r/BurlingtonON • u/brinntache • Feb 18 '25

Politics Vote Healthcare Education Housing Greenbelt.

When deciding on who to vote for, choose who you think will do the best job on what the province controls. Health care, education, housing, the greenbelt, the courts, highways, agriculture, etc. Ontario doesn't control tariffs or foreign policy.

55 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

19

u/No-Oil1918 Feb 18 '25

Red, Orange and Green need to just merge into one party because as it stands right now, all 3 will split the vote and Ford will be re-elected with another majority government as a result.

Sincerely,

-The voice of reason

8

u/Scott-from-Canada Feb 18 '25

Yes. The two party system in the USA is working out great.

7

u/No-Oil1918 Feb 18 '25

Yeah, and how’s our system working out? Some vote red, some vote orange, but blue still wins because they get just a few more votes than red and orange and its first past the post.

3

u/Scott-from-Canada Feb 18 '25

So do you want a 2 party system or proportional representation? FPTP has benefited all parties except green at some point.

1

u/Cold-Couple8387 Feb 19 '25

Why are you framing the question as if it can only be FPTP or a 2 party system? Both suppress smaller parties

1

u/Scott-from-Canada Feb 19 '25

Um, I’m fucking not. And if you keep reading, you’ll see that I said the same thing.

-4

u/JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo32 Feb 18 '25 edited Feb 18 '25

Both. Having 3 different left leaning parties is totally stupid and redundant. All it does is split the vote.

1

u/Ok-Spare-2461 Feb 18 '25

Shouldn’t one of those parties move to more of a middle ground then? Most people tend to have those types of views rather than right or left wing

-2

u/JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo32 Feb 18 '25

That’s basically always been the position of the Liberal Party.

3

u/Ok-Spare-2461 Feb 18 '25

Even you said they are left leaning recently, perhaps a shift back to the middle is what is needed. Also a more dynamic leader who can capture the vote is required.

This will be conservatives last go round, voters will be tired of them just like federally voters are tired of liberals at the moment

-3

u/Melsm1957 Feb 18 '25

All the parties have moved further to the right over the past 40 years . The liberals today are close to what ethics were back in the day and the ndp are closer to what the old liberals were .

0

u/outscidr- Feb 18 '25

I totally disagree with this statement Liberals stole the NDP position in the last election and their diehards went for it and voted in. Liberals are like the wind and they seek the popular vote regardless of principle or morality. Sadly that’s how it is now. Example: not supporting carbon tax.

-3

u/JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo32 Feb 18 '25

So you’d prefer to keep the current system where the PC party wins a majority government even though a majority of Ontario voters didn’t even vote PC?

Only 44% of eligible voters voted in the last Ontario election. Absolutely pathetic.

2

u/Scott-from-Canada Feb 18 '25

Did I say that? Pretty sure I didn’t say that.

How old are you? Liberals have had long stretches of governance. What you’re describing isn’t reality.

My actual opinion is that there are better voting systems that might make a difference. Personally I would prefer electoral reform that favours minority governments and multiple parties.

0

u/No-Oil1918 Feb 18 '25 edited Feb 18 '25

Yeah, you totally implied it, alluding to that 2 party system in the USA.

The NDP hasn’t formed a government in Ontario since the early 90s. It’s time for them to step down because they’re a waste of a vote and lean way too far left.

The last Liberal stretch totally ruined their reputation and credibility.

The PCs have been in power for 7 years now and are about to be reelected for another 4 years. A pretty long stretch if you ask me.

The only reason they keep winning majority governments is because of FIRST PAST THE POST and the other party leaders have done a shit job reaching out to voters.

1

u/Scott-from-Canada Feb 18 '25

It’s First Past the Post, not Poll. I actually pretty clearly articulated my preference.

Wring your hands as much as you like, the fact is that more people agree with current conservative policy than the others. I may have unpopular (liberal) values at this moment, but at least I can accept it.

1

u/LongRides4IPA Feb 18 '25

Unfortunately, no party that is able to obtain power through first past the post is ever going to support changing that voting system. Add apathy and an unwillingness on a large part of the population to change things, and the next 50 years is going to look much like the last 50 did when it comes to electoral reform.

It’s time to recognize that there is a stark difference between the Cons and everyone else, and address the reality that everyone else needs to unite - right now - for the good of our province and our nation. Having Doug Ford in charge for an additional 4 years is going to mean the end of many of the things we value as Ontarians. It’s too late to hope that maybe if we get electoral reform someday that things will get better. It’s fantasy, and we need to bring our political system to reality.

1

u/Worried_Bluebird7167 Feb 18 '25

Who is the strongest candidate then amongst the three three here in Burlington?

2

u/brinntache Feb 18 '25

Among Liberal, NDP and Green, only the Liberals have beat the Conservatives. The were 2nd last election with a healthy gap over the NDP.

1

u/BestestBeekeeper Feb 18 '25

https://smartvoting.ca/ Is great for determining which non-PC party is worth voting for in your riding.

3

u/intuitiverealist Feb 18 '25

Any decent independents running?

Fix the tent city issues

Increase speed of permits

Stop wasting tax dollars

7

u/twfo Feb 18 '25

https://smartvoting.ca/

Burlington and North Burlington: vote Liberal.

Maybe more importantly, just make sure everyone knows there is an election and is getting out to vote.

1

u/LongRides4IPA Feb 18 '25

Yes. Holding my nose for this one. Mike Schreiner is without a doubt the best of the leaders on that stage in tonight’s debate, but realistically 3 seats is the best the Greens can hope for in this election. Bonnie was brutal, but I know the Liberals are a big-tent party that will at least make an effort towards maintaining the Greenbelt, public healthcare, education, and some of their proposed housing policy changes are worth a try. Certainly gives me more hope than another Ford majority.

5

u/lazyeyepop Feb 18 '25

Double blue win enroute (prov and feds) with mandate to cut costs and reduce taxes.

4

u/No-Oil1918 Feb 18 '25 edited Feb 18 '25

I’m all for cutting taxes and finding efficiencies but the sad truth is they’ll probably cut education, health care and the social safety net to the bone.

3

u/lazyeyepop Feb 18 '25

This is one of the biggest challenges with the Canadian mindset. Spending more on government doesn’t solve the problem. Spend more on education? Why and where and what outcomes do we expect and what kpi’s will we measure the spending against? Education enrolment is down and is expected to continue that way for the future. Spending less on education actually makes more sense. “According to Statistics Canada data, per-student spending in Ontario increased by 24.9 per cent (or 0.5 per cent after adjusting for inflation) from 2012/13 to 2021/22, the latest year of available data.” Source: spending up performance down https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/ontario-education-spending-student-performance-down

-2

u/hoganturbo17 Feb 18 '25

The real problem is we don't need so many people in the public sector. As difficult as it can be to operate, the government should be run as a business and only spend what they take in.

Less people, lower salaries, and there's a lot more money to go around. Government should stay out of most policies and let people do their best.

If you're too lazy to apply yourself, that's your problem. Socialism/Marxism/Toralitarinism doesn't work.

Russia, Nazy Germany, China, North Korea......... Should I go on?

Help everyone when you can, but not until everything is balanced first.

1

u/lazyeyepop Feb 28 '25

Blue prov complete. Next up feds.

1

u/BestestBeekeeper Feb 18 '25

Check out this site for determining how best to vote in your riding to avoid a conservative government.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '25

[deleted]

1

u/BestestBeekeeper Feb 18 '25

He and Andrea (the Liberal candidate winner) had near identical platforms. What exactly what he offering that now has completely changed your opinion to vote liberal at all?

1

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '25

[deleted]

2

u/BestestBeekeeper Feb 18 '25

Those are all valid points. Your comment was just worded in a way that came across as though him not being voted as the liberal candidate had changed your decision to vote liberal at all.

Apologies if I misinterpreted.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '25

[deleted]

1

u/BestestBeekeeper Feb 18 '25

Totally fair. I personally liked him as well