– by Jenny Parsons

WHY I AM A HUGE FAN OF THE NEW BGOS GREEN CANDIDATE, CHRIS ALBINATI

When I finally get to shake the hand of Chris Albinati, official Federal candidate for the BGOS Greens, I blurt: "You are a charm-bag!" This is not a good description of this excellent, fairly serious man. Having run in the spring Provincial election, you will recall, the charm-bag is moi. He is a lawyer who specializes in Aboriginal Land Law.

He has read all 183 pages of the GPC Federal policy book. He says that in it, there is "much that isn't in the current discussions, much that would resonate with citizens in this riding" and it has a "fully costed vision". It is a book of ideas and, he added, there are "not a lot of ideas on the table from the other parties".

He referred to the "sloganism" used by the other parties. Greens don't buy into policy slogans.

He referred to the "sloganism" used by the other parties. Greens don't buy into policy slogans. He gave the example of the Green guaranteed livable income policy which recognizes the differences between regions. "A $15 minimum wage sounds good in urban centres" but in remote regions in BC, for example, "people are getting $22 an hour at Tim Hortons" because the local living costs are that much higher.

He describes what he appreciates about the Green policy is that it is "advocating for those cut out of discussions". When it comes to discussing Aboriginal land rights, for example, "the other parties are only promising more discussions". The Green Party, he says "is the only party that has promised to honour and recognize the treaties".

He probably won't look very good in a dress, so I can't really offer him any personal advice. So I will just be a huge fan: Chris Albinati is determined to bring ideas into a race that, more than likely, will be all about just counting votes.

Jenny Parsons was the Green Party candidate in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound in last year's provincial election.