Door-to-Door: The Candidate Makes The Difference

Taken August 10, 2015, at the official office launch, with the Honorable Denis Lebel

 As I've posted recently, I have been enjoying my experiences visiting homes in my neighborhood, in other neighborhoods, learning more about the campaign, and generally meeting people in the riding (district) I inhabit.

Tonight was a completely different experience - again.

Let me clarify: it's always different. Every door is different.

But tonight, with the lack of any volunteers to team with (more about that in another post), I was delighted to experience D2D with the candidate herself.

Now, I've known Valérie for a little under a year, and my every encounter with her has been increasingly impressive. She is likeable, she is smart, she inspires confidence, and she impresses me with how much she does in her life - all with panache and capable strength.

But tonight, I saw Valérie The Candidate. I've seen this Valérie before. At awareness evenings for her campaign, at formal evening events, at her launch party, at the launching of her office just this past Monday afternoon, and at official events in which she sits with the other Conservative Party candidates, interacts with the Prime Minister or with cabinet Ministers, and exhibits the finesse that is her hallmark.

Tonight, the Valérie I saw was the one who will govern. The one who will represent our riding in Ottawa, and our country in Dollard-Pierrefonds.

The one who got the instant looks of hero worship when doors opened and she introduced herself.

See, she and the team have been going out D2D for a while. We haven't only been doing this since the campaign dropped a week or so ago. Her strategy was to start pounding the pavement and knocking on as many doors as she could from the get-go, so that when the Prime Minister did call the election (whether that was the expected 37 days prior to the Big Day or the 11 weeks prior, which is what he chose to do), the name of Valérie Assouline was already recognizable.

It's branding that makes the difference. Whether one is a writer, a politician, a celebrity or an athlete, that branding is what people gravitate to - which is why the ersatz "leader" of the Liberal Party got the initial numbers he has gotten: his father branded the name.

But when you put branding together with ability, it's the full package. And I saw that tonight, and was truly inspired.

We went to a neighborhood neither or us had ever really visited, so for us, it was a great experience to see the homes, the surroundings, and meet the people.

It started off slowly, with few people home. We turned onto a side street where suddenly, we were greeted by supporters:

• The girl whose fiancé works with Valérie's dad, and who smiled in recognition of the name;
• The girls from Sri Lanka, dressed in beautiful native clothing in preparation for an evening at their Temple, an annual festival; they either recognized Valérie's name or were impressed by her candidacy. Their eyes lit up, their smiles were instantaneous, and there was a bit of celebrity they bestowed upon Valérie with their respectful awe.
• The couple standing outside their home, talking with a neighbor from another street, who immediately welcomed Valérie and instantly offered their solid promise to vote for her
• The grandmother whose young granddaughters smiled at us as Valérie introduced herself; this young-looking grandmother also offered instant support, praising the Conservative Party and Prime Minister Harper
• The gentleman from India who didn't even let Valérie finish before saying that Stephen Harper's support of his community had already gotten this man's vote for the CPC

 And there were those who were not sure, but who politely told us they would consider all the options.

The experience that impressed upon me the most was one of those visits that has an addendum.

We walked up to a house where a man sat outside, holding his little dog. The dog reminded me of Theo, and was barking at us but extremely friendly.

The man politely listened, and then - genuinely apologetic - said that he would not work for Stephen Harper. He did not like the government's handling of certain issues, and that if we were from either of the opposition parties, he would vote, but said that he could not vote for the Conservatives.

Valérie expressed to the man what I had been thinking: he was polite, he was respectful, he was thoughtful in his response, and even though it was a firm "no", it was done with the utmost example of class. In fact, she thanked him for his respect and expressed hers in return.

We crossed the street, rang the next doorbell, but no one answered. As we walked to the next house over, that "not home" became occupied as a car pulled into the driveway. Seizing her opportunity, Valérie walked back toward that house, and when the gentleman emerged from the car, she instantly recognized him, and they embraced.

Valérie is a lawyer, and this is a man who had sought her advice. Had she not been campaigning, she would have taken his divorce case. Instead, she asked him how things were going, and asked him to please drop by her office to talk further about the case.

The serendipity was fun, but not as remarkable as what happened next.

As we moved on from this man's house, we saw Valérie's acquaintance across the way, talking with his neighbor - the man with the dog who had said he couldn't vote for us.

Valérie called out her acquaintance's name, and said, "tell him he should vote for me!" We walked back across the way, and to the bottom of the stairs, and she jokingly asked her friend to convince his neighbor of her sincerity.

At that point - because it is not what D2D is about (convincing the undecided or the opposing voters) - she was approaching the situation with levity. But the neighbor began to listen. And remarkably, I watched him begin to understand that Valérie is not Stephen Harper, and that if his neighbor believes in her, perhaps he, too, should rethink his position.

Then Valérie, as we parted, said something to him that will stick in my mind and become a talking point for me: she said, "vote for the person, not the party."

Now, as I've explained in these pages before, we do not get to vote for the proverbial top of the ticket. We vote our local politicians, and the party with the most voted-in members becomes the ruling party.

The neighbor smiled, and waved, stating that he would think further; and suddenly I began to believe that he was actually going to change his mind. Whether he does or not is not something we'll know; but he was left with food for thought, an endorsement by someone he clearly likes, and a newfound understanding of the process.

We ended the night with a Greek couple who listened to Valérie address some of their concerns. They are elderly, and worried about home mail delivery coming to an end. This has become an election issue. The opposing parties are promising that they will restore door-to-door delivery, but they will not be able to uphold those promises.

Valérie listened to this man, thoughtfully offering her concurring opinion that for those who are elderly or infirm, a community mailbox located on a snowy or icy sidewalk in the winter is not ideal, and can be dangerous.

She explained that she is going to be a strong voice for the neighborhood. And that she will express her opinion and concerns, and those of her constituents, and arrive at a solution that will help those who are in need.

Again, the gentleman seemed to come around to supporting Valérie. He said to her, "you will be our voice?" She assured him that she will. And he smiled, and nodded, and shook her hand.

It was quite the experience to watch her interact with the people. Because to me, that is the most basic, and most important element in this entire election: those voters who have needs to be met, and who trust in the person they vote for to address those needs.

From Valérie Assouline Pour/For Pierrefonds-Dollard Facebook

In this riding, for the past 4 years, our NDP MP has done absolutely nothing. She has sent flyers, don't get me wrong. She's sent requests for support and donations, she's sent misleading pamphlets and has taken credit for Stephen Harper's tax credits.

Valérie's visits to the neighborhoods, her outreach, her personality and her confident, savvy conversation have been eye-opening to those she meets.

And I truly believe it has already begun to turn the tide in our riding, to convince people that a woman who actually lives in the riding (as opposed to both other candidates who live as far as a 90-minute drive from the closest neighborhood) does care about it, and about the people who live here.

I believe simply making an appearance has made people more likely to see her as the caring candidate she is.

But her engaging with the voters, her greeting some of the neighborhood residents sitting at the local park watching a softball game, and getting almost starstruck smiles in return, and her taking the time to walk for 2 hours in search of face-to-face contact...

Those are the fundamental qualities of someone who will speak up for those very people who shook her hand and expressed their personal concerns with important issues.

I knew I would enjoy the D2D experience. And each one is insightful and builds on my experience.

Tonight was a level higher, as I was there to observe, smile, represent my candidate as her accompanying witness and to take notes for her if needed (like the man who will not be in town for the election but to whom we will send early-voting information).

I enjoy each and every experience. I love going with other volunteers, and I loved accompanying Valérie. I will love training new volunteers and watching other teams take to the streets.

This campaign has already been such a packed bag of new knowledge and experiences for me; I can only anticipate the next canvassing evening, the next door, the next voter with the knowledge that I will, without a doubt, be adding to the richness I have already accumulated.

And that I, just one person on the team, am helping to make a difference at the very least in this campaign, and at the utmost, in people's lives by doing so.

I urge you - wherever you live, whatever you believe in - to try, at least once, to become involved in a local campaign. You'll never look back, you will want more. If you love people, the experiences are intoxicating.

Because tonight, truly seeing Valérie in action, I can predict the kind of MP she will be: strong, outspoken, capable, and compassionate to the needs of those who will entrust her with their concerns.

Valérie is not a woman of words; she is a woman of her word. Victory will, indeed, be sweet - as she will, indeed, change the flavor of this riding from inaction to concrete actions.

Every Door Is A New Experience: Campaign Fun

Tonight, I went out door-to-door again, paired with the candidate's husband for a second time. David is a wealth of information, and even though we stick to the "script" (a short rundown of why Valérie is the best candidate), we always seem to get into interesting talks with select people.

There are those who are what I call a "hard no" - the ones who just smile and say, "I'm not voting," or "Conservative Party? Have a nice evening." There was one who just refused to even let us get close; she was on the way into her house from her car, and totally ignored us.

The very first D2D I did, it was tough to not feel rejection. Now? It's something I accept. Because it isn't personal.

But even those can be enlightening. It's helped me to read people, going door to door this way.

Tonight, we encountered those who wanted to air their concerns. One gentleman, for example, is concerned about the controversial anti-terror bill, C-51.

The bill is controversial because it's been spun as a privacy violator. It is not. There are many sites devoted to killing it, to spinning it, and yet there are very important parts of it that have helped to foil terror attacks.

This gentleman mentioned it right away, and I explained that it takes perspective, and that the bill has been misrepresented.

He seemed firm, but was jovial, and friendly. He took the information card we offered, and wished us luck.

We encountered one staunch Québecois - he smiled nicely and said, "Moi, je suis Bloc." We thanked him, he wished us luck, and we left.

Though the Bloc Québecois (the separatist party in Parliament that was decimated last election) has no chance, David explained to me that it's okay to have some Bloc voters. Those are the ones who will dilute the vote and help Valérie.

One fun part of the D2D is seeing the kids, or the pets that belong to the families. One adorable yellow Lab puppy seemed curious, and the minute we reached down to let her sniff our palms, she scooted behind her owner's legs.

Yes, we're focused on the job, but every door is a new family, a new encounter, a new experience.

And hey, I'm doing a lot of walking - it's great exercise, the weather is lovely, the company always great, and I feel so productive.

So often, we say "oh, yes, this interests me, I'd love to be a part of it." But how often do we actually become part of it?

This week, I was given the enormous responsibility of organizing the volunteers. I will report to Sonia - a dynamic organizer who is keeping the office running shipshape and with whom I bonded instantly.

She told me she wants to deal with one person: me. And I will be in charge of volunteers; getting an army out on the streets to do D2D, to get people at the phones to call (the vocal version of D2D), to get people out there getting the word out.

It is a responsibility I take very seriously, and I am honored to be trusted with it.

Along with doing my own spread-the-word work, and pounding the pavement in D2D fun, I am able to be an integral part of what I feel will be a successful campaign resulting in Valérie's election.

And if any of you - obviously Montrealers - would like to be a part of it? We have cookies. And muffins. And TimBits. And pizza after the D2D.

But most of all, we have a team that is dedicated, cohesive, informed, smart, friendly, and really fun to be with - that makes all the difference.

Can't wait till the next!

Learning More and More, Every Step Of the Campaign

I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen. - Ernest Hemingway

People who know me know that I enjoy conversation. I have a lot to say, and usually enjoy saying it. I'm teased, lovingly, by those familiar with my penchant for speaking.

But I'm also a person who learns by listening. I consider myself a good listener - it's what has helped me in my interviewing experiences - and last night, that skill was what I used - much to my benefit, and that of an important cause I support: the election of my Conservative Party candidate, Valérie Assouline. 

Last night, I went door-to-door in the neighborhood to make contact with voters on behalf of the campaign. I had done this before, and had the most fantastic time.

Last night, it was an entirely new experience - I was paired with David, the candidate's husband, and took many cues from him.

The first night I went, it was with her campaign manager. It was my first time, and I learned a lot about how to make that initial contact. This man taught me how to do something many people cannot do: knock on a door and talk to people about the one thing so many avoid, shun, or even recoil from: politics. It was invaluable as an introduction to the practice of door-to-door.

Last night was yet another experience - and I'm grateful to everyone who is giving me the opportunities I'm getting to be a productive member of this team.

Last night, as with the first time, I did some of the doors personally, but mostly, I watched David in action. And wow, I learned so much!

The point of doing door-to-door is to just get out the name, not the vote - yet. The most visible candidate is the one people remember - obviously - and this early in the campaign (3 months till the election on October 19th), not many other candidates are ringing doorbells.

In fact, Valérie is the most consistent door-to-door candidate - for many reasons but for an important one I will discuss in a moment.

It's about recognition; see, the hope - and if history is any proof, the fact - is that when posters go up, names begin to be said in advertisements and issues addressed, the candidate who knocked on thousands of doors is the one who has made the biggest impression.

After all, it takes quite a commitment of time, energy - and walking power! (wear supportive walking shoes!) - to walk the neighborhoods, knocking on doors, trying to talk to those who may be turned off by everything from the Party you represent to the fact that someone interrupted their Judge Judy by daring to ring the doorbell at the 15-minute mark of the show.

It takes a certain amount of strength to knock on someone's door, not knowing whether that person will deride your Party due to its leader or reputation, whether the person will be hostile or cold, or welcome you with a smile and express solidarity.

It isn't easy. It's a true lesson in learning how to deal with even momentary rejection. It's personally fulfilling, personally empowering, and personally fortifying.

I would recount every door - each was different, each had lessons for me that I will, I promise, parlay.

But one major point David made - which is now my new talking point (or one of them, anyway) - is that Valérie is the only candidate from this riding (district, for my American readers) who LIVES in the area.

The other 2 candidates - Liberal and NDP - live in other parts of the city. The Liberal candidate lives in another area at least 20 minutes from the neighborhood he represents. The NDP candidate lives in Trois-Rivières, which is a 90-minute drive from here.

In fact, she had not attended any election events on the night of her election, she received a phone call to tell her she'd won the riding of Dollard-Pierrefonds.

Now that's commitment, isn't it?

Valérie, David, and their 4 gorgeous children - courtesy of Valérie's Facebook

I had the discussion with David as we walked from one street to another, as to my preconceived notion that candidates had to live within their riding. It isn't so, not in our system.

But it makes a huge difference insofar as the candidate's commitment to represent and speak up for her neighbors - because they truly are, in the literal sense, her neighbors.

We encountered one gentleman who told us in no uncertain terms, "I support [the Liberal candidate]." He had hosted the candidate in his home (which is a palatial mansion I'd always wanted to see). He was convinced this was the person who will get elected.

But he couldn't really name the reasons why he supported him. And when we got back into the car, David and I talked about it - this guy was clearly supporting a person, not a principle, not an ideology or even a future.

In our conversation, David said to the man, "If your candidate doesn't win, do you think he will come back to this neighborhood and smile at the people in this area? He doesn't live here, and has no reason to come back.

"The current MP did win 4 years ago - and she is notoriously absent, she never comes to this neighborhood unless there is a campaign event and photo opportunity; because she lives in Trois Rivières!

"But Valérie lives here. Win or lose, you will see her in the neighborhood because she IS a neighbor."

At that point, I brought up the fact that Valérie often takes her kids to the park which is within walking distance from this man's house. I said, "You could go on any given day and meet her taking walks near the lake, or on walking paths in the park."

Valérie and the children - Centennial Park, DDO, Fall 2014 - from Valérie Assouline Pour Pierrefonds-Dollard, Facebook

While it didn't seem to sway the man, David was able to zero in on what he calls "the sweet spot" of the voter: what is important to that individual.

This man is from India. He and his family are citizens, but immigration and visa issues are important to him. And the more David talked about it, the more the man agreed that it's important.

Quebec - and Montreal - have very few Conservative MPs or even candidates. The last election, our province went "orange" with the NDP.

There's a reason for that: Jack Layton, the late NDP leader. He had a charisma that people were drawn to, and sadly, the popularity contest is much of why people vote.

Jack Layton passed away 3 months after his election to the Opposition, and the "leader" who has taken over is Thomas Mulcair. He does not have the charisma of Mr. Layton.

But David explained to this voter - and to others as well - that because of the dearth of CPC candidates/MPs in our city, it's likely that Valérie will get a position in the Prime Minister's cabinet. The weight of MPs in an area which is not saturated with MPs from the ruling Party is tremendous.

See, if the Liberal candidate wins in our riding, he will have very little power with the Prime Minister (whom, we are anticipating, will once again be Stephen Harper).

This is solely based on the fact that the way Canadian politics are set up, the Party in power has the ability to get things done for the country.

Local MPs (Members of Parliament) may be able to swing local issues. But when it comes to the big issues, they are powerless if they do not represent the ruling Party.

David brought up immigration. He explained to the man that Valérie is, herself, an immigrant who came to this country and made herself into a businesswoman, a lawyer, and has built a life here. Immigration issues are not only important to her, she is very familiar with how the laws work and the various snags people can encounter.

He said, "If you needed a visa to go to India, because Montreal winters aren't your thing-" (to which the man smiled knowingly) "-how would you go about doing that, to ensure you don't have problems?"

The man said he would go to the candidate he supports, and if he couldn't get it done, then he would go to Valérie.

Here's where I have to get descriptive - because David drove home the point visually and it was the best example I've ever seen.

He took his right hand, raised it and stretched it to his left earlobe, over his head.

"Why would you try to do this,"  he asked, then taking his hand down and touching his right ear with it, "when you could do this?"

The example was pitch-perfect illustration of convoluted thinking. I don't know if the man realized it, he seemed quite set on his candidate, but I got it and it clearly resonated with me.

He left the gentleman with one thought - and again, it resonated:

"When you are in the booth, and you make your X in that box - it isn't for your candidate. It is for you. And you can vote for the person you feel will get your issues addressed with the leader of the country."

I don't know if this man's mind was changed - in fact, I doubt it. But I do know he was left with a lot to think about; and perhaps, as David stated, his moment in that voting booth will reflect his doubt as to his candidate's ability to address his personal concerns and actually get things done.

Because the beauty of the privacy we enjoy in our voting process is usually borne out in how polls and results can be worlds apart.

After our door-to-door, we met with Valérie and 3 others at the newly acquired riding office. It was really cool to drive up and see her poster in the window. There is a meeting for volunteers on Wednesday night (the 22nd of July) - and any of my local friends reading this, please let me know if you can attend; it will be only an hour of your time, and the energy you'll find within will stay with you for a long time.

We discussed our experiences, and talked about the plan as it unfolds from here on in. The whiteboard on the wall says it all:

Driving home afterwards, I reflected on the evening. It was as invigorating as every other time I have spent with this campaign and its incredible people, from the candidate all the way through the ranks of management and volunteers.

I watched David in action and realized I have much to learn. But if last night was any indication, I am getting a crash course and absorbing every fact, every explanation, every issue's reason and every historical overview I need in order to accomplish what we - Valérie's Army - are trying to do: send the most qualified MP to Ottawa to support the best leader Canada can elect, and to be a strong voice for this riding as well as for the country.

The Hypocrisy Zone: Confederate Flag Obliterated, Swastikas Thrive

Due to the horrific, recent tragedy in South Carolina, a much-disputed Confederate flag has become the center of debate.

Is it a racist symbol? Should it be wiped from memory? Should it be taken down from every place flying it?

No, no, and no.

But due to the uproar of leftists who found a cause du jour they can rally around (again), the Confederate flag - a symbol of the South rising from the ashes of defeat - has now become as taboo as the Swastika.

That's the analogy we got. "What if City Hall flew a Swastika? It would be the same thing."

Well, no it wouldn't. The Confederate flag was a symbol of one army, and resurrected as a symbol of survival. The New South - the South that came together with the United States of America and formed a new country.

The Confederate flag doesn't - shouldn't - and didn't raise much hoopla until this week. It has been flown from State Houses, flagpoles, individual houses, restaurants - you name it - without a nationwide call for its removal.

In fact, when Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas, he declared one of the blue stars on its flag to be in commemoration of the Confederacy.  And not just any star: the top-dog star! Above the name of the State!



He even had these buttons for his campaign in '92. They were available on eBay - but eBay, as you'll read, has taken down all symbols of this flag.



The Confederate flag doesn't evoke such visceral horror as the Swastika, which represents a murderous regime whose survivors still walk this earth.

Show me a survivor of the Civil War, someone who has a visceral reaction to the Confederate flag, and we'll talk.

But this week, as leftists began to denounce South Carolina governor Nikki Haley for flying the Confederate flag from the State House, it became a symbol of derision - even among Canadians who'd never given a damn, or even had an inkling this flag was flying!!

Suddenly, Facebook was filled with - among Americans - Montrealers putting down those who don't see the Confederate flag as a huge issue, Montrealers who had never even gone to the South or seen that flag flying!

Suddenly, it's a cause du jour.

So, Governor Haley gave in. Made an announcement that the flag will be removed. Strike a mark in the Win column for liberals. Peer Pressure on Steroids.

And then, the deluge of those who followed suit. Amazon, Walmart, Sears, eBay, Etsy among them. All banning anything with the Confederate flag on it.

Warner Bros. is even going to remove the flag from its replicas of the General Lee - that iconic car  from the Dukes of Hazzard franchise. I mean, really?

If it were consistent, I'd accept this a little more easily. Perhaps.

But a recent article highlights what items can be found on Amazon, even at this moment of publishing. Some have been removed - but I was able to find suitable replacements for them.

And I'd like to list them for you.

I'm even going to add photos of these items because if you were offended by the Confederate flag and aren't offended by these? It's time to examine your motives.

1. Would you like to read up on how the Holocaust was a hoax? That 6,000,000 Jews were "allegedly" exterminated? You can, because Amazon will sell you this piece of trash book.

2. The flag of Apartheid-era South Africa. The shooter in Charleston had this on his jacket. But Amazon's selling it.



3.  Hey, wanna deck out your Playstation 4 with Swastika skins? It's on Amazon, y'all!


4.  An iPhone case with the Swastika on it - you know, for when you're calling your Jewish accountant about that tax refund you never got.

5.   A Soviet pin for your lapel - right up there next to your American Flag pin!

 6.  A replica Death's Head pin - the SS wore these while operating death camps in Poland. Doesn't EVERY good American protesting racist symbols want one of these?



7.  An iPhone case showing a despicable piece of "art" in which a crucifix was immersed in urine. Its <sarcasm>lovely</sarcasm> name is "Piss Christ"


8. A pewter pendant with a trendy Swastika right there for all to see (just $26.99, folks, get 'em before they sell out)

9. Looking for a gift for that mustachioed gent in your life? Well, how about a Stalin t-shirt? For $19.99, he can sport this face at the next July 4th picnic!

10. Another symbol sewn onto the Charleston shooter's jacket, the White Supremacist flag of Rhodesia. You can hang this one on your house too, for the low, low price of $8.88!

11. A canvas bag depicting China's cultural revolution - only millions died during this era. But hurry, just one left in stock!

12. Is your favorite Nazi's birthday coming up? Because she'll LOVE this Swastika pendant! (The screen capture doesn't do it justice - go see it in its glory here)

13.  Along with about 10,000 Che Guevara tee shirts, you can buy a Che flag. No, he was not a hipster who took a motorcycle ride. He was a ruthless murderer who helped Cuba enslave its citizens into a totalitarian state, he was Fidel Castro's head executioner, and he, not Fidel, was the one to invent the death  corrective camps in Cuba.

But Amazon's selling his face on a flag so that free Americans can worship this guerilla.

Am I mad?

Can't you tell?

The Confederate flag was no more an issue to most Americans (and I'll venture to say 99% of Canadians) than an average recognizable symbol. Not until the Agenda rose its ugly head, politicizing the horrific deaths of 9 beautiful, innocent souls who died at the hands of a racist who wore two of the above symbols on his jacket.

But hey, that's what we're all talking about. When we could be lauding the almost-unimaginable forgiveness shown by the families of those victims.

When we could be marveling at the unity and love shown by the entire State of South Carolina in sharp contrast to the riots of Ferguson and Baltimore.

When we could focus on issues that plague this world - ISIS,  putting "infidels" in a steel cage, shackled and locked together, and submerging them into a swimming pool, filming their agonizing drowning deaths with underwater cameras.

Or others chained together by the neck with explosive "necklaces" which then decapitate them upon detonation.

Or locking other captives in a car and shooting them with RPGs. Or holding a contest and awarding those who can pass a test on the Koran with women and girls, captured and torn from their families, as sex slaves.

 There are so many other, more important reasons to be infuriated.

But no, let's talk about a flag. Moreover, one that was an obscure entity until someone decided to connect dots that did not exist and start the Politically Correct landslide that followed.

This world is in trouble, folks. Let's keep our eye on the ball.

Door-to-Door: A First-Timer's Account

Prime Minister Harper and Valérie Assouline, May 2015

As many of you know, I am a volunteer on the campaign of Valérie Assouline, the candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada here in my area.

A rundown of how elections work in Canada. I would say this is for my non-Canadian friends, but I've learned that so many Canadians don't know how elections work!

In a federal election, one doesn't get to vote for the Prime Minister. One votes for the candidate in their riding - and when the votes are counted, winning candidates become Members of Parliament (MPs).

The party with the most elected MPs becomes the ruling party of Canada, the second-most elected becomes the official opposition and there is a third party as well.

So as much as I'd love to vote for Prime Minister Harper, I can only vote for a Conservative Party candidate in my riding (district).

Here's the thing: it's been way too long (almost 22 years) since my riding had a candidate from the CPC, and this election, we do: Valérie.

My first encounter with this dynamic candidate was an impromptu meet-and-greet at a coffee shop. My second was a meeting in which I volunteered to help with social media, and I wrote about it here.

I also wrote about an event - prior to said event - here, and the recap of the amazing evening here.

At the end of February, I had the privilege of covering an evening with Minister Ed Fast - a cabinet member and the Minister of International Trade. It was fascinating to be a part of this evening, and I knew I was hooked on being part of a campaign.

I will write up another amazing evening - last week, where another Conservative Party candidate launched his campaign - in another post.

But today I had my first experience in canvassing, and I'd like to tell you about it.

We met at a coffee shop, and synchronized with an app on all our phones. This app is fantastic; you are able to click on a "poll", which takes you to a list of addresses in one area. That's your area.

Each address, when clicked, gives you the names of all eligible voters in the household. After making initial contact, you click one of 3 emoticons: a happy face, a sad face, and a neutral face, depending on the reception you get.

There is also space to add notes - which I only used three times - and you click "not home" if - obviously - there is no answer.

Armed with information cards, decked out in CPC/Valerie Assouline 2015 tee shirts, I set off on my route with the campaign manager, pleased to be with someone experienced.

The plan was simple: make contact, and don't make it a visit. State the Party, ask for support, and record the reaction. With about 30 houses per route, and all the walking, it's prudent to keep it short.

The first house, he demonstrated.

"Hi, we're with the Conservative Party of Canada, and we hope we can count on your support in October."

The first guy turned it on us: "Here's a question for you: why should I support the Conservative Party of Canada in October?"

I answered, "Because Valérie Assouline - our riding's candidate - in keeping with the values of Stephen Harper and the Conservatives - has the best interests of all Canadian families at heart.

"Because the Conservative Party of Canada wants to continue to cut taxes, and offer tax breaks for families of all income levels, and because she is a leader, as is Prime Minister Harper."

The guy seemed interested, took the information card and said, "Good answer. I will."

Our first Yes!

It wasn't all that easy. The next house, the woman said she never votes. Our job was not to convince her. But we left the card with her, and asked her to consider it.

House by house we went, some people said okay, some said yes, some probably just wanted to get rid of us.

There were a few that stood out. One was a house where the teenaged daughter answered the door. I did my little bit, she said "sure," took the card and closed the door.

As we were walking down the driveway, her father was coming up toward us. My co-canvasser approached him and explained our purpose.

This man's face lit up. He said, "Oh, you BET I'm voting Conservative in the next election!"

We shook his hand, thanked him for giving us the best answer yet, and continued down the street.

There was one on the other end of the spectrum. A gentleman who didn't even let me finish, practically slammed the door in my face.

The key is not to let it bother you; and it didn't. I know Valérie is an amazing candidate. I know she has what it takes to lead and to help our riding. I know Stephen Harper is a true leader.

So what I know, I can never convince anyone who is so dead set against whatever it was that turned him off, and I move on.

That's the key. It isn't rejection. It's "chalk it up to someone who just won't vote CPC, for whatever reason."

We heard a lot of "wow, you guys are early!" Yes, we are, but that's the key: getting the name and face of the candidate out in the community first, and often, she will have name recognition and people will remember that her campaign took the time and effort to walk the streets on her behalf to help her in the election.

That means a lot. Voters remember.

We had a few who mentioned that they've never seen our current Member of Parliament anywhere but on fliers. That's important to know as well. Take the time, take the effort, meet the people and they will reward you with votes - if all goes as planned, of course!

So this was the first time I went door-to-door, but by no means the last.

I knew I'd be involved in the campaign but I didn't realize the adventures I would have.

My next Excellent Adventure comes on Wednesday: I will be heading to Quebec City with Valérie and her trusty team, where Quebec's "Fête Nationale" is celebrated. More than that - Prime Minister Harper (Himself!) will be there.

I told Valérie I covet a photo of, possibly even with the PM, and she said she'll arrange one.

Stay tuned - me and the PM on Wednesday!

If you've ever thought about volunteering for a political campaign, I urge you to try it. With a dynamic candidate like Valérie, and there are many out there, you will find a side of yourself you never knew existed, and you will feel the reward of having done something good.

Watch this spot - lots more to come!

On Prime Minister Netanyahu's Visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - a True Leader

In the spirit of full candor, I will reveal - to those who do not know this about me - my utter admiration for this man. Among my political heroes, Benjamin Netanyahu is in the Top 5. And likely, if I think about it, #1 of all.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 3rd, and it will be historic. He is not being well received by those who support the King President of the USA, mainly because said president has no love for Israel or her leader.

But I cannot stay silent on my feelings about the speech. I've had debates with those who are against this visit, and I've heard all the points of contention. "It's a political stunt, two weeks before an Israeli election" - that's one.

Here's the thing: even some Israelis don't agree with this speech, and it puts Bibi's re-election at risk. Clearly it is not a political stunt if the odds are against landing on his feet. Clearly his love for his country and his concern for her very existence are more important than his chances at re-election. That pretty much negates the "political stunt" argument.

I've heard it said that the timing was not coincidental. Here's something I wrote in response to that argument:

The timing of this is not devious - it is unfortunate. The deal deadline keeps getting pushed back because the 0bama administration's style is to do exactly that instead of adhere to an actual deadline (see: Syria and red lines drawn in chalk). If they'd stuck to the original deadline, there would be no need for the speech because the deal would be dead. Instead, Iran is calling the shots, the USA is begging them for another chance, desperate to leave some sort of big grand gesture as a legacy for the Clown-in-Chief, and the new deadline is end of March. Netanyahu didn't choose for the stars to align this way. They did because 0bama's minions can't say no (see: bad parenting and "just one more glass of water before bed?"). Blaming Netanyahu for the timing is like blaming James Foley for daring to get his head cut off shortly before 0bama's golf game.

It's true, too: the deadline has been moved by the administration because they want the deal so badly, they don't know how to say "no" to Iran's demands. The cartoon below illustrates this all too clearly.

I've seen Democrats interviewed because they have stated they will boycott the speech. The rumblings of potential boycotting were soft at first. Nancy Pelosi (that paragon of wit and intelligence - yes, my sarcasm is showing) had started the ball rolling when she said she wasn't encouraging a boycott but oh, many people on the Hill have very busy schedules.

What is more important than listening to the visiting leader of America's strongest ally in the Middle East, the ONLY democracy in that region?

Then, the word "boycott" became a shameless self-characterization of what they were doing, and now it seems approximately 50 Dems will walk out or simply not attend.

SHAME ON THEM. 

Many of them are Jewish.

SHAME ON THEM!

If the Republican representatives have the grace to attend the State of the Union, a yearly lie-fest, then the Democrats should, too, show grace and dignity to a man who may well end up winning the election in 2 weeks, someone with whom they will have to work in the coming years. Burning their bridges tomorrow is not only foolhardy, it is beneath the office they hold. And it is age-inappropriate.

It's been said that the reason this speech is "wrong" is because there was a breach of protocol. The White House wasn't asked, or informed, Netanyahu was just invited by the Speaker. Here's the thing: that happened in 2011 as well. But in that case, the White House had no problem, no complaints, and did not use it as a political football. Why not? Probably because there was a general election coming up and the Emperor President still had to maintain a facade of at least tolerating Israel and her leader.

There was nothing illegal about the Speaker's invitation. Nothing unconstitutional. And just last month, PM David Cameron visited from the UK and was given carte blanche to phone and meet with Senators in private to promote the Iranian nuke deal.

Double standard much?

Are Democrats and their party leader so worried about breach of protocol that they bristle because the Prime Minister didn't ask "mother may I?" before accepting the invitation appropriately extended to him? Should Emily Post's spirit be invoked when the survival of an entire country is at stake?

Please spare me! Protocol is a convenient, and specious argument put forth by the same administration that blamed an obscure YouTube video for the murders of 4 brave Americans - one a US Ambassador - by terrorists who, I'm sure, never knew the video existed, much less took umbrage with it.

My anger lies with the immaturity of those who are supposed to be representative of their constituents. I would bet most - if not all - of the voters who put these people into office support Israel and would support their reps being in that chamber for that speech. Instead, they're stomping off and playing baby games and showing their true colors.

Why are they so afraid to attend? I even heard Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) state that he'll WATCH it, and read all the pundits afterwards. He just won't be there personally. Why not? Does he believe his body in the seat shows support? Does he not understand how the First Amendment works? If he - and his fellow tantrumites - don't like what the PM has to say, they are free to give interviews ad nauseam to refute PM Netanyahu's words. But it seems they're afraid to show up - do they know something we don't? Have they been threatened by the administration?

There isn't enough room or time for me to list all my grievances with the way this event has been treated. I turn, instead, to the wisdom and humor of Benjamin Netanyahu himself, at the AIPAC conference this morning:

"You know, never has so much been written about a speech that hasn't been given."

I urge those who are on the fence, or have already made up their minds, to be open-minded and turn it on. Or watch it on video when it's posted. Try to see it his way. His country faces an existential threat from a regime that chants - regularly - not only "Death to Israel" but "Death to America". The Iranians want to see Israel annihilated. And if Americans - or Canadians - believe it ends there, they're just fooling themselves.

I am proud of Prime Minister Harper's, and Canada's, unwavering support of Israel, proud that my country stands shoulder-to-shoulder with my spiritual homeland. But I am angered that our closest neighbors are governed by an administration that holds a view that is diametrically opposed to ours. And that so many of them buy into that rhetoric without being critical thinkers and seeing the whole picture.
 
I will be watching, and I will re-watch as I watched today's AIPAC speech numerous times. Benjamin Netanyahu is the true epitome of a Leader and, as outlined in an article today, is the true Leader of the Free World.

Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe and the NDP or: How I Learned to Start Worrying and Love the Conservative Party Initiatives.*

(*with thanks to Itsik Romano and apologies to Dr. Strangelove)

In my previous piece, I outlined how a recent propagandist pamphlet made its insidious way into the mailboxes of Pierrefonds-Dollard residents, and all the things that were wrong with it.

Now I would like to point out everything that was right with the pamphlet: Stephen Harper.

How can that be? An NDP Member of Parliament promoting the Conservative Party? She sure did!

See, Ms. Blanchette-Lamothe's deceptions didn't end with her outright falsehoods attempting to discredit the government. They continued with the long list of tax credits and deductions Canadians are lucky enough to count among our entitlements.

Here's the punchline: most of those tax credits and deductions are Harper initiatives! Yes, the NDP seems to be embracing Prime Minister Harper's love for families and taxpayers with the love shown in this pamphlet for his initiatives.

For example: the "Children's Fitness Tax Credit was recently increased from $500 to $1000 effective for 2014 and subsequent tax years." I put that in quotation marks because it is a direct citation from the pamphlet circulated by the NDP rep in my riding. She seems to like this, wouldn't you agree? She should - it is a bold initiative, amounting to $3,000,000,000 (that's 3 BILLION dollars) set aside by the Harper government for this purpose. I'd say that's a very positive and beneficial initiative our Prime Minister's administration has instituted. I'd also say Ms. Blanchette-Lamothe is a fan.

Let's take Child care expenses - also in this pamphlet. The deductions allowable by the Canadian government have now been increased from $7,000 to $8,000 for each child under the age of 7, from $4,000 to $5,000 for each child aged 7 to 16 (or for infirm dependent children over the age of 16), and from $10,000 to $11,000 for children eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. For families who have dependents, this is a huge benefit, and again, the Harper government put this in place.

How about valuing the arts? If you've paid for a child to participate in an arts program, there is a $500 tax credit coming your way. How can this be bad? Well, for the NDP it is; they didn't come up with it.

Harper's income-splitting program is a controversial one, as it benefits two-parent families. Much has been written in favor and against it. Ms. Blanchette-Lamothe's pamphlet skewers the government for the program, but in the very next paragraph, she discusses helping families - by raising the minimum wage. As I discussed in Part 1 of this piece, that makes no sense. Most two-parent families do not subsist on minimum-wage jobs and would likely end up being single-income families if that were the case and the NDP got its way.

Instead, helping families is what the income-splitting program does, and while it doesn't benefit every Canadian, what program does?

In short, do the research. Prime Minister Harper has already done an extremely good job of helping the Canadian economy to flourish, and he is dedicated to continuing that job. Ms. Blanchette-Lamothe's propaganda pamphlet attempts to take credit (no pun intended) for the programs that are already helping Canadians whether they have kids or not.

If we allow this kind of spin to dictate our votes in the fall, we are giving into deception and outright lies. Do you want a government that lies to you and smiles from the pages of a booklet? Or do you want a government that will keep helping this economy to thrive and citizens to grow in all walks of life?

I think you know the answer to that. Remember: knowledge is power. Arm yourself with information.

As you all know, Valérie Assouline is our Conservative Party candidate for this riding, and I urge you all to get to know her. Talk to me - we can hold meaningful dialogue if you're willing to think for yourselves, and if you're willing to listen to the issues, not the reputation, deceit or misleading words that form an inaccurate opinion.

We thank Ms. Blanchette-Lamothe for her loving treatment of Mr. Harper's initiatives for Canadians. We just wish she'd given credit where credit is due.