First off, a comment on the digital visibility of the parties. I use a bookmarking site called symbaloo.com which allows me to graphically bookmark everything I want. So, let's look at the tiles that symbaloo.com has created for the six parties using the images supplied by each.
What's wrong with the Liberals' tech crew?! No avatar or text? They're the blank tile between the Conservatives and the NDP. Even FD has an avatar.
OK, let's look at the opening statements of each party after the announcement of an election by Stephen Harper on August 2nd, 2015. Since Harper announced it, let's start with the Conservatives.
In general: “This is an election about leadership on the big issues that affect all Canadians: the economy and our country’s security,” said the Prime Minister. “Given the serious economic and security issues facing the world, it is appropriate that Canadians should have time to consider the alternatives before them.”
On security: “Now is not the time for political correctness, inexperienced governance or an ideological unwillingness to act,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Now is the time to face those who threaten us with moral clarity, strength and resolve.”
“We want change that will make a real difference in the lives of all Canadians – change that will help families make ends meet, put more money in their pockets, and bring this country together,” said Mr. Trudeau. “It is time for a new plan to grow the middle class and grow the economy.”
Bloc Québecois:
So, my take on this so far is that the Conservatives and Liberals are pandering to the unenlightened in typical politico fashion. They both stress personality over policy. In the case of Harper's team, it is about the status quo and protecting the society we have (a little fear-mongering goes a long way). In the case of the Liberals, it is about that overused dogma: "change". The NDP offers substance right away as do the Greens and BQ. The NDP's vision is social democratic and thus workable in the mainstream. The Greens, BQ and FD are niche-parties.
I really don't like fear or meaningless claptrap, so as a Martian or a Lively Albatross, I would say the NDP has won the first round of opening salvos.
What's wrong with the Liberals' tech crew?! No avatar or text? They're the blank tile between the Conservatives and the NDP. Even FD has an avatar.OK, let's look at the opening statements of each party after the announcement of an election by Stephen Harper on August 2nd, 2015. Since Harper announced it, let's start with the Conservatives.
Conservatives:
What I notice right away is that the Conservatives' site is heavily text-based; does this suggest an older voting base? I can find a YouTube channel but the videos are not embedded in the site itself. So, let me summarize the substance of the written release which can be viewed in its entirety by clicking on the document.
In general: “This is an election about leadership on the big issues that affect all Canadians: the economy and our country’s security,” said the Prime Minister. “Given the serious economic and security issues facing the world, it is appropriate that Canadians should have time to consider the alternatives before them.”
On the economy: “Our well-being depends on the economy and the wrong leader will do real harm,” Prime Minister Harper said. “Now is not the time for the kinds of harmful economic schemes that are doing so much damage elsewhere in the world. Now is the time to stay on track and stick to our plan.”
Overall, the thrust of the Conservatives' plan seems to be to show they have experience in the economy and the "resolve" to fight external threats. The statement also warned against the inexperience of Trudeau and his Liberals and the "ideological foreign policy" of Mulcair and the NDP.
Liberals:
Well, the tech team got this right. It is pretty easy to navigate to an embedded video which can be viewed on the site itself ...
Oh oh, at 24 seconds, it's an ad about "change" with a lot of pretty pictures of Justin (hey, Justin, your dad had substance along with charisma).
So, that fell flat but there is a link to the text "Trudeau launches campaign for real change". Let me work with that.
Oh oh, at 24 seconds, it's an ad about "change" with a lot of pretty pictures of Justin (hey, Justin, your dad had substance along with charisma).
So, that fell flat but there is a link to the text "Trudeau launches campaign for real change". Let me work with that.
“We want change that will make a real difference in the lives of all Canadians – change that will help families make ends meet, put more money in their pockets, and bring this country together,” said Mr. Trudeau. “It is time for a new plan to grow the middle class and grow the economy.”
... “This election is about our future and Liberals have the plan and the team to make a real, positive difference for Canadians,” said Mr. Trudeau. “We have a real plan that will cut taxes for the middle class, so Canadians can keep more of their paycheques. We will also create one bigger, fair, automatic, and tax-free monthly benefit that will help families with the high cost of raising their kids. Nine out of ten families will get more from our plan. That’s real change.”
So, it would seem the Liberals are all about the economy and cutting taxes to the middle class. Fair enough, it's a start.
So, it would seem the Liberals are all about the economy and cutting taxes to the middle class. Fair enough, it's a start.
NDP:
The NDP's video is smack-dab on the first page.
It can also be viewed on YouTube. At 5 minutes and 45 seconds, it is Mulcair starting by saying that the country can either continue with Harper or choose his "plan for change".
He starts by stating that Harper's economic plan is clearly not working. While lambasting Harper's record, Mulcair states that his plan woıuld include affordable child care. Comparing Harper's record with his own priorities, he states he would tackle climate change, recognize the rights of First Nations people, and champion the manufacturing sectors. He criticizes Harper's 8 years of successive deficits, the fact that Conservatives have been convicted of wrong-doing in each of the past three elections and the fact that Harper has the worst job-creation record of any government since WWII. He states that getting people back to work is the NDP's number one priority. He also talks about his own upbringing where he learned to back up his principles with action. He ends with the idea that we can work together to "replace fear and division with hope and optimism".
It can also be viewed on YouTube. At 5 minutes and 45 seconds, it is Mulcair starting by saying that the country can either continue with Harper or choose his "plan for change".
He starts by stating that Harper's economic plan is clearly not working. While lambasting Harper's record, Mulcair states that his plan woıuld include affordable child care. Comparing Harper's record with his own priorities, he states he would tackle climate change, recognize the rights of First Nations people, and champion the manufacturing sectors. He criticizes Harper's 8 years of successive deficits, the fact that Conservatives have been convicted of wrong-doing in each of the past three elections and the fact that Harper has the worst job-creation record of any government since WWII. He states that getting people back to work is the NDP's number one priority. He also talks about his own upbringing where he learned to back up his principles with action. He ends with the idea that we can work together to "replace fear and division with hope and optimism".
Now, now, Mr. Mulcair: substance on the first day of a 78-day election? Hmm, so far the NDP is the only one to have any.
The Greens:
It takes three clicks to find their "Vision Green":
The vision itself is a detailed account of the policies that Greens around the world promote: climate change and the promotion of a green economy, disarmament, UN millennial goals, etc. Heavy on details, this is substance on steroids.
The Greens:
It takes three clicks to find their "Vision Green":
The vision itself is a detailed account of the policies that Greens around the world promote: climate change and the promotion of a green economy, disarmament, UN millennial goals, etc. Heavy on details, this is substance on steroids.Bloc Québecois:
Straightforward stuff: stop Harper, stay true to our convictions and work towards Québec as an independent country.
No surprises.
FD:
The FD Party calls for giving more power to the regions. Let's see how their policies develop.
No surprises.
FD:
The FD Party calls for giving more power to the regions. Let's see how their policies develop.
So, my take on this so far is that the Conservatives and Liberals are pandering to the unenlightened in typical politico fashion. They both stress personality over policy. In the case of Harper's team, it is about the status quo and protecting the society we have (a little fear-mongering goes a long way). In the case of the Liberals, it is about that overused dogma: "change". The NDP offers substance right away as do the Greens and BQ. The NDP's vision is social democratic and thus workable in the mainstream. The Greens, BQ and FD are niche-parties.
I really don't like fear or meaningless claptrap, so as a Martian or a Lively Albatross, I would say the NDP has won the first round of opening salvos.
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