But I didn't like any of my other options. I first considered choosing the Green Party, not necessarily to vote for them, but to vote against everyone else. Politics is a slippery slope, and the "Big 3" are losing their footing.
NDP: I don't know that I would ever vote for this party, but I did sort of like Andrea Horwath. She grew up in an environment where everyone in the family worked, she put herself through school working part time, and wanted to give back. I have respect for that, and perhaps had she been either with the Conservatives or Liberals, I may have voted for her.
However, while the NDP platform has great specifics on trying to boost the economy, improve transit, health care wait times, education opportunities, their explanations on how they are going to get the money leaves much to be desired. The NDP plan sounds great, until you start looking at the fine print.* Having trouble diagnosing the problems of Ontario, resulted in having trouble coming up with viable solutions. A math class wouldn't hurt either.
Liberals: Why wouldn't I vote the Liberals? Kathleen Wynne.
Wasting the taxpayers money on poor business decisions and trying to cover it up? It didn't help that this scandal came to light when Rob Ford was also making headlines, turning Canadian politics into even more of a joke to our Southern neighbours.
I was disappointed with the Liberals website ** But from what I could find of the Liberal party platforms, they basically reiterated the already planned allocation of money. This includes re-tabling the recently rejected budget plan, should they get elected. However, while trying to please too many crowds, they are offering a grab bag of plans, likely to be left by the wayside. And after 10 years, I think we need someone fresh.
Conservatives: While their website was slightly more informing than the Liberals, the details were scant, and plans no where to be found.*** I think Tim Hudak got too hung up on his Million Dollar Jobs Plan. I get that he is trying to make things easier for small businesses, tradespeople, and even the commutes for the GTAers.
But while he is saying there are 800,000 Ontarians without jobs with one breath, in another he talks about bringing in more skilled immigrants. There are already more than enough already unemployed! As as someone currently involved in the trades, cutting the College of Trades, put in place to protect the customers, and the workers from the 'underground market isn't the way to make it easier to get involved or get a job as a trades worker.
SO! Where does that leave me? Right, the Green Party. Unlike the limited information and lack of detail outlined in the Big 3's websites, the Green Party has a 20 page document**** outlining their goals and listing specifics including how they are going to come up with the money and what kind of impact these goals have on Ontarians. It is so in depth, I'm not even sure where to start.
A good example to point out here is how they want to save on energy. Instead of pouring money into refurbishing out of date nuclear plans, money to consumers will be saved by purchasing low cost water power, saving $1 billion a year. Reinvesting that money in energy conservation could result in 56,000 new jobs. If that's not a clear example of a platform idea, with plan included, I'm not sure what is.
I'll leave the heavy reading below up to you. But I have to say, I went from using the Green Party as a pawn against the Big 3, to being someone who actually quite respects their party platform.
NDP Platform
* NDP Platform Reality Check
** Liberals Website
*** Conservatives Website
**** Green Party Platform
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