Political PartiesPolitical Parties

Elizabeth May

The Green Party

The House of Commons

Key Terms to KnowKey Terms to KnowPolicy:Policy: A plan of action by a political party or government to achieve certain A plan of action by a political party or government to achieve certain

goalsgoalsPlatform:Platform: A formal, written statement outlining the policies of a political party A formal, written statement outlining the policies of a political partyPolitical Parties:Political Parties: Organized groups of people with common values or goals who Organized groups of people with common values or goals who

compete to get candidates elected and to form the government.compete to get candidates elected and to form the government.Political Spectrum:Political Spectrum: A line showing the range of political beliefs from liberalism A line showing the range of political beliefs from liberalism

(left) to conservatism (right)(left) to conservatism (right)Interest GroupsInterest Groups: Organizations of people who share social, political and other : Organizations of people who share social, political and other

goals and act together to influence governments. They may be local, national goals and act together to influence governments. They may be local, national or international in scope.or international in scope.

Polls:Polls: a survey of public opinion, or a place where a voter goes to vote on a survey of public opinion, or a place where a voter goes to vote on election dayelection day

Referendum:Referendum: A direct yes or no vote of the electorate on a specific issue, policy A direct yes or no vote of the electorate on a specific issue, policy or law.or law.

Youth Wings:Youth Wings: Groups within political parties in which young members, Groups within political parties in which young members, including those under the voting age, can be active in forming policy and including those under the voting age, can be active in forming policy and supporting party candidates.supporting party candidates.

The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum Your views on economic, social, and Your views on economic, social, and

religious issues has a direct impact religious issues has a direct impact upon the Political Party that you wish upon the Political Party that you wish to support. For instance,to support. For instance,

Should the government censor the arts?Should the government censor the arts? Should Marijuana be de-criminalized?Should Marijuana be de-criminalized? Should all Canadians receive equal Should all Canadians receive equal

access to health care?access to health care? Should taxes be raised to pay for much Should taxes be raised to pay for much

needed social programs?needed social programs? Should money be redistributed from the Should money be redistributed from the

richer provinces to the poorer ones?richer provinces to the poorer ones? Should same sex marriages be Should same sex marriages be

recognized?recognized?

The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum

Anti-Globalization Rally

Supporter of the Gun Lobby

The Political Spectrum: Right Wing, The Political Spectrum: Right Wing, Left Wing and ModeratesLeft Wing and Moderates

When people describe their When people describe their political views, they often political views, they often refer to themselves as “Right refer to themselves as “Right wing” (Conservative), “left wing” (Conservative), “left wing” (Liberal), or wing” (Liberal), or “moderate” (in the middle).“moderate” (in the middle).

How you place yourself on How you place yourself on the Political Spectrum is the Political Spectrum is based on your responses to based on your responses to Political issues.Political issues.

How do you know what you How do you know what you are?are?

LiberalsLiberals Liberals tend to hold the Liberals tend to hold the

following Political Views:following Political Views: Government should be Government should be

heavily involved in the lives heavily involved in the lives of citizens.of citizens.

Citizens should have equal Citizens should have equal opportunities through law opportunities through law (e.g. affirmative action (e.g. affirmative action programs)programs)

Strong support of social Strong support of social programs such as welfare, programs such as welfare, medicare and pensionsmedicare and pensions

Higher taxes to pay for social Higher taxes to pay for social programsprograms

A small military A small military

ConservativesConservatives Conservatives tend to hold the Conservatives tend to hold the

following views:following views: There should be minimal There should be minimal

government intervention in the government intervention in the economyeconomy

Citizens should take greater Citizens should take greater responsibility for themselvesresponsibility for themselves

They believe in traditional values They believe in traditional values (e.g. religious views on social (e.g. religious views on social issues)issues)

Lower taxes to increase global Lower taxes to increase global competitivenesscompetitiveness

There should be a strong militaryThere should be a strong military

The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum

Place the Following on the Place the Following on the Spectrum: Right, Left or Moderate?Spectrum: Right, Left or Moderate?

Political Spectrum to Political Political Spectrum to Political PartiesParties

Where you position Where you position yourself on the political yourself on the political spectrum has a direct spectrum has a direct impact on your choice of impact on your choice of political party.political party.

In Canada, “right wingers” In Canada, “right wingers” tend to vote for the tend to vote for the Conservative Party, “left Conservative Party, “left wingers” the NDP and wingers” the NDP and “moderates” the Liberal “moderates” the Liberal Party.Party.

Question: Would “liberals” Question: Would “liberals” vote for the Liberal Party?vote for the Liberal Party?

Political Party PlatformsPolitical Party Platforms Each political party has their Each political party has their

own set of policies on a own set of policies on a number of different issues:number of different issues:

Health CareHealth Care Taxes/Government Taxes/Government

SpendingSpending Social Welfare ProgramsSocial Welfare Programs Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex

Marriage)Marriage) Job Creation/ Trade Job Creation/ Trade

Initiatives (e.g. Initiatives (e.g. Globalization, NAFTA)Globalization, NAFTA)

The Military (e.g. the War The Military (e.g. the War in Afghanistan)in Afghanistan)

Political Party PlatformsPolitical Party Platforms When a political party When a political party

presents their ideas before the presents their ideas before the electorate on a series of electorate on a series of issues, they are said to be issues, they are said to be presenting their presenting their Political Political Platform.Platform.

How do you win an election? How do you win an election? By presenting a political By presenting a political

platform that represents the platform that represents the views of the majority of the views of the majority of the electorate (Canadians, electorate (Canadians, Ontarians, Georgetownians?, Ontarians, Georgetownians?, etc)etc)

Who would you vote for?

Political Party PlatformsPolitical Party Platforms

The Conservative Party’s Platform

When you write the Political PlatformYou want to make sure that the policiesEnclosed reflect the prevailing interestsOf the majority of Canadians.A strong platform can win an election!

What else do you need for electoral success?

Who would you vote for? Who would you vote for? What is Charisma?What is Charisma?

For many, the main For many, the main ingredient for ingredient for electoral success is electoral success is charisma; the charisma; the ability to inspire ability to inspire the people to join the people to join you in a march you in a march towards greater towards greater prosperity.prosperity.

Who has Who has Charisma?Charisma?

Barack Obama

Hilary Clinton

CharismaCharisma

How do you define Charisma? Who has it? Who doesn’t? Do you need it to be successfulIn Politics?

Stephane Dion

Pierre Elliot Trudeau

How do Political Parties decide How do Political Parties decide which policies to adopt?which policies to adopt?

There are many different issues There are many different issues that Political Parties need to deal that Political Parties need to deal with:with:

Health CareHealth Care The EnvironmentThe Environment Taxes/Government SpendingTaxes/Government Spending Social Welfare ProgramsSocial Welfare Programs Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex

Marriage)Marriage) Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives

(e.g. Globalization)(e.g. Globalization) The Military (e.g. the War in The Military (e.g. the War in

Afghanistan).Afghanistan). What should they do?What should they do?

Trade issues are a hot topic!

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issues in their Party Platformsmany issues in their Party Platforms

Health Care

The Environment

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issuesmany issues

Funding for Education

Legal Issues

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issuesmany issues

Social Welfare issues

Taxiation: Taxes are too high!!!

Political Parties have to Address Political Parties have to Address many issuesmany issues

Military spending is Military spending is always an important always an important issue. For some, issue. For some, spending on spending on infrastructure and infrastructure and Healthcare is more Healthcare is more important than funding important than funding Canada’s military.Canada’s military.

For others, Canada’s For others, Canada’s lack of sufficient lack of sufficient military spending has military spending has been an international been an international embarrassment.embarrassment.

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: Political Party MembersPolitical Party Members

Members of political Members of political parties play a key role in parties play a key role in determining what will be determining what will be included in their party’s included in their party’s platform.platform.

By voting at conventions, By voting at conventions, they make their voices they make their voices heard. The candidates of heard. The candidates of the various parties the various parties understand what is understand what is popular on the convention popular on the convention floor.floor. Members of the Conservative party

showing their support for Stephen Harper.How did he win the nomination to be leader?

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: Political Party MembersPolitical Party Members

These delegates support Stephane Dion. What policyDid Dion implement to get their support? Hint: Scarves

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: International PressuresInternational Pressures

Canada’s largest trading partner Canada’s largest trading partner is the United States.is the United States.

When you live next door to the When you live next door to the world’s most powerful nation, world’s most powerful nation, you want to make sure that your you want to make sure that your policies do not have an adverse policies do not have an adverse affect on the relationship.affect on the relationship.

Hot topics include:Hot topics include: Trade (e.g. NAFTA)Trade (e.g. NAFTA) Military SpendingMilitary Spending Border Security (post 9/11)Border Security (post 9/11) Drug Policy (Marijuana Drug Policy (Marijuana

Reform, Pharmaceuticals)Reform, Pharmaceuticals)Canada/U.S. Relations

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: International PressuresInternational Pressures

With respect to Foreign With respect to Foreign Policy, a Canadian Federal Policy, a Canadian Federal Party needs to recognize its Party needs to recognize its international obligations; international obligations; especially as a member of the especially as a member of the NATO Alliance.NATO Alliance.

Why did Canada get involved Why did Canada get involved in the war in Afghanistan?in the war in Afghanistan?

A threat towards a NATO A threat towards a NATO nation is a threat towards all.nation is a threat towards all.

In other words, we’re going!In other words, we’re going!

The NATO Alliance

Canada has extended its missionIn Afghanistan until 2011.

Did Stephen Harper have a choiceWhen his party adopted this policy Option?

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

When a political party When a political party adopts policies, it needs to adopts policies, it needs to make sure that those make sure that those policies do not contradict policies do not contradict the the Charter of Rights and Charter of Rights and FreedomsFreedoms

It would be very It would be very embarrassing for the embarrassing for the government if one of their government if one of their policies was struck down by policies was struck down by the Supreme Court as “un-the Supreme Court as “un-constitutional”constitutional”

A policy banning same sex A policy banning same sex marriage could be in marriage could be in violation of the Charter of violation of the Charter of RightsRights

The Supreme Court of Canada

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Interest groups try to Interest groups try to influence policy makers influence policy makers to adopt laws in to adopt laws in accordance with their accordance with their views.views.

Ducks Unlimited tries to Ducks Unlimited tries to influence environmental influence environmental policies.policies.

The Canadian Labour The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) tries to Congress (CLC) tries to influence trade policies influence trade policies (e.g. Nafta).(e.g. Nafta).

Some interest groups are Some interest groups are more effective than more effective than others. Why would this others. Why would this be the case?be the case?

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Some Interest Groups like the Some Interest Groups like the CFIB are very influencial with CFIB are very influencial with parties like the Conservative parties like the Conservative Party while groups like the Party while groups like the CLC are popular with the CLC are popular with the NDP.NDP.

However, some groups are so However, some groups are so radical (contraversial) that radical (contraversial) that main stream parties are afraid main stream parties are afraid to take up their cause (e.g. to take up their cause (e.g. GreenPeace).GreenPeace).

Can the tactics of Greenpeace Can the tactics of Greenpeace still be effective? Is the still be effective? Is the support of the mainstream support of the mainstream parties necessary?parties necessary?

The CFIB

Greenpeace making their point!

Who decides Policy?: Who decides Policy?: You?You?

Admittedly, it is difficult to Admittedly, it is difficult to affect government policies by affect government policies by yourself.yourself.

However, you can make your However, you can make your voice heard in opinion polls voice heard in opinion polls (politicians care about these!)(politicians care about these!)

You can protest in the streets. You can protest in the streets. If there is enough of you, If there is enough of you, they will care about that too!they will care about that too!

Can you do in on your own?Opinion Polls

Interest Groups: LobbyistsInterest Groups: Lobbyists Lobbyists are paid by Lobbyists are paid by

corporations to influence corporations to influence public policy.public policy.

For instance, if you are a For instance, if you are a company that wants low company that wants low corporate taxes, you “lobby” corporate taxes, you “lobby” the government for lower the government for lower taxiation. taxiation.

If you want to secure a large If you want to secure a large government contract, you hire government contract, you hire a lobbyist to “bend the ear” of a lobbyist to “bend the ear” of the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.members of the Cabinet.

Some Lobbyists are highly Some Lobbyists are highly influencial; especially former influencial; especially former prime ministers!prime ministers!

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (left)Acted as a Lobbyist for Airbus CorporationRepresented by Karl-Heinz Schrieber (right)

Should Lobbying be legal?

Canada’s Political PartiesCanada’s Political Parties Based on Based on

their Party their Party Platforms, Platforms, who would who would you vote you vote for?for?

Remember: They want your Vote!Remember: They want your Vote!

Although you need to be 18 Although you need to be 18 to vote in Canadian Federal to vote in Canadian Federal elections, the main political elections, the main political parties care about your parties care about your opinions.opinions.

Why is this so? Why are Why is this so? Why are the “young liberals” so the “young liberals” so important to the Liberal important to the Liberal Party of Canada?Party of Canada?

What role do you want to What role do you want to play in politics? Do you play in politics? Do you want to join a political want to join a political party? Explain your party? Explain your answer!answer!

The Liberal “Youth Wing”

What have we learned?What have we learned?

Key TermsKey Terms The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum Mainstream Political IssuesMainstream Political Issues Political Parties in CanadaPolitical Parties in Canada Electoral SuccessElectoral Success How to influence the Creation of PoliciesHow to influence the Creation of Policies How to become involved in politics.How to become involved in politics. Future DirectionsFuture Directions