Canada One Earth Political Party
The pandemic is a wake-up call that Canada needs a political party whose every waking moment is climate change.
There's no Canadian political party called One Earth, but there should be, to be a constant reminder that we are responsible for kids under three wearing masks, a very painful sight to behold.
Such a party will be more powerful than traditional political parties because the foundation will be a single issue. Climate change tends to be an after thought. Not after 2020, when Covid-19 opened our eyes.
Traditional parties are step children of British political parties whose foundation is class and privilege. All the Queen's titled men and women ruled Britain. They rowed together in stone colleges, hunted together, did the ballet together and sat in the House of Commons. They also changed political parties easily, using the tradition called floor crossing.
A party called One Earth will bring together Canadians from all races and class. It will not be run like a castle where only members of a certain race and class hold the keys and allow new visitors on their terms.
Such a party will be a coalition of groups that recognize that we, and we alone caused climate change. It can be done. It must not rely on the old school tie, 'old family' in the province or religious affiliation.
But can a single issue political party survive? Yes. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is synonymous with labour and it's a relatively new party which was born in 1961. It was once the opposition party in Ottawa therefore, a single issue can capture the hearts and minds of Canadians.
Climate change is that issue, and One Earth Political Party must be free of 'tradition' which has shaved off confidence in democracy.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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