Strategic voting won’t bring change, says Green candidate Ken Melamed

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      Former Whistler mayor and current Green candidate Ken Melamed doesn’t believe in strategic voting. According to him, this electoral tactic won’t deliver the change desired by people who want to see the Conservatives out of power.

      “I’ve been telling people who are, you know, considering their vote: the best way to ensure that the next government achieves the things that many Canadians want is to elect a strong caucus of Greens,” Melamed told the Straight in a phone interview.

      The candidate in West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country explained that a robust Green presence in the House of Commons could hold the balance of power in a post-Conservative, minority government. He said this would help the party push for action on issues like climate change and democratic reform.

      “The best chance to get the kind of change we want in government is to have a strong group of Greens that will keep whatever party forms government honest,” Melamed said.

      The Greens had only two seats in Parliament before the writ was dropped for the October 19 election.

      With polls suggesting a race among Conservatives, New Democrats, and Liberals, the Greens are likely going to feel the squeeze from strategic-voting campaigns.

      As pollster Mario Canseco of Insights West previously told the Straight, it may be tough deciding to vote Green knowing that the Conservatives could squeak through with another victory, with their opponents splitting the vote.

      But according to Melamed, Conservative support is eroding, and that “leaves voters free to vote their conviction and vote for the party whose values best represent their own”.

      “We need to vote for the things that we believe in if we’re going to have the kind of country we want,” Melamed said.

      Dogwood Initiative, a Victoria-based environmental group, has launched Vote B.C., a project meant to increase voter turnout.

      According to the organization’s energy and democracy director, Kai Nagata, the campaign isn’t going to make endorsements, but it will inform voters where candidates and parties stand on issues such as plans to build oil pipelines across B.C.

      Nagata told the Straight by phone: “We wanted to focus more on making sure that people vote, rather than trying to tell them which way to vote when they get to the polls.”

      Comments

      10 Comments

      ursa minor

      Aug 19, 2015 at 1:32pm

      “I’ve been telling people who are, you know, considering their vote: the best way to ensure that the next government achieves the things that many Canadians want is to elect a strong caucus of Greens,”

      Many Canadians want another Harper majority, and that will certainly happen if enough voters are duped into voting Green. It certainly doesn't help that Pablo and the Straight are pumping these Randian Recyclers, these Nature Loving Libertarians, these Composting Conservatives at every turn.

      The Greens can claim they're on the side of change all they want, but the truth is they're a gang of unprincipled "useful idiots" for those who benefit from capitalist hegemony to feel good about themselves, particularly the corporate media. Why an alleged "alternative" publication like the Georgia Straight keeps giving these Tory Fifth Columnists so much attention is beyond me.

      FN

      Aug 19, 2015 at 2:03pm

      The Greens do not have a hope of winning the West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country riding, but they can help re-elect the Con if they fail to support the strong Liberal candidate, who is probably just as 'green' as Melamed. For the serious Green party members, replacing Weston with Goldsmith-Jones should be considered a win.

      George Hale

      Aug 19, 2015 at 2:38pm

      Regardless of who forms government (Liberals, NDP, or Conservatives), we need an honest party like the Green Party to hold those in power accountable. Green MPs will hold their feet to the fire, make them keep their election promises (e.g. Mulcair's electoral promise to replace FPTP with Proportional Representation). I agree with Ken Melamed and wish the Green Party nothing but success in the election. A contingent of Green MPs is exactly what our parliament needs.

      James Blatchford

      Aug 19, 2015 at 2:47pm

      Ken Malamed - Marc Emory is on the line..he wants to know what you're smoking. Sez it must be some good shit.

      Stan Lee

      Aug 19, 2015 at 3:08pm

      As I wrote in response to Martyn Brown's article about strategic voting...
      Strategic Voting (in this election) means voting for the candidate in your riding that has the greatest probability of defeating the CPC candidate. It's just that simple. Elizabeth May will almost certainly be elected but I rather doubt that ANY other Green Party candidate will have the greatest probability of not just defeating a CPC candidate but winning their riding. (The pundits are even predicting that the NDP will win the riding of Thunder Bay–Superior North where Bruce Hyer - the sole other Green MP, who was actually elected as NDP candidate then essentially ousted by the NDP, became independent, then Green). We shall see what the polls say come early October but if you want to give Harper and the CPC a greater chance of winning more seats, voting Green (outside of May's riding) will likely do just that!

      Justin B

      Aug 19, 2015 at 4:48pm

      If you are proud of your democracy, then vote for the party your ideals align with. Vote out of hope and not fear, because at the end of the day you're going to feel like crap when you checked one box but really wanted to check the other.

      Alison

      Aug 19, 2015 at 9:02pm

      I totally support Ken Melamed. He's such a credible candidate; I think it would be wonderful to have a few key Greens like him in parliament pushing for real action on climate change. The federal Liberals dithered on climate change when they were last in power. If the Liberals or NDP get in, having a few committed Greens holding the balance of power would be fantastic.

      Justin B's bad hangover

      Aug 19, 2015 at 10:39pm

      Love your family, love your car, love your hamster, love your province, but don't love your ballot.

      Think it instead.

      Carolyn KIng

      Aug 21, 2015 at 8:06am

      Stan Lee is correct. Strategic voting in this election can be used to elect the candidate that has the best chance of defeating the Conservative candidate in a particular riding, regardless of party. That could mean a Green candidate if he/she is very good and gains the favour of enough electors. Groups like Leadnow can help by figuring out the candidate that has the best chance. More info at http://www.leadnow.ca/connect/
      Ken Malamed may be a good guy, but he doesn't seem to understand the issue here.

      KD

      Aug 21, 2015 at 11:54pm

      If Harper is elected for another term the Greens won't have anything left to protect so don't waste your vote, vote NDP and then hold them to their promise of bringing in electoral reform 'when' the NDP forms government. Only then will the Greens have a chance to make a real presence in Parliament.