During the last federal election, I was faced with a dilemma. The incumbent MP, Colin Mayes, was not exactly awe inspiring. His 15 minutes of fame was sparked by an email he sent his ‘friends’ which contained a derogatory joke concerning our first nation’s people. Not the kind of thing to expect from the chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. His few contributions to Hansard, also convinced me that he was a “republiCon”, someone whose values would make him feel much more at home in Bush-Country than Canada.
Unfortunatly, the riding was a ’safe’ conservative riding and as long as he able to breathe while keeping his mouth shut he was very
likely to be re-elected.

I began researching our ridings voting history and became convinced that those who opposed Harper’s minion Mayes, would have to
vote strategically. It also looked like the NDP candidate, having finished second in the previous election, had the best chance. So I began to blog, wherever I could, to that effect.

One of the responses to my comments on a one of the blogs, challenged me to look more closely at the Green candidate Hugette
Allen. Like many Canadians, I had the misguided impression that the Green Party was a one-issue fringe party that did not have a
comprehensive platform. After attending the first all candidate’s meeting, I was so impressed with Hugette Allen’s position on the
range of issues that were being discussed, that I began to research the Green Party. I discovered they indeed had a comprehensive
platform with which I was in complete alignment with. They also had six guiding principles from which all policies must adhere to. The
platform and principles resonated with me so strongly, that I picked up the phone, joined the party and started working actively to elect
Hugette.

After years of holding my nose and voting for the least offensive candidate, I have finally found a party worth working for and a
candidate worth voting for.

As for my hair, or what’s left of it, it still has not turned gray.