You might only see four parties represented in the televised debates, but they hardly exhaust Canada’s political spectrum.
For example: ever heard of the Progressive Canadian Party?
University of Toronto political science major Asif Hossain (right) will be happy to fill you in, since he’s representing the Conservative offshoot party in the Trinity-Spadina riding.
The Progressive Canadians are moderate conservatives (sometimes known as “red Tories”) who rejected the Progressive Conservative Party’s merger with the Canadian Alliance in 2003. Hossain is already a veteran-he ran in the Trinity-Spadina riding last year, finishing fifth of eight candidates.
“The Progressive Canadian Party advocates a socially progressive approach to policy while remaining fiscally responsible to the taxpayer,” Hossain said. “Martin’s Liberals and the Conservatives are both right-wing, while the NDP are political opportunists.”
If elected, Hossain promises to support the Kyoto Protocol, advocate the continued public administration of the healthcare system and encourage additional funding for after-school programs. He also supports a moderate foreign policy, suggesting that Canada devote its military resources to humanitarian causes.
Hossain also said that if he became a member of parliament, he would advocate the introduction of proportional representation in Canada.
As a U of T student, the debt load is an important election issue for Hossain.
“There is a senate committee discussing the decriminalization of marijuana but no committee addressing the issue of student debt,” he lamented. He intends to advocate increased assistance to students who are already in debt as well as funding to lighten the debt load of new students.
