Stockwell Day is seeking to enter parliament in a by-election in BC September 11. Joan Russow of the Green Party is one of the candidates opposing Day. She spoke with Socialist Worker's Eric Lescarbeau.
Why did you choose to run in this by-election against Stockwell Day?
Stockwell Day embodies everything I've been opposed to for 40 years. I wanted to run to oppose his attacks on women's rights, gay and lesbian rights, rights of first nations, his call for increased military spending and his plans for two-tiered healthcare.
What do you feel are the key issues in this by-election?
GM foods and chemical dependent agriculture are a major health concern for many people in this constituency. I have been calling for the government to take the two billion dollars it uses to subsidize agribusiness with every year and divert it into support for farmers so they can make the transition to organic farming.
People are also very concerned about having access to clean drinking water and about maintaining a good healthcare system. Many people who are supporting Day only hear about lower taxes and often don't know what the implications are for healthcare or don't know about his bigoted views.
Is there a lot of opposition to Day's bigotry?
Oh yes. There have been letters to the editor in the local papers from women saying that they fear Stockwell Day and what he stands for. A lot of people are saying to me "I'm really scared of Stockwell Day". A lot of people who supported the Reform Party in the past are very concerned about the treatment of Keith Martin and other Alliance MPs who are being challenged by the Christian fundamentalist/pro-life core of the party.
What kind of support have you received locally for your campaign?
We're getting more support every day. The local media has billed this as a Leader vs. Leader, David and Goliath race. We've been here since the beginning of August and now we're campaigning on "Where is Stockwell Day?" since Day will only be showing up for two out of a potential six all-candidates meetings. He's only expected to be in the riding for six days to campaign.
Ken Ellis has entered the race for the NDP. Are you concerned about the progressive forces being split in the fight against Day?
I don't understand why the NDP ran a candidate as late as they did. Many people that I've talked to from the NDP were surprised when Ken Ellis entered the race.
Ralph Nader is running under the Green Party banner for the US Presidency. He has been called "Seattle Man" by one newspaper because he has built his campaign on the anti-capitalist sentiments expressed in protests against the WTO last November. Do you feel that you and Nader have a lot in common?
Definitely. I went to Seattle as well and I was calling for the dismantling of the WTO. I was concerned that some of the opposition was calling for tinkering with the WTO when it's clear that existing international laws and treaties, under the UN, already deal with issues of human rights and environmental protection.
I've been opposed to the corporations for a long time.
There is a lot of talk coming out of Nader's campaign of a Blue-Green alliance uniting environmentalists and trade unionists much like the "teamsters and turtles" in Seattle. Is the Green Party in Canada looking to build links with the labor movement?
We had our annual general meeting in Ottawa and we invited a representative from the CLC to speak on these issues.
We want to ensure that there will be fair and just, government supported transition programs for workers in environmentally unsustainable industries where layoffs may occur with the adoption of ecologically sound practices.
All candidates meeting -- September 9 in Merritt, 4pm to 6:30pm, Pacific Centre Auditorium, 1950 Mammett Dr.
What we think
Sept. 11, vote Russow or Ellis
Sept. 12, build a fighting anti-capitalist alternative
The by-election in BC which Stockwell Day hopes to use as a coronation as leader of the official opposition, has become a focal point for all who hate Day and what he stands for.
There are two candidates who are carrying an anti-Day banner.
Joan Russow, national leader of the Green Party, was the first anti-Day candidate to emerge. Her challenge to Day galvanized many in BC who are looking for a way to combat the bigots.
Late in the campaign, the NDP nominated Ken Ellis to also challenge Day.
But many who traditionally support the NDP have been alienated from the party by its almost 10 years of disappointing rule in BC.
Many of those people are looking to Russow as an alternative.
September 11, people should vote for either Ellis or Russow. There is little chance of defeating Day. But the more votes that go to openly anti-Day candidates, the more confidence there will be to lead a fight after the election against his policies.
It is unfortunate that the anti-Day vote is split. It would have been better had the two parties been able to come to an agreement, and field just a single progressive candidate.
But the key to defeating Day will not be in this one by-election.
September 12 and in the months after, the real work begins.
We have to continue the work of exposing the anti-worker, anti-woman, anti-gay nature of Day's politics.
And the key to that will lie in mobilizing people on the streets in loud, visible protests against the man and his party.
If we can build big, militant protests, and take the anti-Day arguments into the organized working class, then we can stop the Day express before it gets started.