Links for the Ontario Election

Unfortunately, I've been a little busy lately so I haven't yet been able to finish the deck that I've previewed on my Facebook (I should also forewarn everyone that it's not going to be anything amazing).

However, I watched the debate today, and I was pretty proud to see that a few of my Facebook friends have already participated in advance polls, so I think it's at least useful to put a few links together of what's going on for the moment.

Here are a few resources:

CBC resources: 

Vote Compass is a pretty nifty site that'll help you find your political orientation. You are by no means sworn to the party you get but it will at least help you begin the process of thinking about and prioritizing issues.

Poll tracker: Follows the polls from Abacus, Ekos, Forum and Ipsos, all of which are quite reputable.

Find your Riding:  Does exactly what it advertises and allows you to view voting history.

Campaign trail: Tracks the paths of the leaders of the four major parties.

Not the CBC but didn't really fit elsewhere: Threehundredeight is doing some pretty cool vote and seat projections.

Elections Ontario resources: 

You should receive a Notice of Registration card, but if you don't, this does not prevent you from voting. Your name just might not be on the Voters List-- you'll need to put yourself on it. Follow their directions.

If you live on or off campus as a post-secondary student, you're allowed to choose in which riding you'd like to cast your ballot. If you want to vote in the riding where you're currently absent, you'll need to cast a special ballot.

*Also something to note: you can always decline your ballot. 

Queen's Park resources: 

Get in touch with your MPP (or their assistant) with the information from the Find your Riding CBC resource.

Platform comparison charts: 

This one's from Yahoo: it's short and sweet.
It compares:

• Taxes
• Debt and deficit
• "Making life more affordable"
• Jobs
• Transit and transportation
• Health care

Here's a much larger, exhaustive comparison presented by the Consulting Engineers of Ontario that covers the Liberals, PCs and NDP.
They compare:

• Transit and transportation
• Infrastructure
• Jobs and the economy
• Pensions
• Taxes and Finance
• Energy
• Government reform and red tape
• Labour 
• Health care
• Education
• Social assistance
• Interprovincial trade
• Immigration

The OSSTF/FEESO (Ontario teachers union) compares the four parties' platforms with their own.
They cover:

•  Education funding
• "Schools as community hubs"
• Broader Opportunities for learning
• Safer and healthier schools
• Beyond high school
• "Looking toward the future"

This one isn't a handy chart, but is a worthwhile read on the comparative fiscal plans of the three main parties. 

Party Platforms: 

Liberal Party
Progressive Conservatives
NDP
Green Party.


And my most favourite tool of all: Twitter
Here are some lists to follow--

David Akin's "Ontario" list.
Ashley Csanady's "QP Press Gallery" for reporting on everything happening.
Steven D'Souza's "Onpoli" list.

(All three people mentioned above are journalists, not some random screamers I pulled off the internet who tweet "wynne will WIN" or "hudak is da bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hudak got ur huBAK" or "you will feel the horWRATH" or "who is the green leader smoke weed 420" all day.)

Searching the #onpoli tag is always a great way to feel an online pulse.




Did I miss something? Comment below!

I'll have the deck up.... eventually.