These videos are both fantastic for similar reasons. They both show how positive and energetic Mr. Grodon is and how he is the progressive voice that Toronto-Danforth needs in Ottawa. I had the pleasure of spending two days canvassing for Mr. Gordon. The first thing I noticed was that the people of Toronto-Danfoth are extremely welcoming and honest (I had some great conversations with NDP supporters.) The second thing I noticed at the door and in talking to Grant Gordon was just how much he really is the local candidate. His knowledge of the local issues was impressive but it really hit me when I knocked on one door and discovered that I was canvassing the house of the man who gives guitar lessons to Grant’s kids.
I also like the first video because he draws such a strong contrast with the NDP. One of Grant’s literature pieces is a fairly saucy comparison of the Liberal Party and NDP’s records:
In 2005 the Conservatives and the NDP voted down the Kelowna Accord and National Child Care. The reason the NDP did this was that they wanted more seats in parliament. The NDP only really cares about winning, the “conscience of parliament” has morphed into a party without a conscience over the last decade and a half. During each of the NDP leadership debates the candidates have obsessively talked about “the next 70 seats.” Their priority is not being an effective opposition to Stephen Harper (which Nycole Turmel has consistently failed to provide in Question Period) or to bring Canadians together to advance progressive policies but to imitate PM Harper in achieving the smallest electoral margin of victory possible to get into power. The NDP keep saying they want to “work together” with the other parties. However, if you look at Mathieu Ravignat’s private member’s bill, you see that the NDP prioritizes something silly like banning floor-crossings when he could have worked with Liberals and CPC MP Michael Chong to actually fix Question Period. Grant has great progressive credentials (watch his nomination speech here) and while the NDP talk the progressive talk several of their MPs voted to kill the gun registry and Tom Mulcair didn’t even show up for the vote.
The New Democrats have done an excellent job appropriating Louis St Laurent and Lester B. Pearson’s record. It was two Liberal PMs who implemented Universal Health Care in Canada. Though I give Tommy Douglas full credit for the great work he did as Premier it was the Pearson government that created the national program. In 2005 the NDP had the opportunity to help governing like they did from 1963-1968 but they rejected that opportunity and now we have a Harper government.
Grant Gordon is a fantastic candidate. Obviously the Toronto-Danforth byelection is the dictionary definition of an uphill battle. Thankfully, the Liberal Party has a progressive candidate with ties to the community.
One final thought: When is Stephen Harper’s hockey book being released?
