B.C. Green leaders won’t work with NDP in election
By Carlito Pablo
http://www.straight.com/article-178515/bc-green-leaders-won%3F%3Ft-work-ndp-election
Green Party of B.C. leader Jane Sterk still won’t entertain suggestions that her party work together with the NDP to defeat the B.C. Liberals in this May’s provincial election.
“It’s not my intention to try and win seats for the NDP,” Sterk told the Straight. “It’s my intention to try and win seats for the Green party.”
Sterk noted that the Greens plan to run candidates in all of the 85 constituencies delineated by the Electoral Districts Act of 2008, dismissing notions that her party will step aside for certain NDP candidates in order to not split the anti-Liberal vote.
For her part, Sterk said that she will be nominated as her party’s candidate in the new electoral district of Esquimalt–Royal Roads on January 14. Known as Esquimalt-Metchosin until the election, the constituency is currently held by NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis.
As a candidate for council in the Township of Esquimalt, Sterk topped the election polls in 2005.
Green deputy leader Damian Kettlewell doesn’t know yet where he will run. Like Sterk, Kettlewell is bullish on fielding Greens in every constituency.
“We’re focused on electing Green MLAs,” Kettlewell told the Straight. “We have no interest in helping the NDP or the Liberals. We have a better plan for British Columbia, and we want to implement that in the legislature.”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Georgia Straight Letter to the Editor
I am puzzled why media pundits often add the votes of 2005 NDP candidate Mel Lehan with those of the Green Party's Damian Kettlewell ["NDP's Mel Lehan takes on Gordon Campbell in Vancouver-Point Grey", January 8-15], and state that the combined total would have defeated Gordon Campbell. This incorrectly assumes that all Green Party voters are left-of-centre.
Green Party deputy leader Damian Kettlewell holds an MBA, owns and operates a small business, and has worked in the corporate management sector for ten years. In light of his university degrees and business acumen, many small business owners and corporate employees in Vancouver-Point Grey were attracted to Kettlewell in 2005 as an viable alternative to Gordon Campbell.
The reality is that the Green Party of B.C. draws voters from across the political spectrum. We attract progressive voters who understand that the environment is an important pillar of governance for our province, alongside with the economy and social justice.
Given the bipolar nature of British Columbian politics, the Green Party appeals to voters who don't want to have to hold their nose and vote for the "least worst" of two highly ideological parties.
During this time of global economic uncertainty, the Green Party is advocating greater support for small businesses, and for the reinvigoration of our province's economy with a green stimulus package. We believe in significantly reducing the cost of B.C.'s greatest expenditure, health care, by investing in more pro-active (rather than re-active) and community-based health care. Additionally, we strongly feel that the thousands of homeless people across British Columbia deserve a roof over their heads - both for moral and economic reasons.
Unfortunately for Mr. Lehan, the intelligent voters of Vancouver-Point Grey will not support the reactionary "axe the tax" campaign of the NDP. And unfortunately for Mr. Campbell, voters in Vancouver-Point Grey understand the hypocrisy of a government that promotes a carbon tax while also pushing through the single-occupancy vehicle-focused Gateway campaign (which completely ignores Metro Vancouver's Livable Region Strategic Plan). The people of Vancouver-Point Grey appreciate that the Green Party of B.C. introduced the concept of a carbon tax way back in 1996, and that we have a much more comprehensive and balanced plan for the governance of British Columbia than either the Liberals or the NDP.
Devon Rowcliffe
Communications Director for Damian Kettlewell, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Green Party deputy leader Damian Kettlewell holds an MBA, owns and operates a small business, and has worked in the corporate management sector for ten years. In light of his university degrees and business acumen, many small business owners and corporate employees in Vancouver-Point Grey were attracted to Kettlewell in 2005 as an viable alternative to Gordon Campbell.
The reality is that the Green Party of B.C. draws voters from across the political spectrum. We attract progressive voters who understand that the environment is an important pillar of governance for our province, alongside with the economy and social justice.
Given the bipolar nature of British Columbian politics, the Green Party appeals to voters who don't want to have to hold their nose and vote for the "least worst" of two highly ideological parties.
During this time of global economic uncertainty, the Green Party is advocating greater support for small businesses, and for the reinvigoration of our province's economy with a green stimulus package. We believe in significantly reducing the cost of B.C.'s greatest expenditure, health care, by investing in more pro-active (rather than re-active) and community-based health care. Additionally, we strongly feel that the thousands of homeless people across British Columbia deserve a roof over their heads - both for moral and economic reasons.
Unfortunately for Mr. Lehan, the intelligent voters of Vancouver-Point Grey will not support the reactionary "axe the tax" campaign of the NDP. And unfortunately for Mr. Campbell, voters in Vancouver-Point Grey understand the hypocrisy of a government that promotes a carbon tax while also pushing through the single-occupancy vehicle-focused Gateway campaign (which completely ignores Metro Vancouver's Livable Region Strategic Plan). The people of Vancouver-Point Grey appreciate that the Green Party of B.C. introduced the concept of a carbon tax way back in 1996, and that we have a much more comprehensive and balanced plan for the governance of British Columbia than either the Liberals or the NDP.
Devon Rowcliffe
Communications Director for Damian Kettlewell, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
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