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Charrois: Artists under Tory attack
Bethany Lindsay, NORTH SHORE NEWS
Published: Friday, September 19, 2008North Vancouver's federal NDP candidate wants to be a voice in Parliament for artists, whom he believes are under attack from the Conservative government.
"I don't know why Stephen Harper wants to pick a fight with artists. It doesn't make sense," said Michael Charrois, an actor and drama teacher by trade.
"If he wants to pick a fight, we're articulate, we're bright, we're organized, and we're standing up to be heard."
One of the biggest dangers to artists, Charrois said, is the proposed Bill C-10, which would give the heritage minister the power to deny tax credits to Canadian productions if they are deemed unsuitable.
"It imperils our industry," Charrois said. "It goes against our entire arms-length funding philosophy."
Funding for the arts doesn't just affect his fellow artists, he continued. Charrois estimates that there are 6,000 North Shore residents who work in the film industry. "It's a huge, huge economic engine here."
Although Charrois is new to North Shore politics, this isn't his first campaign. In 2001, he campaigned for the NDP in Alberta's provincial election. He lost the race to his Progressive Conservative opponent, but said the experience of campaigning during an Edmonton winter has prepared him for this fall's election.
"I'm battle-hardened."
Since moving across the provincial border a few years back, Charrois has been living in North Vancouver. "I love it here," he said. "I love the trails; I walk my dog everyday along the trails."
Charrois's choice to join the New Democrats was prompted by his membership in actors' unions and professional associations, and his frustration with how artists are treated by governments.
"We're the party of more: more hope, more prosperity, more peace, more healthcare."
The federal campaign, he said, has been framed around the idea of who would make the best leader of Canada. "I think Jack Layton is that person, because he's not mean, he's compassionate, he cares about people; he cares about ordinary people, not boardroom people."
Since he started campaigning about two weeks ago, Charrois said he's learned a little bit about which issues matter most to North Vancouverites. He said the healthcare system is weighing heavily on people's minds.
"Healthcare of course is really important to (the NDP). And nobody can touch us on that because we invented it." Charrois said that his party wants to stop privatization of health services, and improve access to drugs and long-term care.
"The other issues that are important are household economy, things like jobs, trying to protect jobs, and stimulating new jobs," Charrois said. "There's a growing gap between what the top earners earn, and what the bottom earners earn, and that's not fair."
Historically, the NDP haven't polled well in North Vancouver, but that doesn't bother Charrois.
"Just like Jack Layton said, don't let them tell you it can't be done. . . . I'm committed, and I'm not going away, either, because we're going to roll this juggernaut into the municipal elections . . . and then we're going to carry it right over into the provincial elections."
© North Shore News 2008
Young guns
By Daniel Pi - North Shore OutlookPublished: October 01, 2008 4:00 PM
Updated: October 02, 2008 2:39 PM
There’s an energy in the room that’s rare for a political gathering.
In the narrow campaign office belonging to Green Party candidate Blair Wilson, signs with wet paint are drying on the floor, brown poster paper is taped to the walls, all scribbled with tactics and slogans. There’s a small copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms framed and hung by the door.
A group of teenagers are huddled around a computer. They’re learning how to enter supporters’ credit card numbers for party donations.
Since Sept. 14, Taylor Verrall has spent plenty of time in this hubbub — a couple hours nearly everyday — to help Wilson’s re-election bid.
Come election night, Taylor and several other campaign volunteers on the North Shore will be cheering for their candidates. But they won’t visit the polls themselves. It’s not a question of apathy. They’re just too young to vote, and many of their energetic colleagues are just old enough to vote for the first or second time.
On the North Shore, all four major political parties have youth under 25 participating in the campaign. They come from different backgrounds, hold different beliefs, and play different roles with their parties. There are volunteer phone canvassers, door knockers, sign painters and wavers, and amazingly, even a 20-year-old campaign manager.
But they all have one thing in common — the desire to make a difference and have their voice heard.
Jenna Theny didn’t plan on filling such big political shoes when she decided to take a year off and travel the world. But when the writ was dropped, Jenna dropped her globe-trotting plans and decided to stay and campaign for a cause and party she believed in.
“Even though there are amazing things that lie elsewhere in the world, it’s still important to fight for what I believe for here,” said the campaign manager for the North Vancouver NDP. “I want to go away and see the rest of the world but also see when I get home that it’s not just the wealthy that are benefiting ... I want to see that everyone is getting a fair share of our country.”
Rachel Silver, an “almost 17-years-old” student from Carson Graham, is another high schooler putting a pause to her regular life as a teenager during the election campaign.
She’s been helping out on Andrew Saxton’s Conservative team and says the hype and excitement are two draws for her.
“I like having some say in politics even when I can’t vote,” Silver said, adding that many of her friends see the election as turf in the adult realm where young people can’t make an impact.
“But at my age you can make a difference because you can volunteer with a campaign you agree with,” Rachel said.
Ask Taylor if he’s had any impact on the Green Party’s campaign, and he’ll give an emphatic ‘yes.’
“I can’t vote.” Taylor says. “But I’d probably say in this election ... by me not being able to vote and by me being here, I actually say I have more of an impact than if I’d been able to vote and didn’t get involved.”
Despite his young age, Taylor is an outspoken and articulate high schooler. He isn’t afraid to share his ideas.
More importantly, those around him are listening.
“I like it because I really get a chance to speak up and I really get a chance to tell people that kids aren’t just these people who are just, you know, they look at the parties and they pick the colour they like the most.”
“They’re not just complete total idiots when it comes to politics,” he adds candidly. “They actually care — they actually have an opinion and they matter.”
Breaking through to young people, however, is still tough for politicians, the youth say.
“I think everyone is political, I think what you believe translates into your politics,” says Mia Taghizadeh, a 23-year-old UBC student and member of the Young Liberals of Canada. “The next step of actually getting involved in a partisan way is tough for a lot of people.”
Mia discovered her stake in politics when she was growing up in North Vancouver. While her parents advised her to keep out of politics and focus on her studies, she went in the opposite direction and was driven to participate.
“There was a lot of turmoil in the Persian community when I was growing up ... and being from Iran and also seeing what was going on on the North Shore at the time, I realized that if you don’t define yourself and your community, then other people will.”
Jenna Theny muses that young people might not be as disinterested as they might appear.
“I feel like young people have issues they care strongly about. At Capilano University you have student groups dedicated to the anti-war movement, student groups dedicated to lowering tuition fees, you have student groups dedicated to causes...”
But the four young people all feel that more people their age can and need to get involved.
“Voting shows your concern for your community and your country,” Mia said. “(But) I think that besides just saying ‘go and vote,’ I think there’s so much more than that. It’s be involved, be engaged, know what you’re doing and then go and vote.”
-dpi@northshoreoutlook.com
