Canadian Election coming up

[Julius Seeker]

Well, the Conservative party government has been overturned. Our Prime Minister wished to be Emperor it seems:



The government is overthrown, Harper is going off against Quebec and the NPD by labeling Quebec as separatists, and the NDP as socialists (as though that's a bad thing) in a negative light.

Of course, my allegiance will remain strong to the New Democratic Party and Jack Layton. The way the Canadian government works is a little confusing:

Conservatives - these are the Republicans, they represent interests similar to those of the United States, and they are led by harper:


Liberals - these are the true Canadian Conservatives, while they lean left by the US standards, they lean towards retaining ideals that Canadians have lived by for decades.
Led by someone who has only lived in Canada for 5 years: International Super Spy James Bond:



New Democratic Party - The NDP are our true liberals, who stand for improving our environmental standards; putting an end to corporate monopolies and gouging from our Internet, phone, and cable providers; putting forth investments in new business (Layton discusses up to date solar panels, and windmills) while straying away from older tech (coal, oil, and nuclear for example). He is for improving the situation for small businesses while coming down harder on large business (currently, corporations have an easier time here in Canada than they do in the US, I find that disgraceful - while I respect the Corporations and what they do, there needs to be a balance or progress slows). The party is also strongest for left wing ideals (equality and eliminating poverty). They have also been at the front of electoral reform - proportional representation.
For the NDP - Jack Layton, moustache and a pink tie. The greatest puzzle and mystery solver the Canadian public has ever known.


With each election the NDP party grows stronger; the more the pre-60's generation shrinks, the greater the post-60's generation rises. I think they'll have a very clear shot in the not so distant future. I can't really speak for other locations, but here the 45 and under population seems to vote primarily NDP, but nearly everyone who votes is old and retired - still, we gain higher numbers with each new election.

[SineSwiper]

I thought there were four major parties in Canada. One extreme right, one extreme left, one mid-left, and one mid-right.

[Oracle]

I thought there were four major parties in Canada. One extreme right, one extreme left, one mid-left, and one mid-right.

We also have the Green party, which would be further left than the NDP.

Then we (or "they") also have the Bloc Quebecois, which is a regional party which only has members running in Quebec. Party mandate: the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. These guys broke off from the Federal Progressive Conservatives (and some from the Liberals) back in 1991.

[Julius Seeker]

Although the Bloc Quebecois were founded by separatists (like Lucien Bouchard), that element seems to be leaving the party and it is now mostly a Quebec interests party. There is another party called the Parti Quebecois, which is on the provincial level, which is where the primary separatist elements are focussed, and they are becoming increasingly irrelevant in Quebec politics.

Jean Charest, the premier of Quebec, leads their provincial Liberal party.... Just a note, he is the former leader of the Progressive Conservative party; which merged with the Reform party to become Canada's current "Conservative party"; but the elements of the former Progressive Conservative party have seemed to vanish; but the elderly people seem to be very fooled and still vote Conservative without even realizing they are voting for the Reform Party which they previously loathed.

[Zeus]

I thought there were four major parties in Canada. One extreme right, one extreme left, one mid-left, and one mid-right.

Three: Conservatives (Republicans; right-wing), Liberal (Democrats; centre-left), and NDP (Nader; traditional-left). We do have a 4th, the Green Party (environmental platform), which gets enough votes to be a player, but they're pretty small. Since the Conservatives are the only right-leaning party (they basically have a right-centre platform with extreme-right leadership; as if John McCain is doing their PR but the Tea Party is running the show) what we actually end up having is the majority of our population that's liberally-minded splits their votes between 2 or 3 parties.

But we also have a wildcard: The Bloc Quebecois. They're the ones who are advocating for Quebec to separate from the rest of Canada (don't ask; all you need to know is there's some stupid Frenchies in Quebec who feel they're a higher class of people than the rest of Canada and should be their own nation). They have a lot of support in Quebec, our second-highest population for provinces, so they actually end up with the 3rd or 4th most seats in our parliament and thus, have a pretty significant impact on our politics, especially when there's a minority government like there has been the last decade.

[kali o.]

Bad choices abound -- Liberals remain the least crappy option. NDP talk a good game, but its a mess everytime they get into power...or does everyone have incredibly short memories?

Still, I shouldn't underestimate the foolishness of my fellow Canadians...Conservatives last time....*shakes head*

[Julius Seeker]

The NDP has never been in power Federally; they are currently in power provincially in Nova Scotia, establishing a majority government in the province in 2009; and while off to a shaky start in their first year, have improved significantly in their second year: they managed to improve their popularity at the polls despite raising taxes, and achieve a surplus of 477 million for 2010 which they announced earlier this month.

source
source

So maybe they allegedly screwed up in BC, and I don't know the reasons behind it; just something I heard about when I lived in Vancouver. I think Federally they have stronger people at the helm. I do support their social policies, and do feel they can create a good economy in the long run, while creating a higher standard of living for everyone due to better social and environmental policies:

Tommy Douglas, NDP founder, set not just an example for Canada, but for all of North America:

[Zeus]

Bad choices abound -- Liberals remain the least crappy option. NDP talk a good game, but its a mess everytime they get into power...or does everyone have incredibly short memories?

Still, I shouldn't underestimate the foolishness of my fellow Canadians...Conservatives last time....*shakes head*

And this is the problem I have: why should I vote for the lesser of evils? Why can't I say "you all suck donkey balls" on my ballot? Maybe the Liberals are the least crappy option but they still don't represent my and don't deserve my vote yet I'm either forced to give it to them or not vote at all? Silly....

Hey, you're the one who lives out West where the Reform party gained its popularity and eventually overtook the Conservatives. Blame those around you, not us out here in the East (I don't count the Torontidiots, they're just fucking dumb).

[Julius Seeker]

Breaking and perhaps historic news: The NDP has passed the Liberals in the polls at the expense of the Bloc Quebecois and the Liberals:

Stephen Taylor Apr 22, 2011 – 11:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Apr 22, 2011 10:53 AM ET

They’ve been popping organic champagne corks in the NDP war room this week as poll after poll is showing that party ahead of the Liberals in a race for second place. The surge of the NDP seems to be most pronounced in Quebec where there are certainly more than a few former NDP staffers, thinking they were taking one for the team, who may yet find themselves with seats in the House of Commons come May 3rd.

The larger effect of all of this is of course the psychological block experienced by many on the left regarding cheating on their idealism to act pragmatic. For those that have traditionally held their nose voting Liberal to “stop Harper”, this week has been a game changer for the NDP.

What happened? Jack Layton gave phenomenal back-to-back performances in the debates. Walking into this campaign, with the visible assistance of a cane, reporters had asked him how his health would fare during a grueling 35 days while leaders crisscross the country on an intense schedule. Instead, we’ve learned that Layton may toss his cane aside by election day.

Indeed, Layton now appears to be dancing circles around the Liberal campaign led by a leader many in the press expected to do better given lower expectations set by 2 years of negative advertising against him. Instead, the Harvard professor was schooled by Layton in the moment of the English language leaders debate that was the closest thing we saw to a “knock-out blow” in those two nights. Called out for his poor attendance record, Layton asked rhetorically how Michael Ignatieff could speak convincingly on democracy if he didn’t show up for votes in the Commons.

National Post

[SineSwiper]

they basically have a right-centre platform with extreme-right leadership; as if John McCain is doing their PR but the Tea Party is running the show

Don't compare anything in your country to the Tea Party. You don't have the right.

[Julius Seeker]

We have a Libertarian party here too.... They got 0.05% off the vote in the last election =P

Certainly a very small movement here compared to the US.

I think most of the world realized that libertarianism was a terrible movement when 1.5 million Irish people died during the potato famine in the 1840's.

[Julius Seeker]

I'm actually starting to think the NDP have a shot at winning this. They're still skyrocketing in popularity, and are closing in on the Conservatives. They still trail by 6%, but are a solid #2.

[Zeus]

they basically have a right-centre platform with extreme-right leadership; as if John McCain is doing their PR but the Tea Party is running the show

Don't compare anything in your country to the Tea Party. You don't have the right.

The main difference? Your right-wing nut jobs aren't hiding it....

[Julius Seeker]

NDP continues to shoot up in the polls with now 31% vs the Conservative 34%. their seat projections are also up by 50 seats.... If the surge continues, they may surpass the Conservatives election day next week. Already they are WAY above where they have ever been before. We'll see Monday, and my vote goes towards them.

NDP quickliy closing in on the Conservatives

The group has also done a seat projection, which gives the Conservatives 137 MP's, the NDP 108 MP's, the Liberals at 60 MP's.  The Bloc takes the biggest hit in the seat projection with just three spots allocated to them.

[SineSwiper]

they basically have a right-centre platform with extreme-right leadership; as if John McCain is doing their PR but the Tea Party is running the show

Don't compare anything in your country to the Tea Party. You don't have the right.

The main difference? Your right-wing nut jobs aren't hiding it....

No, sorry, you don't have extremist right-wing nutjobs. Your version of right-wing nutjobs would be Democrats here.

[Zeus]

That's what I'm sayin', they ARE nut jobs, you just don't hear about it

[Julius Seeker]

Well, the Conservatives won a majority which is good for the bank and corporation majority stake owners and foreign investors; bad for 35 million others; it means we're definitely stuck with Right Wing leaders who will continue to destroy our way of life, and who will continue to ruin our healthcare system and world reputation.

On the bright side, a better left wing party has taken over. The NDP took over 1/3rd of the seats. Even the Green Party made it in. Hopefully we'll see a chance at Electoral reform now that the NDP has such a large representation.

The fact remains, with 39% of the vote, the Conservatives control 56% of the seats. Electoral reform is LONG overdue.

[Zeus]

That's what I'm sayin', they ARE nut jobs, you just don't hear about it

And the worst part about it? They didn't just win a majority government in parliament, they control EVERYTHING now from both houses, all the committees, etc.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadav ... ority.html

The gentlemen in the article calls it a "friendly dictatorship"......I'm curious if people think the "friendly" part is true in a couple of years.

[bovine]

. Electoral reform is LONG overdue.

Electoral reform, on a federal level, requires changing the constitution. With such an arduous process required for this, it probably will not happen for a long while still. Canadians as a whole are GROSSLY uninformed about different electoral systems. Americans also remain highly unaware of this. It fundamentally changes the power relationship between government, parties, and citizens. Finding the right electoral system is difficult, as it needs to reflect the ideal political climate. This ideal climate is HIGHLY subjective, so a party that benefits from our current system (the conservatives) will not be trying to change the system.

The best case scenario to make electoral reform happen is for the social conservatives to split from the conservative party and reform the reform party. This would create the only situation that I can fathom for electoral reform to even slide on to the table in the next 4-5 years. That, or a HUGE sweep of changes to the electoral system across provinces, but that is much less likely.

Canadians know something is wrong, but no one knows how our parliamentary democracy works. We live in a highly unmotivated and ignorant society. I blame the winters.

[AlejandroMunoz]

Well, the Conservative party government has been overturned. Our Prime Minister wished to be Emperor it seems:


The government is overthrown, Harper is going off against Quebec and the NPD by labeling Quebec as separatists, and the NDP as socialists (as though that's a bad thing) in a negative light.

Of course, my allegiance will remain strong to the New Democratic Party and Jack Layton. The way the Canadian government works is a little confusing:

Conservatives - these are the Republicans, they represent interests similar to those of the United States, and they are led by harper:


Liberals - these are the true Canadian Conservatives, while they lean left by the US standards, they lean towards retaining ideals that Canadians have lived by for decades.
Led by someone who has only lived in Canada for 5 years: International Super Spy James Bond:



New Democratic Party - The NDP are our true liberals, who stand for improving our environmental standards; putting an end to corporate monopolies and gouging from our Internet, phone, and cable providers; putting forth investments in new business (Layton discusses up to date solar panel, and windmills) while straying away from older tech (coal, oil, and nuclear for example). He is for improving the situation for small businesses while coming down harder on large business (currently, corporations have an easier time here in Canada than they do in the US, I find that disgraceful - while I respect the Corporations and what they do, there needs to be a balance or progress slows). The party is also strongest for left wing ideals (equality and eliminating poverty). They have also been at the front of electoral reform - proportional representation.
For the NDP - Jack Layton, moustache and a pink tie. The greatest puzzle and mystery solver the Canadian public has ever known.


With each election the NDP party grows stronger; the more the pre-60's generation shrinks, the greater the post-60's generation rises. I think they'll have a very clear shot in the not so distant future. I can't really speak for other locations, but here the 45 and under population seems to vote primarily NDP, but nearly everyone who votes is old and retired - still, we gain higher numbers with each new election.

NDP is truly amazing..The group has invested lot in improve environmental standards.. Major projects are launched every year which is great.

[Shrinweck]

This is one of the odder things bots have dredged up.