 |
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms |
|
|
|
June 24: Sandra and I were excited about participating in the first York Centre Candidates Forum at Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue. A party room was used for the debate and the buzz made by the large crowd promised an intense evening of partisan gibberish. The moderator spelled out the rules of engagement, which quickly started a downward trend when attendees wondered aloud why they were not allowed to question the candidates at the end. However, time permitting, a Q&A session would follow the assigned format. Three panelists asked two questions each covering health care, security and foreign policy, among other issues. While the candidates remained mostly polite with each other, the unruly crowd was hardly civil. Actually, we were embarrassed and ashamed by the way people heckled, argued, and disrupted the proceedings, making a mockery of the event. It was un-Canadian and undemocratic.
At the beginning, the Rabbi reminded us that Jews have a long tradition of teaching and debate. The night showed unbearable intolerance and rudeness towards the candidates that had no place in a house of worship. It was apparent the event was stacked with boisterous Conservative supporters waving lawn signs and acting as a mob out for Liberal blood. In spite of the conditions, Liberal and New Democrat candidates handled it well. The Green Party member came off poorly, often reading from a script and looking uncomfortable in front of such a volatile group. An anti-Liberal bias was obvious to us as the arrogant Tory played to the crowd for maximum effect. Ultimately, the forum changed little in our minds, but showed the depths some will sink to reach their goals.
June 8: My dad rented a table at the ninth annual Israel day festival to promote his writing, with Sandra and I supporting. To our horror, we were placed next to a pair of Conservative candidates that rented one too. All day long, we listened to rookie politicians and their volunteers pitch Tory policies, attack liberalism and hand out balloons for the kids. Despite an overwhelming desire to use their helium tank as a blunt object to encourage a more socially responsible way of thinking, I chose to ignore them. However, dad let it be known he favoured a Liberal minority government, and that Sandra and I were New Democrats. At first, a volunteer took it upon herself to convert my dad to conservatism, arguing at length and keeping him from speaking to others eager to learn more about his books. I vowed not to let anyone distract or engage me while working behind our table, a promise that surprisingly lasted most of the afternoon. It was not until a young candidate himself approached me that hell nearly broke loose.
Federal Conservatives are a curious bunch, forgetting or disregarding parts of history that inconveniently clash with their agendas. Mention the previous Ontario Conservative government and you're told provincial matters do not concern them. Yet, bashing the string of broken promises by Liberals is fair game because it goes to the issue of integrity and trust. Paradoxically, that same issue of trust nearly destroyed the Tories after the 1993 election. If Conservatives argue a Liberal minority government is the next best thing to winning this contest outright, why not support proportional representation to ensure our leaders are accountable and ideology-driven policies balance with the needs of all Canadians? A party apparently with multiple-personalities, changing its name, leadership and policies to appeal to more voters, and with obvious America-envy, is unstable and undisciplined to assume power. Finally, stealing ideas from another party (fiscal conservatives using the left-wing term "corporate welfare"), and relying on a tired and divisive platform, shows a complete lack of originality or vision.
Top
