More money for troops

Election Notebook by Dan Hilborn
Published June 2, 2004


Burnaby-Douglas Conservative candidate George Drazenovic is backing his party leader's pledge to boost funding for the Canadian military.

"I've seen the destructive policies of the Chretien-Martin government firsthand and the impacts on morale of the troops during my time spent at military training bases in Manitoba and Saskatchewan," Drazenovic said in a press release issued Monday morning. "Our troops deserve better."

If elected, the Tories would give the forces an "immediate injection of $1.2 billion" and attempt to bring spending on defence in line with NATO's average in terms of gross domestic product.

The Conservatives also want to increase the force's regular troop strength to 80,000, increase reserve levels, purchase more 'survivable' tanks, upgrade the CF-18 fleet and acquire new aircraft, including maritime helicopters and other navy vessels, including long-range unmanned air vehicles for maritime surveillance.

A CUNNING QUIP

Bill Cunningham is proving that he's got a good sense of humour despite the ongoing negative media coverage his party has received since the election campaign started.

Last weekend, while Cunningham was visiting the Forest Grove spring fun fair, the Liberal candidate was asked to draw the winning number for the Cake Walk - a game much like musical chairs, but with a far tastier ending.

Four of the participants entered in the cake walk were volunteers in Cunningham's campaign, prompting the parents and others to keep a close eye on whose number was actually drawn.

"Thankfully, the number I drew was not one of my volunteers," Cunningham quipped on his website, "to which one of the parents cracked: 'See, not all federal Liberals are just out to get goodies for their friends.'"

One thing is definite about Bill Cunningham's candidacy - it has attracted media attention.

Cunningham and his competitors, Conservative George Drazenovic and New Democrat Bill Siksay have already been featured on The Rafe Mair show and Global TV. The threesome have their act down to an art form. They start slow and then both Siksay and Drazenovic hammer Cunningham for being 'hand-picked' by Paul Martin.

GREENS PROTEST DEBATE

The Green Party is absolutely livid after learning that its national leader, Jim Harris, will not be invited to participate in the upcoming leaders' debates on television.

"The importance of leaders' debate cannot be overstated," Harris said in a press release issued last week. "There is widespread agreement that televised leaders' debates are defining moments in Canadian elections."

And Harris has a novel twist on why the decision to exclude him is unfair. He notes that the recent merger of the Progressive Conservative and Reform parties has left an empty chair around the debating table this time.

Local Green Party candidates have another reason for wanting to see their leader in the debate.

In recent interviews, Burnaby-New Westminster candidate Revel Kunz and Burnaby-Douglas candidate Shawn Hunsdale both noted that a strong showing in the election is essential to the future of the party because changes to the Canada Elections Act now give political parties $1.75 in official government funding for each vote they receive from across the country.

The official English-language debate will be shown live on all major networks, including Global, CTV and CBC.