CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK: Could you repeat that . . . for the record?
Free Press Staff
The London Free Press
November 23, 2006
Recent all-candidate meetings have seen some
of the folks vying for votes in Nov. 27's byelection say some of the
darndest things:
Will Arlow of the Canadian Action
Party wants north London to become "an airship terminus for the world."
He figures when fossil fuels run out in 50 to 70 years, only the very
rich and the military will be able to afford travel by plane. The rest
of us will travel by 300-kilometre-an-hour, lighter-than-air
dirigibles. He wants London in on the ground floor by getting to work
on the plan now. He says the project could tap expertise at the
University of Western Ontario and lead to 6,500 new jobs.
Progressive Canadian party candidate Steve Hunter put it
simply when he talked about the environment with students at Catholic
Central High School. "We are for the environment. We like it." He was
applauded.
Green Party leader and candidate Elizabeth May took a
corporate view when discussing the environment at the same session:
"The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment."
Independent Robert Ede said voters must use their power
wisely to change the way Canada is governed. "There is 55 seconds of
power every four years for Canadians," he said, referring to the amount
of time he calculates it takes to vote.
Asked about nastiness and finger-pointing in the
byelection, May, an Anglican Sunday school teacher, said: "The wages of
spin will always come back on you."
Layton gives Walker a boost
New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton is scheduled to make his
second visit to London North Centre Nov. 24 to boost candidate Megan
Walker. He will canvass with her, then attend a 7:30 p.m. rally at
Aeolian Hall, 795 Dundas St.
Election Coverage
Candidates debate world poverty
Poverty and international development dominated Nov. 23rd's debate in
the London byelection, the last scheduled forum before Nov. 27's vote.
Haskett highlights tougher bail
Using the London courthouse as a backdrop, Conservative candidate
Dianne Haskett said a vote for her Nov. 27 is a vote for tougher bail
conditions and other anti-crime measures.
Walker says only NDP tackling Afghan war issue
Peace broke out in the London North Centre byelection war Nov. 23, with
the New Democrats continuing their push to get Canadian soldiers out of
Afghanistan.
Students urged to use 'bull detector'
"You're going to hear a bunch of baloney from all of us today," one
candidate in the London North Centre byelection warned about 700 senior
students at Catholic Central high school Nov. 22.
Homelessness highlighted as growing national 'crisis'
NDP candidate Megan Walker took her campaign to the people who live on
the streets Nov. 22, urging homeless women to vote in Monday's London
North Centre byelection.
McNaughton wins Tory nod
After a 20-month campaign to become a Progressive Conservative
candidate in the next Ontario election, Monte McNaughton has been
acclaimed to carry the party standard in Lambton Kent Middlesex.
New-look Belinda boosts Pearson
Political chameleon Belinda Stronach strolled London's Richmond Row
Nov. 21, drawing double takes, blasts from car horns and a few
perplexed looks from shoppers.
Debate draws best cards
The heat came not only from the hot, cramped quarters of the London
City Press Club at an all-candidates debate in the London byelection
Nov. 21.
Left, right support Green
Endorsements by a former high-ranking Tory, a left-leaning city
councillor and the city's first environmental mayor have Green Party
Leader Elizabeth May buoyed about her chances in the London byelection.
Haskett refuses group's queries
She admits she disappointed some of her most loyal supporters, but
Dianne Haskett says she won't fill out a questionnaire for anyone.
CAW local plans to back Pearson
With only a week left in the London byelection battle, the city's
largest union local is poised to endorse a Liberal candidate over a New
Democrat for the first time ever.
Still chance to sway voters
We asked some London North Centre voters, "How closely are you following the byelection?"
Down the stretch they come
Candidates in London North Centre took to streets and highrises Nov. 18
as they headed into the homestretch of a federal byelection campaign
that has been offbeat at times.
SPECIAL REPORT: No place for cliches
It's the prize in the Nov. 27 byelection in London, a riding nothing
like the comfortable cliches many people carry around about the city.
New Democrat appeals to auto workers, industry
In a move to take her byelection campaign in a new direction, New
Democratic candidate Megan Walker made a pitch Nov. 17 to auto workers
and their industry.
'Memo-gate' remains a mystery
It's a little of the 'I'll show you mine, if you'll show me yours' in the London North Centre 'memo-gate.'
Haskett draws wave of boos
The first candidates' debate in the London North Centre byelection Nov.
16 was a tame affair in stark contrast to recent accusations and
finger-pointing.
Walker 'torched the guy': Pearson
The temperature rose in the London byelection battle yesterday, as
Liberal Glen Pearson blasted as "sick" the actions of his New Democrat
rival over an Internet scandal.
Conservative support drops to tie with Grits
OTTAWA -- Support for Canada's Conservative government has fallen back
into a statistical tie with the leaderless Liberals, a Sun Media-SES
Research survey shows.
Haskett plays crime card
Freed from her self-imposed silence during the civic election campaign,
Dianne Haskett played the anti-crime card yesterday, vowing her party
would crack down in London.
