I helped organize a major all candidates meeting in East Vancouver, which was sponsored by three community centres, two Aboriginal organizations and a residents group.
Unfortunately, it was not actually “all candidates” because, in spite of emails to the federal Conservative campaign office, the local riding association, two hand-delivered letters of invitation to the candidate’s home and an attempt to reach him at an apparently deserted campaign office, the Conservative candidate never responded. His complete refusal to take part in the democratic process, to answer questions about policies or to engage with citizens, seemed incomprehensible. Even if the chance of victory might seem remote for the Liberals and the Greens in this contest, their candidates are visible, articulate and eager to meet with residents.
In exploring the possible reasons for running a ghost candidate whose absence seems to discredit both the Conservative Party and the election process itself I found the answer by following that old dictum: “Show me the money.”
The Elections Canada website explains that: “When an election takes place, perhaps the most significant source of public funding for the federal political parties is the election expenses reimbursement which subsidizes 50 per cent of the national campaign expenses of any party that obtains at least two per cent support, or at least five per cent in the ridings in which they presented candidates.”
So all this candidate has to do is garner a measly five per cent of the votes cast in East Van and federal election funding regulations will make a major contribution to the Federal Conservative Party coffers. Ghost candidates are not a paranormal phenomenon in Canada, they have been created by the Elections Act.
Eileen Mosca,
Vancouver
