Well, the Conservative Party has finally decided to release a platform with one week left in the campaign and after advanced polls (at least in TBay-SupNor) have already occurred. The Liberal Party platform has been out for several weeks and the NDP platform shortly after. I’m just going to cherry pick on the issues that I care about, and while I read the Green Platform, nothing stood out as being of interest to me. You can read the Globe and Mail’s comparison, which includes the Greens and the Bloc.

The Economy is the top issue for me. Flat out: I’m a fan of the Liberal’s Green Shift. Shifting the tax burden from income to consumption taxes is a great idea. The environmental benefit is secondary for me as it is solid economics. There are provisions in it for corporate tax incentives to improve manufacturing efficiency, and items that address rural issues. Read the whole thing. The only thing that I dislike is the little cap-and-trade measures that I believe are useless. My views have been influenced by Prof. Mankiw, who advocates Pigovian taxes, and discussed the Green Shift with the Ottawa Citizen. To note, I believe that the option of a federal deficit should be open to address the economic crisis.

Now, as the Globe and Mail notes, the Conservative Platform document is “a slim, glossy, 41-page booklet printed in huge blue font and includes 22 colour photos of Mr. Harper.” The things that stick out in the platform for the economy is reducing excise taxes on diesel and aviation fuel. As seen above, I prefer income tax cuts over cutting excise taxes. Other than that, I see nothing bad on the economic policy. I think the Liberal policy, along with Dion’s announced action plan, is better than the Conservative plan. The NDP come in third with policies that will crush industry with raising corporate tax is a possible recession, and a federal minimum wage, despite my objections with minimum wages, also ignores regional differences.

Now, I would love to have seen some more interesting topics. Harper raises the senate issue, though with one week left there isn’t really time to debate. I support an appointed, term limited (e.g. 8 year senate terms, one reappointment?), and regional representation senate. Parliamentary reform would have been a good issue to discuss, but it’s too late now. Legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana and prostitution could have been great domestic issues. Lower age of majority (e.g. 16) would have been great to see, and I always love the elimination of the penny like Australia.

Finally, a shoot-out to FiveThirtyEight.com, which is my favourite site on the US Election. Go Obama/Biden! Oh, and apparently it is impossible to get a copy of the Economist in TBay.

Currently Listening to: 2nd US Presidential Debate.

Random Wikipedia Link: Franklin Gothic