Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸

Very proud and excited to vote in the NDP leadership race today!!

This is not the first time I've voted in a Federal leadership race... more on that later but first, my choices! I considered only voting for two people, but I ended up filling in all 5 choices.

#1: Tanille Johnston @votetanille
#2: Avi Lewis @avilewis
#3: Heather McPherson
#4: Tony McQuail
#5: Rob Ashton

Why?
You might ask why I would publicize my choices. I don’t expect others to of course. It is a privilege and a right in Canada to exercise your democratic choice freely and privately, but I also think there is value in knowing how others voted.

#1 why Tanille? https://www.tanille.ca

Easy decision. She is First Nation. She is a woman. Two things that are long overdue not just as party leader in Canada, but as a potential Prime Minister.

She also ticks all the boxes for progressive, social(ist) policies that will actually make a difference. Tanille is a normal human being who works in normal small town Canada and has dedicated herself to public service. That's the kind of person I would love to see as Prime Minister.

There are forces that are trying to discourage women, First Nations, and minorities from being involved in politics.

Also, in terms of bringing the country together, I think Tanille is best positioned to speak and present well in both official languages in time, plus represent her own First Nation and speak for other Indigenous people in Canada with lived experience.

Tanille could be a person the entire country could truly see themselves in as a leader and rally around.

#2 why Avi? https://lewisforleader.ca

Were it not for Tanille, Avi would have been my first pick without question. He closely represents my political and social beliefs. He gets it. I believe we need to disabuse ourselves of the shackles of neo-liberal ”incrementalism” and do big things to make a real difference in all of the issues that face Canada.

Avi is walking in the footsteps of his grandfather and he's doing it truthfully, sincerely, and forcefully. He's not afraid to call out corporations and understands that we are in a class struggle above all else. Climate Change, Work, Social Well Being, there is a global movement that is picking up pace that is the polar opposite of the hate fueld far-right authoritarian insanity. Avi could be the leader of that movement in Canada.

Avi could very well be the spark in Canada that people can rally around and revitalize what is supposed to be this progressive and optimistic country. I believe Avi is going to win this leadership race because I believe he is the best chance the NDP has to differentiate itself from the Liberals and Conservatives.

Avi can bring hope and huge change for the better to the NDP and to all of Canada if the party gives him that chance.

#3 Why Heather?

I had honestly considered stopping my ranking at #2. I would have been happy with just Tanille and Avi on my ballot.

However, after some reflection, I thought that as an advocate for #electoralReform and proportional representation myself, I didn't just want to pick my top two. I wanted to make a statement on each of these candidates an influence each one.

To be blunt, Heather is #3 because she is the middle-of-the-road candidate. She is an excellent representative as MP and has gathered the support of other MPs including my own, but while I would be OK with her leadership, I would see her as a continuation of the status quo, and that is not what the NDP needs as a party, nor is it what Canada needs as a country.

We desperately need a vigorous and clear alternative to the Centre-but-mostly-Right Liberals, and the MAGA-wannabe Conservatives. The only way to do that is to catch the attention of Canadians and inspire them. I am not sure that Heather has the ability to do that, and if we continue with the same leadership crew in the NDP, I am not confident that the policy choices will be strong enough to inspire and attract Canadians.

That is why Tanille and Avi are far better options.

#4 Why Tony:

Tony is the real deal. Honestly, I would have loved to rank him higher. He represents the true life blood of rural, socially progressive, environmentally aware, Canadians. You should go check out his platform. I am so glad that he was able to participate fully in the race and we need his voice in the NDP.

#5 Why not Rob?

I have been an active member in my Union for more than 10 years. Unionism is The Way. Rob is representing a division within the union movement that claims that working people can't have jobs if the environment is put first. This is a lie.

We need union leaders that look to the future and speak honestly to people. We need union leaders who are genuinely progressive, not ready to do the bidding of corporate masters to the benefit of a few.

Working people need honesty, and when an industry is on decline, a clear path to new, excellent, union, jobs!

#CanPoli #CdnPoli #Liberal #CPC #Canada #Democracy #NDP

Mar 9 at 5:03pmWeb
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Mar 9

After many years as a staunch fence-sitter/political neutral, I voted in two previous political leadership races. The first was the 2020 Green leadership race. I was excited to support a candidate, and was then horrified to find out he was a Russian propagandist claiming to be a ‘anti-imperialist’. You can figure out who that is on your own lol. Have fun :)

The second leadership race I participated in was the BC NDP race that pitted David Eby against Anjali Appadurai.

She was treated horribly, and I would say with fear, by the BC NDP leadership. She could have been a sea change in real social progressive leadership in BC and Canada but was pushed out.

She's working for Avi Lewis’ campaign.

Show threadAmgineMar 9

@chris

My score card was nearly the same, although I had serious soul-searching re: Tony McQual.

Ultimately, I sorted Avi Lewis below Heather McPherson. M Lewis is an insider's insider, someone with intense academic and experiential background on politics in Canada and the USA; nearly as tefloned as Harper's hair-do, Clinton's waffle iron.

His 'broadcasts' highlight that skill - little to nothing is hard-promised.

1/

Show threadAmgineMar 9

@chris

We already have a skilled politician sitting, in M McPherson. And she has her seat. That alone gives her a stronger position in some respects. She has foreign relations involvement in her MP rôle which were daring and risky, which I respect if not always agree with.

Both are excellent. But if it were one or the other I would rather see M McPherson in the PMO with M Lewis serving as strategic officer.

2/

Show threadAmgineMar 9

@chris

Better yet would be Tanille Johnston in the office with McPherson focusing on HoC & Lewis on government, a triumvirate.

M Johnston has the soul of Canada, the necessary groundedness to ask "but how does this work in the real world, outside of Ottawa?"

And, I think, the ability to see through the bullshit.

3/3 finis

Show threadAction Jay 🐾 Mar 9
@chris I really appreciate this breakdown! Good work 🐾
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Mar 9
@action_jay thanks! my pleasure!
Show threadJean-François MezeiMar 9
@chris @votetanille so, You have a [orange] crush for Tanille ? 😀
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Mar 9
@jfmezei @votetanille certainly! haha
Show threadkeyofGMar 9
@chris @votetanille @avilewis Voted exactly the same! 👋
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Mar 9
@keyofG @votetanille @avilewis woo!!
Show threadPapyrusBrigade has movedMar 9
@chris I voted! Filling in my ranked choice was easy. I remain perpetually vexed that our elections continue to use first past the post.
Show threadJean-François MezeiMar 10
@chris When will he NDP leadership vote results be published? I take it that being ranked ballots, this is only one round ?
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Mar 10
@jfmezei the voting only started today and is open through the next couple weeks until the convention on the 27th I believe.
Show thread@CAWguy has movedMar 10
@chris @jfmezei https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/ndp-leadership-voting-begins-singhs-successor-announced-on-march-29/
NDP leadership voting begins, Singh's successor announced on March 29

Voting has begun in the NDP leadership race with a March 28 deadline for members to cast their vote.

CTVNews
Show threadQoleMar 10
@chris @PapyrusBrigade @votetanille @avilewis
Thanks for your thoughtful, well reasoned post. I really appreciate seeing your reasoning.
It's going to be tough for me, because I have praise and criticisms of most of the candidates.
The two most experienced, political creatures in the race, Lewis and McPherson, are the hardest to judge for me. How much will Lewis' celebrity help in the next federal election? He hasn't managed to get elected to Parliament, although he's tried twice. Will his ideals get in the way of making deals with other parties that bring real change, like the federal dental plan? McPherson has a proven track record of getting elected in a really tough place for progressives. However, she doesn't seem interested in prioritizing climate action; she talks about making concessions for oil producing provinces, and that will only slow any progress towards emissions reductions.
Johnson and McQuail both have good platforms and seem like sincere people, but they're politically untested.
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Mar 10

@qole @PapyrusBrigade @votetanille @avilewis

on the electoral record: Personally I think if he went back to Sea-to-Sky after winning the NDP leadership he would be very likely to win. He was never going to win in Vancouver Centre against Hedy Fry. She has been there for 30 years! If she retires, then maybe, but I still think Sea to Sky or another riding would be best. Either way, I don't think that is Lewis' biggest problem. His biggest challenge is getting the country to take him seriously. The media is very 'anti-activist' and will do everything to paint him as just a malcontent. If he can break through that and come out the other side like a Mamdani, then he has a chance.

Conversely, I don’t think McPherson gains much from being elected in Alberta. Both Calgary and Edmonton have a strong NDP history. The question is whether she can renew the NDP brand as a whole and present something compelling to Canadians. I am not convinced.

Both have tough roads made tougher by a media that is all too quick to write off the entire party even though both the Conservatives and Liberals have gone through exactly the same massive defeat, and renewal, in the past.

Show thread@CAWguy has movedMar 10
@chris I appreciate your reasoning here. With so much time to cast a ballot, it could really help others with the decision.
Show threadRaymondMar 10

@chris For me, the top three picks seemed to be rather close together, all seemingly viable. The bottom two didn't seem to be as convincing that they were progressive.

Shouldn't be voting on just one debate, but seems like it could be the most I can observe.