David Rawnsley
Community Kitchen
A not-so-new concept of bringing together small groups of men and/or women who would meet once a month (to start) and cook larger than usual amounts of whatever it is decided upon.. The costs of ingredients would be split between the people, as well as the produce. All you need to do besides the ingredients is bring bags or containers for freezing. The community spirit makes it fun and we all would have nutritious food ready to be heated up.
The brainchild of Lorna Foreman, you can find out more at treehaven@cogeco.ca or by phoning at 613 933 5265.
January 17th, 2009 by David Rawnsley
Lateral Change Inc.
Lateral Change Inc. is a not-4-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals, organizations and companies with the green-change that is developing within our community. We offer workshops for any of these groups as well as working with others in the community on significant change opportunities.
The principals are: myself, David Rawnsley, my ex-Campaign Manager - Lorna Foreman, and an environmental activist, Darlene Lunny, who I met during the course of the campaign.
For information contact me by email at rawnsleydavid@gmail.com or telephone me at 613 347-7359.
January 4th, 2009 by David Rawnsley
2009 - A year of Opportunity
Chinese symbols share a yin and a yang - two different interpretations of any event - and the Chinese recognize that out of every catastrophe comes opportunity. In fact the larger the catastrophe, the greater the opportunity. Given the global economic meltdown of 2008, year 2009 looks to be full of opportunity!
Could we get rid of Harper? PLEASE! This man is so buried in yesterday’s world, yesterday’s economy, yesterdays numbers, that he is ignorant to the economics of health and happiness. Canadian want to be recognized as good global citizens doing their bit in the collective effort to save the planet from runaway climate change. The do not want to find themselves as the “bad boys” of the carbon world, something we are well on the way to becoming. What better way to be good global citizens than by adding to our own health, wealth and comfort, in a sustainable and environmentally positive manner.
Let us think of “wellness”. For a green, wellness is second nature, and we are happy contributing to building this industry. By all of us spending at least as much on promoting our wellness as we, the insurance industry, and the healthcare industries, spend on corrective action when our wellness fails, then we will move our money through the economy one more time. The secret to economic growth is spending the same dollar over and over again, as quickly as we can, on sustainable environmentally positive activities.
2009 brings Lateral Change Inc. as the big change in my life. Along with some colleagues I am embarking on a new life and trying to help individuals, organizations and companies change. More information on Lateral Change Inc will be presented in the coming months but should you want to engage with us in “Change Workshops” contact me through this website at rawnsleydavid@gmail.com.
November 7th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Reflections - November 2008
The 2008 Federal election is history. We have a new minority government; the Liberals are already squabbling; Obama is for real, and all is far from well with the world.
That to be elected in Stormont,
October 31st, 2008 by David Rawnsley
The US Election
I am very hopeful that Obama will be elected in the USA. Not because I dislike McCain, I do not, I think he is generally an honest and knowledgeable person, something that the office of President has been lacking for some time.
I like Obama, because I like his stand on the environment, and on using the green-economy to get the US out of their current economic woes. The one thing that we know about Americans, is that they do have the capacity to bounce back and re-invent themselves. I believe the USA under Obama will rapidly become green and we in Canada will be dragged along for the ride.
I read this week in the Guardian Weekly, a newspaper that combines news from The Manchester Guardian (UK based), Paris Le Monde, and the Washington Post, an editorial that described Canada as, “a model for non-superpower important nations - like Britain - to follow”. I would feel happier if that model had a stronger commitment to the environment and investing in the green-economy.
October 23rd, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Best Ever Green Party Result
Well it is official. This has been the best ever election result for the Green Party. Personally, that doesn’t surprise me, and it certainly bodes well for future elections when, hopefully, there will not be a global financial meltdown going on at the same time!
Certainly the meltdown hurt our result as many green-curious Conservatives chose to stick with the poison they already knew. Wavering, Liberals, stayed home rather than choose this moment to change a lifetime’s behavior. And green-NDPers found that the social injustice of bailing out the Wall Street was too much to contend with and lined up behind Jack.
We are much stronger now. Our infrastructure is secure and we are continuing to grow. This is a national phenomenon.
For all the marvelous news about the great achievements we made during the election go to http://www.greenparty.ca/en/node/8434.
October 22nd, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Evolution of LINX 2
I am extremely pleased to welcome Lorna Foreman and Darlene Lunny to the LINX 2 team. Together we will provide services aimed to empower individuals, organizations, and companies to become sustainable.
Sustainability is the essential component of a green society - being able to integrate with our surroundings to allow us, our children, their children, and the children of the future to prosper. This integration involves ourselves, the groups and networks that we are a part of, and the organizations and companies that we work for. Each level must be sustainable and we must be the agents of change to ensure this happens.
Our green-business model is a not-for-profit one. Not because we believe that profit is a bad thing but because our motivation is such that reinvesting any gain in further expansion makes the most sense. We are in the process of registering LINX 2 as a not-for-profit corporation.
October 22nd, 2008 by David Rawnsley
The Anti-Candidate Going Forward
Am I planning to run again?
I have been asked this a number of times recently. The simple answer is “YES !”, the more complex answer is “YES ! Provided that no other candidate comes forward who I can support to carry the fight into the future and victory. I am always “talent spotting” in this regard, something that I have been doing since day 1 of my tenure as candidate.
What is next?
LINX 2, my new venture in “sustainability consulting” has received an enormous boost with Lorna Foreman and Darlene Lunny joining my team. Collectively we have some services that will be of benefit to the greening of our community. We are launching the new venture at the Dundas Healthy Home Fair being held in Morrisburg at the OETIO facility on Sunday October 26th between 1:00pm and 5:00pm (free organic food!). We will continue to build the Green Capital of Canada right here in River City.
Will the Blog continue?
Yes. It will morph into a vehicle to promote what is happening on the Green Capital of Canada front, and will continue to be a site where I can express my thoughts. Watch for a piece on “change” coming shortly.
Will you continue to visit the rest of the Riding?
Yes. It is my intention to come out to the various regions of the Riding approximately once a month. I will make it the first week in the month and I will change days to Dundas on a Friday and Stormont on a Thursday - north in the morning, south around lunchtime. I will post a schudule for each month, so check under the schedule category.
Any other questions? e-mail me at rawnsleydavid@gmail.com
October 16th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Signs
Our plan is to have all signs removed by the end of this weekend (October 19th). In the event that you see a sign after that please take the following action:
- - pick up the sign and either,
- - store it until the next election and then redeploy, or
- - advise me at rawnsleydavid@gmail.com and I will arrange to collect it.
Please do not leave the sign to litter our environment.
October 15th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Reflections on the result
I would like to thank each and every one of the 1885 voters who felt confident enough in either me or the party to cast their vote for me. You are now all empowered. You know who I am you know what I look like. When you see me, just let me know that you are one of the 1885. I promise that I will not ask for money or put you under any green-pressure, but I would like to say “thank you” for your trust, personally.
I would like to celebrate with you all that I took from this election. On the very positive side we were the only local party to increase our vote. All the other parties received considerably less than last time, even Guy Lauzon, who was reduced by 8%, whereas our total went up 10% when there was a much reduced turnout.
So while other local candidates, including the incumbent were losing votes we were gaining votes.
Plus, this is the best result we have had from a first-time candidate.
I can also celebrate that Amit Goswami became aware of my interest in his work and has sent me a signed copy of his last book. Let us hope that it is more accessible.
I got to experience People Power at its very strongest. We took comfort-energy and unleashed it on the change process. We all shared that “wow” moment when we heard Elizabeth had been included in the debate and we all felt great. I need to find a way to unleash that comfort-energy to empower my own campaign.
Finally, just a note that the Blog will continue. Next “Thoughts” are on the process of change. If you would like me to email you when I change the Blog, just drop me the initial email and I will create a seperate mailing list.
October 13th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
P.S. Strategic Voting
In view of the large amount of spin and disinformation being currently spread, let me re-iterate that neither the Green Party nor Elizabeth May has suggested a voter should vote strategically. We want all our votes and we are not going to give any away.
You may read my views and Elizabeth’s views on strategic voting under previous posts in the “Thoughts” category.
October 11th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Final Word on the Campaign
Firstly, let me wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. My wife and I enjoy this holiday more than most as it is truly the North American holiday, with its purpose of celebrating a bountiful harvest and preparing for the winter ahead. This year I will also be celebrating my campaign with the realization that I have been a part of the Green Party’s coming of age.
Many of you will have decided to vote Green for the first time and, on Tuesday, you will be experiencing that “wow” moment when you vote for what you want in your future rather than voting against something that you do not want. It is a gratifying experience and an empowering moment that can sustain you for the changes it will demand of you.
You will no longer be able to sit in your car while it idles in the Tim Hortons drive through line. No you will have to get out and order from the counter. (In many instances this is actually quicker.) You will have to buy a re-useable mug and arrange to wash it. Plastic water bottles will become a thing of the past and you will be seeking knowledge about how to reorganize your life in a sustainable manner. The Dundas Healthy Home Fair on Sunday, October 26th in Morrisburg, from 1:00pm until 5:00pm, would be a good place to start.
Hey, this doesn’t mean you need to be perfect over night, we all move through various stages of greenness but we do change and you will change. However, you will realize that you have done this because you have considered that we can make this change a positive feature of our future and not a negative one. And you will not be alone. Many thousands across Canada will be making these same changes at the same time.
The Green Party will not form government, we may only get a few people elected, but we will be on the move. I talked of a “green tide of change” when I accepted the nomination to run as the Green Party candidate and clearly the green tide is moving. I congratulate you new-Greens on choosing the best path forward. Go at your own speed and enjoy the journey. We are here to help you should you need it and my blog will remain open into that green future. Do not be shy to contact us as we will not be after your money!
Enjoy the green life ahead of you.
Vote for tomorrow. Vote Green.
October 11th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Profile in the Seaway Valley News
Bill Upper has written a nice profile in the Seaway Valley News. To see it follow this link http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com to the paper. Click on the banner at the top and select the October 10th (1) issue. This downloads a pdf file and the article is on page 4.
October 10th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Look who is Green
Wonderful item in the Standard Freeholder today entitled: “What’s inside the mind of a first time voter?” And, of course, you have guessed which Party she has selected.
http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1241416
October 10th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Elizabeth May on Strategic Voting
Please ignore any “spin” pieces that you hear or read on the Green Party and strategic voting. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are employing their questionable ways to try and get you to change your vote. Follow this link to read what Elizabeth really thinks about strategic voting, it very much in line with my own thoughts which you can find under the “Thoughts” category.
http://www.greenparty.ca/en/releases/10.10.2008
October 9th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Interview AM1220 RADIO
I had a really good interview on AM1220 this morning (Thursday Oct 9th). Finally got to talk about the local economy. http://www.am1220.ca/shows/cornwall-today/interview-archive/
October 9th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Getting Out the Vote
If you have decided to vote Green then I am confident that, come rain, snow, wind, or whatever the Canadian weather can offer, you will exercise your democratic right and vote on October 14th. You see, Greens always vote, it is part of being Green and being Green you will afix your X in the appropriate box beside my name.
Imagine that you didn’t vote and we were defeated by a single vote, how would you feel? Or if we were one vote short of getting our 10% and a refund of 60% of our campaign costs, to say nothing of the $1:83 we will get towards the next election? No those horrors are not something I wish on any of you so make sure you VOTE!
October 9th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Walker Climate Care
We are still in the midst of having our geo-thermal heating installed and I know from Brian Walker of Walker Climate Care that this year his schedule is already full. However, he can only do between 35-50 installations a year so if you are thinking of using the earth’s natural warmth to heat your home, and plan to take advantage of the governments $10,000 package to reduce energy use, it would make sense to get on his list as soon as possible.
http://www.walkerclimatecare.ca/webapp/GetPage?pid=317
October 9th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Astro Printing
If you are looking for green printing, then check out the team at Astro Printing. Manager, Marc Ladouceur, owner of a very smart Smart car, is proud of his no-chemical printing, and rightly so. Just another example of the green things happening in our community that we are unaware of.
October 8th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
The Anti-Candidate
The Standard Freeholder ran a good profile of me under the headline “The Anti-Candidate”. You can find it at http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1237457. There was one factual error in as much as I was not Tom Manley’s campaign manager, I was Doug Beards’ campaign manager, however other references to conversations with Tom Manley are essentially accurate.
P.S. Added October 10th after discussion with Tom Manley
Tom has asked me to clarify that the “training” was not received from him and this is also correct. I received the training specified from an individual who then was with the Green Party of Ontario. He was a recruit from the Progressive Conservatives and has subsequently migrated again - to the Liberal Party.
October 8th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Q&A Standard Freeholder (6)
How can you balance the needs of the environment with the need to ensure taxes are lowered and business is able to flourish?
The simple truth is that large corporations rarely pay any taxes, employing droves of accountants to ensure this. It is those same corporations that pollute our environment while receiving government subsidies. Small business, that accounts for 80% of Canadian businesses, and individuals bear the majority of the tax burden.
We will shift taxes from an individual’s income and apply it to things that pollute. Yes, this will make certain things more expensive, but people will be able to choose whether they wish to spend their increased take-home pay on high-priced polluting items or not. We will also provide incentives for those polluters to improve, offering them rebates based on reduced pollution.
I believe that this will provide the incentives for us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to levels 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050, a reduction that Mother Earth will really appreciate.
October 8th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Le Capital Vert du Canada
L’idée de la Capitale Vert du Canada est venu à moi à la fin de l’année 2006. J’ai récemment découvert l’Institut de la Fleuve Saint-Laurent des Sciences de l’Environnement, et j’étais impressionné par cette installation de recherche construite par les gens de notre région sans l’aide de Queens Park ou d’Ottawa. J’étais conscient que divers groupes ont travaillé et continue de travaillé pour nettoyer la rivière et qu’il y ‘a une groupe de propre air qui travail également pour améliorer l’air que nous respirons. Le plus que j’ai devenu impliqué avec le Parti Vert, j’ai trouvé que l’agriculture biologique prendre pied, encore une fois, sans soutien de l’extérieur. J’ai commencé à réaliser que nous étions beaucoup plus écologique que la plupart des gens nous ont reconnu.
À un moment donné au cours de ma carrière comme conseiller en gestion, j’avais été impliqué brièvement d’ un projet visant à établir des critères pour le Prix de Qualité présenté par le gouvernement de l’époque. Je me rappelle de la liste des articles que une entreprise ont dû démontrer pour être pris en considération pour l’attribution. Il me semble pour déterminer si une ville ou une communauté soit en fait “vert”, il aura également besoin d’une telle liste de critères. Ainsi que, il m’a semblé que nous qualifierions probablement sur de nombreux fronts. Nous avons des autobus au gaz naturel et nous avons l’Institut St.Laurent et de plus nous avons la piste cyclable sur le long du Saint-Laurent, nous avons une variété de choses vert.
J’ai pris mes pensées à nombreux militants environnementaux dans notre communauté et leur a demandé ce qu’ils pensaient. Ont-ils des pensée que j’étais fou? Ou ont-ils partager ma vision positive de nos réalisations précédentes et le potentiel pour être reconnu comme tel. Ils ont tous approuvé mes pensées.
En 2006, lors de la élection précédente, le Parti Vert a présenté à le maire, M. Poirier, et le directeur, Jim McDonnell, un document intitulé “La capitale verte du Canada - Une vision de Cornwall et SD et SG”. Sa parlait de rapprocher les industries de l’agriculture, l’agro-alimentaire, le tourisme et les col-vert ensemble dans une stratégie cohérente. Nous avons espéré qu’il sera devenu un sujet de discussion au cours de la campagne et nous avons laissé nos exemplaires à des bases mobiles à Winchester, de Morrisburg, Ingleside et de Lancaster. Il a été largement ignorés.
Cependant, nous avons été très encouragés lorsque Elaine MacDonald à utilisé le concept de La Capitale Vert de l’Ontario” dans son offre à retenir pour l’élection au Conseil municipal. Je crois fermement que tous les critères d’évaluation en fonction de Cornwall et ses environs se confirme, nous sommes en effet La Capitale Vert de l’Ontario, et également La Capitale Vert du Canada.
Pour assurer ce, nous devons aussi élire un député vert, et de préférence un qui provient de la seule véritable parti vert, le Parti Vert. Il ya un prix pour avoir élu le premier député du Parti Vert et celui c’est établissement d’un région qui est considéré le meilleur endroit pour localiser les industries vertes. Kanata, à l’ouest d’Ottawa, est reconnu sous le nom de «Silicon Valley du Nord», le comparaison actuel de la Silicon Valley en Californie, il est reconnu comme le Capital HI-TECH du Canada. L’élire d’un député du Parti Vert nous couronnerons comme l’équivalent de la centre vert et d’assurer le reconnaissance qu’ont et le Capitale Vert du Canada et en tour tirer les emplois verts à notre porte.
October 7th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Cornwall Chamber of Commerce Debate
Here are some pictures from the televised debate at the Civic Complex sponsored by the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. Pictures are courtesy of Image-ine Photography.
Wow Darlene, if that bottle is giving you such a lot of trouble then perhaps you should consider a reusable one! Or have we caught you in a moment when, like the rest of us, you might like to throttle your neighbor?
So good to see a Chief from the Akwesasne at the debate - seen here asking a question about the new low-level bridge.
Yours truly, fluffing his lines during his closing. Meant to say that the platform could be found at www.votefortomorrow.ca but bailed out into www.greenparty.ca when I forgot the other site name.
Sixth candidate Dwight Dugas is working the 7:00pm to 3:00am shift at Ridgewood Industries as well as trying to run his campaign.
October 6th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Notre Plan de compense carbone
Je suis très heureux d’annoncer le plan suivant pour compenser notre empreinte de carbone dans cette élection.
Le Parti Vert vont inviter le Cornwall Initiative de Réduction de Carbone (CCRI) pour réviser de façon indépendante notre calcul d’empreinte carbone. Avec de nouveaux arbres que nous allons acquérir localement,nous continuerons de rechercher leur avis sur le calcul de la réduction de l’impact carbone . Si elles le jugent approprié, nous demanderons semi-mature arbres, ou des arbres que sont dépeupler localement pour faire place à des nouveaux champs de maïs.
De plus, nous planifions de augmenter cet investissement en remettant un défi de la réduction carbone pour les écoles secondaires locales, avec un prix de l’installation du nouveau ou des arbres sauvé dans la cour de l’école gagnante. Détails de la concurrence sera disponible après l’élection, et après les discussions avec les écoles.
Nous constatons que nos annonces sur la compense du carbone normalement précède des annonces de la part des les campagnes Libéraux et NPD. Nous avons délibérément attendu jusqu’à maintenant pour annoncer ces plans, dans l’espoir que d’autres ont, pour une fois, été en avance sur nous. Malheureusement, comme cela est évident, le Parti Vert est le seul parti qui a vraiment l’environnement au cœur.
Bien sûr, le Parti Conservateur, à tous les niveaux, d’évite le coût de la compense du carbone.
October 5th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Q&A Standard Freholder (5)
What do you see as a potential area of growth in our riding?
Green jobs. The GREEN CAPITAL of
Kanata, just west of
What is the down side? Your MP will not be part of the governing party. In truth has that brought you very much in the past?
October 5th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Our Carbon Off-set Plan
I am very pleased to announce the following plan to offset our carbon footprint in this election.
The Green Party will invite the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative (CCRI) to independently review our calculation of our carbon footprint. We will further seek their advice in calculating the reduced carbon impact of new trees that we will acquire locally. If they deem it appropriate we will seek semi-mature trees, or trees that are being cleared locally to make way for new corn fields.
We than plan to lever this investment by challenging local high schools in a carbon-reduction competition, with the prize being the installation of the new or saved trees in the school yard of the winning school. Details of the competition will be made available after the election, after discussions with the schools.
We note that our announcements on carbon offsets normally precede the follow-up announcements from the Liberals and NDP campaigns, so we have deliberately waited until now to announce these plans, in the hope that others would have, for once, been ahead of us. Unfortunately, as is evident, the Green Party is the only party that really has the environment at its heart.
Of course the Conservative Party, at any level, is avoiding the cost of carbon offsets.
October 5th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Schedule Final Week
This is the big push week when all our plans and efforts have to translated into votes. This is a time for GREENS to be visible.
If you are GREEN be SEEN!
Monday Oct. 6th
8:00 am Mary’s Restaurant - Winchester
10:00 am Louis’ Restaurant - Chesterville
12:30 am Loyalist Lodge - Morrisburg
2:00 pm Preparing for Debate
6:30 pm Televised debate - Cornwall Civic Complex
Tuesday Oct. 7th
8:30 am Roundtable call in - 1220 AM
12:30 pm Milano Pizzeria - Ingleside
2:00 pm Canvassing in Long Sault
4:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
Wednesday Oct 8th
10:00 am Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
12:00 pm Canvassing Cornwall
2:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
4:00 pm Canvassing Cornwall
Thursday Oct. 9th
10:00 am Cafe Connectionz Cornwall
12:00 pm Canvassing Cornwall
2:00 pm Preparing for AGricultural Debate
7:30 pm Agricultural Debate - Chesterville Legion
Friday Oct. 10th
10:00 am Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
12:00 pm Canvassing Cornwall
2:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
4:00 pm Canvassing Cornwall
Saturday Oct. 11th
Chesterville Farmers’ Market
Sunday/Monday Oct. 12/13th
Enjoying Thanksgiving with my family
Tuesday Oct. 14th PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE
October 2nd, 2008 by David Rawnsley
La Plateforme en francais
Vous pouvez trouver la plateforme ici:
http://www.votezpourlavenir.ca/
October 2nd, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Q&A What can we do to encourage students to vote?
This was raised as a question in yesterdays debate at the St. Lawrence College. Candidates were given a prepared list of questions before the debate and then a draw was conducted to see which question each candidate answered.
I was especially pleased to get this question, as I was looking out into a very sparsely populated auditorium. In addition a large portion of the few students that were there had come because of a class asignment. So the room very much demonstrated the lack of interest that young people feel towards politics.
I shared with those present my ideas that the Green Party should engage with peoples energy rather than their pocketbook. I pointed out that if you go to this website, you will not find any mechanism to donate, nor any request to donate. Quite different if you go to the web sites of all my competitors. Not to say that the Green Party itself is not busy raising money, as it is, but I as a candidate am seeking a way to do politics that is sustainable for candidates across the country. I believe the Green Party is different, and we must celebrate that “differentness” in the hope that it will entice the youth back into the process. If I am successful here in S-D-SG then I will be in a position to take my theories to the national level.
October 2nd, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Prime Minister’s Scare Tactics
Having just watched the french language debate, I am once again appalled by the Canadian Prime Minister deliberately misleading the Canadian population. The Conservative government commissioned a report on the impact of a $50/ton carbon tax, no doubt with the intent of beating both the Greens and Liberals with th results during an election. The problem was that the report, conducted by independent experts, chosen by the government themselves said:
Very little initial impact - less than 0.1% reduction in GDP - becomes rapidly neutral - changing to a positive impact in 2015.
Not surprisingly this report did not see the light of day being suppressed by the government. The Green Party obtained a copy under an Access to Information request. Now it is one thing to make extravagant claims without any knowledge, it is another to make them when you know, from your own research, that they are untrue.
For a copy of the report follow the following link: http://www.greenparty.ca/en/releases/12.09.2008
September 30th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
The Sound of Silence
Our current election reminds me of an old Simon and Garfunkel song (perhaps showing my age) - The Sound of Silence. The ruling conservatives have adopted a code of silence. Local MP’s have been muzzled by President Harper and instructed to only discuss local issues and leave national issues to Harper, Harper and Harper. Even with the economic melt down that is currently happening south of the border it is very rare to see the Finance Minister responding to the issue and nowhere is there any Conservative economic platform.
I hear that the platform may be launched today, less than two weeks until voting day.
On the local front, Guy Lauzon is following instructions to the letter. He is discussing what his party has achieved, while operating in the dysfunctional environment that prompted President Harper to break his own law and call an expensive, opportunistic election. He is focusing on his own achievements - 22 passport clinics, 221 government jobs to the area…..and…and…oh, yes, liking being the MP.
Surely we must expect more than this from our elected representative? Surely he has some obligation to tell us where he stands on incarcerating 14 year-olds in adult jails, announcing our withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2011, the state of the economy, immigration, healthcare?
Hopefully he will have a new script by the time of the major Candidates Debate on Monday October 6th, but don’t hold your breath. I really think he enjoys the sound of silence.
September 30th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Green Party Platform
Thanks to Don Taylor for pointing out that I have not mentioned out Platform under “Policy” and how to find it. When I wrote the original blog item the platform had not been published.
Our platform is entitled “Looking Forward - A fresh perspective on Canada’s future” and it is a document that I support 100%. You may find it at http://www.votefortomorrow.ca.
September 29th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Strategic Voting
I have been guilty of this in the passed, when I voted not with my conscience but (notionally) with my head. This was in the days before the Parties received funding for elections from the taxpayers.
Did it work? No. Did I enjoy it? No. Made me feel kinda dirty.
Today with our much improved mechanism for funding elections it is essential that you vote where your conscience leads you. Each Party receives funding based on how many votes they get in an election. I believe the current amount is $1.83 per vote. So if you want to vote for the Green Party but decide to vote strategically, you end up funding the Party you vote for at the next election. So the Green Party not only doesn’t get your $1.83 (excuse the string of negatives there) but your $1.83 goes to one of our competitors which makes it seem like we lost $3.66.
On top of this, should we surpass 10% in the election, at a local level, then we receive back 60% of the total amount we spent on the election, which means we are really well off at the next election. Giving your vote to someone else undermines our ability to achieve that. The traditional Parties of course expect to receive this back so borrow and spend against it.
Finally, just a couple of words on vote swapping. If you know the person at the other end then perhaps it can work. If you do not, then how can you be assured that the person you have swapped with is actually voting the way you want and how can you be sure that they are not swapping the same vote multiple times. Should it be developed as an on-line option? Perhaps a debate for another day.
September 28th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Q&A for Standard Freeholder (3)
How do you plan to balance urban and rural concerns in a riding as diverse as ours?
I am a city boy who lives in the country. I grew up with the smog of
Being the GREEN CAPITAL of
This is another change that we can export to the world.
September 27th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Schedule Week 4
Wow, is it week four already, of a five week campaign - and still no Conservative Party platform?
Monday Sept. 29th
8:00 am Mary’s Restaurant - Winchester
10:00 am Louis’ Restaurant - Chesterville
11:00 am Hartford Retirement Home - Morrisburg
12:00 am Loyalist Lodge - Morrisburg
1:30 pm Interview with the Iroquois Chieftain
4:00 pm Recording Radio Advertising
5:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
Tuesday Sept. 30th
8:00 am Patsy’s Restaurant - Avonmore
10:00 am Canvassing - St. Andrews, Newington, Lunnenburg
12:30 pm Milano Pizzeria - Ingleside
1:30 pm Canvassing - Ingleside, Long Sault, Cornwall Centre
5:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
Wednesday Oct. 1st
10:00 am Final preparations for College Debate
11:30 am Debate at St. Lawrence College
1:00 pm Canvassing - St. Lawrence College
2:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
Evening - Enjoying French Language debate
Thursday Oct 2nd
10:00 am Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
12:00 pm Canvassing - Cornwall
2:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
4:00 pm Canvassing - Cornwall
Evening - Enjoying English Debate
Friday Oct. 3rd
7:00 am French Language debate - Legion Cornwall
9:30 am Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
10:30 am Canvassing - Cornwall
12:00 pm Cafe Connectionz - Cornwall
2:00 pm Canvassing - Cornwall
3:30 pm Shopping - Cornwall
Saturday Oct.4th
to be determined
Sunday Oct 5th
rest day
September 26th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Elizabeth and Cornwall on You-Tube
Thanks to Mark Bellis. Here is the URL http://markbellis.blogspot.com/2008/09/elizabeth-may-in-cornwall.html.
Enjoy!!
September 26th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Second Debate - S. Glengarry C-o-C
These excellent pictures are courtesy of Image-ine Photography
Yours truly at the podium.
The soon to be famous triangle. Watch for it in the televised debate on October 6th.
Is he making paper planes while I am talking?
September 25th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
It is a five horse race
If you had asked me to create the best scenario for a Green Party win then it would be in a 5-horse race. If votes are evenly distributed, then it is possible to win with less than 25% of the vote. Greens have achieved 25% but still lost by 10-15% because the other votes were not split.
After two debates the following is very clear:
Howard Galganov unfortunately has some support in the Riding and people may view this as an opportunity to voice their displeasure with the current bilingualism. He could bleed a lot of votes from the extreme right.
The NDP have a good solid voice in Darlene Jalbert and she will likely hold the typical left wing vote. However it seems unlikely that she can grow her support from other areas.
Denis Sabourin is a nice fellow but he is unlikely to lead any Liberal resurgence. He is running on the Kilger legacy, which is not great, and doesn’t really come across as “green”. He might even lose votes and they would likely flow to us.
Guy Lauzon has been muzzled. I believe their strategy is “do not say anything that has not been scripted by the central office and do not get into any serious debate.” I think this will play to Galganov if he can get enough exposure and potentially the debate on the 6th could be critical.
The notion of the GREEN CAPITAL of CANADA is starting to resonate with the voters and my challenge has to be to get it out there. I believe the energy will begin to build with the arrival of Elizabeth May tomorrow. A good showing by her will set us up for 10 days of massive effort. This is the time to get on board our train and stay with it until it hits the buffers on the 14th with a great big GREEN bang.
Please feel free to contact me or Lorna if you want to help. We will only get there by engaging the power of the people. Remember… together we can make it happen.
(If you have not read the GREEN CAPITAL of CANADA you will find it under “thoughts”)
September 25th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
Elizabeth May in Cornwall - Schedule
Elizabeth May will stop at Cornwall during her whistlestop tour of Canada. She will be at the VIA railway station at approximately 11:10 am on Friday September 26th. Everyone is welcome to attend and greet her.
September 25th, 2008 by David Rawnsley
First Debate - Poverty
More great pictures from Image-ine Photography
Complaining about plastic bottles
In full voice.
Putting the competition to sleep - or - who would I like to throttle?
The Campaign Manager upstaging me!
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