My letter to the editor is in the Charlottetown Guardian today
Yesterday the Charlottetown Guardian (the major paper in my home province) printed a letter of mine. In the letter, I responded to a Guardian editorial last week that underestimated Elizabeth May’s chance of pulling of a victory in Saanich–Gulf Islands.
Elizabeth May has an excellent chance
Editor:
Re The Guardian editorial ‘Ms. May taking a difficult road to Parliament’ (Sept. 23, 2009): Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has an excellent shot at becoming the next MP for the B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands where she will run in the next election.
Before pronouncing otherwise, The Guardian could have done basic research into the local dynamics of the riding. Consider the facts: as one of the small-g greenest ridings in Canada, Saanich-Gulf Islands is fertile territory for the Greens. Incumbent Gary Lunn is widely viewed as a weak cabinet minister. Lunn managed to cling to his seat by a thread in the last election, but only because the progressive vote was split among the Greens, NDP and Liberals. But now that charismatic, high-profile and hard-working Elizabeth May has entered the race, progressive voters have a natural rallying point and a genuine alternative to the status quo.
May astounded pundits in her past runs for office with two solid second place finishes. May clearly excels at attracting support from voters who have traditionally voted for other parties. This effect is already apparent in British Columbia, where the latest Ekos poll now has Greens at 18 per cent following May’s nomination in Saanich-Gulf Islands. Clearly, B.C. voters are accepting of May and enthusiastic that she will run in B.C.
I predict May will make political history by winning the first seat for the Greens in the next election. The million Canadians who voted Green in the last election deserve a voice in Parliament.
