Trevor May.ca

So I was thinking the last 3 days about going to the pro-coalition rally tonight in Vancouver, I has somewhat hesitant as I am not really the protest or rally type. I was kind of worried it would just be a smallish group on the side of the street and it might be somewhat uncomfortable. But after the events of today, I felt compelled. Boy was I wrong, the rally was Huge, it was at the Canada Place the Vancouver convention building, inside the huge ballrooms. The rooms were packed and had reached capacity so hundreds were left outside when the speeches started. The rally was also very well organized, with huge video screens, big “Coalition for Canada” banners, a huge Canada flag and a band playing. Lot of people wearing Canada flags and other stuff. And everyone was given “Coalition Yes/Qui” signs.

I was also surprised as to the makeup of the crowd, I kind of expected a bunch of young people, it was anything but. I was standing with a group of people over 60. There were speeches from Vancouver councillors, and people from the Liberal and NDP parties as well as recorded speeches from Layton and Dion.

The crowd was very lively and all the speakers brought up Harpers tactics of divisive politics, trying to pit groups vs each other. vs Quebec, east vs west and so on. Whenever this was brought up it was the thing that got the crowd the most vocal, I could tell that one lady near me was from Quebec, she was really upset.

It was defiantly an interesting experience and nothing what I had expected.

Latest CPAC-Nanos Daily Election Tracking:
CP 34, LP 31, NDP 18, BQ 11, GP 6

The conservative support has slipped the last few days and the Liberals has risen, Liberals are now within striking distance of beating the Conservatives. But the main thing is to stop a Tory majority and in most cases this means voting Liberal.

I encourage all progressive voters to check out this website, it recomments which progressive party to vote for to stop a conservative majority.

http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/

If the progressives vote strategically, it will not only result in a Liberal government, but more seats for the NDP and Greens.

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This is pasted from Hedy Fry's blog

8 years of Brian Mulroney management: $42 billion deficit (doubled in his term of office). 3rd world status debt… double digit unemployment.

Under 33 months of Stephen Harper's economic stewardship, Canada has fallen from being the # 1 economic performer in the G8 to being the worst.

Some suggest that under Liberals the economy was booming because of luck.

10 balanced budgets, the lowest employment rates in 30 years and a rise from #6 in R&D to # 1. An aggressive debt repayment and a $3 billion contingency fund… it’s not luck. It is good fiscal management and prudent investment in social basics and economic restructuring.

Compare with 7 years under Conservative Mike Harris in Ontario — same finance minister (Jim Flaherty) same economic ideology. Total disaster. Cutbacks in public health services, health care, housing and schools. After the Walkerton tragedy, Harris left Ontario in a $5.6 billion dollar hole.

Who do you want in your corner when the chips are down?

Tory times are tough times.

Cast your virtual vote for the 2008 federal election over at the CKA election poll – round 1. http://www.canadaka.net/elections

Results will be shown at the end of the week. A second poll will be held at the end of the election campaign, to see if the numbers have changed.