The federal election looms, May 2. If you’re tired of the typical Green-Con-Lib-Newdem-Bloc options, there are fourteen other officially registered parties (who knew?). Here’s the first in a series of weekly quick-guides to help you separate the pranks from the cranks; how to best use, or abuse, your most fundamental democratic right is entirely up to you.
Part I: Regional, Religious, and Ethnic-Interest Parties
Christian Heritage Party
You know what your grad student friend says about the Conservative Party’s hidden agenda? Yeah, that’s this party’s actual stated agenda. Anti-abortion, afraid of Muslims, etc. Their “abolish all taxes except the sales tax” policy is kind of intriguing, though. Not necessarily practical, but intriguing.
DailyXY’s take: Guaranteed to win some support from at least three Mad Men fans who didn’t read the name closely enough and think they’re voting for the “Christina Hendricks Party.”
First Peoples National Party of Canada
FPNP welcomes people of all cultures, seeks to promote social justice and fight poverty, yadda yadda, and generally raise the profile of aboriginal issues in Canadian politics. Interim leader William Morin wants mandatory Native Studies classes in Canadian schools and wants to abolish the existing Senate and replace it with an elected house of aboriginal leaders.
DailyXY’s take: If you’re looking for a place to park a protest vote — and if they’re running a candidate in your riding — the FPNP may be a decent option for you.
Western Block Party
As the name suggests, a separatist party for everywhere west of Ontario. The party supports secession referenda in Western provinces, representation-by-population, and other direct democracy reforms, but their website reveals a peculiar sense of priorities. The landing page boldly declares party leader (and ten-year president of the Saanich Water Polo School) Doug Christie’s tough stance … on sewage. The man is against sewage treatment. Really.
DailyXY’s take: Stephen Harper rose to power with the Reform Party on the Western-grievance wave, so we know it can be a significant force in Canadian politics. With its “Won’t somebody think of the sewage?” posturing, however, the WBP will not be riding that particular whitecap.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THIS SERIES
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Image courtesy of Whiskeygonebad.
