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SIDNEY, B.C. - The Green Party of Canada is challenging all parties to create a better atmosphere for the 2011 election by letting Canadians know that their leaders are capable of being positive, as well as negative. For the rest of this first week, each day the Green Party will propose an issue or idea where we think all parties can find common ground.

“For the fourth time in seven years, Canada finds itself in a federal election. I know that Canadians feel this is an unnecessary use of taxpayers’ money and they are sick of the mud-slinging and the personal attacks. We are saying, let’s try to engage the voters. Let’s try to show them that, once in a while, we can agree on important policy issues,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

The first big proposal from the Greens is that Canada needs a nation-wide employment and education initiative for youth.

“Surely all the parties can agree that providing employment and education for youth need to be a priority. Recessions hit youth the hardest. They are continually caught in a cycle of not yet having the skills or experience to be competitive but not being able to gain these skills and experience without a job,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May. “It is a critical phase of their lives and it is a worthwhile investment to create a generation that is fully participating and contributing both economically and socially.”

“So I am asking the other parties leaders to stand up today up today and say, yes, on this issue we can find common ground. Today we can all agree that Canada needs an immediate investment in a nation-wide employment and education initiative for youth,” said May.

Media can download the statement in high-resolution digital format here: http://greenparty.ca/media

The statement is on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSCXHuZq_ng

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Contant Information:

Kieran Green
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
Kieran.green@greenparty.ca
C: 613-614-4916
www.greenparty.ca

Ken Wu

Saanich-Gulf Islands Communications Director 

778-426-4494
 

Ottawa “Canada faces a triple deficit.  We have an economic deficit, an ecological deficit, and a social deficit,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “While there are a number of small, but welcome, changes in this year’s budget, overall, the government has missed the chance to address these growing deficits. Despite some welcome small measures in EI relief, the increasing EI premiums continue to threaten economic recovery, while hurting workers and job creation.”

The Green Party welcomed the stay of execution for the popular ecoEnergy Home Retrofit programme, as well as the small replenishment for climate science through funding to NSERC of $7 million/year.  As well, the Guaranteed Income Supplement to seniors and the programme to assist doctors and nurses settling in remote areas mirrors Green Party policies.

“Sadly, the government is still in denial about the structural deficit.  A government serious about eliminating the economic deficit would not continue to cut corporate tax rates. Nor would they continue to subsidize fossil fuels and nuclear power.  In fact, Stephen Harper pledged at the 2009 G-20 to end our fossil fuels subsidies.  Instead, this budget simply reduces the higher levels of subsidies for oil sands production and brings them to the same level as conventional oil and gas.  But the industry will still have a generous tax benefit for ‘preparation,’ logging and scraping away the earth to reach the bitumen and preparations for in situ mining as well,” said Elizabeth May.

“Surely, the multi-billion dollar oil sands industry is mature and no longer in need of government assistance, especially with oil at over $100/barrel,” said Eric Walton, candidate for Kingston and The Islands.

“We were also surprised to see an increase in support for the nuclear industry in Canada – up $100 million since last year to a total of $405 million in this year’s budget,” said Jean-Luc Cooke, member of the Green Shadow Cabinet.

The government has failed to deal with the ecological deficit.  Small amounts, such as $2.5 million a year for two years for the Great Lakes demonstrate the government’s lack of understanding of the extent of the problems facing ecosystem health in our largest waterways.

While the social deficit does receive some welcome funding, the failure to provide any new funding for education in First Nations communities is a huge disappointment given the clear message from the Assembly of First Nations that this is their top priority.  Money to address the problem of leaking underground oil tanks on FN reserves ($22 million over 2 years) is merely a small measure of federal responsibility to deal with that problem.”

The government has continued its fascination with “boutique” tax cuts that madden serious economists.  The new child artistic tax credit is lovely, but does not help families too poor to afford the artistic or wilderness experience in the first place.

“Overall, this ‘steady as she goes’ budget reflects the lack of imagination, vision or plan of this government.  There may be something for everyone -- $5 million to celebrate the Grey Cup and $5 million for the Calgary Stampede, here a bridge, there a bridge and a re-announcement of the train to Peterborough, but overall, this is a pedestrian, mediocre and inadequate response to the action Canada needs,” said Elizabeth May.

Contact Information:

Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
Green Party of Canada
media@greenparty.ca
C: 613.240.8921
www.greenparty.ca 

OTTAWA -- The Green Party of Canada has had immense reaction from Canadians to its “Attack Ad on Attack Ads.”  Released on Monday, the ad has attracted more than forty thousand viewers on Youtube and has been one of the most popular Canadian videos of the week.  “Greens have been hearing from Canadians across the country thanking us for taking this stand. We've received emails, phone calls, and even stopping our candidates on the street to thank them,” said Green Party Leader, Elizabeth May.

Given the popular response, the Green Party has decided to take the campaign against attack ads to the next level by launching a petition to prohibit paid political advertising on television in Canada, as is currently done in countries around the world including the UK, France, Belgium, Sweden, Israel and Ireland. 

Greens are calling for an amendment to the Broadcasting Act to ban paid political advertising on television (by political or third parties), coupled with access to airwaves for non-commercial public information broadcasts.   “If networks organize free access to the airwaves, candidates would have the opportunity to actually explain what they stand for.  This would be much better for democracy than the character attacks we are seeing now,” said Deputy Leader Adriane Carr.

“It is well understood in public opinion research that attack ads 'work' by reducing voter turn-out. Those who use attack ads have the goal of reducing voter turn-out. It is a deliberate strategy of their campaigns," said May.

Current Elections Canada rules limit political party spending on television ads during a writ period, but there are no controls at all on television ads outside a writ period.

The Greens have also launched a new group on Facebook: Canadians Against Attack Ads.

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Contact Information:

Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
Green Party of Canada
media@greenparty.ca
C: 613.240.8921
www.greenparty.ca