Thank you, Elizabeth, and all the volunteers.
A most heartfelt thank you and congratulations to Elizabeth May and the team that gathered in London North Centre over the past month.
You’ve produced the most successful Green Party electoral result in Canada’s history! 25.9% of the vote.
The final results showed the Liberals holding the seat in a riding that has been Liberal for over 18 years, Elizabeth May in second place, with the Conservatives and NDP in third and fourth respectively.
Does this mean that voters in London have clearly indicated their displeasure with the performance of Stephen Harper? (Note that I refer to the man and not the party, since we currently enjoy a one man government.) No, I can’t say that, since this riding has been maintained as a Liberal stronghold and the Conservative social agenda, which is clearly supported by candidate Dianne Haskett, was never popular in London.
Does this mean that voters in London are strongly in support of the Liberal Party, whichever leader they may choose? Well no, I can’t say that either since the vote went from Joe Fontana’s 40% in January to 34% now.
“I wanted to vote for her (May), but I was afraid of the split,” he said. “I felt she was the best candidate, but I was afraid of that scenario.”
But does this mean that voters in London have shown a preference for something different? That they have now shown both themselves, the media, and the rest of Canada that Green wins are possible?
Yes, it surely does.
The London Free Press reports that some voters still felt the need for “strategic voting” to prevent the Conservative win, and that their best bet to prevent this was Liberal. This despite feeling that Elizabeth was the best choice.
This close second place result, while short of the goal to get Elizabeth into parliament, will be strongly motivating to Green Party supporters across the country.
And it will send a message to all Canadians, from coast to coast to coast.
- 26%+ of Londeners felt that their Green Party Candidate was the best choice!
- “Strategic voting” does not get you what you really want!
- Yes, if you vote Green, we CAN win!
Go ahead Canada, vote for what you want, rather than the lesser of evils!
Thank you Elizabeth, for a job extremely well done.
