This I don’t mind, though there are some interesting effects of this change.

Our ward is losing the residential and industrial sectors to the west of 50th and north of 23rd ave, in addition to the industrial sectors north of the Whitemud. This places us in an interesting position (my own home in particular being the northernmost residents of the ward backing onto the ‘mud). Our ward is changing to a completely residential ward. With the exception of some retail areas, there is virtually no industrial area remaining. It will be interesting to see what priorities are identified in our ward and how they might differ from the past.

Signs have been springing up in our ward already. The new ward system doesn’t come into play until election day October 18, almost 3 months from now, but signs (one sign, many copies) have been up for over a month already.

Vikram Bagga – a local Jeweller has by all appearances thrown his hat into the ring for mayor. Nomination papers are due on September 20, 2010 so to date, assuming our incumbent we have 2 ‘confirmed’ candidates in our ‘neck of the woods’ – Amarjeet Sohi and Mr. Bagga.

One thing is clear. Ward 12 is a very multicultural district with notable Sikh, Hindu, and Islamic populations (as well as Christian, other theist and atheist residents of all colours) and I am concerned that citizens are going to be sending people to city hall based on race and birthplace, not platform.

Let me make this clear so that any potential mudslinging is nipped right up front. My concern is most certainly related to cultural relevance, but is certainly not prejudicial. I proudly put my support behind Mr. Sohi in the last election based on his platform – and I personally see no relevance in race, religion or skin tone as they relate to the issues of a ward in this city. [ED Note: This isn't completely true where crime and education are impacted by cultural makeup. Rather - my point is that to me - any candidate would recognize the cultural needs of their citizens, regardless of skin colour.]

What is my concern? My concern is the number of people supporting Mr. Bagga, when not a single alternative has been announced. These cannot all be associates or family members of Mr. Bagga so if not culturally motivated I wonder where his support is generated.

Regardless of the cultural support Mr. Bagga may be receiving, I do not fault him. He is running for office, and that means getting your support from wherever it stems. I have not met Mr. Bagga formally, though he spends some time with a friend of his that lives a few doors from me. He has knocked on my door asking for my families support this election – but sadly I wasn’t able to speak with him directly to get his position on things that are important to me and my family (because I was tending to the smelly bottom of one of them).

Youth crime, community policing, infrastructure funding, taxation, personal privacy, accessible technology, green space – these are things that matter to me. They also tend to be balance points between candidates. It is hard for me to accept that I’m being asked to support someone who has not yet put forth his concerns, plans and platform against as yet unknown candidates… but more than a few have.

So I ask this question. To those individuals and families currently supporting and promoting Mr. Bagga as an alternative: Why?

I don’t suggest that Mr. Bagga is not capable of the job. Indeed – he’s been in harrier situations than most of us, and has a unique perspective on small business – but just what is it? Because of his experience is he going to focus on small business issues? Policing issues? Where will his time be spent – and will it represent the real issues of you and your family? I only ask because I still don’t know the answer.

Regardless – I do wish Mr. Bagga well. I believe that it is a noble and respectable desire to stand for your community in government to make changes that will positively impact your constituents. But rather than trying to rally votes with signage – why not meet with your community and talk about issues and platform, and how you plan to represent their concerns?

As a CANADIAN – NOT AN AMERICAN I think it’s important to recognize how american policy affects the rest of the world, and we, who are not american need a US president who will make everyone else powerful and take away the rights, freedom, and prosperity from everyday AMERICAN citizens.  You don’t need change, hope, tax relief for the middle class (as you may recall that 24% of the cash in the US is in the pockets of less than 1% of the population) or that other swill (like reform, wage parity, effective health care, or a world stage that doesn’t wince every time the president eats seafood) Obama is offering, you need McCain and his amercian patriotism to spend your money abroad on weak military ventures to protect foreign oil for foreigners, and keep america in debt so that countries like Canada will prosper.  If you vote for McCain you’ll be making US stronger, and keeping yourselves out of touch in the new world economy which is JUST WHAT WE NEED.  A vote for MCCAIN is a vote for the everyone else! (who just happen to outnumber those who live in the US).   Just look at the Canadian dollar folks – a weak america is a strong Canada. Lets keep Canada strong, vote McCain.

Or – You can vote OBAMA and fix your country NOW.

(I mean – I think Palin is hot too – but she’s an idiot, with a narrow minded view of the world, and scares the shit out of me.)

Since my last blog post the Canadian federal election has come and gone, and unsurprisingly there has been virtually no change in Canada’s political landscape, with the exception of moving around a few deck chairs.  The conservative minority government is still a minority, with an official opposition too weak to act decisively in a positive direction for Canada, and a leading party in too weak a position to drive real change.

The Harper government has held to many ‘conservativisms’ but has not crippled us or buried us in scandal yet however so I’ll bide my time before deciding on a real opinion.  There were a lot of us who saw the election as nothing more than an opportunity to hold an election called by the lowest bidder.  Harpers campaign of “You’re better off with Harper” rang dead-on.  No frontrunner emerged from ANY party to truly steal the stage and bring voters out of their cocoons.  In order for a real change I think a few things must change.

1.  Voting should become MANDATORY for all ‘new’ Canadians.  We must get these new members of our ‘Cultural Mosaic’ [ED. Note: @bgrier says I should use the phrase 'Cultural Mozaic' instead of my original 'melting pot' because the 'pot is in the "US and A" Ok... ] out, educated in the issues, and at the polls.  No – I’m not done.  Voting should also be mandatory for all CITIZENS period.  It is NOT acceptable for less than 60% of eligible voters to share the responsibility for 100% of Canadians.  This is ludicrous.  Come on people – this is your COUNTRY.  Act like that means something.

2.  Through Election reform, we must enforce NATIONAL party criteria.  If you can’t run in every riding across this nation, you cannot effectively represent Canadians.  As a party, this only leads to divisive voting and a lack of cohesion.  Yes Monsieur Duceppe – this means you.  Quebec holds 75 of Canada’s 308 electoral ridings.  Quebec has a history of ‘a quest for distinction’ and it’s high time this country functioned as a Nation.  Either the Bloq runs nationally, or they turn their efforts into creating a Nation with a foundation of leadership and solidarity, by running under a national platform and leading the advancement of french culture through their elected representatives, rather than by stymieing the efforts of National parties to lead.

3. Election Reform to produce REAL candidates.  Low voter turnout is often (yes – I’m making a leap here) the result of a lack of charismatic candidates.  Candidates with passion and devotion to the country in which they live.  Candidates with a desire to impart REAL change to a system with real issues.  Candidates with the stones to stand up on the world stage and say THIS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.   Before Elizabeth May got to stand before this nation she was an unknown, but after the debate public opinion the Blue bloods and the Red bloods seemed to show some notice of her.  Were she a member of a party without a history of granola eating vegans and Greenpeacers – she could have a real shot at influencing positive change for this country.

4. An END to Partisan Bullshit.  When was the last time you saw a Liberal suggest that a Conservative policy would work?  When was the last time Jack Layton said, you know “Mr. Duceppe – You’re right…”?  Why is it that everyone MUST take a viewpoint contrary to the person to their left and right? (Or just your right if we’re talking Green of course.)  It’s time our elected representatives went to work for the people, set a course based on sound economics and moral fundamentals, and got the job done.

I certainly hope for my country’s sake, and my child’s sake that our new(?) government can put down the campaign literature and set a course for the good over the next 4 years (18 months) and put a sound economic plan in place that takes environment, social responsibility and fiscal responsibility as foundations for the future.