Comments on: A Green Guelph?

By: Pample the Moose

Pample the Moose — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:59:07 +0000

I suppose the big question to ask is whether or not the Greens will be a significant factor in the next election at all. I write this as someone who voted provincially for them last time around – and in Guelph no less.

I tore my hair out in frustration when May was stupid enough to run against Peter McKay. I think that had she run last time in Guelph, she could have taken the riding (Frank Valeriote, who won, only secured 32.2% of the vote to 21% for Mike Nagy of the Greens). But up against an incumbent (the seat was open last time), and with the economy rather than the environment as the hot issue, I think she’ll face a greater challenge. It’s not an impossible one, but it will be harder this time than last. Mind you, if the NDP don’t decide to run a star candidate like they did last time, it might help the Greens pick up some protest votes.

By: Bluegreenblogger

Bluegreenblogger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:05:17 +0000

Guelph is the best shot for a win. It’s not the only one, but it is the best, for many reasons. In response to Matt above, Mike Nagy won’t be running there next general election anyway. There might be a wee bit of backlash from the locals, as EMay got plenty of flack from these people over her controversial ’strategic voting’ faux pas in the last election, but the organisation there is pretty damned strong. Any dissenters will be outweighed by volunteer strength brought in from the rest of Ontario.

By: Matt Guerin

Matt Guerin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:18:25 +0000

Interesting suggestion, although part of the reason the Greens have done well in Guelph is that local candidate Mike Nagy has gradually built up the local organization over 3 elections. May parachuting in wouldn’t necessarily work as well for her and there could be a backlash. And up against a popular local incumbent in Frank Valeriote, she might have a difficult time. But it wouldn’t be impossible. She might be better off in Bruce-Grey where the local Green vote has been higher than in Guelph the last two elections (2007 and 2008.)

By: JimBobby

JimBobby — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:52:13 +0000

Whooee! I reckon Gwelp’s Lizzie May’s best bet, too. I suspect she might rather stay down east in her Nova Scotia home area but I think she’ll do better in Gwelp. A good thing about runnin’ in southern Ontariariario is that she can depend on a lotta volunteers comin’ in and knockin’ on doors for her. Gwelp’s just a hop-skip from Trawna. I’d probbly even wander up from Nanticoke and pound on a few doors myself. Much as I mighta wanted to, I couldn’t justify travellin’ all the way down to Pictou last election and, besides, I was dang busy workin’ on the Green campaign here in Haldimand-Norfolk.

Mark Taylor mentioned Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound as a possibility based on good GPC results last time. I don’t see that one as a good possibility on accounta the last GPC candidate (Hibma) is a Bruce Power employee. They’re the biggest local employer and even though the GPC is strongly anti-nuke, I figger he got lotsa fellow employees votin’ for him. That wouldn’t be the case with Lizzie. I reckon Bruce Power would try nukin’ Lizzie outta the water if she was to challenge ‘em on their home turf. I’m fightin’ ‘em down here in Nanticoke an’ they’re puttin’ up a good fight. I’m plannin’ on winnin’, though.

Like somebuddy already said, if Lizzie’s plannin’ on runnin’ in Gwelp, she better get movin’ ASAP. She better get livin’ there. I seen her up in Aberfoyle a year or so ago. She’s up on a lotta the local issues already. Yer boy Iggy was down here a coupla weeks ago an’ he didn’t know much about local stuff. He’s a pretty good brainiac when it comes to international stuff but he needs to get up to speed on local issues more. Lizzie shines in that department, sez I.