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Green Party Leader Elizabeth May speaks on CTV's Question Period on Sunday, October 12, 2008.
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May denies telling Greens to vote Grit, NDP
Updated Sun. Oct. 12 2008 9:28 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has denied she told supporters in swing ridings to strategically vote for the Liberals or the NDP as a way to defeat the Conservatives in Tuesday's election.
While May conceded she was apprehensive about vote-splitting in some ridings, she said her supporters should not switch their vote.
"Being honest with the voters, I acknowledge that there is concern over vote-splitting in a small number of ridings. But I am not going to say 'vote Liberal here, vote NDP there,'" May said in a release Sunday evening.
However, earlier on Sunday, May told The Canadian Press that Green Party supporters in ridings where races were closest should vote for other parties in order to block the Conservatives from winning.
"There's no question that there are some ridings where you might say, 'to vote green you ought to vote NDP to stop a Conservative from winning,' and in some ridings 'you might want to vote Liberal to stop a Conservative from winning,'" May said while in Stellarton, N.S.
"It would be maybe 20 per cent of ridings in the country where that's even a factor, and mostly in Ontario."
May's apparent about-face comes as Green voters face increased pressure to switch their votes to beat the Tories, who have enjoyed late-campaign momentum according to some polls.
On Saturday, three Nobel prize-winning scientists - Andrew Weaver from the University of Victoria, William Peltier from the University of Toronto and Carleton University's John Stone - urged May in a press release to advocate strategic votes in close ridings.
Liberal Leader Stephan Dion has further ratcheted up that pressure in recent days by telling Greens to vote for him since he's the only leader who can realistically defeat the Conservatives and adopt greener policies.
Dion will ramp up his "Go green, vote red" pitch on a final, frantic tour across the country to shore up support.
Some polls show that the Liberals trail the Conservatives by about 10 points - a gap that could be closed if Green supporters, who hover at around 9 per cent, rush to support the Liberals.
Meanwhile, May said she wouldn't parachute into a riding won by a Green candidate should she fail to unseat Conservative rival Peter MacKay.
Speaking Sunday on CTV's Question Period, May listed about a half dozen ridings she feels Green candidates have a good chance of winning, including Guelph, Vancouver Centre, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and Nanaimo-Alberni.
"We'll have a lot of MPs and I'm not going to ask them to surrender their seats," May said.
May said she is confident she can win in the Central Nova riding held by MacKay for more than 10 years, despite polls that put MacKay ahead by about seven points.
Comments are now closed for this story
Here’s what Elizabeth May has to say about strategic voting;
“Strategic voting makes no sense," says May
On Tuesday, Canada needs to elect Green Party MPs, leader Elizabeth May said today.
“Media reports and suggestions from other parties that I am urging strategic voting across the country or that backroom deals are being made are complete nonsense,” Ms. May said. “As I have said over and over, strategic voting is generally not a sound strategy at all and I do not support it. Canada needs to elect Green MPs.“
Ms. May was responding in particular to the headline and opening of a Globe and Mail story that directly contradicts what she said to the reporter.
“I clearly said that voting strategically as advice is pretty useless. I also said: ‘Suggesting one should jump away from the Green Party is very bad advice indeed.’
“We have a strong team of candidates across Canada. Every one of them is working hard to win and this much we know for sure: Canada needs Green MPs. I intend to win in my riding of Central Nova and I want to be joined by a strong caucus of MPs, like Adriane Carr in Vancouver Centre, Blair Wilson, Mike Nagy, Dick Hibma, John Fryer, Huguette Allen and others. We are running strong campaigns across this country.
“The best outcome of the election will be the defeat of the Harper government and the election of as many Green MPs as possible.”
Ms. May noted that support for her leadership, and the Green Party and its forward-looking policies continue to rise.
“Perhaps what is worrying the other parties is the strong support the Green Party has received from Canadians in this election. In this election we will elect our first MPs.
“I want to do politics in a much different way, with collaboration, civility and respect. But I am not making deals with other parties, and the Greens are not in discussions with other parties.
“I will say it once again so absolutely no one can be confused or misled: I want Canadians to elect Green MPs.””
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May is unfit to be an MP in the House of Commons.
Maybe Peter MacKay will give her a sharp lesson in respecting MPs and candidates alike by NOT interrupting when they are talking.
I'm sure if she gets elected, she would have to contend with Peter Milikin, should he become the Speaker of the House, again.
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The Greens are going to win a seat?
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Ms. May and her followers are delusional if they think they will win a bunch of seats.
Guelph? You have got to be kidding!
Central Nova? Not in this lifetime!
If it wasn't for the media pushing her agenda the Green Party and their half-baked policies would have faded from the public view by now.
She is selling out to the Liberals...sad to watch.
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Maybe she should change tactics and run for President of the USA. Anyday she will unveil the secret Liberal Green master plan
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Via Bourque
GREEN SUPPORTER: ELIZABETH MAY HAS SOLD US OUT !
SENATOR MAY ? ENVIRONMENT MINISTER MAY ?
Where does Green Party leader Elizabeth May get her marching orders ? With less than 48 hours to go before voters go to the polls across Canada, emotions are running high inside campaigns faltering within sight of the finish line. In recent hours, Bourque has heard from a number of senior political operatives, notably a very senior Liberal organizer who admittedly worked on the leadership bid of one of Stephane Dion's rivals, in other words someone who has much to gain if Dion and his Green Shift are soundly defeated Tuesday. Yet, this still-very-active politico tells Bourque he fears a secret deal has been cooked between Dion and Elizabeth May which may explain why she has been meeting with "key Liberal organizers" and is now actively telling Green Party supporters to vote Liberal, of all things. This, according to our Liberal insider, in exchange for a possible Senate seat and a place as Environment Minister in a Dion-led government. To be clear, Ms May's curious strategy of backing Dion is creating ill-will within her own party to the point that "a lot of Green candidates are upset", according to one national news report this morning. Surprisingly, top Green Party representatives are refusing to respond to a query from this organ as to what is the Party's current position on the Senate. Developing.
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The choice is clear.
Give Harper the seat by voting May or MacKay. Deny Harper the seat by voting NDP. The NDP are running second and with the Liberal vote they can knock Peter off with a better hope of beating the NDP next time.
The Liberals will decide between Lorefice or MacKay who goes to Ottawa.
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It probably doesn't matter to her if she wins against Peter MacKay because she will get as much attention as a non-MP by screaming. I can't believe we're even talking about this re-patriated ex Canadian/American.
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This is a party whose green shift is even worse than the Liberals. Gas at the pump would go up 12 cents a litre if the greens have there way!!!! They have no plan for the economy or anything else in this country except the enviroment. That sounds great that they want to help the enviroment but they need more than that.
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So if she loses, will she pack up and go back to where she came from the US, or just continue her quest to unite the left in Canada?
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She's absolutely right.
One need only look at the promise that Harper made about establishing a Pharmacare program to offset prescription drug costs for the east coast that was immediatly reneged on when Harper took office.
Frankly, I'm surprised that the numbers for Mackay are as high as they are there.
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No deal between the Liberals and the Greens?? hah hah hah!! Is that why there is no Liberal candidate running in Nova Central?
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Elizabeth May probably isn't lying this time. No doubt she has a deal already cooked up with Dion to parachute into a Liberal riding.
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Good for May. She unlike some of her team have not thrown the ball to the liberals granted she can’t seeing how one isn’t running against her lol I know people who live in that area, they don’t like not having a liberal.
If only the green lady from BC was leader, then the greens really would get seats.
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I hope Elizabeth May does win her seat and send Peter MacKay out the door.
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I do not for a moment believe a word this woman has to say. So, no I do not believe her when she states that she will not take the seat from a Green MP should they, not her, be elected. This woman is the most frightening, scare-mongering person in this election. She makes Jack Layton look like a Conservative with her fear tactics. I am so glad she will not be in the next parliament as her performance in both debates showed her unfit for office, unfit for rational debate and unfit for lucid comment on any subject.
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Ms. May stated that she was going to bring some decorum to the House of Commons, but she has been most obnoxious of the leaders in making rude comments and interrupting while others try to speak.
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It must be very easy to run a single issue party...
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She's just another politician who will do what it takes to get what she wants. Witness the issue of her getting into the Leader's debates. What leader is she? Her party has never received more than single digit votes in a general election. Her party has never elected an MP to the House of Commons. Why then was she allowed to participate in the leader's debates. She's no leader. And a leader would want to be where the leaders should be. In the House of Commons. If by some miracle her party were to elect an MP in this election (AND IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN), then it's her duty to ask that MP to step aside and run in the byelection.
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I thought the American Elizabeth May was backing the French citizen Dion!
Even remotely considering May kind of says a lot about why Nova Scotia is a third world economy dependent on Canadian handouts. It's easy to support flaky ideologues when you aren't responsible for your own destiny.
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Let's just put things in perspective shall we. She was a Mulroney crony. Need I say more. She hasn't got a hope in you know where...
Maritimers aren't stupid they are going to vote after considerating all the hocus pocus going on. Some of their children are probably in Afghanistan right now. Maritimers are a great bunch I know, they are courageous and a loving group of people. I have many of them for friends. They will make the right choice have no worry! 3 days .....
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The Green party is going to come in third. The real race is between the Conservatives and NDP. Elizabeth May just adds a lot more noise. People in the riding don't even know who she is, since she is a parachute candidate herself.
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The Bloc gets some 50 or so seats with 10% of the national popular vote and Greens get nothing? That is wrong.
I am a Liberal, but I would be pleased if they allowed May to parachute into a Liberal riding - as a Liberal - even if she comes out and says she's running as a Green in the next election.
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How can she parachute into any riding when they won't win any ridings. In any case she would take the train.
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She'll abandon the Greens in a heartbeat and parachute into a Liberal riding.
People got upset about folks crossing the floor after an election to have a seat in government? How do they feel about May trying to jump ship before the election so she can get a seat in opposition?
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I seem to remember in the opening days of the campaign when PM Harper suggested that Ms. May would pull a stunt like this and was resoundingly beat up in the Liberal MSM for suggesting such nonsense.
Seems Mr. Harper is a little smarter and politically wiser than many are willing to give him credit for.
I truly hope Canadians across the country realize what happens if the Liberals are given a mandate to govern under Mr. Dion with Ms. May holding the reins.
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May scares me and gives me a headache.
[x] Conservative
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I would bet my life she will not unseat Peter MacKay!!!
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Well there you go, May just announced that she is urging Green party supporters to vote for the Liberals or NDP. No surprise to those of us who have watched her non-campaign unfold, but still supporters must feel betrayed and justly so. I know how I would feel if my leader jumped ship in the dying moments of a national campaign - furious, heartbroken and disillusioned. My heart goes out to all Green party supporters who now see their dream of electing candidates squashed beneath the ambitions and delusions of one person. Shame on May.
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I can imagine the headline on Wednesday. GREEN PARTY GOT GREEN SHAFTED BY ELISABETH MAY AND STEPHANE DION
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Ms May is a joke, and it will be on us if she or any of her naive ilk are elected. But then again her "Green" candidates are throwing their support behind the Liberals. I guess the conservatives and NDP were right.
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She is a fraud and a disgrace to Canadian politics. She only shows disrespect to those who oppose her views. She is truly the joke of the Canadian political scene.
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I'm sorry but not electing macKay is a fatal mistake..Ms May is grand standing for another personal agenda....MacKay has been a good member don't change for the sake of change..he is up and coming..
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The only place May will be parachuting into will be oblivion or as someone has said somewhere down the road when a Liberal government is elected a comfortable senate seat. A lot of people worked hard believing in the Green Party and May just stabbed them all in the back. Oh, and if you're still around May, no debate seat. You've just proven you should be running as a Liberal.
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First of all, Eliz, the green lady from BC is no lady. I'm not a Green fan at all, but I have a little respect at least for Elizabeth May. I have absolutely no respect for Adriane Carr. And I have no doubt that she's gunning for Elizabeth May's job right now. Watch her....especially when Elizabeth May fails in her quest for Central Nova.
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The way Elizabeth May responded to Craig Oliver's leading questions on vote splitting just now, my guess is that she's been getting an earful from her party and it sure wouldn't surprise me to see her under the gun of a leadership review soon after the election.
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Just on the CTV it was reported that Elizabeth May categorically denies the Canadian Press story and encourages all of her party supporters to vote for their Green Party candidates.
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Conservatives are mad at May because she interrupts tories telling the same old lies, and Harper has told a great many lies about a great many things. His environmental policy is a fraud. His four year term law is a fraud, his economic policy is a fraud, he tells the people of Quebec he's not a petrolier but he's the son of an Imperial Oil man, and is financed by the Alberta oiligarchy. They country is full of people who are happy every time she cuts through Tory lies and lays them bare.
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I am horrified at the hate mongering on this discussion board. The only conclusion I can draw from this discussion is that Anonymity + Large Audience = Mindless Spew.
Our banking system is collapsing because a bunch of testosterone poisoned frat boys started gambling with people's savings, and now expect those same people (taxpayers) to bail them out so they can continue awarding themselves bonuses.
You're being gouged at the gas pump by the oil companies (more frat boys) being subsidized by your tax dollars to stripmine half of Alberta for the world's dirtiest oil.
And all you can do is dump on Elizabeth May? What about the parties whose policies got us into this mess in the first place? Isn't there a wee tiny bit of anger and venom in your hearts for them?
By the way, about that "strategic" voting garbage, there's a lot more noise coming from all those front sites with their bogus stats than the few misquotes from Elizabeth.
Greens will vote their values despite fearmongering.
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To Louis Bertand:
Read your first sentence about hate mongering, and then read the rest of your blog.
If that is not hate mongering, then I don't know what is.
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ms may won't parachute into
a riding??? this is something available to her
under the westminister form
of government we have in canada.
but then she is asking telling counselling people to
come into the glace bay riding to vote against peter
mckay....something that is against the westminister form of government.
so what's the deal with this
woman??? she sure doesn't sound like member of parliment material in our westminister systym.
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In the 2 previous elections, for Central Nova, the results were as follows ( rounded ):
2006: Tories 41%, NDP 33%, Lib 25%, Green 2%
2004: Tories 43%, NDP 28%, Lib 26%, Green 3%
There is 25-26% up for grabs because the Libs are not running a candidate. If these votes go to NDP then they would overtake the Tories. If these votes go to ( or are split with ) Green then the Tories may ( or may not ) win this electoral again.
For the Greens to win Central Nova they would have to receive the full 25% Lib voters plus acquire enough additional voters from the NDP &/or Tories. Very tough to pull off?
It should be an interesting race to watch. The real race is between the NDP & Tories. Elizabeth May would face a real battle to fight to win the riding - likely she'll lose. May could even cost the NDP the riding if enough Lib/NDP voters go with Green. I can't wait to see what happens.
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Polls are a thorn in the side of democracy and outcomes can be manipulated. I realize that it takes the guesswork out of the media's hands, but I prefer to know the results after an election and not before.
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You know, you all sound like a bunch of bigoted knuckle-draggers on this post. Ms May was born in the US, it is true. She has lived in Canada since 1972, at the age of 18. Everyone has to come from somewhere, even yourselves or previous generation of your families. Get a grip, folks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_May
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Amid all the campaign talk about ethics, nothing stands out more than May's demand to participate in both leaders' debates. No wonder only Harper and Layton initially were opposed to this. We and the media should have listened to them. It seemed strange at the time for Dion to be so silent when we thought the Liberals would lose votes to the Greens. We were all 'had'.
Time suggests back-room chicanery was alive in places other than Central Nova. Perhaps the Greens are more a Liberal lapdog party than a legitimate party?
Harper and Layton were confronted with a public backlash driven by accusations of sexism and elitism. They had no choice but to capitulate or hand Dion a huge, unwarranted political gift.
But, we were all 'had'. More debate meant less meaningful interaction... more talking over each other. Dion got away with saying less with May to ride shotgun. In the free-for-all Harper wisely sat silent refusing to enter the frenzied attack of the frantic pack. But even Layton was short-circuited by the May-Dion pact - robbed of time to convey policy differences.
Now reality comes into focus. The two recent Quebec 'defections' of Greens to the Liberals resurrect what many suspected all along; perhaps May never should have been permitted into the televised debates. We needed only one Liberal in the debate, not two.
If May wants to be taken seriously, truly cares as much as she purports and values democracy, she should direct her candidates and supporters to honour their commitments to their stated cause and campaign. They should respect those who gave their time, energy, and money to the Green party.
Green candidates dropping out and supporting the Liberals raises serious questions about May's legitimacy. Firmly close the door she and Dion opened.
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I really do hope May to win that seat, she deserves it.
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Elizabeth May should not have been in the debates whatsoever.
They will gain 0 seats again and we the taxpayers of this country has to flip the bill for a party that elects no one?
No seats in the house of commons?
How sad this country has stooped this low.
Now that the Green leader has been allowed at the debates how can anyone justify not letting any crazy coo coo's in the debates?
It angers me to no end and she is indeed in the liberals
pocket.
Not good for a democracy,not good at all.
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So does May have any integrity at all? Has she sold out her own ethics and party to advance herself with a Liberal appointment? This woman has never sat in the House of Commens yet she wants to provide direction for the Canadian people?
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I think it's hysterical that Ms. May is referred to as a "leader" ...
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I found May's "performance" in the debate to be very disappointing and disgusting. I truly expected better, as prior to the debate, I had developed a certain degree of respect for her -- not any longer. Not wishing to get into a lengthy dialogue, my points are cryptic, but are quite self-explanatory.
Elizabeth May in the 2 Oct 08 debate:
BEHAVIOUR OBSERVED:
Interrupted others.
Spoke out of turn.
Refused to stop when the moderator told her that her time was up.
Heckled while others spoke.
Rolled her eyes while others spoke.
Nattered under her breath while others spoke.
Pointed aggressively and provocatively.
Wagged her finger like a condescending matron.
Made ad hominem attacks.
Made slanderous statements (liar, fraud).
MY ASSESSMENT:
Rude
Insulting
Disrespectful
Aggressive
Uncouth
Boorish
Impolite
No manners
No class
Juvenile
Immature
Childish
Obnoxious
Amateurish
Unprofessional
APPEARANCE:
Dishevelled
Scarecrow hair style
Hair not even combed
Unprofessional
CONCLUSION:
Totally out of her league
Not fit to be a party leader or an MP
Definitely reinforced the image of the Green Party and herself as being fringe
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mo,
How do you figure may deserves that seat. If she does, it will be because the Liberals helped her by not running a candiate. That is deceitful and dishonest.She is just a Liberal in gophers clothing. and you know what I mean.
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May could parachute into a volcano for all I care. She is an incestuous minded, one dimensional crusader masquerading as a political party leader and her 'party' reflects that. Harsh? Yes, but when the only thing separating you from the Rhino Party is your ability to dress like an office worker you don't have much going for you. Go away, Elizabeth, and take your ABC mindset with you.
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| Vern- Slightly Right Centrist - Ottawa |
I think May should be given a parachute… packed by Green Party members.
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The blue liberals please vote conservative. Bob Rae is already in, May is coming...
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Unfortunately I'm not voting Green this election, but May was fantastic in the debates; every bit the equal of everyone at the table.
If I was voting in her Central Nova riding I'd vote for her in a heartbeat. The Green candidate in my riding... eh, no thanks, but May was really impressive.
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I had considered supporting the Greens at one point, but never again. The thought that they are urging their supporters to vote for others shows that a vote for the Greens is wasted. It's too bad as I thought that they wanted to become a serious contender for election. Back to the NDP whom I know wants my vote.
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| A Real IT Manager from Calgary |
Wonder what all of those misguided Green Party volunteers think about May supposedly suggesting not to vote for her party? If I were them, I would be ticked off big time.
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| Terrence Murrin,Corner Brook, NL |
Ms. May said that it was a great day for democracy when she was allowed to participate in the leader's debates. Tell me, what is democratic about the deal she has cooked up with Stephane Dion? She says that Harper is not to be trusted when she lies about endorsing Dion. She is a leader, alright; she's lead her party right into the arms of Stephane Dion. She has zero credibility.
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The numbers for the Green party historically understate their membership, since many obviously do vote strategically.
Green party members might continue doing so, at least for this election. Those who oppose Harper's systematic dismantling of all Canadians hold dear must not become complacent, and must for the love of our great country continue to do whatever is possible to deny Harper a majority.
Their sacrifice will be remembered, and the Green party will be helped in future elections because they uphold values and standards that appeal to the best of Canadians.
With a little push on the 14th Ottawa might be rid of Harper, assuming that he will be suitably punished by his party for the needless and pointless expense and inconvenience caused by his presumptuous call for an election. Then a brave new world will emerge without Bush and without Harper.
Oh, what a day that will be!
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Just what Mr Harper said at the beginning of the campaign.It was likely that Ms May would endorse Dion & the Liberals by the end of the campaign. If I were a Green supporter I would be extremely offended that the so-called leader would even consider such a move. I thought they had been fighting hard for a long time to have someone in government. I'm sure when she loses, she will end up with a plum position in the Liberal government. Isn't that what the Liberals do. Look after their own at the taxpayers expense!!!
The scariest of scenarios is a Liberal/NDP coalition with Ms May in the mix!!
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May is a crook! So is Dion. Dealing and stealing votes. Dion is not running a Lib candiate in Central N.S in support of this shady deal.Go back to the U.S, let us run our Country....and you MAY take your side kick Dion with you!
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Elizabeth May is like a dishonest stock trader scheming to trash a stock by spreading false rumour "You know what? XYZ company is being investigated and is about to declare bankruptcy" and then when caught red-handed says "Oh that? Gee, I was just kidding".
Can you believe this is happening to Canada? How can the moral standards of our politicians sink so low? This is the same unscrupulous behaviour that is sinking Wall Street and banking systems around the world.
Do we want people like this in government or politics?
Ms. May, I think you are in trouble. You are abusing Canada's election regulations.
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Can't trust the Liberals or the Greens after this debacle. I'm kinda ticked off that I even thought about voting Green. Being as I know we can't afford an NDP government, I guess that leaves Conservative.
Thank you Elizabeth May, for helping me decide how I'll vote through your insincere and missleading actions. I hope you and Dion both lose your jobs after this caper you just pulled.
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Slightly Right Centrist, I agree with you. That is precisely my appraisal of Elizabeth May's performance at the debates. I thought she was obnoxious.
The only thing she really stands for what she's against. This is not the quality of a fine leader.
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Elizabeth May is possibly the best thing to happen to Parliament since the 90's. In Central Nova Vote GREEN. Everywhere else vote for the Central and Canadian Party: vote liberal. THank you.
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