Time to Vote in Calgary Centre!

The Prime Minister has announced that by-elections will be held Calgary Centre on November 26th. 

 

Not know your Peter Lougheeds from your Naheed Nenshis? I have compiled all you need to know about the election and candidates below. No Political Science degree required!

 

 

1. The Conservatives - The Big Shots

If you don’t know who the Conservatives are, you haven’t been living in Calgary (nay Canada) long, but it won’t take long to figure out they are the dominant party in the City and Province. Canada’s answer to the Republicans of the US, the Conservative Party isthe party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and has been the party of choice in Calgary Centre since 1968.

 

In fact, the election in Calgary Centre was only called because Conservative Lee Richardson left the position in May to go work for Alison Redford. Redford, another Conservative, was running for (and won) the position as Premier of Alberta. You can find an interesting article about the riding here.

To replace Lee, the Conservatives have chosen Joan Crockatt to run in the upcoming election.

Background:

 

The former managing editor of the Calgary Herald, Crockatt has an impressive resume. She worked as a senior news­pa­per exec­u­tive with Southam News­pa­pers, Can­west Global and recently as a com­mu­ni­ca­tions con­sul­tant and media commentator (also known as Pundit). She has a BA from the University of Saskatchewan and went to the London School of Economics in Political Science. Crockatt is the candidate to beat in this election. 

Policy:

 

Crockatt considers herself “fiscally conservative,” concerned about the economy, energy and the environment. She is pro-choice but publicly thanked her gay and lesbian volunteers during her acceptance speech in August. Although she has been called polarizing and too right wing for the riding, a recent poll reported on in the Globe and Mail found that 44 per cent of voters backed the Conservatives in the riding, with the Liberals a distant second and the NDP and Green further back battling for third.

However, since this riding includes the downtown area, which is home to many young, urban, liberally minded professionals, don’t count the other candidates out just yet.

 

2. The Liberal Party - The Challengers

The Liberal Party, which used to dominate politics on a National Level, was also the last non-Conservative party to win a seat in Calgary Centre, back in 1968. This time around, the Liberals chose conservationist Harvey Locke to represent them, and commentators say he might have a chance of winning in this riding of 90,000 eligible voters.

Background:

Locke was born in Calgary and has an Arts and Law degrees from the University of Calgary. In 1999 was named one of Canada’s leaders for the 21st century by Time Magazine Canada for his work in the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, which is the best known corridor conservation effort in the world. He served as President of the Alberta Liberal Party from 1995 to 1997 and worked as conservation adviser for The WILD Foundation and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

 

Policy:

Locke said that he will campaign on his values of being “fiscally prudent, socially progressive and environmentally responsible” at home and abroad. Coming from an environmental background, he has strong environmental policies, which might appeal to the voters in this area.

3. The NDP - The Under Dogs

 

The NDP may be the National Opposition party, but here in Alberta they still have a lot of work to do to be taken seriously. Thomas Mulcair (the currently leader of the NDP) was publicly criticized in Alberta for condemning the Oil Sands, blaming energy exports from the Alberta Oil Sands for artificially raising the Canadian dollar and saying the government is allowing the Oil Sands to develop, "without applying basic rules of sustainable development”.

In Calgary Centre, Dan Meades is running for the NDP.

Background:  

Meades has a degree in English and Business, and has worked throughout North America, Europe and West Africa. He is the executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, a public policy advocacy organization focused on social, economic and political engagement. Meades has consulted with the City of Calgary on strategies for affordable housing, public transit and poverty.

Policy:
 

Meades wants to “bring the community together to fight against damaging Conservative policies that have made life more unaffordable for the people of Calgary Centre”. He supports small business and services like pensions and healthcare and is against tax cuts to large corporations. With the little amount of publicity his policies have gotten, in the news or online, it is unlikely Meades will have a chance of winning in this election.

 4. The Green Party – The Bench Warmers

Not to be forgotten, the Green Party won their first federal seat in the last election with Elizabeth May winning a seat for Saanich – Gulf Islands in BC. In Alberta, the Green Party has little chance of winning in any riding, but in the last election the candidate did win 9% of the votes, or over 4,000 ballots were cast in their favour.

 

For the by-election, the Green Party has chosen Chris Turner.

Background:

 

Turner is a bestselling author and has a BA in History as well as a journalism degree from Ryerson University. His writing has also appeared in, The Walrus, The Globe & Mail, The Independent, The Sunday Times, Time Magazine, The Guardian, Utne Reader, Adbusters and The South China Morning Post.

Policy:

Turner says as part of his election platform, he'll unveil a federal Green Party commitment to pursue a national transit strategy.

Something much needed in Calgary, and something voters in City Centre must appreciate.

So no matter who you like or dislike, remember to get out there and vote on November 26^th!
 

More information about polling stations and voting history is available from Elections Canada here.

Citizens from Calgary Centre will join citizens from Victoria, B.C., and Durham, Ont. in going to the polls, as the only 3 cities in Canada with upcoming by-elections. You can find out more information about the Bi-Election in Victoria and Durham here.