Vol. 27 Issue 11 November 2019 A NON–PROFITMetchosin COMMUNITY PUBLICATION Muse Candidates, and Brian Domney, moderator, at the second debate at Metchosin Community Hall Photo by Barb Sawatsky Provisional Federal Election Results candidates received fewer than with the exception of its leader, issues. On other issues, such Number Percentage of 700 votes among them. Maxime Bernier, who finished as pharma care, housing and Candidate Name/Party of Votes total votes Any attempt to interpret second in his riding, losing the indigenous people’s issues, the Randall Garrison, NDP 23,516 34.1% what this means for Metchosin seat he had. The PPC seems NDP may have some influence David Merner, Green 18,135 26.3% requires a look at the broader bound for oblivion. Only the with the Liberals. But, given Randall Pewarchuk, Conservative 13,054 18.9% picture of an election which Bloc Quebecois could feel the financial state of the NDP Jamie Hammond, Liberal 12,342 17.9% became more and more sour satisfied with the outcome, (they appear to almost qualify Jeremy Gustafson, People’s Party 1,292 1.9% as it went along. The Liberals, becoming the third largest for assistance to the homeless), Josh Steffler, Libertarian 284 0.4% who had won a smashing ma- party in parliament with 32 the leverage of being able to Tyson Strandlund, Communist 107 0.2% jority victory in 2015, crashed seats. But, as their impressive ‘bring down the government’ Louis Lesosky, Independent 98 0.1% to 157 seats, 13 seats short of leader, Yves-Francois Blanchet if its demands are not met may Fidelia Godron, Independent 95 0.1% a majority. The Conservatives clearly stated, their mandate is be a threat they simply cannot Philip Ney, Independent 81 0.1% increased their seat count to not to make federalism work afford to make. 121 and received more votes but to represent the interests of So, the outcome for Me- than any other party, but were Quebec. tchosin might just be a slightly Johnny Carline 442 fewer than he had in 2015. a powerhouse on the Prairies The result would seem improved route to the process The margin of victory in 2019 and parts of BC and nowhere to be a very fragile minority of securing federal largesse in Early speculation suggested is 5,381, 142 more than in 2015. else. The NDP was crushed in government with no very clear the form of grants for projects, that David Merner, now run- Third place Randall Pewar- Quebec and finished with 24 mandate. The NDP, includ- and not much else. I would not ning under a Green Party ban- chuk may have shown some seats, scarcely more than half ing our MP Randall Garrison, count on it and it would likely ner rather than for the Liberal inexperience at all-candidates the number of seats won under would appear to hold ‘the be crumbs anyway, but it may Party as he had in 2015, might meetings but campaigned the previous leader (who was balance of power’, with its be worth paying attention to give incumbent NDP MP, hard to increase the Conserva- replaced for that performance). number of seats, when added while the opportunity is there. Randall Garrison, a run for his tive vote by over 1100 votes. The Greens, whose centrepiece to the Liberal seats, being The newly elected govern- money in the 2019 election in In contrast, Jamie Hammond policy on climate change ap- sufficient for a majority. But ment has all the hallmarks the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke hitched his wagon to the peared to have finally captured that influence may be limited. of a house built on sand and riding. But in the end the record of Prime Minister Justin the people’s attention, lost First, on two matters central while few of the parties will be results were eerily close to the Trudeau and the Liberal vote momentum in the campaign to the NDP platform, electoral in a hurry to spend whatever 2015 results. Garrison received declined by over 6,200 votes. and gained only one seat more reform and stopping the Trans- funds they still have in their 23,516 votes this year, just The People’s Party of Canada’s than the two they started Mountain pipeline, it is likely coffers on yet another election, 300 fewer than in 2015, while candidate, Jeremy Gustafson, the campaign with. The new that the Liberals and Conser- it is hard to see this lasting for Merner received 18,135 votes, finished well back with 1,291 People’s Party of Canada was vatives will combine to negate more than a couple of years. votes while the remaining 5 not competitive in any riding, any NDP aspirations on those All 2019 Candidates in Metchosin Allen Jones independent candidates did not attend. Several of the parties promised to more of a challenge connecting with the Principal Désirée McGraw welcomed protect the BC coastline, phase out audience, given the positions of their Federal Election Day was October the guests and took the role of modera- coal-fired power, create 300,000 jobs in respective parties on climate, but made 21 and the election process showed tor for the evening. The large audience a ‘clean’ economy, and take ‘real action’ some effective points; while Commu- of local residents and students was on climate change. As an alternative, democracy is strong in Metchosin. nist candidate Tyson Strandlund once attentive and responded respectfully to the Conservatives appealed to voters’ There were three chances to hear the again delighted audiences with his candidates for the riding of Esquimalt- all the candidates present. economic interests with their slogan intellect, passion and wit and had some Saanich-Sooke riding; all very well The second meeting was held at ‘More. For You. Now.’ The People’s sighing: “if only he ran for a different attended. Metchosin Community Hall on Sep- Party were in total denial of human- This riding was created in 2015 and tember 24. This event was organised by caused climate change (which pro- party.” includes Metchosin, Esquimalt, Sooke, the Metchosin Community Association voked some derisive comments) and The moderator of the second debate, Colwood, View Royal, part of Saanich, and the same six candidates attended. were planning to withdraw from the Brian Domney, summed it up well The session was moderated by Brian Paris accord and to stop subsidising and the First Nation Reserves of Esqui- by saying: “It would be nice to elect a Domney (editor emeritus of the Muse). green technology. malt, New Songhees 1A, and Beecher piece of all of these candidates.” A full house of local residents listened Climate change appeared to be the Bay No. 1. keenly to the candidates respond to dominant concern of many residents in No overall majority in Parliament The candidates were Randall Garri- their written questions which were attendance, with some of the strongest has been obtained by any party and son (NDP), Jeremy Gustafson (People’s challenging and covered a wide range positive responses going to Green can- one or more of the smaller parties will Party), Jamie Hammond (Liberal), of topics. didate, David Merner, formerly a Lib- hold the balance of power. Will this be a David Merner (Green), Randall Pewar- The last all-candidates meeting was eral, but now focussing his candidacy good thing or not? Will it be a signal for chuk (Conservative), Josh Steffler (Lib- also held at the Community Hall, on on the Green Climate Action Plan. The electoral reform, which has been prom- ertarian), Tyson Strandlund (Commu- October 3 and was organised by the 100 experience and knowledge of incum- ised and then abandoned in the past, to nist), and three independents: Fidelia Debates on the Environment. This time, bent NDP candidate, Randall Garrison, be finally acted upon? Which promises Godron, Leslie Lesosky and Philip Ney. the Libertarian and independent candi- served him well, while Liberal candi- made will be promises kept? The first all candidates meeting dates attended but neither the Conser- date Jamie Hammond relied heavily on was held at Pearson College UWC on vative candidate nor the Peoples’ Party the record, particularly on climate, of Whatever the outcome, the debates September 18 in the McConnell Theatre candidate did. The moderator was his party and its leader Justin Trudeau. and electoral process in Metchosin on campus where six of the ten candi- Jackie Larkin and the areas of discus- Randall Pewarchuk (Conservative) and seemed pretty healthy and no-one men- dates attended – the Libertarian and sion were primarily environmental. Jeremy Gustafson (People’s Party) had tioned Br***t or Donald T***p once! The Metchosin Muse has a new email address! [email protected] 2 Metchosin Muse • November 2019 Metchosin Muse Letters to the Editor Email [email protected] Web www.metchosinmuse.ca The Metchosin Muse welcomes letters to the editor, of not more than 200 words. 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