Green Party Fields Candidate in Halifax

Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 20:48:32 -0400 (AST)
From: Heather Breeze <aa670@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: jean_laroche@cbc.ca, kathy_large@cbc.ca
cc: gpcns-news@chebucto.ns.ca, fdejong@greenparty.on.ca, sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
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Contacts for the attached press release are at end of message.

-------------------------------
Green Party of Canada
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2000


GREEN CANDIDATE PUSHING FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK IN HALIFAX

Local members of the Green Party are running a candidate in Halifax, the
riding currently held by the national leader of the NDP. 

Michael Oddy, 42, a teacher at Sir John A. MacDonald high school, will
push for a four-day work week, changes to the electoral system,
ecologically-sound job creation, and shifting taxes off of hard-working
people and onto hard-polluting industry.

Oddy said he's alarmed at the tired, old debate going on between the big 
mainstream parties.

"There were more than 20,000 eligible voters in the Halifax riding alone
who did not vote in the last federal election. There is something wrong
with that. We need to fix it," said Oddy. 

Oddy said young people are disillusioned with an electoral system
dominated by corporate funding, and saddled with an obsolete 18th century
voting method of first-past-the-post.

"You can see it in the classrooms. The kids' eyes glaze over when you
start talking about politics and how our country makes laws," said Oddy,
who teaches social studies, law, and woodworking. 

"I'm fed up with big parties, big money and big campaigns. And I'm not
alone.  Part of this campaign is to try to do what Ralph Nader is doing --
rejuvenate democracy. Politics needs to be meaningful and purposeful."

This is Oddy's first time running for political office. Between 1993 and
1996 he was a political action officer for the Ontario Secondary School
Teachers Federation, helping coordinate strikes opposing the Harris
government.

He and his partner Linda and their two goats -- Vlada and Nellie Bly --
have lived in the Hubbards area for the last three years. At work he is a
volunteer union rep with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. For the last year
he and his colleagues have been studying how a four-day school week could
enhance quality- of-life, save the environment and cut costs -- all in one
shot. 

"A three-day weekend every week is not only good for you, it is good for
the environment. It means less commuting, less energy consumption, less
greenhouse gas emissions." 

Oddy fully supports the national platform of the Green Party of Canada
(www.green.ca). More than 100 candidates are running nationally this year
for the Greens. Internationally Greens hold government posts in Germany,
Mexico, France, New Zealand and Norway. 

-30-

For more information please call:

Michael Oddy, Green candidate for Halifax
857-2058 (h.)
876-7203 during school hours (leave a message with secretary and he will
return your call)

Stephen Myrden, campaign manager
431-7636



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