Centrerion Canadian Politics

I think it's important to also address
the fact that the two candidates are competing with each other and thus have different views. An example of the type of questions I would suggest is "What are some of your policies that would distinguish the Green Party under your leadership from the Green Party under the leadership of your opponent, May (or Chernushenko)?"

This will lead to a healthy discussion by well-informed Green Party activists about the merits and weaknesses of various "Green" policies.

I guess most people wonder about how well they would govern based
on two things: their lack of experience and the heavy
environmental focus of their platform. I would
probably ask questions regarding those two issues.
However, I would particularly focus on their
environmental leanings, since a government is supposed
to primarily concern itself with people and society,
not plants and animals.

The name of their party somewhat insinuates that
people come second to environment. I believe they
have been trying to change this image for awhile now,
but without much success. Most people still see them
as "tree-huggers."

I’m actually on their website right now glancing at
their 2006 platform. I have a personal interest in
immigration policy and on the impact that immigrants
have on Canadian identity and unity. I believe that
immigration can have a positive impact on Canada.
However, it can also negatively impact Canadian social
cohesion if immigrants are not properly integrated and
socialized into Canadian society. I do not see the
Canadian government taking the necessary steps to
integrate immigrants into our country.

If immigrants remain too "foreign" (for lack of a
better word), national unity is weakened and core
Canadian values and beliefs are not upheld by all
citizens. You see people emigrating from countries
with values that are actually opposed to Canadian
values. Take, for instance, immigrants from North
Africa. In countries such as Algeria women and people
of other religious orientations (Jews and Christians)
are not only ascribed less respect and value, but are
also treated unequally.

Just because Canada is a multicultural country does
not mean that we can invite people with harmful values
and beliefs into our nation, especially without proper
social integration. Multiculturalism in Canada means
intercultural appreciation, tolerance, and sharing,
within a bilingual framework and with respect to core
Canadian values, such as tolerance, anti-racism,
anti-sexism, etc. Therefore, this multiculturalism
should only embrace those elements of a culture which
are not discriminatory, harmful, or in someway
damaging to Canadian citizens or to Canadian values.

Given the Green party's desire to welcome all
newcomers and to embrace their social and ethnic
differences, I am curious to know how they
simultaneously plan on protecting Canadian values,
identity and national solidarity.

The Green party loosely says that they wish to "work
with municipalities and provinces to improve the
integration of new Canadians into the multicultural
fabric of our country."

What does this mean? In what capacity do they want to
work with municipalities and provinces? In what way
do they want to improve the integration of immigrants
into Canada's society? Do they have any social
integration programs or ideas in the works?

Those would be my questions since this is my area of
interest. They also mentioned some interesting things
on their website regarding the Anti-Terrorism Act and
the Public Safety Act with regards to immigrants.

One question I would ask the leadership candidates is whether they agree with the criticism that the Green Party has shifted away from its roots. I would also ask them what they believe we need to do to confront global warning and their opinion on the Conservative Party's support for ethanol as a solution.

Perhaps you could also ask them about GMOs and their views on the probelms facing our health care system would be interesting. I am waiting to see some more attention paid to the environmental causes of disease (perhaps you could ask them about the epidemic of cancer that we are facing) and the need to focus more on prevention than treatment. Why not ask them about their views on economic globalization as well.

1) If they agree it's shifted away from its progressive roots;
2) What can be done to confront global warming?
3) Their opinion for the Conservatives support for ethanol;
GMOs, problems facing health care? What specifically?
4) Views on environmental causes for disease, specifically cancer;
5) What can be done to shift emphasis to prevention?
6) Opinion on economic globalization is a key issue.

What changes in direction do you have planned for the Green Party, if any?

What new arguments do you plan to use to convince the Broadcasters Consortium to let the Green Party into the leadership debates?

How important is it to continue to attract supporters from all ends of the political spectrum?

If a Green candidate other than the leader wins a seat, will he or she be expected to step aside in favour of the leader?

What makes your approach different from that of your opponent?