In the 2014 provincial election, I voted Green. This time, I’m voting NDP. Here’s why.

Raven Blue
Sep 8, 2018 · 9 min read
Jennifer McKenzie at the 2018 Pride Parade

Through several federal, provincial, and municipal elections, I’ve voted for candidates of all political stipes. As we get closer to the September 24 provincial election, I wanted to write the full story of how I ended up supporting the NDP for the upcoming provincial election. It’s partly about people, party about policy, but mostly, it’s about understanding what we need right now.

When I was in my 20s, I proudly ignored elections. I saw each of the political flavours as a distateful choice between a lesser of evils that I shouldn’t have to even consider, like a lukewarm plate of freezer-burned peas, carrots, mystery meat and mashed potatoes, and I was stubbornly refusing to take even a bite.

In my 30s, I started to feel a little differently when I saw people my age walking to the polls, in large numbers. In the Saint John municipal election of 2008, I saw my friends, neighbours, and co-workers hit the sidewalk to oust the mayor of the day, Norm Macfarlane, who oversaw the now infamous LNG tax deal that cost the city millions in lost tax revenue, while homeowners continue to struggle with some of the highest tax rates in the country.

In my 40s, when I speak to people who don’t trust politics in any shape or form, and can’t be bothered to vote, my response is simple:

Voting is the most punk thing you can do on a Monday afternoon. And if you can’t be bothered, you are part of the problem.

At different times, I have been a member of each of the political parties, and voted for different colours for different reasons. Sometimes I’ve voted for the local candidate who I felt would do the best job representing my area. Other times, I’ve voted based on specific party policy, or because the party leader had a message that was relevant to me. In general, I have treated elections as a chance to find the right presription for what we need right now, for my neighbourhood, my city, my province, or my county. But as I get older, and see more and more of the same inequalities and injustices repeating themselves, I find myself walking farther and farther to the left.

In the 2014 provincial election, Wayne Dryer was the only candidate who showed up at my apartment. He was warm, quiet, and down to earth. Talking to him was like talking to any neighbour. It wasn’t until the end of the conversation that I learned which party he was representing. I had never voted Green before and I was intrigued. In the 2014 election, voting for Wayne, and supporting the green party made sense. Their platform was focussed on local grassroots engagement, and common-sense sustainable development principles that I could get behind.

I had supported NDP candidates such as Elizabeth Weir in the 1990s. But with her departure, the leadership of the party at that time did little to inspire confidence that they could truly serve as a progressive voice in the legistature, let alone form a government. I felt as though the provincial NDP had self-immolated itself into obscurity, and the Green Party appeared to be ready to carry the torch as a true progressive voice that I could trust.

Over a generation of provincial and federal elections, the Green Party have evolved significantly, with a solid platform, coherent messaging, and likeable candidates with valuable credentials. With the election of David Coon to the legislature, they have earned some street credibility and a track record for holding our current government to account. For many, the Green Party offers some promise with a message and brand that resonates with voters seeking progressive change.

For this election, I ultimately chose to vote for substance over style. In the span of one year, the NDP has made a remarkable comeback with strong, progressive policy under Jennifer McKenzie’s leadership. When she announces new policies, the other parties scramble to keep up. The NDP are ahead of the curve in the narrative of provincial politics, and I felt it is important to be part of this change, rather than watching from the sidelines. When it comes to policy, I have my own interests at heart, as a small business owner, as an environmentalist, and as a father. But in the big picture, the present-day NDP is offering some key strengths that represents what New Brunswick needs right now:

  1. Strong Progressive Policy— Distinguishing her aproach from the previous party’s leader, Jennifer stated unapologetically “I am a socialist and I believe in the power of people working together. And I hope to take this party into the future based on the solid principles on which the New Democrats are founded”. The NDP’s policy announcement of $15 minimum wage and improved protections for workers has set the tone for this years’ election, and it didn’t take long for other parties to follow. They have since followed up with policies to make post-secondary education more accessible, affordable and accessible childcare co-located in schools, and the expansion of the extra mural program to provide much needed home care for seniors and others with special needs.
  2. Dedicated to the Environment— The NDP have come out as an environmental policy leader with a detailed carbon plan, a climate reduction fund to finance green energy, and they have voiced strong opposition to fracking and pipeline projects. They have a unique vision that augments economic development in this province with the development of green energy projects.
  3. Leading by Listening — I have observed the leaders of all the parties, looked for the qualities that I would want for leading the province. Seeing the transformation of the party in one year gives me hope of what might be possible for New Brunswick. McKenzie has one strength that is unique among the other party leaders: Empathy. She not only listens, but she listens with care, and takes notes. Listening has long been identified as one of the essential qualities of great leaders. The platform we see today is based not only on progressive ideas, but on what she has learned from the people of New Brunswick. Jennifer has a thorough understanding of the challenges of New Brunsickers who want to live, learn, work, and retire here.
  4. Gender Representation — With 51% female candidates and two transgender candidates, the NDP are the only party in New Brunswick that have put their money where their mouth is when it comes to gender diversity. As the only party with a woman at the helm, the NDP are in a position to represent the population of New Brunswick in a way that no other party can.
  5. Electoral Reform — The NDP has long held a policy of implementing proportional representation for future elections, and reducing the voting age from 18 to 16. This would be a game changer for the future of New Brunswick, as it ensures that every vote for a party is accurately represented in the seats of the legislature. It’s a common-sense system being adopted throughout the developed world, and for good reason — proportional representation accellerates social change.
  6. A Solid Resume — Medicare, public education, employment insurance, CPP… all of our most basic intititions that we as Canadians are so proud of, can all be traced back to hard fought battles that have origins in the NDP. The NDP is built on a tradition of social democracy that has its origins in the great depression, with a history of accomplishments that make our country what it is today.
  7. Focussed on the future — A key theme in the policy today’s NDP has been to address the generational brain drain that has plagued our province, as young people often have to leave New Brunswick to get the education they want, and find job oppourtunities they need to accomplish their goals. With policies that increase access to post-secondary education, and investments to promote growth and innovation, the NDP have put forward a plan that can help retain and attract new generations to our province.

When it comes to policy, both the Greens and the NDP in New Brunswick may seem to have more in common than they do in contrast. Like many voters, I’ve found myself hedging between the two in the past, but momentum of the NDP both in other provinces and here at home is unmistakeable. Voters are seeking substantial change, and their past accomplishments shows the NDP are up to the task. In the years to come, the Green Party will likely be an important voice in progressive politics. But here’s the problem:

The Green Party has some great ideas, and some great candidates. But if you don’t whip the vote, what’s the fucking point?

The Green Party proudly states their policy to end whipped votes. Without a party whip, your MLAs have no accountibility to the principles or platform that got them elected. Without this kind of accountibility, their platform serves as more of a “guideline” than an election committment.

For example, the Green Party have campaigned on a policy of raising the minumum wage to $15.25/hr, 25¢ more than the NDP’s $15/hr. But under a Green Government, or a minority government supported by some Green representatives, your Green MLA could abstain or choose to vote against this policy in the legislature, based on their personal preferences.

When it comes to brass tacks, voting for a Green candidate is more like voting for an independent. Historically, some independent representatives have made a valuable contribution to the political landscape, but to build bring about real social change, we need a political party with strong leadership, and candidates who are unambiguously committed to the very ideas they are campaigning on. When I encounter people who are eager to support the Green Party for this election, I try to boil it down for them…

If you really want progressive change, the NDP are the only party that can make it happen.

I am sure that supporters of the Green Party have the best of intentions in mind, but we need to recognize the impact of vote-splitting has on the progressive vote in New Brunswick. In the 2014 election, The Green Party got 6% of the popular vote while the NDP got 12%. This means that at least 18% of New Brunswick are voting for progressive change, but with these votes being split between two parties, many seats that could have been won by a progressive candidate have instead gone to Liberals or Conservatives. When looking at the numbers of the previous election, we have 7 ridings in New Brunswick where the progressive vote is above 30%, which is often all that is needed to win a seat in the legislature.

In this election, progressive voters can easily tip the balance of power by consolidating our votes behind a single party to bring about tangible change.

The NDP are in a good position to hold the balance of power in a Liberal minority government. In this scenario, significant changes can be brought about in a 4-year term, among these: Electoral Reform. There is a reason why the Liberals and Conservatives are terrified of proportional representation. They know full well that under such a system, they will never be capable of securing a majority again. For those who want to support the Green Party, a vote for the NDP could do more to help their party with the implementation of a proportional voting system.

We know New Brunswick is in a tough spot. People are struggling to meet their basic needs. We have a hospital that pays more property tax than the largest refinery in Canada, and some of the worst statistics in the country for income inequality, child poverty, family violence, and mental health. Looking at the seriousness of what New Brunswick is going through, I could not in good concience support a party that seeks votes around progressive ideas, but then functions as a kind of ephemeral collective of independents, without a backbone to support their own policy. We need decisive, progressive leadership and consensus-building.

In recent years, the provincial NDP parties have seen more and more successes as they return to the basic principles of fairness and social justice. And the reasons for this are simple: More and more people are struggling. The NDP are the only party that have the ideas, the people, and the legislative backbone to bring the kind of tangible change that is most needed in New Brunswick.

Raven Blue

Written by

Entrepreneur, Filmmaker, Media Junkie

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