Green party places third in Dufferin-Caledon
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

Despite not winning a seat in last Wednesday's provincial election, the Green party made big strides in its popular vote.

One of the party's better showings was in Dufferin- Caledon where Green candidate Rob Strang finished third behind Progressive Conservative candidate Sylvia Jones and Liberal Betsy Hall, but ahead of New Democratic Party candidate Lynda McDougall.

"We're pretty happy with it," Strang told the Citizen.

He noted the party's support provincially grew to eight per cent from less than three per cent in the previous election. He added to do this without much media coverage was "amazing."

Strang received 16.3 per cent of the votes cast in Dufferin-Caledon which was a 60 per cent increase from the last election when the party received 10 per cent support.

For Dufferin-Caledon, his party's goal was to receive at least 15 per cent of the vote.

"I was hoping for more," Strang said, adding that 20 per cent was what he had in mind. "People were receptive to our issues."

He found it hard to get people to vote on local issues. He thinks he probably received most of his support in the north end of the riding, although he hadn't seen the poll-by-poll results yet.

He was disappointed the proposed Mixed Member Proportional voting system didn't get much support in the referendum question. He said the governing Liberals didn't really want it to pass. He believes if voters really understood MMP it would have had a better chance of passing.

He noted in New Zealand they spent a whole year debating different options in their voting system and people had four choices. He said an in-depth public discussion is needed on it here.

"Our current system is terribly flawed," Strang said.

With the Green party's improved showing, he believes they've set things up well for the next provincial election.

"Hopefully we'll get fair coverage and our leader will be in the debate," he said.

Strang said he would consider running again as the local Green candidate because this campaign went so well and it was fun. He added, though, if someone else came along and wanted the candidacy, he would be more than willing to help.

"You pay a big price for it," he said of running in an election.

He's already looking forward to the next federal election where Ard Van Leeuwen will be the Green candidate for Dufferin- Caledon.

"He's an excellent candidate," Strang said.