Saturday, September 13, 2008

Haldimand "Federal Election 2008 The Plot Thickens"

The following post is from Mark Vandermaas editor of Voice of Canada;

In the ‘Another Great Reason to Vote for McHale’ Department…
September 11, 2008 ·

“We are the last line of defence for democracy. There is nobody else outside of the average person. If we the people don’t stand up for democracy, who will?”

Gary McHale
Civil Rights Advocate
Founder - Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality

Candidate - Haldimand-Norfolk

Gary McHale was advised this morning that his nomination documents have been reviewed and accepted by Elections Canada. He is now recognized as an independent candidate in the race to see who will represent the people of Haldimand-Norfolk in Ottawa.

Approximately 140 registered voters in various areas of the riding - including Caledonia, Dunnville, Simcoe, Delhi and York - signed his nomination papers even though only 100 names are required.

Media interest has been high all across the riding. Diane Finley is being warned not to take Haldimand-Norfolk for granted with Gary in the race:

Residents of Haldimand — a bastion of conservatism — who are angry about ongoing native land claims in that county will have a place on the ballot where they can register their displeasure.

McHale will siphon votes from all candidates, but Finley in particular. Our cabinet minister is in for a rude surprise if she tries taking Haldimand-Norfolk for granted.

Simcoe Reformer, Sept 09/08: The plot thickens

Yesterday, Al Sweeney of CHCH News spent about one hour with Gary prior to airing a profile on him - Caledonia activist running.

Haldimand Mayor Trainer let voters know early on how positive she felt about McHale’s candidacy:

Despite the OPP’s and the McGuinty government’s attempts to cast McHale as a troublemaker, Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer thinks his candidacy is positive. With McHale in the race, Trainer says Haldimand’s quest for peace, law and order, stability and justice will feature prominently in the coming campaign. She says McHale will force the other candidates to state their position on the issue of two-tiered justice.

“I definitely think he’ll get some votes,” Trainer said. “No doubt in my mind. We’ll have to wait and see what happens on election night. People will change their minds right up to when they step in the polling booth. He will keep the land claims issue in the forefront.”

Simcoe Reformer/Brantford Expositor, Sept 04/08:
McHale seeks H-N seat in federal election

Gary is looking forward to meeting and speaking to voters in the coming weeks. Now that his candidacy is official the campaign can accept much-needed donations to help meet election expenses. Requests for lawn signs are already coming in. They will be fulfilled ASAP once funds are available for printing.

For more info on the Gary McHale campaign, including how to help, please visit www.GaryMcHale.ca which will be up and running shortly.

In the ‘Another Great Reason to Vote for McHale’ Department…

If Diane Finley (better known as ‘Diane Who?’ in Haldimand) loses this election she will NOT be eligible for the gold-plated pension that MP’s earn once they’ve been elected to two terms in office. That alone makes it worth a trip to the polls to cast a ballot for Gary McHale.

VoC Comment (Voice of Canada)

For more than two years Gary McHale has devoted himself - at great personal and financial cost - to seeking justice for fellow Canadians affected by land claim lawlessness and racial policing. Did he make the occasional mistake? Sure, but who wouldn’t have? Personally, I am utterly amazed that he got so much ‘right.’

There’s no ‘owner’s manual’ for this struggle, just a determination to do the right thing every day and use the opportunities that present themselves along the way. There’s an old saying that goes, ‘If you aren’t making mistakes, it’s because you aren’t doing anything.’ Nobody…I mean, NOBODY, could accuse Gary McHale of doing nothing while other people suffered.

As someone who has worked side by side with him for two years, I can tell you that no human being could have done more to fight injustice in Caledonia than Gary. He has endured the very worst that self-interested politicians, a corrupt police force and lazy, incompetent, politically-correct media could throw at him, and he’s still here and still fighting. That alone says volumes about the integrity of the man and his message - that non-violent protests as inspired by Dr. King can end the injustices of race-based policing.

McHale can’t be bought off or intimidated into remaining silent, and even those who don’t like him would have to grudgingly (or maybe not-so-grudgingly) admit that Gary will be a strong, effective voice for Haldimand-Norfolk and a passionate advocate for the innocent victims of landclaim lawlessness and race-based policing. Can anyone say the same about the other candidates?

If you want to know who and what inspires Gary McHale, take a few minutes to read, Lessons from Dr. King. Then, be sure to check out, ‘CANACE fights for Canadians against incredible odds’ for more insights into a remarkable Canadian who deserves - possibly more than any other candidate you have ever voted for in your life - to sit in the House of Commons as a voice for the people of Haldimand-Norfolk.

Mark Vandermaas, Editor
VoiceofCanada
http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/in-the-another-great-reason-to-vote-for-mchale-department/

17 comments:

  1. Hi Donna,

    Thanks so much for reposting this story. It is appreciated.

    Mark Vandermaas, Editor
    VoiceofCanada
    Media Relations - Gary McHale Campaign
    www.GaryMcHale.ca

    ReplyDelete
  2. Politicians have shown they care little about Haldimand-Norfolk over the last several years as they aimed their attention at bigger populations.

    Normally, when a riding has the opportunity to elect a cabinet minister, that is exactly what they would do. That position provides access to the highest levels of government and keeps local issues and concerns on the agenda.

    Diane Finley has been absent from this region and demonstrated to voters that, in this case, electing this cabinet minister is of no benefit.

    Her very public fall from office will focus the attention of media across the country on Haldimand-Norfolk as reporters and interviewers attempt to explain the unusual situation that caused a riding not re-elect a cabinet minister.

    I'm not a Marie Trainer fan, but she has this one right. Gary McHale understands local issues better than most and he will keep our issues in the forefront.

    Voters will have the opportunity to voice their displeasure with Diane Finley in this election, and this is good. She should be as absent from government as she has been from Haldimand-Norfolk.

    It's great that is Gary running to represent the people of Haldimand-Norfolk. He provides an alternative that has demonstrated concern for this area.

    Mayor Trainer is right. The very least that could happen is that he exposes the injustice that has been perpetrated on Haldimand-Norfolk.

    Good luck Gary. You have my vote.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jerry said; Normally, when a riding has the opportunity to elect a cabinet minister, that is exactly what they would do. That position provides access to the highest levels of government and keeps local issues and concerns on the agenda.

    What makes you believe that voting in an independent when the polls are currently showing that the conservatives may win a majority will get Haldimand any more attention?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well Donna I can say for one thing that you are right that this election in Haldimand could get quite interesting.

    The close of nominations for candidates is not until Sept. 22. I checked on the Elections Canada website and Gary McHale is the only candidate registered.

    Thanks for your efforts in keeping everyone informed of the local and national issues.

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  5. This guy and his crew are a joke.

    I sincerely hope you aren't endorsing this guy Donna.

    He needs to go sit at the kid's table and close his mouth for a change.

    If I'm going to vote for anyone in protest, it's going to be the Green Party.

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  6. An article in the Spectator that is of interest Donna.

    Candidate wants bail condition lifted

    Paul Legall
    The Hamilton Spectator
    CAYUGA (Sep 13, 2008)
    Law and order crusader Gary McHale wants his bail conditions relaxed so he can campaign throughout Haldimand-Norfolk where he is running as an independent in the federal election.

    The 46-year-old Binbrook resident, who has been active in the Caledonia native land dispute, applied yesterday before Superior Court Justice David Marshall to change his bail conditions so that he can campaign in Hagersville, Caledonia and York.

    He is prohibited from being in those communities because of the bail conditions that were imposed on him in December 2007, after he was charged with counselling another person to commit mischief.

    The charges stemmed from an incident at a native smoke shop that had recently sprung up on Highway 6 outside of Caledonia. McHale has argued that the OPP have pursued a two-tier policing policy by allowing natives to break the law while clamping down on non-native protesters.

    Assistant Crown attorney Mitchell Hoffman told Marshall he would agree to the removal of that condition for the campaign. He also said he wouldn't be opposed to allowing McHale back into the community for a door-to-door campaign. But he added he was concerned about public rallies or gatherings.

    plegall@thespec.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the comments everyone.

    I would like to clarify to a few my purpose behind posting articles on the election, whether it is about a local candidate or one of the Party Leaders.

    I believe that an educated voter is very important. It is better to cast your vote for the person or party that you would like to see run our Country, then to cast a protest vote.

    I have been asked by several individuals to publically support them and their party.

    At this time my decision is to post information that I believe is important, and not take a stand on any one candidate or party.

    I will be writing a blog on this in the very near future.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Its not about winning is it Gary ?its about setting the debate and the issues , forcing them to answer and making them ( the canidates) see if they have what it takes lead us out of this huge problem. Diane you have alot to anwers for, Just look at the money given to Norfolk as compared to Halidmand.

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  9. He will not have my vote. Plain and simple. Green at this time is probably getting my vote.

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  10. "What makes you believe that voting in an independent when the polls are currently showing that the conservatives may win a majority will get Haldimand any more attention?"

    And what, exactly, has a sitting cabinet minister done for the situation in H-N? NOTHING (unless you count making stupid statements as help). Having Gary far removed in the back bench as an independent is no different then having Finley, a cabinet minister, make promises she won't or can't keep (Dunnville watermain project and the tobacco buyout come to mind). Harper's lemmings aren't allowed to speak unless he clears it first. I see no difference between Diane Finley and an independant in a majority government. Both are equally useless.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The poster above is wrong in his assessment of the role of an Independent. Independents do not have to follow the party line and usually are given more share of time than those under the party thumb of the P.M. They are not limited in what can be discussed concerning their constituents because not in the party, cannot be blamed for not towing the line or embarassing the existing government's policies.
    This could be a definite advantage for your area.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The "Independant" is also wide open for being charged with a "hate crime" when dispersing anti-native propaganda which could now be proved to be targeted to the ears of thousands.

    Free Speech goes both ways now and there are restrictions both ways when one is a public figure.

    The message of the day is now "Govern Yourself Accordingly"

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  13. Selling Cigarettes to our youth: really!!! Thanks Gary sorry I couldn't have been there!!! For this Gary was banded from going to Caledonia but Powless the attacker of Gary & three OPP Officers is allowed in Caledonia: come miss justice!!

    What I am saying: to any one who knows anything Gary did NO WRONG: PERIOD!!!

    The OPP, both levels of Government & Six Nation: what about them???

    Gary’s is NOT the Problem!!! To people who put down Gary put up or shut up!!!

    Jim Smith

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  14. Gary is and has been the architect of very dangerous and confrontational rallies which do nothing but create the very same problems he falsely states he is against. He's a manipulator of people who aren't quite thinking straight.

    Yes Jim Smith, you are using the same intimidating talk that he does. If you idolize him so much, give him your hard earned cash.

    And one more thing, don't ever walk around telling people to shut up. That's his game.

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  15. I don't know Gary but I know his tactics and they are tabloid! He removes the context and complexity, sensationalizing the negative to the point of obscuring the story. These are hazardous tactics. They are reckless and without critical reflection paying attention to the effects they have on others. I am confident that most are wise enough to distance from these tactics to see them for what they are.

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  16. I hope you are not WISE ENOUGH to vote in the same useless bunch that has done absolutely nothing to help the citizens of your county.
    You reap what you sow.

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  17. I have heard Gary now at two debates. What do people see that I don't? He is looking for a job, and if he was elected he owes us nothing, no mandate, no real promises, no pull. He will not get my vote.

    ReplyDelete