The NSMB Guide to the Federal Election
The Canadian Election that is
Words by Dave Tolnai.
Date: 2008-10-10
I have to admit that I am fully, 100% obsessed with American politics right now. I can’t help but feel that what happens down there over the next couple of months will define the next god-knows-how-long for the rest of us. I feel this chilling, tingling in my spine every day as I read story after story about how the United States appears to have lost their collective minds (but seem to be coming to their senses). I’m fearing the worst but hoping for the best. I’m stressed, man. I’m really stressed.
And what do we have up here? Well, it appears that our competition for Prime Minister is between a douche bag, a windbag and a bag of porridge. It seems like if a roomful of accountants got together to plan the news stories for the day, it would be ten times more interesting than what is currently being served up. And the worst part about it is that nobody seems to really care about the issues that we’re facing. The focus seems to be about tearing down the other guy’s ideas. And I think that’s where all this voter apathy comes from. It’s hard to care when all you hear about is how stupid everybody is and how much their ideas suck.
While our election won’t have the same tremendous, worldwide reverberations of the one in the United States, it’s still pretty damned important. We can look to our neighbours and see what happens when you get things wrong. We can see what happens when issues are ignored and people “vote with their gut”. We Canadians need to get interested in our own election and we need to do it quickly.
To do that, I’m going to try to inject a teensy-weensy little bit of informed debate. I’ve approached local candidates from each of the major parties and asked them a series of questions (loosely) related to bicycling, the outdoors and the lower mainland. I encourage you to dig into what this election is really about. Think about how it’s going to affect you. Learn about what decisions are going to be made. Find out what has been happening to our country over the last few years. I’m not going to tell you how to vote (unless you ask me to, then I will, no problem) but if you’re struggling to figure it out, go with these simple rules:
1) The party that is offering up ideas, even if they might not be 100% correct, is probably better than the party telling you that everybody else is an idiot.
2) The party that wants to expand freedoms is better than the one that wishes to take them away.
3) The party that always points out what is wrong with everybody else might be hiding something.
4) The party that refuses to tell you about their plans for the country once they are elected (or rolls them out at the last minute) should make you a little bit afraid.
So please. Educate yourself and go vote. Here’s the questions and answers listed alphabetically by party name. My comments are in bold italics.
Mountain biking, and trail access in general, has been a hot button topic over the last few municipal elections in North Vancouver. The largest threat to trails is “economic development” in the form of logging, mining and condominiums. How do you see the policies of your party effecting trail access for mountain bikes?
Andrew Saxton - Conservative Candidate – North Vancouver – “We’ll take a look at your questions and make a decision on whether or not we’d like to participate once we’ve read them.” (Thanks for the commitment!)
Blair Wilson – Green Party – Incumbent MP - West Vancouver - The Green Party believes mountain bikers should have access to protected trails. In the event of a conflict of interest between a private landowner and mountain bikers over the use of a trail, we would urge both sides to seek a compromise that would respect and accommodate their mutual needs.
Don Bell – Liberal Candidate – Incumbent MP – North Vancouver - As a long-time resident and elected representative of North Vancouver I am very aware of the many benefits that mountain biking brings to our community, from tourism revenue to the obvious health benefits of the sport. The ongoing issue will be how to share the forest among all the stakeholders and users. This is a matter that is in the jurisdiction of the local municipal councils. A group like the NSMBA provides excellent insight into the needs of the mountain bike community for local decision makers and is an excellent liaison with the local municipal decision makers.
Michael Charrois – NDP Candidate – North Vancouver - As someone who has climbed the Grouse Grind and walks his dog everyday along the North Shore trails, I really appreciate the natural beauty and resources that we are blessed with here in North Vancouver. I am always impressed by the peaceful co-existence between everyone who enjoys these multi-use trails. North Vancouver is also know for its world class mountain bike trails. It is important that these trails be maintained not just for recreational and health benefits but also for economic reasons; tourism is a large economic engine in North Vancouver. All levels of government must work together to find solutions and compromises; traditional use of common property should be taken into consideration when development occurs. A great case in point is the Spirit Trail along the waterfront which, when developed, will open a multi-use trail along the waterfront for the first time in a century. Great things can be accomplished when we work together.
Okay. Perhaps it was a bit much to expect anything other than a lukewarm endorsement on this question. Onwards we go.
Bicycles are a very environmentally friendly form of transportation. What would you do to encourage people to ride bicycles? Would you consider an economic incentive to encourage people to buy bicycles?
Andrew Saxton – (But you didn’t mention that you weren’t planning on returning my calls...)
Blair Wilson - Under a Green Party government, all bikes, bicycle gear, bike racks and showers will be tax deductible and GST free. All federal staff will be given a cycling allowance equal to the vehicle allowance. We would match provincial and municipal investments designed to increase cycling, with a baseline contribution of 25 per cent of the total cost, rising to 50 per cent where provinces pay bicycle allowances to their staff and equip all government buildings with cycling facilities, and where cities do likewise, having demonstrated progress in adding cycling lanes and trails. We would create six municipal superfunds of $500 million/fund/year (an average of $100 for every citizen per year) including the Cycling and Pedestrian Promotion (CAPP) Fund to support pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. We would increase the Gas Tax Transfer to municipalities to 5 cents/litre to be used in funding sustainable transportation initiatives including cycling.
Don Bell - Economic incentives may help, but I think the rising cost of transportation will provide incentive enough for many to commit to cycling. Perhaps more important than tax incentives would be federal help for municipalities with their transportation infrastructure. Creating cycle-friendly transportation routes is a costly venture and municipalities and local taxpayers already are under considerable financial pressure. The Liberal party is committed to helping municipalities with infrastructure funding and I would be an advocate for including cycling needs in that financial support.
Michael Charrois - Jack Layton and the New Democrats have many recommendations to encourage people to ride bicycles. Our climate action plan include federal government support of bicycle paths in communities as part of our commitment to sustainable transport. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improved cycling infrastructure will have health benefits for Canadians who choose this greenest form of transportation. Our new $400 monthly Child Benefit will provide an economic incentive for families to get their children started on on the path of health living early in life. I personally believe that every effort must be made the make bicycle commuting safe, comfortable and welcome and that any incentive to encourage bike riding should be explored.
Hot damn! Can you imagine explaining to your wife/husband that you NEED that new all-mountain bike for the tax deduction it will provide? I think the Green Party just won a few votes.
Health care spending takes up a significant portion of our tax dollars. It’s been shown that an active lifestyle leads to better health and that in turn would lessen the burden on the health care system. What would your party do to encourage people to lead a healthy and active lifestyle?
Andrew Saxton - (or responding to my e-mails...)
Blair Wilson - As a healthy, pollution-free outdoor activity, mountain biking – and all cycling ‑ is very much in line with Green Party policy. Pollution caused by the carbon fuels is a serious threat to the health of all Canadians, which is why we encourage the use of alternative – and healthier – means of transport, such as bicycles through substantial financial incentives.
Don Bell - A Liberal Government would allocate at least $3 billion for Sports and Recreation facilities because an active society is a healthier society and Canada must renew and expand its arenas and other recreational facilities.
Michael Charrois - Jack Layton and the New Democrats will protect and enhance the treasured cultural icon and economic advantage that is our public health care system; after all, we invented it. New Democrats have long term vision and we would rather promote wellness instead of the illness industry. To that end we will invest in trail associations across the country, joining forces with Canadians who are blazing new trails by cycling their way to healthier, more active lifestyles.
Okay. Nothing really new here.
The mountain biking demographic (and the site readership in general) tends to skew towards the “young voter” category. Why should “young voters” vote for your party? What are you going to do to ensure that we have a healthy future?
Andrew Saxton - (or indicating whether or not you were going to answer the questions...)
Blair Wilson - No party is more aware of the threats posed by climate change to our children’s future than the Green Party, and no party is more committed to doing something about it. Our election platform sets out what we what do to secure that future. In essence, we look much further forward than any other party does, and we plan for a far greater goal -- a liveable world, with enough for everyone, with healthy communities based on healthy economies; secure for future generations. The most urgent threat is the climate crisis. We must move to a low-carbon economy and dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. We can do this in ways that enhance Canada’s economy and the wellbeing of Canadians. We must also invest in peace. And we must shockproof our society against unforeseeable events by building in resilience. In energy, that means relying increasingly on decentralized renewable power and less on mega-project generators. In social policy, it means realizing that looking out for one another is as important as breathable air, drinkable water and healthy food.
Don Bell - Young voters tend to be very progressive in terms of environmental and social issues, the Liberal Party has been the champion of such issues for generations. Our 2008 platform contains numerous proposals to improve access to post secondary education including simplifying the tax support for students and an improved approach to student aid, reforming the the Student Loans Program among other policy proposals. The full Liberal platform can be found here.
Michael Charrois - We are the Party of Social Justice and change. Many young people are seeing the growing imbalance between those who have and those who have not and they want to make a difference. None of us want to see people suffering and in need and I'm with Jack Layton, the New Democrats and young people across the country in saying, "We've got to do something- this whole set-up just isn't fair". The Corporate Parties have been sharing power for the past thirty years- it's time for some real change. Our new Child Benefit makes sure that we invest in families, to give a head start to a healthy future to everyone.
Are you kidding me? I give you an open-ended, pander to the young people question and this is what you serve up? I expected more.
The Vancouver Downtown Eastside lies between me and the mountains. Almost every time I ride my bicycle, I pass through this cesspool of drug addiction, homelessness and prostitution. It's bizarre to me that I can travel from urban squalor to a beautiful recreational paradise in a matter of minutes. How can we fix this? What are you and your party going to do to help the less fortunate?
Andrew Saxton - (or providing any form of future acknowledgement...)
Blair Wilson - Successive federal and provincial governments have failed utterly to end poverty in Canada as evidenced most starkly on the Downtown Eastside. We need a major policy initiative to eliminate poverty – a Guaranteed Liveable Income (GLI) for all. Failing to eliminate poverty will cost our society far more than a civilized program to make poverty history. A GLI could eliminate poverty and allow social services to concentrate on problems of mental health and addiction. The essence of as GLI is to provide a regular annual payment to every Canadian without regard to a needs test. The level of the payment will be regionally set at a level above poverty, but at a bare subsistence level to encourage additional income generation. Various “poverty-industry” programmes of welfare, disability pensions, seniors’ benefits, unemployment insurance, would all be collapsed within one simple single payment system, administered through taxes.
Don Bell - The Insite safe injection site is a start. All scientific evidence indicates that Insite saves lives. It has won widespread support from the international scientific community, from the Vancouver Police, Mayor and Provincial Government and the residents of Vancouver’s downtown eastside. The Conservative Government is killing the project by refusing to provide additional funding and not renewing the ‘federal exemption’. A Liberal government will reverse the short sighted decisions on funding and ensure that Insite has the money and legal protection it needs to continue to save lives and improve the downtown eastside. A Liberal government will reduce the number of Canadians living in poverty by 30% and reduce the number of children in poverty by 50%. We call this the 30-50 Plan and together with a a strong economy and fighting the climate change crisis, it forms one of the pillars of a new Liberal government.
Michael Charrois - We will introduce a Poverty Elimination Act to eliminate poverty in Canada by the year 2020. We will also institute a "Bring Canada Home" affordable housing plan. These are prudent action plans, fully costed and coming from a balanced budget. You can get full details at ndp.ca or through my website, www.michaelcharrois.blogspot.com. I would like to remind everyone about the language that we used when describing the situation downtown. We must stop vilifying and demonizing those poor sick people. They are not pieces of garbage floating in a "cesspool", they are our brothers, sisters, mothers or they could be one of your fallen friends. Most of us in North Vancouver are a broken leg, lost job or two pay cheques away from the street. We have to look after each other- one tragic event or bad decision could turn us into couch surfers, if we have friends with resources, or onto the streets if we have none.
What can I say. Strong language gets a strong response. I happen to think that getting people to admit that this place is a “cesspool” is the first step towards helping this situation. I don’t think there’s any other word for this place and it wasn’t meant as a comment on the people living there…
Andrew Saxton – (but I guess we’re not the only people that you’ve been ignoring.)
Blair Wilson - I’ve always been avid cyclist and until recently was still competing in Ironman competitions. My first bike was green Mustang with a banana seat and ape handle bars that I later modified to deliver newspapers. When I first started training for ironman I borrowed my buddy’s old Apollo ten speed and later bought a specialized triathlon bike which served me well in both the 2001 and 2003 Canadian Ironman Championships in Penticton.
Don Bell - As a young lad I spent hours on my bicycle as it was how I delivered papers. I cannot imagine how many miles I rode but it was a lot.
Michael Charrois - The first bike I remember owning was a purple mustang bike with high, laid back handle bars, a banana seat and a high-back purple padded sissy-bar; way far cool! I extended the front forks and by adding a clothes pin and hockey card to the rear wheel for the engine noise, I got myself an Easy Rider chopper. In grade seven I taught my friend Theo Ma how to ride that bike and in exchange he taught me how to play ping pong.
The mustang seems to be a popular choice. It’s good to have a cyclist as a candidate…too bad he’s a tri-geek. (wink, wink)
A huge thank-you to the three candidates who chose to respond to this survey. I wish you the best of luck in the upcoming election. And anybody that made it this far into this article probably already has plans to vote. Right?
If you have a comment to make about the pending federal elections on either side of the 49th parallel - and particularly how they affect bicycles, access to the outdoors or the environment - pipe up here.
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