Canadian Political Issues

[the sky below]

So how about the impending and likely election prior to the Americans?



:tumbleweed:

[Jason Tate]

:canada:

[saysmydoctor]

What about it?

[Lueda Alia]

What about it?
What? You don't have an opinion?!

[Jason Tate]

What? You don't have an opinion?!
I'm pro carabou.

[the sky below]

Haha, I guess I could and should have elaborated.

Recent polls show Liberals ahead of the Conservatives by two percent: 35 - 33.

Recent polls also show that Canadians think Harper (Conservative) is/would be a better Prime Minister than Stephane Dion (Liberal). Harper's lead is 35 - 17, and Stephane Dion is in fact in third place behind Jack Layton (NDP)

Basically, Canadians like Stephen Harper. They just don't like that he's Conservative. If he was a Liberal, this wouldn't be a problem.

The problem is though, that Canadians stigmatize the word "Conservative" too much, when the Conservative party is essentially equivalent to the US Democrats (give or take who is the current leader). This shows just how liberal Canada is, and just how far right the US is. As it currently stands, Harper is a bit more right than the current US Democratic party under Obama.

The campaigns will most likely be as such:

Liberals:

- Green Shift Plan: Dion has created a new taxation system that he doesn't understand. His party doesn't understand it, and neither does the average Canadian. I still have absolutely no idea how it works. This system based on Carbon tax would try and cut down our Greenhouse gases - they less you pollute, the less you are taxed. Something like that, I think. It's still pretty vague. If he can explain it better, and provide a clear cut example to Canadians, he might actually be able to sell it. If someone on here understands it, I'm open to hearing it.

- GST: Wants to raise back to 7% (which was a smart move by Harper to cut it by 2%)

Conservatives:

- Arctic Sovereignty: He's in the Arctic right now proposing Northwest Passage regulation, stronger military presence in the Arctic, more national parks and a increased economic infrastructure. Also just announced the new $720 million dollar ice breaker for the region.

- Justice: I believe that his mandate this fall was going to be focused on justice reform - he had intended to table a bill to eliminate statutory release and table a bill that would have made it mandatory for all young offenders 14 and older to be sentenced automatically as adults for serious crimes. However, the NDP and the Liberals gutted a bill that would have made all offences punishable by 10 years or more ineligible for a conditional sentence (house arrest). The Conservatives also tabled a bill to add the sentencing principle of deterrence into the Youth Criminal Justice Act but the NDP are opposing it.

Feel free to add anything, or ask questions.

[saysmydoctor]

What? You don't have an opinion?!
Hahahaha I don't pay attention to Canadian politics.

[MidCal]

You would think more Americans would care about Canadian politics with the whole energy crisis.

[becauseyouwant2]

After this past weekend it looks like the election will be announced at the end of the week. Anyone think the opposition is ready for it?

[the sky below]

Liberals have slipped in the polls, while the Conservatives have gained.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080902/canada/canada_politics_poll_3

I personally do not think the Liberals will ever be ready with Dion at the helm.

[becauseyouwant2]

I have to agree. He just seems weak right now.

Apparently, though, having a minority government is part of Harper's "master plan". At least one of his aides says it is.

[Lueda Alia]

I have to agree. He just seems weak right now.

Apparently, though, having a minority government is part of Harper's "master plan". At least one of his aides says it is.
Haha do you believe it?

[becauseyouwant2]

Haha do you believe it? Do I believe it? No. Do I think the person who said that believes it? Yes. And in a way I think Harper might believe it, too. If parliament is perceived as being weak willed, it will automatically make him look better. If the polls are correct and Harper is indeed comfortably in the lead, and he ends up winning, it will make it look like he was right all along. It is almost like a free pass for him to say "don't blame me for shit not getting done. I can't do it with this government". And people will look up to him as an underdog and think he is standing up for them.

Of course, I am technically still and American citizen merely living in Canada while at school and I have no say in things one way or the other, but I will say that being here for an election excites me greatly. I am very intrigued by all of this. Most of what I just said was my American cynicism showing.

[Lueda Alia]

Do I believe it? No. Do I think the person who said that believes it? Yes. And in a way I think Harper might believe it, too. If parliament is perceived as being weak willed, it will automatically make him look better. If the polls are correct and Harper is indeed comfortably in the lead, and he ends up winning, it will make it look like he was right all along. It is almost like a free pass for him to say "don't blame me for shit not getting done. I can't do it with this government". And people will look up to him as an underdog and think he is standing up for them.

Of course, I am technically still and American citizen merely living in Canada while at school and I have no say in things one way or the other, but I will say that being here for an election excites me greatly. I am very intrigued by all of this. Most of what I just said was my American cynicism showing.
I don't really like Harper at all. I hated him before he became our Prime Minister because of the comments he made towards homosexuals a couple of years ago. I also can't stand Conservatives in general, so that doesn't help.

What school are you going to?

[becauseyouwant2]

I don't really like Harper at all. I hated him before he became our Prime Minister because of the comments he made towards homosexuals a couple of years ago. I also can't stand Conservatives in general, so that doesn't help.

What school are you going to? I had a general dislike for him before I transfered here. I was made aware of those comments when I went to the Pride Parade for the first time last year.

I am in what is technically my third and a half year (thanks a lot non-tranfering credits!) at the University of Toronto (Scarborough Campus). I should be done by now, but I changed what I wanted to major in twice and then pretty much started from scratch.

[Lueda Alia]

I had a general dislike for him before I transfered here. I was made aware of those comments when I went to the Pride Parade for the first time last year.

I am in what is technically my third and a half year (thanks a lot non-tranfering credits!) at the University of Toronto (Scarborough Campus). I should be done by now, but I changed what I wanted to major in twice and then pretty much started from scratch.
Ah, that sucks. How much longer do you have now?

Also, how do you like Canada and would you consider moving here?

[becauseyouwant2]

To be honest, I really don't know. I think I am going to take it easy this semester since I feel pretty burnt out between work and my summer classes. i am taking four classes, but once they start up on Monday I expect two of them to drop pretty quickly. I will say two years, most likely.

I love it here, and I would definitely consider moving here. I pretty much live here already as it is. I even have a job here. I honestly haven't been back to the States since last April.

[Lueda Alia]

To be honest, I really don't know. I think I am going to take it easy this semester since I feel pretty burnt out between work and my summer classes. i am taking four classes, but once they start up on Monday I expect two of them to drop pretty quickly. I will say two years, most likely.

I love it here, and I would definitely consider moving here. I pretty much live here already as it is. I even have a job here. I honestly haven't been back to the States since last April.
Ah, that sucks. I do hope that you take it easy, too. I worked a lot in the past 2 years while I was taking classes too, and it wasn't great at all. It got to the point where I felt like I couldn't even do anything anymore, and that I needed to get away from everything. I went to Europe for 2 months this summer because of that. So yeah, I don't recommend doing so many things at once. Give yourself a little room to breathe. It would be worth it.

That's very nice. I always want to know what Americans think of this country and if they would want to live here. You should just stay here. :-) I'm guessing you have also made a lot of friends, too?

[becauseyouwant2]

I have been meaning to take a vacation and once things calm down for me (and I am not as broke) I think i will do just that.

I have made a lot of friends. It wasn't that hard of a transition for me to come to Toronto. I grew up in Boston (before going to school in Buffalo, which was a mistake) and Toronto reminds me a lot of home. I just feel comfortable are here. Also, the drivers are better and the people are infinitely nicer.

Are you taking classes right now?

[Nevuk]

Just based on what the Green Shift taxing plan up there is, that sounds horrible.

[Lueda Alia]

I have been meaning to take a vacation and once things calm down for me (and I am not as broke) I think i will do just that.

I have made a lot of friends. It wasn't that hard of a transition for me to come to Toronto. I grew up in Boston (before going to school in Buffalo, which was a mistake) and Toronto reminds me a lot of home. I just feel comfortable are here. Also, the drivers are better and the people are infinitely nicer.

Are you taking classes right now?
That's great to here. Feeling comfortable in a new place is key. I hope you take a little vacation soon!

And yeah, I am, but not in a University. I want to go to Western in the second semester, but apparently you have to apply for both semesters and not just one. It makes no sense to me, and it's really annoying. I'll talk to a different counselor soon, because there has to be a way around it. I plan to either study Philosophy or Criminology, or both.

What are you taking?

[becauseyouwant2]

Yeah the same thing goes for U or T. I wanted to do second semester last year, but they only allowed me to start in the summer and not the winter. Hence the burn out on my part.

I am right now taking Journalism and English with a concentration in creative writing. I would love to be a full time writer, but part of me also wants to be a newspaper columnist some day. Not a reporter, necessarily, but maybe a critic or just writing human interest stories.

[Lueda Alia]

Just based on what the Green Shift taxing plan up there is, that sounds horrible.
I'm not sure what to really think of it. I'd still pick them over the Conservatives though. I just can't stand that party at all.They remind me too much of the Republican party in the US, even though their policies lean more to the left (they have to if they want to survive in Canada).

[Lueda Alia]

Yeah the same thing goes for U or T. I wanted to do second semester last year, but they only allowed me to start in the summer and not the winter. Hence the burn out on my part.

I am right now taking Journalism and English with a concentration in creative writing. I would love to be a full time writer, but part of me also wants to be a newspaper columnist some day. Not a reporter, necessarily, but maybe a critic or just writing human interest stories.
Ah, that sucks. I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to me because I really do want to go in January.

I would love a similar job, too. I've considered majoring in English, but I'm not sure what I would really do with my degree, or if it would even be worth it in the end. Who knows?

You should start writing for websites and such, if you haven't yet, because that looks good on a resume these days.

[becauseyouwant2]

Ah, that sucks. I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to me because I really do want to go in January.

I would love a similar job, too. I've considered majoring in English, but I'm not sure what I would really do with my degree, or if it would even be worth it in the end. Who knows?

You should start writing for websites and such, if you haven't yet, because that looks good on a resume these days. Yeah, I have done that from time to time, but I have never gotten anything too serious out of it. It has mostly just been writing for random blogs. With my day job and school it is kind of hard for me to commit myself to working on much of anything else these days.

[Nevuk]

I'm not sure what to really think of it. I'd still pick them over the Conservatives though. I just can't stand that party at all.They remind me too much of the Republican party in the US, even though their policies lean more to the left (they have to if they want to survive in Canada).
The reason the green tax sounds horrible is that its almost a way of sneaking in a tax cut for the wealthy, and only the wealthy. Because generally the very "green" type products are very expensive ones, at least in the US. You pay a heavy premium to buy hybrid car here, and most consumers by older used cars which aren't very good for the environment, as that's all they can afford.

[becauseyouwant2]

My main problem with the green shift is that it is so maleable at this point that come election time it won't even resemble what it set out to be. Concessions to the taxes are being made every day and no one is questioning if there are any alternatives. It is a plan that has its heart in the right place, but still doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense.

[Lueda Alia]

The reason the green tax sounds horrible is that its almost a way of sneaking in a tax cut for the wealthy, and only the wealthy. Because generally the very "green" type products are very expensive ones, at least in the US. You pay a heavy premium to buy hybrid car here, and most consumers by older used cars which aren't very good for the environment, as that's all they can afford.
The Conservatives have already lowered our GST anyway, which only really benefits the wealthy.

I'm just glad that they're talking about green policies already, even though they're not perfect yet. Although, it almost feels like anything that Canada does to help the environment will be void since the US will do more than just cancel it out by not having any similar policies in place.

[Lueda Alia]

It is a plan that has its heart in the right place, but still doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense.
That's pretty much how I feel about it. Hopefully these policies will get better in time.

That sucks that you have no time to write. I'd still recommend doing it though, even if you don't do it a lot. I think that's the only way to actually start working for bigger sites.

[becauseyouwant2]

That's pretty much how I feel about it. Hopefully these policies will get better in time.

That sucks that you have no time to write. I'd still recommend doing it though, even if you don't do it a lot. I think that's the only way to actually start working for bigger sites. This is very true. I will probably get back into the swing of things after I take my break. I'm just so frazzled these days that I haven't been able to focus on much of anything.

[Nevuk]

The Conservatives have already lowered our GST anyway, which only really benefits the wealthy.

I'm just glad that they're talking about green policies already, even though they're not perfect yet. Although, it almost feels like anything that Canada does to help the environment will be void since the US will do more than just cancel it out by not having any similar policies in place.
I'd be worried far more about China than the US. China pretty much can't implement green policies with as many people as they have and as far back as they are industrially speaking. Of course, their probably wouldn't be so many polluting factories if the US didn't want millions of flag lapel pins, so it could be traced back to us.

[Lueda Alia]

This is very true. I will probably get back into the swing of things after I take my break. I'm just so frazzled these days that I haven't been able to focus on much of anything.
That sucks. :-(

Hey, if you keep writing, maybe you can join the AP staff one day. :-) That seemed to help Anton land his current job.

[becauseyouwant2]

I'd be worried far more about China than the US. China pretty much can't implement green policies with as many people as they have and as far back as they are industrially speaking. Of course, their probably wouldn't be so many polluting factories if the US didn't want millions of flag lapel pins, so it could be traced back to us.
Agreed that China can't do much at this point. The US is just lazy. The one positive thing regardless of who wins the next presidential election is that both candidates actually have environmental plans rather than Bush just alternating between winging it and ignoring it.

[Lueda Alia]

I'd be worried far more about China than the US. China pretty much can't implement green policies with as many people as they have and as far back as they are industrially speaking. Of course, their probably wouldn't be so many polluting factories if the US didn't want millions of flag lapel pins, so it could be traced back to us.
It's a sad situation. I'm afraid that by the time that developed nations do something about it, it will be too late.

[becauseyouwant2]

That sucks. :-(

Hey, if you keep writing, maybe you can join the AP staff one day. :-) That seemed to help Anton land his current job. Who knows? Some day I might. :-) I'm sure I will get back into the groove soon enough. I am still writing, but right now it is mostly things for my own amusement than anything serious. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, too. I hate posting something that I am not 100% certain is awesome. Right now I am just being overly critical, I think.

[Lueda Alia]

Who knows? Some day I might. :-) I'm sure I will get back into the groove soon enough. I am still writing, but right now it is mostly things for my own amusement than anything serious. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, too. I hate posting something that I am not 100% certain is awesome. Right now I am just being overly critical, I think.
Yeah, that happens. It's not a bad thing unless it gets in the way of writing. I think what you need is feedback from other people. That'd help boost your confidence!

You should try writing in our journals. Adrian (staffer) reads quite a few of them, and he links them if they're good. It's a good way to get feedback, I think.

[becauseyouwant2]

Yeah, that happens. It's not a bad thing unless it gets in the way of writing. I think what you need is feedback from other people. That'd help boost your confidence!

You should try writing in our journals. Adrian (staffer) reads quite a few of them, and he links them if they're good. It's a good way to get feedback, I think. I actually have been, but I haven't written anything serious yet. I do plan on it in the future, though. I am going away for about a month and when I come back, I do plan on writing quite a bit.

[becauseyouwant2]

It's official. It's on now. Any thoughts so far?

I'm surprised that the NDP is only attacking the Tories and pretty much ignoring the fact that the Liberals even exist at this point. Good idea or as misguided as something Ralph Nader would do in the States?

[SoggY ThE OnE]

Canada has political issues?

[the sky below]

Canada has political issues?

:-d sometimes!

[the sky below]

i fully support this:

max term for a senator reduced from 45 years to 8 years

plus have an elected senate much like the US will allow Canadians to hold our politicians more accountable.

yYgIJTSt7No

[the sky below]

yYgIJTSt7No

edit: this was in March of 2007.

Apparently Bill S4 (which would reduce senator term limit from 45 years to 8 years) and Bill C43 (which would call for elected Senators) is conveniently being held up in the Senate since 2006.

[Nourez]

I don't like Harper
I don't like Dion
I don't like Layton
I don't like May
I don't like Dusceppe

Wow, we have 5 parties running, and all of them seem to be led by morons

GO OBABA!

[jagermeister]

I don't like Harper
I don't like Dion
I don't like Layton
I don't like May
I don't like Dusceppe

Wow, we have 5 parties running, and all of them seem to be led by morons

GO OBABA!

I hope your misspelling of Obama is a joke.

Also, you're not even old enough to vote yet, and with an attitude like that its probably a good thing. Moreover, those people running those parties are actually beyond intelligent or else they wouldn't be where they are today. Some of them (read: Harper and Dion) are just really greedy and/or their ideas reflect the wants and needs of a few, not a majority.

Saying you don't care about any of Canada's political parties but then cheering for an American Senator running for President is beyond ignorant.

You need to get informed so you can have a real opinion that once you're able to vote you can maybe help change this country for the best and remove the Conservatives and Liberals out of Ottawa for good.

ps. Jack Layton is the man and he is exactly what this country needs to put itself back on the world stage as a peaceful and honourable superpower to be looked up to.

[saysmydoctor]

I don't like Harper
I don't like Dion
I don't like Layton
I don't like May
I don't like Dusceppe

Wow, we have 5 parties running, and all of them seem to be led by morons

GO OBABA!
Get off the stage retard.

[the sky below]

I hope your misspelling of Obama is a joke.

ps. Jack Layton is the man and he is exactly what this country needs to put itself back on the world stage as a peaceful and honourable superpower to be looked up to.

we can't be an "honorable superpower" when we have a crumbling military.

sadly, neither Jack nor Dion will spent the amount necessary on our military to bring it up to standards so that we may protect our own country, let alone someone else's.

moreover, i suspect that if jack or dion - especially dion - don't get elected, both parties will be looking for new leaders.

[Burning Star IV]

I don't like Harper
I don't like Dion
I don't like Layton
I don't like May
I don't like Dusceppe

Wow, we have 5 parties running, and all of them seem to be led by morons

GO OBABA!
Communist.

I hope your misspelling of Obama is a joke.

Also, you're not even old enough to vote yet, and with an attitude like that its probably a good thing. Moreover, those people running those parties are actually beyond intelligent or else they wouldn't be where they are today. Some of them (read: Harper and Dion) are just really greedy and/or their ideas reflect the wants and needs of a few, not a majority.

Saying you don't care about any of Canada's political parties but then cheering for an American Senator running for President is beyond ignorant.

You need to get informed so you can have a real opinion that once you're able to vote you can maybe help change this country for the best and remove the Conservatives and Liberals out of Ottawa for good.

ps. Jack Layton is the man and he is exactly what this country needs to put itself back on the world stage as a peaceful and honourable superpower to be looked up to.
This.

PS. Layton's 'stache is epic.

[Nourez]

we can't be an "honorable superpower" when we have a crumbling military.

sadly, neither Jack nor Dion will spent the amount necessary on our military to bring it up to standards so that we may protect our own country, let alone someone else's.

moreover, i suspect that if jack or dion - especially dion - don't get elected, both parties will be looking for new leaders.

Agreed. I normally have supported the Libs, but I just don't think Dion is right as leader of the party.

[jagermeister]

we can't be an "honorable superpower" when we have a crumbling military.

sadly, neither Jack nor Dion will spent the amount necessary on our military to bring it up to standards so that we may protect our own country, let alone someone else's.

moreover, i suspect that if jack or dion - especially dion - don't get elected, both parties will be looking for new leaders.

Being an honourable superpower doesn't mean you need a strong military. Seriously, who has fucked with Canada?

Canada's focus shouldn't be building up a giant army to fuck with that world. That ideology is why this world is in such a shitty place right now.

[the sky below]

Being an honourable superpower doesn't mean you need a strong military. Seriously, who has fucked with Canada?

Canada's focus shouldn't be building up a giant army to fuck with that world. That ideology is why this world is in such a shitty place right now.

you're the one who said "superpower". what did you mean by that?

let's face the simple truth - our military fell apart terribly over the chretien and martin years. you can't deny this. we became passive-aggressive push-overs, and laughable on the world stage.

i never implied that our focus should be building a giant army to fuck with the world - so if i did, i apologize. however, i maintain that we DO need a formidable enough army to protect our own borders and our own people should we ever need to.

you're right, no one has fucked with canada, but that's not to say that no one WON'T. we have a lot of resources at our disposal - ones that are becoming increasingly scarce. don't forget the russians have been playing 16th century explorer lately and claiming land and territory that has been traditionally viewed as canadian.

i haven't read anything in the NDP or Liberal platforms that satisfies me enough to know that they are dedicated to fully establishing our army like it should be. i know they have all pledged SOMETHING, but i don't think they'll be as aggressive enough as we need them to be.

[Burning Star IV]

Bump.

All you hippies get off your bean bag chairs and vote!

[Machu505]

Someone explain the parliamentary democracy system to me so I can understand what all this means.

[tambam]

I just got back from voting. :excited:

[Machu505]

I wish the US election was today. M-(

[the sky below]

Someone explain the parliamentary democracy system to me so I can understand what all this means.

The Canadian Parliament has two houses - the House of Commons and the Senate.

The House of Commons is elected by the people. The Senate is appointed by the Governor General on the recommendations of the Prime Minister.

The House of Commons has 308 seats, therefore there are 308 electoral districts across Canada. Each district has a candidate from each party (well most) running for that riding's seat in the House. Whoever receives the most votes, wins the riding and goes to Parliament.

The party with the most candidates elected to the House (aka most seats), forms the government.

A majority government is formed whenever a party has more than half the seats in the House (155).

A minority government is formed when the party with the most seats has less than half of the seats in the house. The Conservatives held a minority government from 2006 - 2008 with 127 seats.

Canada has 4 - 5 major parties:

1) Conservative Party (right-wing party)

2) Liberal Party ("Centrist" party although past few leaders have leaned more to the left)

3) Bloc Québécois (party from the province of Quebec, who can only run for the election in Quebec. Basically want to remove themselves from Canada. Think of the Alaskan Independence Party)

4) New Democratic Party (left-wing party)

5) Green Party (eh, this is debatable as they have yet to technically win a seat in an election - however they are becoming more prominent and were included in this elections Leader's Debate. Basically another Liberal Party)

(There are way more parties than this, but these are the major ones who consistently win seats in the House)

- - - -

Haha, I hope that explains it well enough.

We basically don't vote directly for the Prime Minister. We vote for a candidate acting on behalf of the Prime Minister... if that makes sense.

[Machu505]

The Canadian Parliament has two houses - the House of Commons and the Senate.

The House of Commons is elected by the people. The Senate is appointed by the Governor General on the recommendations of the Prime Minister.

The House of Commons has 308 seats, therefore there are 308 electoral districts across Canada. Each district has a candidate from each party (well most) running for that riding's seat in the House. Whoever receives the most votes, wins the riding and goes to Parliament.

The party with the most candidates elected to the House (aka most seats), forms the government.

A majority government is formed whenever a party has more than half the seats in the House (155).

A minority government is formed when the party with the most seats has less than half of the seats in the house. The Conservatives held a minority government from 2006 - 2008 with 127 seats.

Canada has 4 - 5 major parties:

1) Conservative Party (right-wing party)

2) Liberal Party ("Centrist" party although past few leaders have leaned more to the left)

3) Bloc Québécois (party from the province of Quebec, who can only run for the election in Quebec. Basically want to remove themselves from Canada. Think of the Alaskan Independence Party)

4) New Democratic Party (left-wing party)

5) Green Party (eh, this is debatable as they have yet to technically win a seat in an election - however they are becoming more prominent and were included in this elections Leader's Debate. Basically another Liberal Party)

(There are way more parties than this, but these are the major ones who consistently win seats in the House)

- - - -

Haha, I hope that explains it well enough.

We basically don't vote directly for the Prime Minister. We vote for a candidate acting on behalf of the Prime Minister... if that makes sense.

How exactly is a prime minister elected? I don't quite understand the last sentence.

[Tito Jr.]

Bloc Quebecois is more admirable than the Alaskan Independence Party considering they are standing up for the historical origin of their providence and French heritage. Alaska just happens to be separated from the U.S., literally in terms of land, thus they feel like they should be their own country. I could care less either way - as long as Sarah Palin isn't the vice President of the United States, she can be the President of Alaska all she wants.

[the sky below]

How exactly is a prime minister elected? I don't quite understand the last sentence.


The party with the most candidates elected to the House, forms the government.

Each party has a leader, thus the leader of the party that has the most candidates elected to the House in the election becomes Prime Minister.

[HashHolly]

we can't be an "honorable superpower" when we have a crumbling military.

sadly, neither Jack nor Dion will spent the amount necessary on our military to bring it up to standards so that we may protect our own country, let alone someone else's.

moreover, i suspect that if jack or dion - especially dion - don't get elected, both parties will be looking for new leaders.

whose going to attack Canada really?

[Machu505]

The party with the most candidates elected to the House, forms the government.

Each party has a leader, thus the leader of the party that has the most candidates elected to the House in the election becomes Prime Minister.

Oh okay. That seems a lot more complicated than our system.

[Adeniz19]

Oh okay. That seems a lot more complicated than our system.i thought the electoral college was screwy

[Machu505]

i thought the electoral college was screwy

It seems really simple to me. :shrug:

[Burning Star IV]

Just voted.

[the sky below]

Liberals - 21
Conservatives - 11
NDP - 5
Bloc - 2
Independent - 1

[the sky below]

Oh okay. That seems a lot more complicated than our system.

haha i wish we could just vote directly for PM like you guys do for President.

if i sucked at explaining:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada

[the sky below]

Liberals - 32
Conservatives - 28
NDP - 8
Bloc - 5
Independent - 1

[Machu505]

haha i wish we could just vote directly for PM like you guys do for President.

if i sucked at explaining:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada

No, you explained it more easily than wikipedia. I tried that road before and I was just like "wat".

[the sky below]

Conservative - 53
Liberal - 45
NDP - 14
Bloc - 6
Independent - 1

[~~mitch~~]

CBC and CTV predict Conservative Minority Government.

[Lueda Alia]

I'm waiting to see how London voted. I hope my city didn't let me down!

Anyway, I hope the Conservatives have a horrible Minority Government, because I can't wait for Stephen Harper to be kicked out.

[SameSecret001]

Stephen Harper makes me sick. I wish we could vote for a local MP, and then another vote for Prime Minister. If you look at the numbers, more people support a liberal agenda (liberal leaning, every major party but the Conservatives is liberal) and only 1/3 (give or take a few) support the conservative agend. Too many parties. In my riding (Davenport, T.O.) most people vote Liberal or NDP and the Conservatives only get about 11% of the vote so it's not really in issue. However, I can see changing my party affiliation if a riding was very close, and it would get rid of Stephen Harper.

[the sky below]

I'm waiting to see how London voted. I hope my city didn't let me down!

Anyway, I hope the Conservatives have a horrible Minority Government, because I can't wait for Stephen Harper to be kicked out.

strong minority government - harper can basically act like a majority. the liberals wont be blocking anything in parliament, they can't afford to.


If you look at the numbers, more people support a liberal agenda (liberal leaning, every major party but the Conservatives is liberal) and only 1/3 (give or take a few) support the conservative agend. Too many parties.

true to a point, but the fact there are 3 left-wing parties really does dilute the left-voting base. happened with the right-wing, and look what they did.

still, it's embarrassing that the Bloc can get more seats in 1 province than the NDP can get across the entire country. correction, it's scary.

[Lueda Alia]

I get frustrated by all the left-wing parties that we have. I really don't think that Conservatives would ever have a chance of winning an election if there was only one (or even two) left-wing party.

I can't stand this.

[jagermeister]

I can't believe Stephen Harper is still going to be our Prime Minister. Canadians are fucking dumb and have really let me down.

[Burning Star IV]

Oh goody. Yet another minority Tory government.

[Lueda Alia]

Oh goody. Yet another minority Tory government.
...$30+ million after?

[the sky below]

...$30+ million after?

$300 million

[Lueda Alia]

$300 million
Are you serious? I thought I read $40 million the last time I checked.

What the hell? If that's true, I'll be even more pissed.

[Burning Star IV]

Well at least the Tories didn't get all the ridings in Alberta.

[Tito Jr.]

I watched the first round-table debate on youtube and thought Harper was by far the superior politician - he did not speak to my personal values or needs but I could see how the majority would favor him over the others. The other parties seem either too narrow minded (focus on just certain issues) or too much a like. If I could have voted though it would have been for Dion - I thought he had some great intentions. Just seemed like Canada was not ready for "change".

[Lueda Alia]

I watched the first round-table debate on youtube and thought Harper was by far the superior politician - he did not speak to my personal values or needs but I could see how the majority would favor him over the others. The other parties seem either too narrow minded (focus on just certain issues) or too much a like. If I could have voted though it would have been for Dion - I thought he had some great intentions. Just seemed like Canada was not ready for "change".
Actually, we were ready for a change. It's just that we have 3 left-wing parties, 2 of them being major. The Conservatives received only 37.7% of the vote, so 62.3% of the people that voted did not want them in power. What does that tell you?

[the sky below]

Vo4gBVVNVec

[Burning Star IV]

Stephen Harper got served.

[the sky below]

and dion steps down



http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/dion_scene

[saysmydoctor]

Bloc Quebecois is more admirable than the Alaskan Independence Party considering they are standing up for the historical origin of their providence and French heritage. Alaska just happens to be separated from the U.S., literally in terms of land, thus they feel like they should be their own country. I could care less either way - as long as Sarah Palin isn't the vice President of the United States, she can be the President of Alaska all she wants.
Alaska is the result of American imperialism and Alaskans aren't remotely like their continental 48 counterparts.
Vo4gBVVNVec
Fucking lol

[Burning Star IV]

I for one have been to Alaska many times, and I find it no different than the lower 48.

[Spenny]

I really thought Harper would lose many votes due to his pitiful performance at the Leader's Debate, but hey, what do I know?

If I was old enough to vote, I'd be voting NDP all the way. :thumbup:

[the sky below]

I really thought Harper would lose many votes due to his pitiful performance at the Leader's Debate, but hey, what do I know?

If I was old enough to vote, I'd be voting NDP all the way. :thumbup:

Pitiful performance? How?

Public opinion was that he won the English debate by far.

[Spenny]

He avoided some topics of contention that were brought up, which I thought didn't look too good. You'd think that after the other leaders were telling him to at least talk about his party's platform and such, that he would. All was remedied soon after the debate, but that's not the point.

Also, he comes across as very uncharismatic. I don't know about you, but I want someone leading our country that is a powerful speaker. Someone who has enthusiasm and life. He always comes across as nervous and quiet, and he lacks qualities that make him relatable and interesting.

I could go on about how I disagree with some of his party's policies, but that's a different stories.



Of course he "won" the English debate. He has the largest backing this election. Conservative voters are not going to admit that other parties won the debate.