Guns, drugs, hookers, and freedom: meet the political party formerly banned by Elections Canada | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly - Devon Rowcliffe:
October 16, 2015 - "They’re both left-wing and right-wing. They steadfastly oppose anti-terrorism legislation such as Bill C-51, advocate for legalizing drugs and prostitution, and promote a non-interventionist foreign policy. Yet this same group also wants to allow private healthcare, decrease taxes, and make it easier to obtain guns.
"What could be behind this seeming paradox? The Libertarian Party of Canada....
"The Straight recently spoke with two Libertarian candidates running here in Metro Vancouver to get their views: Bonnie Hu, a 22-year-old female of Chinese descent who immigrated to Canada as a youth and is contesting political office for the first time; and John Clarke, a 64-year-old Caucasian male who has run numerous times for both the federal and provincial Libertarians since 1984."
"Both candidates discovered the libertarian philosophy — based upon small government, low taxes and minimal regulations — at a young age. Clarke stumbled upon it while in high school during the mid-1960s, while Hu came across libertarianism on internet forums....
"The Libertarians are considered a fringe party here in Canada, although they have amassed an impressive 72 candidates for the 2015 election. Will this be enough to make a breakthrough on October 19? 'We're taking votes away from the other parties for sure,' said Hu, who is running in the suburban riding of South Surrey-White Rock. 'Mostly Conservatives, but [from] all the others too'....
"And how do Libertarians feel about Harper’s Conservatives? 'Libertarians oppose the basic thing of the Conservative Party — which is their taxing, their regulating,' said Clarke, who is running in the Vancouver Centre riding. 'And in terms of foreign policy, bombing Libya is a completely un-libertarian act'....
"Unlike the Conservatives, who take pride in their 'tough on drugs' stance, the Libertarians offer a strikingly different policy: they advocate for the legalization of marijuana and decriminalization of all other drugs....
"Regarding healthcare, the Libertarians are interested in allowing for more choice — particularly [in] the private sector....
"Regarding other social programs, the Libertarian candidates didn’t mince their words. 'We should cut spending on low-income assistance,' said Hu. 'I don't believe in the government supports and hand-outs [people with disabilities] are getting. They should get help from private sources.'
"Climate change is another topic where the party’s candidates hold opinions that may shock some voters. Neither Clarke nor Hu were convinced that human actions have been responsible for the planet’s warming trend....
"The subject of terrorism is one where the Libertarians seem more like a left-wing party. The interviewed candidates felt that terrorism was being used by the Conservatives as a wedge issue to gain votes....
'[The Conservatives] stand for big government, and they want more surveillance through Bill C-51,' [Hu] said. 'I don't believe people should be under surveillance ... people should be able to expect basic [rights] like privacy.'
"And as for the niqab? 'I think people should be free to wear whatever they want,' said Clarke."
Read more: http://www.straight.com/news/558126/guns-drugs-hookers-and-freedom-meet-political-party-formerly-banned-elections-canada
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October 16, 2015 - "They’re both left-wing and right-wing. They steadfastly oppose anti-terrorism legislation such as Bill C-51, advocate for legalizing drugs and prostitution, and promote a non-interventionist foreign policy. Yet this same group also wants to allow private healthcare, decrease taxes, and make it easier to obtain guns.
"What could be behind this seeming paradox? The Libertarian Party of Canada....
"The Straight recently spoke with two Libertarian candidates running here in Metro Vancouver to get their views: Bonnie Hu, a 22-year-old female of Chinese descent who immigrated to Canada as a youth and is contesting political office for the first time; and John Clarke, a 64-year-old Caucasian male who has run numerous times for both the federal and provincial Libertarians since 1984."
"Both candidates discovered the libertarian philosophy — based upon small government, low taxes and minimal regulations — at a young age. Clarke stumbled upon it while in high school during the mid-1960s, while Hu came across libertarianism on internet forums....
"The Libertarians are considered a fringe party here in Canada, although they have amassed an impressive 72 candidates for the 2015 election. Will this be enough to make a breakthrough on October 19? 'We're taking votes away from the other parties for sure,' said Hu, who is running in the suburban riding of South Surrey-White Rock. 'Mostly Conservatives, but [from] all the others too'....
"And how do Libertarians feel about Harper’s Conservatives? 'Libertarians oppose the basic thing of the Conservative Party — which is their taxing, their regulating,' said Clarke, who is running in the Vancouver Centre riding. 'And in terms of foreign policy, bombing Libya is a completely un-libertarian act'....
"Unlike the Conservatives, who take pride in their 'tough on drugs' stance, the Libertarians offer a strikingly different policy: they advocate for the legalization of marijuana and decriminalization of all other drugs....
"Regarding healthcare, the Libertarians are interested in allowing for more choice — particularly [in] the private sector....
"Regarding other social programs, the Libertarian candidates didn’t mince their words. 'We should cut spending on low-income assistance,' said Hu. 'I don't believe in the government supports and hand-outs [people with disabilities] are getting. They should get help from private sources.'
"Climate change is another topic where the party’s candidates hold opinions that may shock some voters. Neither Clarke nor Hu were convinced that human actions have been responsible for the planet’s warming trend....
"The subject of terrorism is one where the Libertarians seem more like a left-wing party. The interviewed candidates felt that terrorism was being used by the Conservatives as a wedge issue to gain votes....
'[The Conservatives] stand for big government, and they want more surveillance through Bill C-51,' [Hu] said. 'I don't believe people should be under surveillance ... people should be able to expect basic [rights] like privacy.'
"And as for the niqab? 'I think people should be free to wear whatever they want,' said Clarke."
Read more: http://www.straight.com/news/558126/guns-drugs-hookers-and-freedom-meet-political-party-formerly-banned-elections-canada
'via Blog this'
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