Think there’s not enough choice this election? That the major parties don’t represent all viewpoints? Their numbers may be small, but the people behind these political parties are hoping for major upsets on election day—or at the very least some increased exposure. Here’s a look at 12 other parties you can choose.
1. Unparty: The Consensus-Building Party: Created last year, Unparty wants B.C. to run on consensus decision-making. They have no current policies on any topics, other to allow voters to decide their future in a crowdsourced manner The Unparty is running two candidates in this election: Chanel Donovan in Richmond Centre, and Michael Donovan in Richmond Steveston. www.unparty.ca
2. Helping Hand Party: Currently a one-candidate party led by Alan Saldanha, a candidate in Surrey-Newton, the Helping Hand Party has a platform geared towards the lower class, with policies designed for a “sustainable and robust economy”. They want driving lanes for mopeds and two-wheelers, and mandatory one-on-one math tutoring for Grade 6 and 7 students with poor grades, among other things.
3. Excalibur Party: A party named based on Arthurian legends, the Excalibur Party’s motto is “the land, the people and the government are one”. Their declared values are “truth, fairness and compassion.” The leader of the Excalibur Party is Michael Halliday in Chilliwack, but the party has four other candidates intending to run, all in the Lower Mainland. www.bcexcaliburparty.com
4. Platinum Party of Employers Who Think and Act to Increase Awareness: This party wants the government to have the “procedures necessary to maintain a legitimate position of authority over the current commercial world.” They nominated 11 candidates in the 2005 election, but so far this year, interim leader Espavo Sozo of Vancouver-Langara is their only declared candidate. www.platinumparty.org
5. Work Less Party: The Work Less Party of B.C. was founded in 2003, and advocates a 32-hour work week. They encourage people to “Work Less, Consume Less, Live More.” They also occasionally throw parties in the Vancouver area that appeal to university students and twenty-somethings. The party currently has two candidates who are intending to run, but have run candidates in a variety of municipal, provincial and federal elections in the past. www.worklessparty.org
6. Libertarian Party: A free market, limited government party, the Libertarian Party seeks minimal government regulation, allowing people to use voluntary alternatives to government programs. They have eight candidates intending to run in the election, which would be their most ever. www.libertarian.bc.ca
7. Your Political Party: “Your Political Party” believes in more transparency in politics. They propose legally binding election promises, electronic non-binding referendums, and free votes in the legislature. They currently have two candidates in Port Coquitlam and Vancouver – False Creek intending to run. www.yppofbc.ca
8. BC First Party: Founded by Sal Vetro, who has run for a number of provincial right-wing parties, the BC First party also aims to have their policies determined by referendums on major issues. They also want open committees to create bills, and have constituencies based on geography rather than just population. They currently have registered candidates in Penticton and Vancouver-City Centre. www.bcfirst.ca
9.BC Vision Party: This party believes in a deficit-free province, intercultural events, and the creation of “One Vision, One World” centres throughout the province. They have no candidates registered yet, and their leader is Jag Bahndari, who ran to be mayor of Whistler and a councillor in Surrey at the same time in 2008. bcvision.net
10. Refederation Party: One of the largest political parties in 2009 with 22 candidates, the Refederation Party believes in changing the nature of the relationship between B.C. and the federal government, allowing provincial citizens ultimate power over their rights. They are still a registered political party, but have no candidates yet, and have not updated their Facebook page in over a year. www.refedbc.com
11. People’s Front Party: The provincial win of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada, the People’s Front has a communist ideology. They are led by Charles Boylan, who has ran in eight provincial and federal elections in the last 20 years. They have no candidates for this election yet.
12. Sex Party: After eight years of advocating for sex education reform and repealing of prostitution laws, the Sex Party deregistered as a political party late last year. While they never were competitive in elections, they made a successful legal challenge against Canada Post’s decision not to deliver their pamphlets. www.thesexparty.ca
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