TORONTO - The New Democrats and Greens don't have as much in common as some observers might think, and the two parties aren't necessarily vying for the support of the same voters, NDP Leader Howard Hampton said Monday.
Hampton began his day talking about minimum wage in the Davenport riding in Toronto where Green party Leader Frank de Jong is running as his party's candidate.
The NDP isn't worried about losing votes to the emerging Greens, even though both parties are often associated with left-wing and environmental policies, Hampton said.
The Green party is campaigning on privatizing services -- not the kind of policy that will sway traditional New Democrat supporters, Hampton said.
"We know what happens when you privatize things like electricity: hydro rates go through the roof and people on modest and low incomes get hurt,'' Hampton said.
"We know what happens when you privatize water: people die.''
Hampton also said the results of the last few byelections have suggested voters concerned with environmental issues have turned to the NDP.
"People who are looking for someone who's responsible on environmental issues and can be counted on to raise environmental issues are voting for New Democrats, and that's going to be the same result here,'' he said.
The NDP candidate in the Davenport riding is Peter Ferreira, a community activist and former chairman of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. The incumbent is Liberal Tony Ruprecht, and the Progressive Conservative candidate is small-business owner Antonio Garcia.
