The Owen Sound Sun Times today endorsed Green Party candidate Dick Hibma running in Bruce Grey Owen Sound (BGOS).
In an editorial piece entitled "Greens deserve a place in Parliament" the Sun Times gives a ringing endorsement to Hibma.
Hibma is a three time municipal councilor, who in his last run for council won more votes than any other councilor. He knows the riding, he has worked with the IJC and now is running for the Green Party. His campaign builds upon the stunning success of Shane Jolley's campaign in the 2007 Ontario Provincial election where the Green Party won more than 15,000 votes and a second place finish with 33% of the vote.
This time around the campaign manager for BGOS is Jeff Brownridge who successfully masterminded the GPO's stunning tripling of its vote across all of Ontario to 8% in October 2007, as the Campaign Manager for the central party's campaign.
The endorsement begins very powerfully:
"Canada needs proportional representation. It is unreasonable to expect Canadians to vest all their political hopes in a single vote for a single candidate at the riding level."
In most modern democracies voters cast two ballots: One for their preferred local candidate and one for the party that best represents their views. If Canada had such a system the choice facing voters in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound would be far easier.
Unfortunately we do not have a proportional system and we do have an election to contend with.
Here's what the Sun Times has to say about Hibma:
"Green candidate Dick Hibma is, by all accounts, a good and decent man. In all-candidates' meetings he has come across as calm, well-meaning and bright. As a former Owen Sound city councilor, he knows the territory -- and the territory knows him."
and concludes:
"Leader Elizabeth May performed well in her first televised debates. The Greens have a fresh approach and new ideas. They deserve a berth in Parliament. Because of Shane Jolley's success in previous elections, they have a better shot here than in most other Canadian ridings. Dick Hibma personally would be a worthy addition to the House of Commons."
"For all those reasons we urge a vote for Hibma on election day."
This endorsement can put Hibma over the top in this two-way race in BGOS.
This is fantastic!! Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to Dick and the entire Green Party team in BGOS!
To see the full editorial endorsement go to http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1243926