Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Frances Nokes on April 4, 2011 at 4:14pm

Great!~

Me, too!

 

Permalink Reply by Wayne Bradley on April 19, 2011 at 3:59pm

The very best Liberal campaign... an excellent campaign, in fact Liberal Noor Ahmed... young, dynamic, popilar Courtenay city councillor, came third behind NDP and Con. All polling projections I have seen (project Democracy, Ekos, for example give Liberals no chance in this riding). Sorry Kim... if you want to get ride of Duncan you have to vote NDP....Wayne

Permalink Reply by Frances Nokes on April 11, 2011 at 1:08pm

I have lived in the valley since June 2008.  Not a long time.

However, in this time, I have seen and heard a lot of Ronna Rae Leonard.

All good causes, all leadership roles, and all positive!

She is a very strong candidate, and I am thrilled to have her to vote for...

There is no doubt in my mind that the NDP nomination in this riding is highly sought after.

Note: Distinguished environmentalist and salmon expert, Alexandra Morton, considered running for the nomination and stands in the wings as supporter...

We are very fortunate to attract people such as these who have their heart in the right place AND

are very successful in dealing with people and attracting supporters!

 

Permalink Reply by Katherine Dunster on April 11, 2011 at 4:08pm

I don't think this has anything to do with how long you have been living in a riding but in your personal actions and activities that serve the community. Ronna-Rae is a two-term Courtenay councillor with a high profile - I know this because even people in the Victoria area are aware that she is a leader who is not afraid to speak up for people, the environment (such as saving the Vanier Grove Garry oaks), and the local economy. A good, well-grounded in reality person that we need to send to Ottawa.

Permalink Reply by ernie yacub on April 11, 2011 at 4:57pm

i would vote for harper himself if he was running for the ndp because they have the best chance of beating the cons in this riding.

 

how do we get soft greens and libs to vote smart, not heart?

 

Permalink Reply by Yanny Barney on April 19, 2011 at 3:49pm

@ ernie -- re:getting greens and liberals to vote smart, not heart

 

A fellow Catch22er turned my attention to a possible solution. Vote swapping or pairing. For those not familiar with it, check it out @ www.votepair.ca

If this movement could gain some momentum, it would have a radical effect on the outcome of the 2011 election!!

Permalink Reply by ernie yacub on April 19, 2011 at 5:03pm

yes and all elections thereafter pols will be paying a hell of a lot more attention to their constituents especially if we keep the light shining on their actions, not words, as they work to make the changes WE want.

Permalink Reply by jjedras on April 17, 2011 at 10:14pm

I understand that Catch 22 is producing and printing brochures it plans to distribute asking people to vote for Rona-Rae Leonard.

 

As a Liberal I feel it is a shame that Catch 22 has chosen to  pick sides in this riding, and I feel the evaluation overlooks the experience and prominence of Mike Holland in the local community. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people on May 2nd, but I can understand the inclination to rely on historical election results and the decision had been made, so I won't belabour the point.

 

I think all progressive voters in this riding would agree with a campaign that targeted John Duncan and called him out on his record. That's something we could unite on and, lord knows, there's a lot of material to throw at Duncan and Harper.

 

But to not only endorse one candidate, but actively campaign for them (and therefore against the other progressive candidates, such as Holland and Sue Moen), ensures progressive Green and Liberal supporters will be alienated from Catch 22 and turns this group into just an extension of the NDP campaign, which I really don't think was the original intent.

 

Jeff Jedras

Permalink Reply by ernie yacub on April 17, 2011 at 11:51pm

i thought we could run this campaign without endorsing a candidate, just tell people to watch the polls and vote for the candidate who is closest to duncan.

 

but given the voting record, the ndp are clearly the front runners.

 

i think mike and sue should concede to the ndp, thereby ensuring a harpercon defeat.

 

for the greater good, why not?

Permalink Reply by ernie yacub on April 18, 2011 at 12:16am

jeff, have you considered http://voteswap.ca/Main_Page

this came to cvforum, an egroup in the valley....

Vancouver Island North is one of the 20 or so "close" ridings.    So is Moncton, New Brunswick.    In the latter an NDP'er is willing to vote Liberal, which has a chance to beat the Conservative if there's a Liberal here who would vote NDP.   Let me know if you know of someone.

Gwyn

frayneg@shaw.ca

Permalink Reply by Katherine Dunster on April 18, 2011 at 12:57am

Unfortunately getting people elected is about picking sides. It's just that this time it may not be the side you have traditionally voted for in order to get the Liberals into office overall. I've tended to vote Liberal for most of my life because of the ridings I have lived in while attending various universities across this country and from 25 years on Bowen Island which is stuck in the West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country which is over-run by West Vancouver conservatives every time.

If I thought Mike Holland could beat John Duncan I would vote for him. But as I said previously, we need to look at this riding its history, current demographics, etc. and the issues. It would take a sea change of votes to shift Vancouver Island North to Liberal, but a small shift to turn the riding back to NDP and boot the Conservative Party as a whole back to the opposition.

Re the vote swap - I'm a Liberal but voted by special ballot last week for Ronna-Rae Leonard, NDP if that helps the person in Moncton. And I'm supporting the Joyce Murray (Liberal) re-election for Vancouver Quadra because we need her back in Ottawa. As Ernie has said before, vote with the head and not the heart.

 

Permalink Reply by ernie yacub on April 18, 2011 at 1:29am

anybody going to the all cans tomorrow in cumberland and thursday in courtenay? wayne bradley, a member of this group, is getting some catch22 flyers made up and i have a four page handout as well.