John Streicker is thinking about the future.
“It’s about better politics,” said Streicker. “It has drifted so far we shake our head at the situation in Parliament.”
The federal Green candidate met with the media yesterday at his campaign headquarters to discuss the specifics of his party’s platform.
It focuses on the economy, health and democracy.
It calls for investments and upgrades to the nation’s electric grids and for energy efficient buildings.
Energy policy is very important for the isolated Yukon, said Streicker.
“We have energy insecurity here in the North,” he said.
Investments in energy projects and efficiencies would create thousands of jobs here in the Yukon and across Canada, he said.
“If you consider retrofitting buildings there’s lots of jobs there,” said Streicker. “Nationally, we are talking about many thousands of jobs.”
Energy savings would offset the cost of the programs, he said.
Stripping subsidies from fossil fuels would make renewable energy more cost effective, Streicker added, citing another Green plank.
Oil and gas would be more expensive, but would be offset by payroll tax cuts, he said.
“We want to shift the tax burden off labour, and on to oil and gas,” he said
For the first time in Canadian history a government, not only lost the confidence of the house, but was found in contempt of Parliament.
Dysfunctional government is another issue for Yukoners, said Streicker.
“There is a frustration with Parliament,” he said. “If Canadians elect a minority government we should figure out a way to get the job done.”
With the electorate so divided there has been talk of coalition governments being formed, but the Green Party doesn’t plan on taking sides, said Streicker.
“When we get elected, our goal is to work constructively with other parties, he said. “We have no agenda about working with specific parties.”
The tone of Parliament and this election has been decidedly partisan and negative, but stooping to that level is not something that Streicker is prepared to do.
“I’ll be a bulldog on policy, but I’m not interested in personal attacks,” he said. “It diminishes us as a people and as a territory.”
So far in his travels, the gun registry hasn’t been raised much, he said.
“It’s an issue that the other parties like to keep bringing up because it polarizes people,” he said.
Streicker came in third in the last election, ahead of the NDP but behind the Conservatives.
This time around Streicker is optimistic about his chances.
“It’s not if we get elected, it’s when.”
Contact Josh Kerr at
joshk@yukon-news.com