabi apologized, but refused to resign. Stephen Harper did not comment on his candidate. Moughrabi should consider resigning. Violence and sexism aside, the Tories need a stronger candidate. Moughrabi sits in fourth place, behind first place Liberals, second place NDP, and third place Bloc Quebecois. Only a few points separate Moughrabi and last place Greens.

Not one to be outdone, the Liberals have gifted Calgarians with Ala Buzreba. Again, ghosts of social media came back to haunt the political hopeful. Quotes including, “Your mother should have used that coat hanger” and homophobic quips such as “I look like a flipping lesbian” forced Buzreba to publicly apologize. Her excuse was that these were horrible things said as a teenager and she even held the support of leader Justin Trudeau. Public opinion proved too much however and Buzreba was forced to resign. The Liberal Party promise to run someone new but have yet to find a suitable replacement.

Even the Green Party, whom have been all but ignored by the media, have had a few gaffes hit the headlines when candidate Gary Beamish withdrew from the election to support his New Democrat counterpart. When pressed about the turn of events, Elizabeth May said that she would respect his decision as the Green Party is a grassroots party. However, the Green Party executive have stated their distaste of supporting another party. Beamish. representing Peterborough-Kawartha maintains that his decision is whats best for the future of the country.

The Green Party however gained the unexpected support of two New Democrats. Parry Sound-Muskoka NDP Riding Association President Clyde Mobbley was dismissed from the party when he urged the party faithful to throw their support behind the riding’s Green candidate. Jose Nunez-Melo was elected to the house of commons in 2011 but had a falling out with the New Democrats and crossed the floor to the Green Party. Nunez-Melo will be running as a Green in the riding of Vimy.

The leaders are not immune to the occasional gaffe either. From Justin Trudeau’s carebear take on fixing the economy from the heart outward to Elizabeth May’s colourful pre-campaign speech at the Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner, the leaders have been known to turn heads. Lest we forget the gruesome beauty that was May’s most bizarre public appearance, the dinner speech led many to believe May was either drunk or high. She played the themesong to “Welcome Back Kotter” on her cellphone into the mic, she accused male politicians of being slaves to Freud’s sexual drive theory, she cursed without merit, and she accused the government cabinet of having little to no class. May later apologized and denied that she was under the influence of anything but that rather that she was sleep deprived and trying to be funny.

The gold standard for political gaffes goes to Conservative candidate Jerry Bance. in 2012 Bance was caught on camera by the CBC urinating into a homeowner’s coffee mug while answering a service call. Bance is running in a Toronto battleground riding and has the full support of the party. Cabinet Minister Jason Kenney has campaigned and posed for photos with Bance. Scarborough-Rouge Park will likely need more than Jason Kenney to convince them that their vote is best spent on a repairman who urinates in people’s mugs and dumps his waste down kitchen sinks.

It almost makes Donald Trump’s shrewd and sexist comments look downright acceptable. And they say Canadian politics are boring. I challenge that notion!

Time to get Federal

New Brunswick, sadly, is not a province known for being progressive. Provincially we tend to be stuck to two mainstream parties who almost share a common platform (though we achieved a milestone in our history by electing Green Leader David Coon in our last provincial election). Likewise, we tend to only send one of two options Ottawa. But some polls are suggesting all that may be changing.

Some stunning seat projections show New Brunswickers may actually send up to four New Democrats to Ottawa in October. Tory support in the province is down across the board, Liberals are surging, Greens have seen a few bursts of support but have again begun to slump, and the NDP are looking at record levels of support in Fredericton and Saint John. Three weeks ago, Fredericton was a statistical tie between the Conservatives, Liberals, and New Democrats- though the Liberals have since broken well ahead of the pack in the capital city. Saint John however tells a different story. Polls from the port city are showing NDP candidate AJ Griffin in the lead.

It is difficult to believe Griffin could be doing so well; she doesn’t have any sign ups in the city yet, hasn’t yet opened her campaign headquarters (that comes on September 8th), and was the last candidate nominated between herself, the tories’ Rodney Weston, and Liberal Wayne Long. By the time Griffin gets her signs ready for display, she may find it difficult to find the real estate as Weston and Long have painted the town red and blue- in many cases littering fields and roadsides with repeats of signs back-to-back (just in case you missed the first half-dozen). But Weston’s lackluster performance in the commons and a general Harper-fatigue seem to have set in across the riding of Saint John-Rothesay causing the NDP to poll higher in the riding before they even had a candidate.

Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe is also showing sign of serious Blue Party Blues and have placed the incumbent Robert Goguen in third place at 20% of the vote. Liberal Candidate Ginette Petitpas-Taylor is currently enjoying 45% support of those polled.

Sadly for Elizabeth May and her Green Machine, the NB riding where they have the highest support is Fredericton at a meager 10.4%. May and David Coon teamed up to rally up support in the city, but to little avail.

The three ridings which are most likely to remain true to the blues are currently Fundy Royal, New Brunswick Southwest, and Tobique-Mactaquac.

A Wounded Animal

The New Democrats have the most to lose and the least to gain in this election. They won’t win the West, they are losing their grip on Quebec, and they have already lost their one seat in New Brunswick with little chance of gaining another. There was never any chance of Thomas Mulcair becoming prime minister, but there was a good chance of him holding his title of Leader of the Opposition. But now that his numbers have fallen, Harper’s on the rise, and Justin Trudeau raising more political donations; Mulcair sees himself losing his post.

New Democrats are also feeling the threat of Trudeau’s popularity. The online NDP communities have become downright vitriolic. The Conservative online presence has always been a toxic hotspot for barbs and meaningless quips that doesn’t garner any meaningful political dialogue. But now the NDP network is giving the Big Blue Mudslingers a run for their money. They have even began turning on each other when someone sugguests a slur has gone too far or questions the relevance of a spur in the greater discourse.

Who is the target of the NDP fanclub? Everyone. Nobody is safe, save the Bloc Quebecois who have flown totally under everyone’s radar for months. Elizabeth May and Justin Trudeau have taken the most orange heat; May for suggesting Liberals were easier to work with, and Trudeau for being his father’s son.

Stephen Harper is still the subject of a few hardliners, but has seemingly given the target he wore on his back to Justin. With the focus of opposition pointed anywhere but at the government itself, Harper has managed to push through some very devastating legislation which hurts every Canadian’s civil liberties and grants additional powers to police forces a-la-Orwell’s 1984. The NDP support base also seems more presoccupied with Justin Trudeau’s hair than the fact that Stephen Harper spent $700,000 on court costs to avoid paying veterans their promised income.

True, the NDP is like a battered boxer just before the TKO; swinging wildly in all directions but connecting with nothing. Let’s hope for the sake of democracy that Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is able to come back with a strong finish in the next round before the Tories take away anymore of the Canadian identity in their move towards a police state.

Election 2014 Update

With only days left to the election, the final push is on. CTV is hosting a leaders’ debate but has decided to leave Coon and Austin out. One Change has hosted some riding debates. Charges against Liberal Andrew Harvey have been dropped. Liberals turn their attacks towards the third place New Democrats. Sign vandalism seems to be higher this year than usual. Greens lay out a new soft drink tax. Seat projections have been provided by the folks over at http://www.threehundredeight.com.

The Green Party has decided to protest the CTV debate (hosted at St Thomas University). In what they are calling “Stand Up to CTV”, the Greens plan to confront what they believe is corporate Canada holding democracy hostage. The event, which takes place September the 18th at 5:30 has 2,300 invites sent out to party faithful and political activists but less than 100 confirmed attendees. Coming off the Elizabeth May bump, we’ll soon discover exactly how many Greens are charged about the election.

Portland-Simonds had a modest (but better than expected) turnout for a One Change riding debate which saw Trevor Holder face his political adversaries. The contenders and incumbent MLA had a much less barbed debate than that of the leaders during the televised CBC debate. Soft spoken, warm, and at times detached; the debate was informative and felt more like a town hall meeting rather than a debate.

Andrew Harvey was being charged for defrauding the government in an incident that took place three years ago. The Crown prosecutor made the decision to drop the charges only recently, saying that the charges didn’t meet the threshold to prosecute. The party still maintains that the timing of the charges is suspect and even went so far as to demand an apology from Premier David Alward for comments he made in regards to the incident.

Brian Gallant has attacked Dominic Cardy and the New Democrats’ platform. Cardy has been extremely critical of Gallant’s costly platform and the $900 million investment in infrastructure; but now Gallant has countered by pointing out the 24 key points in the New Democrat platform which have not even been costed. Gallant has also been hostile on the NDP’s practice of parachuting candidates into ridings where they have no place being. Cardy has taken this in stride, partly because it has gained him and his party some more media attention but also because he feels it is a sign that there might be trouble in Liberal paradise.

Parties and citizens alike have noticed a rise in sign vandalism this year. Large streetside signs have been knocked down, destroyed, and beheaded. Smaller signs have gone missing from sidewalks and lawns. And in some ridings there have been reports of “green vandals” which saw Tory, Grit, and NDP signs pelted with green paint.

Also in Green news, Coon has announced a tax on snack food and sweetened beverages such as pop. The tax is said to have dual benefits: helping youth cut back on unhealthy eating habits as well as creating a new revenue for healthcare in the province.

Threehundredeight.com has tabulated the results of recent polls and combined the results to project plausible election results. Given the limited seats in the New Brunswick Legislature, the projection is rather wide but worth consideration. The results give the Greens and People’s Alliance no chance of attaining even a single seat but speculate the New Democrats could go as high as 5 seats in the best case scenario.

May, Coon be with you

Today saw federal Green leader Elizabeth May add her two cents to the provincial election. May visited Fredericton with David Coon and a chorus of Green candidates for a very impromptu rally held at the Irock Bar. Turnout seemed good, though there was virtually no media present. The party offered free corn and coffee to people just prior to the soap box speeches. There were people banging tambourines and dancing to pop music. Others gave out pins and pamphlets. A reporter for CBC/Radio Canada desperately searched the crowd for a francophone (we did see her find at least one). CTV appeared to make a brief visit.

Once inside the bar, spirits seemed to lower considerably. There was only a brief wait before May and Coon entered, hand in hand to a short burst of applause. The crowded room then returned to a state of near silence. The first speaker was a young gentleman who couldn’t be heard. In an embarassing turn of events, the sound equipment wasn’t set up properly and the speaker went through ten minutes of testing the mic, shouting across the room and even using a bullhorn. Once he could finally be heard, he attempted to stir the room which looked more like a somber St. Patrick’s day funeral. Only a few polite people clapped.

The next speaker was David Coon’s wife, and member of the Green shadow cabinet, Janice Harvey. Harvey also experienced painful technical difficulties at several points during her bevy of memories involving May. At one point, campaign workers could be seen waving Harvey down when she became sidetracked and began reminiscing about the late Pierre Trudeau toppling the Joe Clark government more than thirty years ago.

Screens throughout the bar then went to video of Elizabeth May taking VIA Rail trains across the country, but another technical issue muted the sound for the first half of the long introductory video.

Once the video was over, May took the podium. The most concise speaker of the day, May reminded the university town of the importance of the student vote. She stressed the need for students to help each other understand the process, find the polls, and get out there to do their civic duty. She took the opportunity to attack Stephen Harper and the “Fair Elections Act”. May suggested that Green supporters tell female cashiers at grocery stores that this year they are voting Green. May urged New Brunswick to break free of old-party dictators and wake up; in so doing they would wake up the country.

The room finally began to come alive at this point, but still rather conservatively compared to other rallies and party picnics during the election period. While few clapped and even fewer cheered, many were watching their phones and checking watches. Campaign workers donned in green hustled about the room and tried in vain to get pockets of the audience fired up.

Like a political pro, May steamed on with passion and arms open. She recounted stories of media outlets mocking her chances of winning her seat in Saanich-Gulf Islands. She told a tale about a radiohost who told her she couldn’t get elected dog catcher. May said that she knew better, that she could feel a change coming. She said that she feels that change in New Brunswick. May stated a firm belief that David Coon could be the first elected Green MLA east of Vancouver Island.

A brief, weak chant of “David, David” started but ended just as suddenly.

Elizabeth May then announced the need for money. She asked that even if you had already donated, to donate again. When the room got cold she moved on to another story about Bruce Hyer crossing the floor to join the Green caucus and how members of the federal NDP voiced concern over being “customer service agents” but were comfortable with that status in the end. She said that Ottawa is not like the Frank Capra film “Mr Smith Goes to Washington”.

May then talked about the important of a myriad of free voices in parliament and the legislature. She invoked Sir John A. Macdonald and his sentiment of MPs being loose fish.

As Elizabeth May stepped down, the screens went to a video collection of images and videos, news clippings, and family photos of a young David Coon with a full head of hair. The video went over the course of Coon’s career in environmentalism and activism. There were a few awkward photos of young Coon in the shower with a set of hair ensconced abdominal muscles spliced in as well.

Coon stepped up at the closing of the video tribute and may have received an even warmer applause than May herself. He quickly went over the Green platform points; local economy, agriculture, improving living conditions for those on government assistance, and renewable energy. He joked and smiled. He discussed the severity of the sitaution in New Brunswick and how things have to change. Coon then enjoyed a more engaged “David, David” chant.

That was when Coon invited every campaign worker, staffer, and candidate up to the makeshift stage. As staffers and candidates moved up to the stage, one by one, by name; the room emptied. The well intended act revealed that nearly half of those in attendence were not supporters, voters, or undecideds; they were the Green Party itself. Now, the three-quarter empty room gazed up at the crowded stage with the all too familiar mellowness. The applause from the floor decreased little by little as the faces in the audience made their way to Coon’s side.

Poorly prepared rally aside, it is worth mentioning the flood of Green lawn signs that peppered the Fredericton hill when coming into Fredericton. Green signs outnumbered any other party in the riding. It was clear that Coon is well liked by those in the crucial riding. On top of lawn signs which could be found on nearly half the lawns passed, the party has a series of large signs sporting Coon’s smiling face all across town. Of all the towns and cities we have been to since the campaign started, none have seen the level of fondness nor support for the Green Party as Fredericton.

Perhaps the change which May and Coon so often referred to really is coming.

May Lends her Voice to Coon

The beginning of the 2014 New Brunswick Election saw the local leaders overshadowed by national notoriety of Gallant supporter Justin Trudeau. Trudeau swept into New Brunswick and travelled with Gallant to several cities and townships. He co-hosted a widely attended Liberal rally in downtown Fredericton. Together, the two Liberal leaders rode on the Big Red Bus and released videos to social media.

Now another popular leader from Ottawa joins the New Brunswick show. Elizabeth May, leader of the federal Green Party will be in Fredericton on September 14th with David Coon (provincial Green leader) at iRock Bar. Go Green! is an open event, a meet and greet with the two Green leaders as well as a handful of Green provincial candidates. May will be drumming up as much support as she can for Coon who is currently projected to win no seats but has brought up the popularity of the party. May is a considerable figure herself; the first Green MP in Canada, she has brought a former NDP MP across the floor to join her ranks, she has seen Green Party donations increase significantly, and is a very popular national figure.

Will her presence during the campaign season change anything for the provincial branch of the tree-hugging party? Undoubtedly. Will it be enough to help land some Greens seats in the legislature? That is to be determined.

https://www.facebook.com/events/272747336269049/

With Friends Like These…

Who needs to campaign when you have political celebrities dropping in for a photo op? Brian Gallant has some major star power to lean on during what has otherwise been called a rocky start to the campaign. The polls are showing Gallant is in a most comfortable lead over David Alward, but that the margin has narrowed slightly (according to Corporate Research Associates). Most notably, popular federal leader Justin Trudeau spent a good deal of time with Gallant for photo ops and speaking engagements, as well as taking part in an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Former Prime Minister Paul Martin also stopped in for a shot with former Saint John MP Paul Zed and Gallant.

Despite the star power and the Big Red Bus, critics have noted that Gallant’s campaign got off to a difficult start. Michael Camp, a profession of journalism and public policy at St Thomas University said that Gallant’s campaign has had difficulty in articulating a message. Plagued by gaffes and miscommunications, Gallant has appeared uninformed, unprepared, and unrealistic.

Gallant has been attacked on all sides for his big spending plans and his quickness to simply borrow the funds to do so. Gallant also used dated information to attack the Alward government, a foley for two reasons; the point he made in his attack was a decision made by NB Liquor, not the government, and secondly because NB Liquor had already overturned the decision weeks before Gallant attacked it.

The Alward campaign hasn’t exactly been off to a jetting start either. With the slogan, “Say Yes”, the electcion is for Alward, a referendum on shale gas. In effect, he is asking New Brunswickers to say yes to shale gas and end the years long protest which has seen banners, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and window signs proposing to “Say No to Shale Gas”. Further adding to the difficulty of the Alward campaign, no political guest appearances have been made as of yet. Nor would it be likely to help, New Brunswickers are becoming increasingly opposed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party.

The only other party, in fact, to receive “celebrity” star power is David Coon’s Green Party of New Brunswick. Fredericton played host to the Green Party convention and the myriad of guests including federal party leader Elizabeth May, deputy leader Bruce Hyer, and others.