GuelphToday has received the following letter about Green Party of Ontario leader and Guelph candidate Mike Schreiner from Green Party supporter, volunteer and former NDP member, Bruce Hyer
************************
I was a friend of Jack Layton. When he asked me to run in Thunder Bay-Superior North in the 2004 federal election, I was pleased to honour his request. He asked me twice more, and in 2008 I joined him in the House of Commons as an NDP Member of Parliament. It was a pleasure working with Jack.
He was highly opinionated, but was a gentleman… and truly democratic. He never bullied me or anyone else, and allowed me to put my constituents and conscience before the party.
After Jack sadly passed, the NDP became quite controlling. The Democrats became very undemocratic, trying to force me to toe the party line 100 per cent of the time. I was told that if I did not comply, that I would be “punished” and would not be allowed to run for the NDP in the next election.
I decided to become Independent. A year later, I decided to join the Green Party of Canada, as Deputy Leader, and seatmate in the House to Elizabeth May. Like Jack, Elizabeth is a very strong-willed person. Like Jack, she never tried to force me to vote as she ordered.
Under our antiquated electoral system, it is hard for newer or smaller parties to get elected. I lost the 2015 election to the Liberal, who, like Trudeau, promised that “2015 will be the last election under First-Past-The-Post”. So much for Liberal promises.
I am pleased to be in Guelph, knocking on many doors for Mike Schreiner. Why? Partly it is because the Greens have the best platform.
As a small business person myself, it is also because we have two parties of Big Business, and one party of No Business. The Green Party of Ontario is the only party for small businesses, looking forward to the new economies of the 21st century.
The largest reason of all is because of Mike Schreiner.
I am not young. I am passing the torch to young smart people. I have had a lot of interesting careers, and met tens of thousands of people. Mike Schreiner is one of the finest people I have ever met. Smart. Kind. Hard working. Most importantly, Mike is absolutely honest! He is dedicated to creating a kinder, healthier, safer, sustainable and more prosperous Ontario.
Despite being frozen out of the provincial leaders’ debates, Guelph voters have figured out that he is the best leader, and thus he has a good lead in the polls. But the only poll that actually counts is on June 7. I believe that we are headed for a minority government. The more foxes watching the henhouse, the better! A few Greens will improve both the tone and the policies of Queen’s Park. Especially if one is Mike Schreiner.
Bruce Hyer
Thunder Bay
*************************
