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[jstripes]

I wonder how Jenni Byrn feels about this now.

She feels like there's a bus headed in her immediate direction.

 

[dragonfart28]

I'm honestly astounded the Conservatives spent so much of their war chest demonizing Trudeau when it has been quite evident that the NDP were the greater threat. Have they even launched an attack ad on the NDP yet?

They did one of those ads where a bunch of co-workers are gossiping about his resume.

The only thing they really have on him right now is the satellite office thing along with DIPPER TAX AND SPEND HULK SMASH bullshit

National Post has a pretty good review of the Mansbridge-Harper interview on the CBC: http://news.nationalpost.com/full-c...-take-him-or-leave-him-that-may-not-be-enough

A choice excerpt:

That entire interview was scathing criticism and Harper is on the defensive all the time now. It's a bit jarring that he doesn't have any breathing space, but I think people recognize this is a sign that we should move on.

 

[lamaroo]

It's hilarious that this long election is backfiring so badly on Harper.

 

[matthewwhatever]

So today's Nanos has some movement...

And CTV's story about Conservative dysfunction is now up, too, expanding on the above tweets:

A senior Conservative strategist tells CTV’s Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife that the campaign needs a reset and there’s discontent with campaign manager Jenni Byrne.

Never good when those "Senior party strategists" start getting quoted.

 

[massivekettle]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

 

[firehawk12]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

Because David Cameron is doing a bang up job!

 

[CreeperBlocks]

So today's Nanos has some movement...



And CTV's story about Conservative dysfunction is now up, too, expanding on the above tweets:



Never good when those "Senior party strategists" start getting quoted.

The Walls are Crumbling and it's about damn time it did. I think I have a better idea who I'm voting for.

 

[Razorskin]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

I, too, dread Canada being consumed in hellfire and brimstone following a Conservative loss.

 

[Stumpokapow]

I've only read the Harper interview and watched the Trudeau interview, but I don't feel that either have come off well and I really am not much of a fan of Mansbridge as an interviewer. "Tough questions" doesn't mean "badger candidates about micro-level specifics of their plans". It's fair to say that "We're going to get the economy back on track" is free of substance, but it's also fair to say it doesn't make any sense to run through every possible source of revenue and ask for Yes/No commitments to "Are you going to raise revenue here?".

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

Well one advantage for you is that if Harper loses, you'll probably be able to legally vote to re-elect the Conservatives in the next election, but if he wins, you won't. Quite the catch-22.

 

[qizah]

So today's Nanos has some movement...



And CTV's story about Conservative dysfunction is now up, too, expanding on the above tweets:



Never good when those "Senior party strategists" start getting quoted.

Very good.

 

[Buba Big Guns]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

Might as well revoke your citizenship if the NDP get elected and PR gets instated. Unlikely there will ever be a CPC government after that unless they change their stances.

 

[firehawk12]

Might as well revoke your citizenship if the NDP get elected and PR gets instated. Unlikely there will ever be a CPC government after that unless they change their stances.

I highly doubt PR will happen even if it's put forward. Canadians just don't want it, as we've seen in BC and Ontario.

 

[gabbo]

I highly doubt PR will happen even if it's put forward. Canadians just don't want it, as we've seen in BC and Ontario.

I dont think those half-assed attempts should be used a barometer on the issue.

 

[Simon Belmont]

I dont think those half-assed attempts should be used a barometer on the issue.

No true Scotsman...

 

[matthewwhatever]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Perhaps because they've failed in literally every aspect of governance imaginable? You've yet to give a reason for why they deserve to be re-elected beyond "Screw everyone else, I got mine."

I've only read the Harper interview and watched the Trudeau interview, but I don't feel that either have come off well and I really am not much of a fan of Mansbridge as an interviewer. "Tough questions" doesn't mean "badger candidates about micro-level specifics of their plans". It's fair to say that "We're going to get the economy back on track" is free of substance, but it's also fair to say it doesn't make any sense to run through every possible source of revenue and ask for Yes/No commitments to "Are you going to raise revenue here?".

At least this time he badgered Harper too. Last election I remember being people being very annoyed that Mansbridge just kept lobbing softballs at the PM.

I highly doubt PR will happen even if it's put forward. Canadians just don't want it, as we've seen in BC and Ontario.

Shhh...now you're going to invoke the wrath of all the MMP adherents, and we'll get sidetracked into *that* discussion.

 

[BigJonsson]

Campaigns matter

 

[maharg]

I highly doubt PR will happen even if it's put forward. Canadians just don't want it, as we've seen in BC and Ontario.

Neither the Liberals nor the NDP are proposing to put it to a referendum, afaik.

 

[Laevateinn]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

Wow, are all conservatives this patriotic?

 

[gutter_trash]

Wow, are all conservatives this patriotic?

Conservatives are Monarchists first, Canadian second.

Just like the debate about the flag in 1960s

 

[gabbo]

Conservatives are Monarchists first, Canadian second.

Just like the debate about the flag in 1960s

Should we start splitting the two between PC Cons and Reform Cons? I feel like the right is going to split after this election, regardless of the outcome.

 

[mo60]

So today's Nanos has some movement...



And CTV's story about Conservative dysfunction is now up, too, expanding on the above tweets:



Never good when those "Senior party strategists" start getting quoted.

NDP numbers declining looks troubling, but I don't think they are out of the race of winning this election yet. I bet you even if the NDP does not win this election they will stay as official opposition. CPC numbers are still declining and I wouldn't be surprised to see them decline even further. I don't think the conservatives will break the 30% mark in popular vote anymore on election day.

 

[Silexx]

Hey everyone, I'm back with another poll that makes everyone's heart skip a beat.

Seat projection
CON - 123 (29.3%)
NDP - 119, -1 (31.9%, +0.3%)
LIB - 95, +1 (29.2%, +0.2%)
GRN - 1 (4.8%, -0.4%)
BQ - 0 (3.8%, -0.1%)

http://cdnelectionwatch.blogspot.ca/2015/09/new-ipsos-poll-little-change.html?m=1

 

[matthewwhatever]

Pffft, Ipsos? That's yesterday's news! Get with the times!

Should we start splitting the two between PC Cons and Reform Cons? I feel like the right is going to split after this election, regardless of the outcome.

I think it all depends on how the election shakes out. If the polls are accurately reflecting where they are -- which is a big "if", since Conservative support is usually understated in polls -- then it's quite possible there'd be no Red Tories left to split away, because they'll have already jumped to the Liberals. That's the nightmare scenario for Conservatives: that we do turn into the two-party system they've been wishing for, but with the two parties being the Liberals and NDP, and the old Reform Party stuck as a mostly-rural rump.

Still a long way to go until election day, though, and with daily polling coming out now we may see a lot more movement. Also, the Conservatives are still sitting on that massive war chest. If they're going down, I think it'll be in a big, hateful blaze of glory.

 

[RevoDS]

Well...I still think there's basically no chance of it happening, but I have to concede to Tiktaalik that the NDP might in fact be trying to take Papineau; there's an article about it this morning in La Presse... (link in French of course)

http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/2e02de70-7a9f-4ebb-a205-455b8cd915b5|_0.html

 

[TheOMan]

I hope the CPC and Harper pull through. I know it's the unpopular opinion here, however.

Going to be hard for me to comeback to Canada in the short term, otherwise. Fortunately, we have a majority Tory government here in the UK.

I'm slowly being convinced this is a long con deep undercover posting mission that you've embarked on for a purpose I haven't been able to figure out yet. It's the only thing that makes sense. You're no Futami though.

 

[TheRealTalker]

I was overly pleased at the Liberal housing plan and the NDP venture to fund our aerospace industry

 

[Jinaar]

I was overly pleased at the Liberal housing plan and the NDP venture to fund our aerospace industry

I heard that yesterday and then this came out today:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...r-for-railway-unit-documents/article26270264/

Excluding debt, analysts and bankers have pegged the equity value of the transportation division at about $5-billion. Much of the company’s value currently resides in its transportation business as its aerospace division has been hurt by delays and cost overruns tied to its C-Series line of commercial jets.

Bombardier shares have fallen 70 per cent this year, and the company’s market capitalisation sits at about $2-billion, well below the equity value of the transportation unit, reflecting the struggles at its aerospace business and heavy debt load.

I think more smaller firms in Canada in the aerospace industry could spur growth, new technologies and competition, which could allow a company like Bombardier to purchase these new technologies and increase Canada's performance globally.

Pretty sneaky, NDP.

 

[Jinaar]

The biggest concern I have this election is that no one has come out front and center for our Canadian Scientists. This is why Conservatives need to be stopped:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ts-science-at-every-turn-union-says-1.3199761

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Lethbridge Research Centre was created in 1906 and provided scientific information to scientists with Agriculture Canada, as well as technicians and students.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) — which represents approximately 15,000 federal scientists — says the closure brings the number of federal science libraries lost due to cuts, closures and consolidations to 16 since 2012.

"The Harper government continues to target government science at every turn," PIPSC president Debi Daviau said in a release.

"It is time Canadians understood the cumulative loss to federal science — and this week to agricultural science, in particular — of a government whose priorities are clearly out of step with both public scientists and the public interest."

The union claims the change will make access to relevant research more difficult for scientists studying beef, soil chemistry and ecology, rangeland, wheat, canola, potatoes, beans, insect pests and greenhouse gases.

"While some items appear to have been shipped to government facilities in Ottawa, on Monday most of the library's contents had been either discarded in a dumpster outside the building or sent to recycling," said PIPSC in its statement.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...g-freshwater-research-station/article4184740/

The federal government is closing a research station scientists have used for decades to study how pollutants like acid rain and phosphates affect lakes.

The Experimental Lakes Area is in Northwestern Ontario, about 250 kilometres east of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since 1968, government and university scientists have used its 58 small lakes to test hypotheses about freshwater ecosystems. One experiment has been running for 40 years.

Do you know what the most important thing for the globe is currently: Water and Food. Each being put down by Harper.

NDP and the Liberals need to stand up for this.

 

[mo60]

Well...I still think there's basically no chance of it happening, but I have to concede to Tiktaalik that the NDP might in fact be trying to take Papineau; there's an article about it this morning in La Presse... (link in French of course)

http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/2e02de70-7a9f-4ebb-a205-455b8cd915b5|_0.html

A stronger Liberal party may prevent the NDP from taking Papineau, but the Liberals numbers look weak in Quebec still but better than last election while the NDP is doing better in Quebec this time.

 

[gutter_trash]

Well...I still think there's basically no chance of it happening, but I have to concede to Tiktaalik that the NDP might in fact be trying to take Papineau; there's an article about it this morning in La Presse... (link in French of course)

http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/2e02de70-7a9f-4ebb-a205-455b8cd915b5|_0.html

they will try but they have the wrong candidate in the wrong part of Montreal.

Ann Lagacé Dowson would be a better fit in a more English speaking riding since she is an English language radio personality.

Papineau is half francophone and half ethnic minorities. The francophone demo are more apt at voting NDP, old stock ethnic minorities are more Liberal, newer ethnic minorities with no loyalty ties are split between both NDP and Liberal

 

[matthewwhatever]

The biggest concern I have this election is that no one has come out front and center for our Canadian Scientists. This is why Conservatives need to be stopped:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ts-science-at-every-turn-union-says-1.3199761

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...g-freshwater-research-station/article4184740/

Do you know what the most important thing for the globe is currently: Water and Food. Each being put down by Harper.

NDP and the Liberals need to stand up for this.

From Liberal.ca:

UNMUZZLE SCIENTISTS

We will create a Chief Science Officer to ensure that government science is available to the public, and that scientific analyses are considered when the government makes decisions.

And then from somewhere else on their site:

Stand Up for Science
Your money pays for government research – but Mr. Harper continues to muzzle scientists and cut off their ability to share information. Justin Trudeau believes scientists should be able to speak freely and present their research to the public.

A Liberal government will:

Eliminate all regulations that censor government scientists, giving them the freedom to speak about their work.
Create a central portal for government-funded or government-created science for ease of access.
Establish a Chief Science Officer to ensure government science is freely available to the public.

The Liberals, Greens and NDP also all publicly signed a pledge vowing to end the "war on science" back in June.

 

[Jinaar]

From Liberal.ca:

And then from somewhere else on their site:

The Liberals, Greens and NDP also all publicly signed a pledge vowing to end the "war on science" back in June.

Excellent, thanks for the links, I'll read them shortly! (EDIT: It goes to show how much news is out there and it's hard to read or hear it all. This coming from a guy who listens to CBC radio religiously)

 

[Savitar]

If nothing else I want the PC's gone because they pretty much halt or drive back our advancements, the other parties at least try to be progressive and advance but the PC's? Feels like if we were lead by them forever we'd be God fearing, gun wielding uneducated idiots.

And I don't know about you but I don't want to be a Republican.

 

[maharg]

Excellent, thanks for the links, I'll read them shortly! (EDIT: It goes to show how much news is out there and it's hard to read or hear it all. This coming from a guy who listens to CBC radio religiously)

It probably doesn't get as much media play as other things because it's honestly one of those things that only conservatives seem to want. Along with the census destruction and other such Reform bugaboos.

It's going to take years to reverse some of these things. :/

 

[SamuelSupreme]

Apologies for the double post, but...uh...

Conservative candidate Jerry Bance caught in CBC sting urinating in homeowner's coffee mug

I still can't believe that this is real...like wow.

 

[killer rin]

It probably doesn't get as much media play as other things because it's honestly one of those things that only conservatives seem to want. Along with the census destruction and other such Reform bugaboos.

It's going to take years to reverse some of these things. :/

I'm personally hoping that the second the law muzzling scientists gets repealed, we just see a flood of studies and reports from the past decade which were previously muzzled. I feel like it would paint such an urgent picture that people wouldn't help being mad at having been kept in the dark.

 

[gutter_trash]

reporter asks a Syrian refugee question during a Harper rally; a supporter yells out at the reporter:
''How many children have drowned in swimming pools this summer? Do you blame the Prime Minister for that?''

wow

 

[mo60]

reporter asks a Syrian refugee question during a Harper rally; a supporter yells out at the reporter:
''How many children have drowned in swimming pools this summer? Do you blame the Prime Minister for that?''

wow

I felt like facepalming when I heard that supporter say that.

 

[Azih]

Harper's got to know that his die hard supporters are now making him look bad to centrist Canadians. But what can he do? He's spent a decade villifying the media. Is he really surprised that his true believers have completely ingested that kool-aid? He doesn't even have a US style friendly right wing channel to provide an alternative 'fair and balanced' narrative on his behalf.

 

[Ledhead]

Harper's got to know that his die hard supporters are now making him look bad to centrist Canadians. But what can he do? He's spent a decade villifying the media. Is he really surprised that his true believers have completely ingested that kool-aid? He doesn't even have a US style friendly right wing channel to provide an alternative 'fair and balanced' narrative on his behalf.

That's the kind of supporters you get when your party engages in cynical, dumbed down, buzzword filled campaigning

 

[gutter_trash]

That's the kind of supporters you get when your party engages in cynical, dumbed down, buzzword filled campaigning

You never cheated on your income taxes??

 

[matthewwhatever]

The Greens have officially unveiled their platform: Platform 2015

I know this is the wrong thing to take from it, but...wow, are the Greens ever white. I think there are, like, three visible minorities in the whole document. Obviously that has nothing to do with anything their proposing, but you'd think they would at least pay some lip service to the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity.

The deeper policy takeaway: they really shouldn't have included numbers, because those make them look insane. I know that they don't stand a chance of forming government, so they probably weren't that concerned with accuracy, but they're promising all kinds of great new programs and initiatives (though no Guaranteed Living Income, unfortunately), and somehow projecting a $2B surplus for the next budget. They're promising to increase revenues by over $40B next year alone, but the only concrete suggestion I see there is increasing the corporate tax rate to 19%. They also promise to "eliminate the exemptions, special cases and tax breaks for favoured interests", but they don't specify how that would work. Has anyone else looked at it closely and determined where all that extra revenue would come from?

And all you voting reformers will be saddened to see this:

The first-past-the-post voting system has lost the confidence of Canadians. Our promise is to replace the first-past-the-post system with a form of proportional representation within the first year of the next Parliament. We will determine the form of proportional representation best suited to Canada through extensive public consultation by an all-party committee.

In other words, it's exactly the same as what the Liberals are proposing -- consultation, then changing the electoral system.

 

[Willectro]

reporter asks a Syrian refugee question during a Harper rally; a supporter yells out at the reporter:
''How many children have drowned in swimming pools this summer? Do you blame the Prime Minister for that?''

wow

Exactly, because contrary to what you may think, there is no correlation. Again, if there wasn't a election and people didn't have want Harper out, this wouldn't even be news.

 

[Dr.Acula]

It looks like CPC HQ is angry at their campaign manager because of the slump in the polls for their party
https://twitter.com/CTV_PowerPlay/status/641367539348557824

This was mentioned on CTV Power Play earlier today

Found the video were this was mentioned.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=...eNum=1#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=cs5ryTc

To be fair, she's been a nightmare. "Don't pee in coffee mugs, don't pretend to masturbate on prank calls," what she's asking candidates to adhere to is draconian.

 

[Alavard]

Exactly, because contrary to what you may think, there is no correlation. Again, if there wasn't a election and people didn't have want Harper out, this wouldn't even be news.

So all the other countries having discussions about Syrian refugees right now are going through elections too?

 

[Azih]

The biggest and most critical difference between the Greens and the Libs is

Our promise is to replace the first-past-the-post system with a form of proportional representation

The Lib policy leaves it open to replacing FPTP with a non proportional system. The NDP and Greens remain far better than the Libs on this policy plank, especially as Justin Trudeau is on record repeating misinformation about PR and championing 'ranked ballots' (that is to say AV/IRV which is no better than FPTP) instead.

Source: I'm on the board of Fair Vote Canada and the Liberal caucus, Liberals for Fair Voting (who are awesome awesome people), have been badgering JT about this for a while now and his personal views on PR are pretty apparent (he doesn't like it).

Speaking of Fair Vote Canada. Pro PR gaffers please go here and lend your twitter/facebook/instagram for a one time message.

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/30739-where-they-stand?locale=en

We've been canvassing as many candidates as we can to get their views on PR and put them all on a website. Hopefully this will sway some more undecided Liberals to support PR, and then the website will be used to hold them and Dippers and Greens to their word after the election (as much as is possible of course).

(Conservative candidates don't reply to our messages lol)

Also money and volunteering would be good too.

http://www.fairvote.ca/

The thing to remember here is that the Liberals are a big tent on this issue. There are amazing Liberals like Stephane Dion and Bob Rae that are strong supporters of PR and a huge number of grassroots Liberals are on board as well. None of them seem to be in Trudeau's inner circle but pretty much half of the Liberal caucus supported a NDP opposition motion to bring in PR in the last parliament. If the NDP is close to a majority then I'm sure they'll have no problem convincing enough Liberals to support their PR motion and actually get it done.

Exactly, because contrary to what you may think, there is no correlation. Again, if there wasn't a election and people didn't have want Harper out, this wouldn't even be news.

Nope. Harper Superfriends Tony Abbot and David Cameron have been backtracking and pretending to give a damn in the face of public outrage in their countries over this.

 

[Willectro]

So all the other countries having discussions about Syrian refugees right now are going through elections too?

Uhhh, Canada should never just follow suit on the basis that "all the other countries" are doing it. That's a weak reason. We also don't border Syria in case you haven't noticed - their choice is to allow refugees or have people jump the border.

 

[Alavard]

Uhhh, Canada should never just follow suit on the basis that "all the other countries" are doing it. That's a weak reason. We also don't border Syria in case you haven't noticed - their choice is to allow refugees or have people jump the border.

Having a discussion on something the international community is also in discussion about is never a bad idea.

 

[Willectro]

Having a discussion on something the international community is also in discussion about is never a bad idea.

What's to discuss? The Prime Minister sounds like he's made his decision.

 

[Laevateinn]

reporter asks a Syrian refugee question during a Harper rally; a supporter yells out at the reporter:
''How many children have drowned in swimming pools this summer? Do you blame the Prime Minister for that?''

wow

This is how I imagine all Canadian Conservatives.