And the other candidates are...
Jessica Johnston, Staff Writer

You say you want a revolution? Or some yogic flyers, perhaps? We all hear about the Liberals, Alliance, Reform, PCs, PQ, and NPD, but what about the Marxist-Leninist party, or the Natural Law party? How much do you know about the Libertarians? With election day fast approaching there is an abundance of information available on the major Canadian political parties. However, the candidates vying for your vote on November 27 are not limited to those from mainstream parties - your ballot will offer a virtual cornucopia of candidates from across the political spectrum. In the interest of promoting informed voter decisions, we at The Peak bring you the following information on the lesser-known parties you may encounter on your ballot come election day.

CAP, which was formed in 1997, feels that the current era of trade liberalisation and federal cutbacks to social programs is eroding Canadian sovereignty and the Canadian state as we know it. They oppose the rise of 'corporate rule' and recent trade agreements which they feel have promoted re-colonisation of the world's smaller powers, and made Canada vulnerable to absorption by the U.S.

CAP would also like to protect the environment, Canadian culture, Medicare, and public education.
www.canadianactionparty.ca

'Nuff said.
www.chp.ca

People before profits!

Yes, comrades, we still have a Communist party in Canada.

The CPC believes that capitalism is the source of current economic crises, unemployment, exploitation and oppression. The party's long-term goal is "social emancipation and genuine people's power - a socialist Canada, where the main industries and resources will be socially owned and democratically controlled.

Their detailed platform includes a reversal in the trend of federal cuts to transfer payments for health, education and social welfare. They would also like to implement nation-wide denticare and pharmicare, and establish universal daycare. The platform also includes implementation of a 32-hour work week; increase in minimum wage to $10.50 per hour; and four weeks' mandatory paid vacation per year.

For election purposes, the Communist Party of Canada is registered under the name Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada (MLPC).
www.communist-party.ca and www.cpclm.ca

The Green party believes that the current approach to the economy in this country is based on exploitative economic growth that has caused harm to our environment and our health. They advocate economic policies that promote sustainability rather than growth, thereby creating a "socially just and ecologically sound economy."

The Green party's extensive platform includes the wish to support Canadian arts and culture, implement a 32-hour work week, promote community economic development, create a 'guaranteed income supplement,' reduce military expenditures, extend universal health care benefits, promote organic agriculture, electoral reform, and the implementation of an ecological bill of rights.
www.green.ca

Libertarians argue that the only legitimate use of government power is to protect individuals from each other, to settle legal disputes, and provide protection from foreign invaders - government should exist for these purposes only.

Social programs, trade barriers, and taxes are repressive, according to Libertarians, as state pursuit of the 'greater good' unacceptably interferes with individual freedom. Actions taken in support of 'national' interests often contravene the inherent rights of the individual.

According the Libertarian 'Statement of Objectives': "Every individual, as long as he or she respects the rights of others, has the right to live as he or she alone sees fit, as a free trader on a free market."
www.libertarian.ca

The Natural Law party believes that everything in nature is governed by a 'natural law' which works with perfect efficiency so that everything in the universe functions in perfect precision and coordination with everything else. The party intends to harness natural law to create a "perfect government for a problem-free nation."

The Natural Law party advocates 'yogic flying' as a way to help create peace and harmony in the nation. Yogic flying is a practise of the Transcendental Meditation movement. Natural Law believes that, when practiced in groups, yogic flying promotes positive and harmonious trends throughout society, thereby reducing crime, sickness, accident rates, international conflict, and social turbulence.
www.natural-law.ca

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