The numbers say what a lot of people aren’t: Last night, the NDP were the only party to increase both their popular vote and their seats over 2003. It’s incredible!It’s testament to the fact that Howard Hampton ran an honest campaign that stuck to the issues. In fact, if real issues that matter to everyday people – like tuition fees, property taxes, and the decline of Ontario’s manufacturing sector - were addressed and reflected in the media coverage at all it is due entirely to Hampton.
And while Dalton McGuinty wasn’t held to a minority as many had hoped, the results were far worse for both the Liberals and Conservatives who saw fewer Ontarians vote for them than four years ago.
The Greens should also be proud of increasing their vote from 2.8 to 8 percent. In large part, this was due to the MMP referenda. An unusual number of Green supporters came out to vote in this election in support of MMP.
But their Ontario result also shows what can happen when Greens campaign against the Liberal Party instead of being a compliant cheerleader as Elizabeth May is doing. Look at the recent Outremont by-election where the Dion Liberals actually used an endorsement from May in their campaign literature -- the Greens lost 2.8% of their vote and came a distant fourth.
Also interesting is that both the NDP and the Greens saw their vote share go up while the Liberals and PC's went down. Quite simply, the cliche that the NDP and Greens are fishing in the same pond is bogus. But don't try to tell that to University of Waterloo political scientist Peter Woolstencroft.
3 comments:
I have been checking your blog via my Firefox live bookmark for the past month or so, I enjoy it. It's a refreshing perspective.
I am a Nova Scotian who watched the results for a good portion of last night (and Newfoundland the night before, the NDP grew there as well, a notably more significant gain than in Ontario if you ask me). People are starting to respond the the "new NDP" the party that provides real commitments, in practical terms that are achievable. It is this feature of the party that attracted me.
The idea that my vote is going to a party that can legitimately do what they say, while offering their position on all issues to keep me informed of where they will go beyond that, is truly a statement that our democracy needn't be so easily dismissed as a waste of time.
Nova Scotia is on the verge of its first NDP government, this according to media, the "word on the street" and pollsters. I look forward to casting a vote for ideas, that will actually be implemented as promised during a campaign. Something we in Nova Scotia and, unfortunately across this great land, have not been accustomed to.
BDH said..."Quite simply, the cliche that the NDP and Greens are fishing in the same pond is bogus. But don't try to tell that to University of Waterloo political scientist Peter Woolstencroft"...
So much for the "scientist" part.
Don't people know that the Greens are not a left party,and are more likely to attract dissatisfied Cons This idea that the Greens compete with the NDP for the same voter demographics is nonsense.One need only read the Greens platform,it social and fiscally conservative.Why is it,that so many Green insiders were Conservative members/supporters ?
Thanks for the props, scoalegil.
The Nova Scotia NDP have come a long way in just 10 years. Darrell Dexter has run an official opposition Bluenosers can be proud of. Here's hoping he gets the chance to form a government of which the same will be said.
DH said: "One need only read the Greens platform,it social and fiscally conservative"
That's true. The Greens - particualrly federally - have taken a turn to the right. May (aka: the Liberal spokesperson who runs the Green party) recently wrote a letter to Tom D'Aquino in support of the Cdn Council of Chief Exec's environment plan -- a plan that is based on intnesity targets. This isn't good enviro policy, this is just sucking up to big polluters.
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