I’m not interested in politics - but I believe in democracy
I’m not interested in politics. It’s true.
And I have come across many in our community who feel the same way - it’s one of the most common things I’ve heard.
But I do believe in democracy.
I believe we can save democracy from politics, which is why I’ve approached the past eight months a little differently.
Health Care In Kitchener - What’s your experience?
Walking up and down the blocks of Kitchener has given my phone the 20,000 steps a day it wasn't expecting - and given me the ability to eat a little more than usual, although I don’t always find the time.
All jokes aside, I know I am lucky to have good health and access to the health care I need. I also know this might not always be the case, and for many people across our country, this is a reality.
What's Your Health Care Experience?
How you think about health care in this country tends to vary due to several factors.
This includes:
Age
Medical history
Past quality of care
Where you live
However, one thing continues to ring true - the cost of staying healthy in this country is rising.
Ecology vs Economy - A Myth About Going Green
I am a pragmatist.
I know you can’t reinvent Canada’s economy and end our dependency on fossil fuels overnight. However, ecology and economy go hand in hand and it is time to start thinking about an actual transition plan.
It will take real leadership to create better jobs, make life more affordable, and build resilient infrastructure - this is what a transition will actually look like.
Canada can balance the budget, grow the economy, and take action on climate change - but it is up to us to demand proactive policies.
Everyone Deserves a Dignified & Affordable Place to Call Home
After more than three months of listening to the priorities of thousands of people across Kitchener Centre - be it at our neighbours’ doors, at kitchen conversations, meet and greets, or festivals - some shared priorities are becoming increasingly clear.
Towards the top of the list is the affordability of day-to-day life, punctuated most significantly by the cost of housing - whether renting or owning across the riding.
Four Ways We’re Doing Politics Differently
It’s a line I won’t soon forget. A woman I spoke with at her door said it to me a few weeks ago.
We've been knocking on doors across Kitchener Centre for more than two months now, and as I've done before, I’ll share another major theme: the large number of people who feel left behind by our political system.
The statistics are staggering: in Kitchener Centre last federal election, 24,225 eligible voters didn’t vote at all. That’s one third of all those eligible.
The past couple months of meeting people disillusioned with our democracy has put a face to a shared aspiration among Greens across the country: to do politics differently.
Canada risks falling behind in low-carbon economy
Earlier this spring, the most in-depth analysis to date on Canada’s changing climate provided clear evidence that Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. As we increasingly experience the physical impacts (flooding, extreme weather, forest fires), we will experience the financial impacts as well in the form of both increasing market risks and unprecedented investment opportunities.
For the financial sector, this is a pivotal moment where it can realign its structures to ensure global capital flows toward solutions that will protect Canada’s economy and our prosperity, more broadly. However, Canada’s financial community has yet to fully grasp the numerous challenges and opportunities that climate change presents for us in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Climate Emergency? It’s Time We Act Like It
On Monday night, the City of Kitchener bravely followed in the footsteps of 42 other municipalities across the country and declared a climate emergency.
One Door at a Time
It’s been just over a month now that our team has been knocking on doors across Kitchener Centre, talking with our neighbours about their priorities heading into this year’s federal election.
We’re hearing from people every day about the concerns at the forefronts of their minds: from health care to affordable housing to the costs of failing to act decisively on the climate crisis.
Far and away however, the most common conversation we’re having at the door is people telling us they want to vote Green, but they just aren’t sure we can win. They don’t want to ‘waste their vote’, and they’re curious why we think we have a shot in this election.
Each time I hear this, I feel so grateful for this honesty. Because it gives us a chance to share just how different this election is going to be, and why we feel so strongly: that, yes, this is our moment.
#Morrice2019 Kitchen Table Conversations
For me, one of the highlights of our campaign so far has been what we’ve been calling “kitchen table conversations”. Though the name is somewhat misleading.
Last Tuesday night for example, Kitchener residents Byron & Ann hosted more than 25 friends, family and neighbours for a conversation about our campaign in their beautiful home in Central Frederick. In this case, it was over dinner in their living room.
While always hosted in someone’s home, both the size and format have been varied: from 4 - 40 people, either on a back porch or over pizza, with brunch, or over tea and brownies.
And each time, we’ve had candid conversations. I’ve had the opportunity to hear priorities from people across our community, and also to share about our campaign. Topics have run the gamut, from why I’m running at all, to why I chose to run with the Green Party, to how we expect to build a winnable campaign - along with a wide mix of policy questions, from criminal justice reform to health care to Indigenous reconciliation.
This is Our Moment
Last Thursday night was definitely a special evening: to have over 500 people join me, Elizabeth May, Mike Schreiner, and our whole team as we celebrated the launch of this campaign was poignant and inspiring.