Make your vote count

Of utmost importance to Green Party supporters is protection of our land, water and air.

Critical to NDP supporters is protection of the environment and the social safety net needed by many.

The PC Party appears committed to enabling the major energy-producing provinces to drill, dig, build, transport and burn whatever they wish, without regard for damage to the environment. (PC candidate Tracy Gray was notably absent from the UBCO forum to focus on the environment.)

The PC Party promises to provide tax relief to many who don’t need it. They have promised to scrap the carbon tax and eliminate the GST on home heating fuel (both measures that would benefit the wealthy with large homes more than those less well off with smaller homes). They have proposed a “universal” tax rate reduction on the lowest tax bracket that will save the wealthy just as much (or more) than it will low income Canadians, without a plan to replace the lost revenue.

The Liberals strive for a balance of environmental protection, economic growth, an effective social safety net as well as comprehensive and universal health care and education.

The Liberal and PC parties are the only ones capable of winning seats locally and forming the next federal government.

Of the parties capable of forming the next government, the Liberals best represent the views of the Green and NDP parties.

Locally, a vote for the Green or NDP parties will merely help to ensure local PC victories and increase the likelihood of a PC government. That, of course will pretty much ensure that climate change initiatives and other environmental protections would be shelved for at least the next four years. Is that what Green and NDP supporters want?

Vote, and make your vote count!

John Kemp, Kelowna