This is the text of all that I wish I'd had time for. The 3 minute version of my Opening statement, on video, will be posted later today. The Closing is pretty much what I've said for most of the All Candidate Meetings.
"I am not running against these candidates – they’re all good candidates and have proven to be decent people in my experiences with them. I am running to be your Green Member of Parliament to change the system.
The Green Party of Canada and my team have striven to run a positive and hopeful campaign. I have concentrated on communicating our message that restoring our democracy and having both a smart, clean economy and strong, resilient communities is possible and affordable. I’ve tried to share the Green platform because I believe the vision for Canada it contains is the one desired, not just by the approx. 1 million Canadians who voted Green in 2008, but by millions more. My job has been to let you know that Canada can get there from here and to counteract the fear-mongering of the other parties telling you that somehow, by implementing bold and necessary actions, or by voting for anyone other than them – we lose. I believe Green Party policies, developed through the lenses of advancing the common good, benefitting children, securing families and communities, advancing peace and justice and restoring the planetary systems we need to survive are our best hope for true progress. THAT’s why I’m running.
There are several websites and campaigns running where you can find negative messages. Crap (substitute another word) Harperdid, comes to mind. I don’t need to sling any mud because Canadians already know what has been happening to our democracy, to our rights, our environment and our quality of life. Mr. Duncan likes to remind us that the Conservatives do cooperate with other parties- after all they are the longest running minority parliament. What does this say about the other sitting parties? When the good that does come out of parliament is doled out by the spoonful, and the bad – think detainees, think pro-rogation, think long-form census; mass arrests at G8; think cuts to the environment cuts to women’s groups, to arts & culture, decreasing access to justice, think the militarization of our police forces and wars in Afghanistan and Libya with no clear goals or progress – well, the bad, rains down on us by the bucketful. What have the other parties been cooperating in? There are, of course, differences between and among the parties. The election has been, loudly, all about them. But the quiet agreements over the last decade have been more widespread than the other parties would encourage voters to believe.
Vancouver Island North needs a Green MP because I won’t accept the status quo. If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got – and that’s simply not good enough. To participate in our positive campaign and discussions, visit us at my web site, on Facebook and twitter or call me. On May 2nd, I urge you to vote. In Vancouver Island North, I’m asking you to vote for a woman and I’d be honoured to receive your vote for the Green Party of Canada."
Closing remarks
Political platforms are living documents (at least they should be) to ensure the party is ready at any time to put forward a positive vision, grounded in current realities. So before you place your precious mark on the ballot May 2nd, even if you think you’ve already made up your mind, I’m going to ask you to do two things. First, review all the parties’ platforms and ask yourselves some questions.
Do these promises advance the common good? When implemented, will they advance global peace and security? Address the needs of children? Does the policy ensure Canada’s continued quality of life and economic health? Make families more secure? Protect, enhance and restore the life support systems of the planet? Does it promote systems – cultural, institutional and technological – that are resilient and capable of adapting to shocks in a more unpredictable world?
If the platform answers yes to some or many of these questions then I’m asking that you review the history of the party putting it forward. You will have to look outside Canada to review the Green Party’s history and actions – but it’s there to see. Has the party followed through on previous promises? Has their platform matured, or merely changed based on the current zeitgeist or to curry favour among certain demographics? Has it maintained its principles through every revision?
When all of this has been considered and the questions answered to your satisfaction, I believe Vision Green will stand alone as the promise of hope unto the 7th generation – and not just until the next election. I’m Sue Moen and It’s time. Vote Green.
