eNewsletterApril 12, 2015The Polls

by David McLarenBill C-51Arecent poll by Forum Researchreleased April 9thshows that support for the Harper Governments anti-terror legislation, Bill C-51 is dropping like a stone. Only 33% of those aware of Bill C-51 now support the legislation. In February, an Angus Reid poll discovered 82% of Canadians in favour of the Bill. Younger Canadians (18-35) are most opposed: 75%. You can credit the scrutiny the legislation has received from civil society and the dogged opposition of the NDP. (The Liberals still plan to vote for the Bill.)Voting PreferencesAnother recent poll, this one by EKOS, shows the Tories support is slipping, the Liberals are edging the NDP in Quebec , but the NDP remains strong in BC. Although the NDP would claim 23% of the vote, we are in a better position now than we were 7 months before the May 2011 election when we were under 15%.A lot of people Ive talked to are wondering who they should vote for in order to kick out Mr Harper. Some think they should park their vote with the Liberals. ButLiberal economic policy is virtually the same as Mr Harpers. And Mr Trudeau has abdicated the high ground on Bill C-51. On social policy, the Liberals are offering nothing that will help out those of us whose paycheques refuse to stretch to the end of the month.

Strategic voting usually backfires. Besides, the NDP is the Official Opposition. Given our progressive and practical policies, whoever wants to dump the Harper Government and its regressive policies should be voting NDP.A good and easy-to-digest source of key NDP positions can be found on You Tubes new channel,Tom Bits:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YUdvDQiymzN2z9vJ7Axyg.In Bruce Grey Owen Sound, I will continue to focus on the three major themes of this campaign: theeconomy (good jobs), democratic renewal (good government), and the environment (good legislation and regulation, including a price on carbon). These, according to the EKOS poll, are also the issues top of mind of most Canadians.TheNDP policy bookcan be found here:http://bit.ly/1HTyudo.Job Numbers for March (Stats Can)The Harper Government will try to tell you that the economy created 29,000 new jobs in March. What they wont tell you is thatwe lost 28,000 full time jobs. So the gain is in the creation of 57,000 precarious, part time jobs.Thats not good for the economy. Just as you cant sustain yourself on poor-paying jobs, so our economy is not sustainable on work that obliges people to rely on food banks and the public purse to get by. TheOECDs report of April 9thconfirms this Canadas economy now lags behind most G7 countries.And Canadians know it: a recent EKOS poll shows that 67% of us think the economy is in trouble. Rather than getting stronger with our low dollar, manufacturing in Canada is getting weaker and businesses are telling the Bank of Canada they have no intention to hire more staff in the next 12 months.

Speaking up about Bill C-51 at Owen Sound City Hall rally, April 14.According to the EKOS poll, Security & Terrorism issues have droppedin importance to Canadians, behind the environment and the economy (jobs).

Come to the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound AGM, Thursday April 16thI hope to see you at our Annual General Meeting this Thursday. Besides electing the Executive, we will have a chance to talk about how we can win this riding. Meet the folks who are already working in areas of the riding. Let us hear your ideas for organizing and your concerns and hopes for Bruce Grey Owen Sound.We start at 7:00 pm on the ground floor of the BDO Building in Owen Sound . Its at 1717 2ndAve West , across the road from the Best Western Inn on the Bay.

May 1stfor Election Call?There is a strong rumour that the Harper Government will call the election on May 1st. That means well be voting in early June or not. Mr Harper could stay with his self-imposed October 19th. So To help, emailteam@bgos-ndp.caTo donate:http://www.bgos-ndp.ca/donations.htmlAll donations will get you a generous tax receipt for 2015.Courage, my friends; tis not to late to build a better worldTommy DouglasBGOS NDP Website:http://www.bgos-ndp.ca/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Bruce.Grey.OwenSound.NDPCandidates Facebook page:http://on.fb.me/1ClBjgLDavid McLarens blog:https://jdavidmclaren.wordpress.com/