Elizabeth May gained points while Dianne Haskett was a no-show at CCH. Students urged to use 'bull detector'
Chip Martin, Politics Reporter
The London Free Press
November 23, 2006
"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.
MAY: A win would see her possibly stay.(DEREK RUTTAN/London Free Press file photo)
And it turned out that, based on response,
the green-flavoured variety seemed to be favoured by those attending
the 90-minute all-candidate gathering, followed by the orange and red
varieties. That would be the green of Green Party Leader Elizabeth May,
the orange of New Democrat Megan Walker and the red of Liberal Glen
Pearson.
The blue brand wasn't on the menu because Conservative Dianne
Haskett was absent, making a radio appearance during part of the
relevant time on CJBK.
Steve Hunter of the Progressive Canadian Party, who issued the
warning about baloney, urged students to vote to make a difference in
their government.
"This is your chance to stick it to the man," Hunter said to rousing cheers and applause.
Another cynical note was struck by Will Arlow of the Canadian
Action Party, who advised listeners, "Politicians lie their faces off
to get elected." He urged students to press their "bull . . .
detectors" into service when measuring promises.
Questions to the candidates ranged from the environment and the
proper role for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, to gun control and
whether they were pro-choice or anti-abortion.
Pearson, Walker and Hunter said they were pro-choice, while
Independent Robert Ede and Arlow said they were anti-abortion. May said
while she believes in the sanctity of life, she defends the
availability of therapeutic abortions to keep women away from
back-alley abortionists.
Pearson and Arlow took note of Haskett's absence from the debate, saying it reflected poorly on her.
"You should be angry about that," Pearson told the students, only
about half of whom are of voting age, as he pointed to Haskett's empty
chair. "There was a lack of respect shown to you today."
May had a surprise when she was asked about the recyclability of
her election signs. "They are all reusable when I run for re-election
in London North Centre," she said.
Challenged by Walker about her intentions after the vote, given
that May parachuted into the riding with the rest of the candidates and
said she didn't plan to stick around, May sought to clarify.
"I appreciate the enormously warm welcome here," said May, who
lives in Ottawa and said originally she will contest the next general
election in her Cape Breton home.
"If I am elected here I will ask the voters," she said. "If they
want me to stay, I will stay . . . it's an open question and I will ask
that question."
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.
May gets a hand from rebel Turner
Renegade MP Garth Turner blew into London Nov. 16 talking Green and trashing his former Tory blue.
Campaign trail gets crowded
Conservative Dianne Haskett, Liberal Glen Pearson and Green party
Leader Elizabeth May all had reinforcements on the campaign trail Nov.
14 in London North Centre:
CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK
FIRST ALL-CANDIDATES SESSION Nov. 15 AT HURON U. COLLEGE
Intrigue in cyberspace
New Democrat Megan Walker has contacted London police in a bid to
discover how Liberal rival Glen Pearson's camp obtained an internal NDP
memo bragging her party was about to "bring down a Liberal" because of
inappropriate web blog postings by a Pearson worker.
