Support NeoGAF

[Silexx]

That's an interesting out they've both provided themselves with, but at the same time I don't think there's anyone the Conservatives could replace Harper with who would be a palatable alternative as PM.

But that would be the point from the perspective of both the NDP and Liberals. Force the Tories to get rid of Harper and get them to replace him with someone less likely to resonate. Then they can pull out the rug from under them once they're ready for another election.

 

[matthewwhatever]

Better yet, Duceppe as PM.

The Cons have already changed Canada's color to blue anyway.

No need to revamp the government websites!

 

[Azih]

Granted, I do dislike him quite a bit. And if I were the only person who noticed how he contradicts himself depending on where and when he's speaking, then I would accept that it all comes down to that. But when other people notice it too -- from all sides of the political spectrum, including NDPers I know and trust -- then I have to conclude that it's not just me seeing and hearing it.

But you haven't demonstrated it in any topic.

Not on the niqab.

Not on piplelines either where you keep posting one half of the statement "Will support a pipeline only if it passes stringent environmental regulations"

 

[pr0cs]

By that logic, the only person who should represent the oilsands as the Minister of Energy

My point is that I'm tired of people who really know nothing about that industry giving their valuable 'knowledge ' on how it should be run. They've never been there never worked in it, have no idea how to run a company that depends on it yet are more than happy to spew opinions on what need to be done.

I never said anything about the Minister of Energy. Quite frankly I would not envy having the job of the next minister (assuming that the job changes hands with the election) considering the state of the industry

 

[gutter_trash]

the Niqab issue is a flash in the pan. We are September 23rd, we still have what 27 days left in this snooze fest of a campaign.

Tidal shifts turns usually happen less then 15-10 days from Election day

 

[Tiktaalik]

Here’s a scenario:

• Conservatives win a Minority mandate with a fairly sizeable amount of seats between them and the second place party.
• Harper resigns and is replaced with an interm leader, someone who is an uncontroversial centrist that is reasonably appealing to everyone (ie. Jason Kenny).
• The interim-PM doesn’t call back Parliament for months, instead making the rounds with Canadian media seeding the idea that a “Coalition of the Losers” goes against the rules (it doesn’t), the Conservatives “won the election” and Canadians don’t want their wishes overruled. Canadians eat it up and some high percentage of Canadians are against a hypothetical coalition (ie. 60-70%)
• The Conservatives raise the notion that another election would be called if the budget is defeated (neither the Libs nor NDP could afford another election).
• Between a rock and a hard place, some opposition party extracts a major goodie from their platform to be added to the Conservative budget in exchange for propping up the Conservatives. The alternative would be taking a chance on another election with an angry Canadian public that would probably result in a Conservative Majority.

Both the Liberals and NDP are heavily courting disaffected Conservative voters in order to win this election. If that support vanished, we’d certainly see another majority Conservative government.

The scenario that most immediately comes to mind would be Trudeau supporting a Conservative government for some limited time (not full mandate) in exchange for a budget that contains at 1-2 years of deficit spending for his infrastructure promises. Trudeau could go to the left wing of his party and say that he “defeated Harper” and brought big new spending on public works, and he could go to the right wing of his party and say that he kept the socialists out. Importantly he is able to tread water and raise money to fight another election in a few years.

I’d paint a similar scenario for the NDP except that I’m not sure which election promise from their platform they’d be able to extract from the Conservatives. Their platform is both too ambitious in some areas, but not ambitious enough, and too similar to the Conservative platform in other areas. I dunno corporate tax increases for childcare spaces?

 

[matthewwhatever]

But you haven't demonstrated it in any topic.

Not on the niqab.

Not on piplelines either where you keep posting one half of the statement "Will support a pipeline only if it passes stringent environmental regulations"

I've said precisely one thing about pipelines in this whole thread, a little over a month ago, when I said that Mulcair was talking in circles around Energy East. That's the entirety of everything I've written here about it. In the previous Canadian PoliGAF thread, I had a grand total of two posts on the subject, both over two months ago: one linking to a Globe & Mail article about Mulcair trying to have it both ways on Energy East -- funny how trying to have it both ways on an issue seems to be a recurring theme in stories about him -- and another saying that it was dishonest for the NDP to be tweeting this:

while at the same time getting angry at any media stories that said the NDP was opposed to Energy East. There's only so many times you can blame headline writers and technicalities for Mulcair being on different sides of so many issues before you have to consider that, just maybe, he really does try to come down on different sides of every major issue.

Here’s a scenario:

• Conservatives win a Minority mandate with a fairly sizeable amount of seats between them and the second place party.
• Harper resigns and is replaced with an interm leader, someone who is an uncontroversial centrist that is reasonably appealing to everyone (ie. Jason Kenny).
• The interim-PM doesn’t call back Parliament for months, instead making the rounds with Canadian media seeding the idea that a “Coalition of the Losers” goes against the rules (it doesn’t), the Conservatives “won the election” and Canadians don’t want their wishes overruled. Canadians eat it up and some high percentage of Canadians are against a hypothetical coalition (ie. 60-70%)
• The Conservatives raise the notion that another election would be called if the budget is defeated (neither the Libs nor NDP could afford another election).
• Between a rock and a hard place, some opposition party extracts a major goodie from their platform to be added to the Conservative budget in exchange for propping up the Conservatives. The alternative would be taking a chance on another election with an angry Canadian public that would probably result in a Conservative Majority.

Both the Liberals and NDP are heavily courting disaffected Conservative voters in order to win this election. If that support vanished, we’d certainly see another majority Conservative government.

The scenario that most immediately comes to mind would be Trudeau supporting a Conservative government for some limited time (not full mandate) in exchange for a budget that contains at 1-2 years of deficit spending for his infrastructure promises. Trudeau could go to the left wing of his party and say that he “defeated Harper” and brought big new spending on public works, and he could go to the right wing of his party and say that he kept the socialists out. Importantly he is able to tread water and raise money to fight another election in a few years.

I’d paint a similar scenario for the NDP except that I’m not sure which election promise from their platform they’d be able to extract from the Conservatives. Their platform is both too ambitious in some areas, but not ambitious enough, and too similar to the Conservative platform in other areas. I dunno corporate tax increases for childcare spaces?

This may be the first time Jason Kenney has ever been described as an uncontroversial centrist.

I think that if the Conservatives win a plurality of seats, they'll rag the puck as long as possible before recalling Parliament and having a Speech from the Throne. Then they'd defy convention and not allow a vote on the Speech, which would be controversial, but apparently is also technically allowed under the constitution. Then they'd hold off on a budget for as long as possible -- right to the end of March or so, at which point they'd be getting their rebates for this election campaign, and they'd have the money to fight a regular-sized campaign (and the other two wouldn't).

 

[Azih]

I don't see two sides on either the niqab issue of "show face to identify and not during ceremony" or "approve pipelines if they pass strong environmental scrutiny". You keep saying he flip flops but you haven't demonstrated it on any issue that I can see.

 

[Tabris]

Man, so hard not to be discouraged about Canadian politics right now.

Actually, let me rephrase that, so hard not to be discouraged about 35% of Canadians right now. I just cannot believe after all the evidence of what a Conservative government has done to our social services and our place in the world, that intelligent people would still support them.

I understand why they support them, it's more money in their pocket if they don't need to leverage social services of any kind and they are on the higher income brackets - but that's just so selfish. I wonder if they just don't understand the experiences of those that are less fortunate but instead focus on the "freeloaders of the welfare state"?

I don't even care anymore Liberal, NDP, Green. I just want no more Harper, and no more of this selfish Canada. We should be a model of being progressive and 'doing the right thing' like we once were.

This isn't the Canada I love, it's becoming something vile. It's becoming American honestly. If Americans elect Bernie Sanders and we elect Harper again, we may even have a reversal. That's how bad this is.

The unfortunate thing is that it's not representative of Canadians, as at least 60-65% don't support this kind of behaviour, and it's our poor election system that allows a unified 35-40% to stay in power against a divisive 60-65%. We have a political inequality issue here.

 

[maharg]

If Trudeau had a history like Mulcair has of changing his message depending on the audience, then sure, it would absolutely be permissible to hold him accountable for a hidden agenda. But changing your position on deficits after the dollar and oil both tank seems a lot more defensible than, say, talking about freedom of religion on Monday in the Maritimes when asked about the niqab, then turning around today in Quebec and saying he's pro-niqab ban.

Not to mention there's something fundamentally deceitful about promising $15/day daycare if elected, then admitting you wouldn't actually get around to implementing it until the end of your second mandate, in eight years..

I'm with Azih. Where you see contradiction I just see nuance. I think he's been pretty clear on both those issues during this campaign. Please note that I'm perfectly *fine* with Trudeau changing his mind about deficits. I have no issue with it. But if you're going to get all up in Mulcair's business about something he said 15 years ago, at least have the decency to own something Trudeau said 3 months ago.

Also seriously ffs, that tweet was taken down pretty much within 3 minutes and it was posted by a volunteer organization full of eager teenagers. It was clearly off message and wasn't part of the party's actual platform or messaging.

I also have no issue with long term promises, especially if it's outright stated that they are, so... I mean you seem to be arguing for both a lack of nuance and a lack of long term planning here.

And if you want to get into Recurring Themes, well I hear that Trudeau Isn't Ready Yet. Boy I wonder why I keep hearing that.

 

[matthewwhatever]

Also seriously ffs, that tweet was taken down pretty much within 3 minutes and it was posted by a volunteer organization full of eager teenagers. It was clearly off message and wasn't part of the party's actual platform or messaging.

I wouldn't be shocked if that was how they tweeted out something so off-message; most parties like keeping their youth wings out of the loop precisely for that reason. But if I'm going to be accused of continually posting something over and over again when I haven't done so -- unless tangentially referring to something twice in two months, over the course of a disturbingly high number of posts, suddenly counts as posting the same thing over and over again, in which case I can't even imagine how Azih must view his own one-note post history -- then I'm going to point out that that's simply not true.

Also

And if you want to get into Recurring Themes, well I hear that Trudeau Isn't Ready Yet. Boy I wonder why I keep hearing that.

Touché.

 

[Azih]

I'm just saying that the Mulcair as flip flopper message is one that has no substance from what I can see. And I only brought it up because you accused him of flip flopping on the niqab which is the latest issue in this campaign.

And I have no problem with someone calling me out on my one note. Seriously.

 

[CitizenVectron]

My point is that I'm tired of people who really know nothing about that industry giving their valuable 'knowledge ' on how it should be run. They've never been there never worked in it, have no idea how to run a company that depends on it yet are more than happy to spew opinions on what need to be done.

I never said anything about the Minister of Energy. Quite frankly I would not envy having the job of the next minister (assuming that the job changes hands with the election) considering the state of the industry

Pretty much no one has any idea about anything they aren't directly involved in, and even then they probably only know enough to get by. I'm sure you aren't knowledgeable about a lot of stuff you comment on online, I know I'm not.

 

[firehawk12]

Not that it matters, but I find it amusing that Rosemary Barton and Evan Solomon both refer to the election day as "E" and start their shows with "it's E minus X days". Jargon gotta jargon. lol

 

[maharg]

I wouldn't be shocked if that was how they tweeted out something so off-message; most parties like keeping their youth wings out of the loop precisely for that reason. But if I'm going to be accused of continually posting something over and over again when I haven't done so -- unless tangentially referring to something twice in two months, over the course of a disturbingly high number of posts, suddenly counts as posting the same thing over and over again, in which case I can't even imagine how Azih must view his own one-note post history -- then I'm going to point out that that's simply not true.

I think you read what I said as accusing you of posting that tweet a lot? That was not what I was saying, just fyi, though I can see how it might be interpreted that way.

 

[SRG01]

Let's bring this thread to Alberta's economy, as Oliver claims that there's no recession in Canada: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busine...leak+picture+alberta+2015/11384564/story.html

I concur with the sentiments of the article. Alberta is suffering because of low oil prices. There is clearly a recession here in our province. For our federal ministers to deny that a recession exists is to deny that our province is going through tough times.

The cognitive dissonance is deafening.

 

[Kifimbo]

the Niqab issue is a flash in the pan. We are September 23rd, we still have what 27 days left in this snooze fest of a campaign.

Tidal shifts turns usually happen less then 15-10 days from Election day

This isn't true. Last election: Jack Layton love affair with Quebec started with his appearance on Tout le monde en parle, one month before the election (on April 3).

And the Niqab issue is anything but a flash in the pan, at least in Quebec. It's been an important topic in every election since the ADQ became the official opposition under Mario Dumont in 2007. Not the niqab per se, but the whole reasonable accomodations debate.

 

[Kifimbo]

Niqab a flash in the pan ? NDP down 8% in Quebec, CPC up 5%.

According to the poll, provided to The Globe and Mail, the NDP has the support of 38 per cent of voters in Quebec, down eight points over three weeks. Meanwhile, the Liberals are up two points to 22 per cent, the Bloc is up two points to 20 per cent and the Conservatives are up five points to 18 per cent.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-in-quebec-in-new-leger-poll/article26504053/

 

[mo60]

Niqab a flash in the pan ? NDP down 8% in Quebec, CPC up 5%.



http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-in-quebec-in-new-leger-poll/article26504053/

Doesn't effect the seat count in Quebec for the NDP that much. Vote splitting/regional splitting will prevent all the other three parties from getting a lot of seats. The only party that can benefit from this is the Liberals but it won't benefit them much.

 

[MutFox]

Liberals or NDP, either is better than Harper.
I'll vote which ever is surging in my riding.

 

[killer rin]

Man, so hard not to be discouraged about Canadian politics right now.

Actually, let me rephrase that, so hard not to be discouraged about 35% of Canadians right now. I just cannot believe after all the evidence of what a Conservative government has done to our social services and our place in the world, that intelligent people would still support them.

I understand why they support them, it's more money in their pocket if they don't need to leverage social services of any kind and they are on the higher income brackets - but that's just so selfish. I wonder if they just don't understand the experiences of those that are less fortunate but instead focus on the "freeloaders of the welfare state"?

I don't even care anymore Liberal, NDP, Green. I just want no more Harper, and no more of this selfish Canada. We should be a model of being progressive and 'doing the right thing' like we once were.

This isn't the Canada I love, it's becoming something vile. It's becoming American honestly. If Americans elect Bernie Sanders and we elect Harper again, we may even have a reversal. That's how bad this is.

The unfortunate thing is that it's not representative of Canadians, as at least 60-65% don't support this kind of behaviour, and it's our poor election system that allows a unified 35-40% to stay in power against a divisive 60-65%. We have a political inequality issue here.

Its hard not to be discouraged... but just remember that this is exactly how Harper wants us to feel. We knew from Day 1, Page 1 that the longer election period would play exactly into Harpers hand. This long campaign gives the Conservatives all the time in the world to sit back and sling attacks while Poll after Poll wears down and disenfranchises the left.

Just remember, there are 3 weeks left and the battle is not yet won...and the bloodbath really doesn't start until late next week when people become more certain and parties switch to a more "Get out to vote" mindset

 

[CitizenVectron]

Let's bring this thread to Alberta's economy, as Oliver claims that there's no recession in Canada: http://www.calgaryherald.com/busine...leak+picture+alberta+2015/11384564/story.html

I concur with the sentiments of the article. Alberta is suffering because of low oil prices. There is clearly a recession here in our province. For our federal ministers to deny that a recession exists is to deny that our province is going through tough times.

The cognitive dissonance is deafening.

They also say the NDP government in Alberta has been a disaster even though they haven't really done anything yet, but also claim that 7 deficits federally + 2 recessions aren't their fault even though they've been in power 9 years.

They know they are lying on many fronts, but they also know that their base eats it up.

 

[gabbo]

They also say the NDP government in Alberta has been a disaster even though they haven't really done anything yet, but also claim that 7 deficits federally + 2 recessions aren't their fault even though they've been in power 9 years.

They know they are lying on many fronts, but they also know that their base eats it up.

They also know the average voter doesn't give enough of a shit to look it up and see that they're spewing lies like a faulty hose.

 

[Annubis]

I just realized that the NPD is the only one that has the Fleur de Lys in Quebec on their banner (how do you call the 'pancartes électorales' in English?)
Which is even funnier considering that the Bloc Québécois didn't even do it.

I guess it's a nice little touch.

 

[CitizenVectron]

I mean to be fair all parties do this to an extent, in terms of omitting certain things to mislead voters, but the Conservatives do it as an attack, where the others tend to do it to inflate their own policy promises.

 

[RevoDS]

I just realized that the NPD is the only one that has the Fleur de Lys in Quebec on their banner (how do you call the 'pancartes électorales' in English?)
Which is even funnier considering that the Bloc Québécois didn't even do it.

I guess it's a nice little touch.

Conservatives also have a faint fleur de lys behind the candidates' photos (the fleurdelisé, actually, I believe). I know because I thought it was incredibly stupid that the most anti-Quebec party would have it. Blatant pandering at its finest in their case.

 

[Annubis]

Conservatives also have a faint fleur de lys behind the candidates' photos (the fleurdelisé, actually, I believe). I know because I thought it was incredibly stupid that the most anti-Quebec party would have it. Blatant pandering at its finest in their case.

Really? I'll have to look for that.
I didn't see it at all.

Yup, that's the flag. How the hell did I miss that?

Nice touch I guess, but they have a snowball's chance in hell as far as Quebec goes lol

 

[matthewwhatever]

Today's reminder of why all candidates should scrub their social media profiles before getting into politics: a candidate in Hamilton -- a university graduate! -- didn't know what Auschwitz's significance is.

They also say the NDP government in Alberta has been a disaster even though they haven't really done anything yet, but also claim that 7 deficits federally + 2 recessions aren't their fault even though they've been in power 9 years.

They know they are lying on many fronts, but they also know that their base eats it up.

I had the misfortune of sitting in a bus station in Sudbury back in July, and while I was there I overheard an old man berating a younger guy who was apparently from Alberta for supporting "Snotley." He was insisting the NDP, who'd been in power for two months at that point, was to blame for Alberta's woes.

That's who the Conservatives are targeting.

 

[gutter_trash]

Really? I'll have to look for that.
I didn't see it at all.

Yup, that's the flag. How the hell did I miss that?

Nice touch I guess, but they have a snowball's chance in hell as far as Quebec goes lol

Both the Conservatives and the NPD omitting symbols of Canada in nationalist ridings.

Liberals are not afraid to display the Maple Leaf in their logos and posters

 

[Annubis]

Today's reminder of why all candidates should scrub their social media profiles before getting into politics: a candidate in Hamilton -- a university graduate! -- didn't know what Auschwitz's significance is.

I'm pretty sure that if I said Auschwitz is some type of German sandwich, at least half of Canada would believe me.

 

[Windam]

Today's reminder of why all candidates should scrub their social media profiles before getting into politics: a candidate in Hamilton -- a university graduate! -- didn't know what Auschwitz's significance is.

what the flying fuck

 

[Tiktaalik]

Niqab a flash in the pan ? NDP down 8% in Quebec, CPC up 5%.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-in-quebec-in-new-leger-poll/article26504053/

This is a seriously bad trend, not just for the NDP, but more importantly for general goal of defeating the Conservatives. A great deal of these seats aren't going to go to the Liberals, but rather the Conservatives and Bloc. As we saw in 2011 it will be more difficult to build a potential anti-Conservative coalition if a significant amount of the seats are held by separatists.

The NDP is losing momentum at the hands of all three of its rivals in Quebec ahead of the first French-language debate that will test the party’s ability to sustain the 2011 Orange Wave, a new Léger poll has found.

According to the poll, provided to The Globe and Mail, the NDP has the support of 38 per cent of voters in Quebec, down eight points over three weeks. Meanwhile, the Liberals are up two points to 22 per cent, the Bloc is up two points to 20 per cent and the Conservatives are up five points to 18 per cent.

The New Democrats started the campaign as front-runners in Quebec, making them the target of attacks from all sides of the political spectrum. The pummelling is expected to continue during debates this Thursday and Friday of next week, which will be broadcast on major French-language television networks.

The Bloc Québécois is going after the NDP’s nationalist vote in rural regions of the province, while the Liberal Party is challenging NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair’s status as the best agent of change in the Montreal area. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are targeting the NDP in central and eastern Quebec, using the issue of the niqab as a wedge to shake the party’s support among francophone voters.

“The NDP had the wind in their sails, but now they are facing headwinds,” pollster Jean-Marc Léger said in an interview. “The party’s support is being carved up by the [other] three parties, which each have their strengths in different parts of the province.”

The NDP seems to be struggling to “keep together the coalition of voters” that led to the party’s historic victory in Quebec in 2011, Mr. Léger added.

The Léger numbers have an impact on the national race, leaving the NDP in third place at 29 per cent across the country, behind the Liberals and the Conservatives who are tied at 31 per cent in the Léger poll.

The results are similar to The Globe and Mail/ CTV/Nanos nightly tracking poll, which found a three-way national race between the Liberals at 31.6 per cent, the Conservatives at 31.5 per cent and the NDP at 29.1 per cent.

Outside of Quebec, Mr. Léger said it’s a “two-way race” between the Conservative Party (35 per cent) and the Liberal Party (34 per cent), with the NDP trailing at 25 per cent.

A key number in the Léger poll is that Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party is described as the party that “most embodies change” by 28 per cent of respondents (up seven points), ahead of Mr. Mulcair and the NDP at 26 per cent (down 6 points).

The poll found the NDP benefited from issues that dominated the early days of the campaign, such as the criminal trial of Senator Mike Duffy. However, the Liberals have won voter support with its economic plan, including a promise to nearly double infrastructure spending and go into deficit to spur economic growth that was made in late August.

“Justin Trudeau has managed to embody change in this campaign, a lot more than the NDP, especially in relation to the issue of the deficit. In my view, this is where things started to change,” Mr. Léger said.

He added that the Conservatives benefited from the recent announcement that the federal government racked up a $1.9-billion surplus in the past fiscal year.

In Quebec, the poll found that both the Bloc and the Conservative Party have gained support with their proposal to force women to remove their niqabs at citizenship ceremonies. For the Conservatives, their support has grown mainly in central and eastern Quebec, in cities such as Trois-Rivières, Victoriaville and Quebec City.

Mr. Mulcair was forced to defend his position on the niqab on Wednesday, stating he would not force women to remove their niqabs during the public portion of citizenship ceremonies.

“If some of these women are being oppressed, we have to reach out to them, and it’s not by depriving them of their Canadian citizenship and their rights that we can help them,” Mr. Mulcair said in Montreal.

The Léger online poll is deemed to be accurate within 2.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Léger polled 1,023 of its 2,115 respondents in Quebec to obtain a clearer picture of the province, but weighted the responses based on the province’s share of the Canadian population for its national numbers.

 

[Walpurgis]

This is a seriously bad trend, not just for the NDP, but more importantly for general goal of defeating the Conservatives. A great deal of these seats aren't going to go to the Liberals, but rather the Conservatives and Bloc. As we saw in 2011 it will be more difficult to build a potential anti-Conservative coalition if a significant amount of the seats are held by separatists.

*sigh*

Oh, Quebec. :/

 

[gutter_trash]

Niqab a flash in the pan ? NDP down 8% in Quebec, CPC up 5%.



http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-in-quebec-in-new-leger-poll/article26504053/

Outside of Quebec, Mr. Léger said it’s a “two-way race” between the Conservative Party (35 per cent) and the Liberal Party (34 per cent), with the NDP trailing at 25 per cent.

If only Quebec would get on board the Liberal train like the rest of Canada

 

[mo60]

This is a seriously bad trend, not just for the NDP, but more importantly for general goal of defeating the Conservatives. A great deal of these seats aren't going to go to the Liberals, but rather the Conservatives and Bloc. As we saw in 2011 it will be more difficult to build a potential anti-Conservative coalition if a significant amount of the seats are held by separatists.

Don;t you mean in 2006 and 2008 because the bloc really had little to no influence on the 2011 election since they only won 5 seats, but they may have had an small impact on some of the ridings in Quebec . They had little influence on that election compared to the 2006 and 2008 election

 

[mo60]

If only Quebec would get on board the Liberal train like the rest of Canada

It's not like Alberta, BC and some of the other provinces were the Liberals are a distant second or third are boarding the Liberal train. The only places were the train is being boarded so far for the liberals is Ontario and Atlantic Canada. That may be a bit of a problem for the Liberals. They really need to expand their support outside of those two regions to have a better shot at official opposition or government.So far in order to beat the NDP on election night and to form official opposition and maybe even government they have to get a popular vote around 1%-4% higher right now than the NDP and the conservatives which may be a bit difficult for them. I really don't care if the liberals win, but I'm being realistic.

 

[Tiktaalik]

Don;t you mean in 2006 and 2008 because the bloc really had little to no influence on the 2011 election since they only won 5 seats, but they may have had an small impact on some of the ridings in Quebec . They had little influence on that election compared to the 2006 and 2008 election

Woops yep I meant 2008.

Our only hope is that the Conservatives and the Bloc both split the racist vote and don't take any seats.

 

[mo60]

Woops yep I meant 2008.

Our only hope is that the Conservatives and the Bloc both split the racist vote and don't take any seats.

0 seats is not out of the question for the Bloc in Quebec according to the Poll tracker and some recent polls. I'm not sure if the conservatives will even get 0 seats in Quebec right now.

 

[cntr]

Gutter has to be a secret Conservative plant, right? He makes me want to vote for anyone but the Liberals every time he posts.

I noticed this and thought "Is it really that bad?".

Both the Conservatives and the NPD omitting symbols of Canada in nationalist ridings.

Liberals are not afraid to display the Maple Leaf in their logos and posters

It is.

 

[mo60]

I just viewed a part of the power and politics episode today on cbc and they were discussing what would happen after the election when one of the panelists brought up the scenario were both the NDP and liberals tie/end up extremely close after this election in seat count. Does anyone know what happens if both the NDP and Liberals tie while the conservatives are in first in seat count because it looks increasingly likely lately that this may happen. Who will prop up who as PM if this scenario happens? Will they have to rely on Elizabeth May or the Bloc(if they win any seats) to form government.

 

[Tabris]

Its hard not to be discouraged... but just remember that this is exactly how Harper wants us to feel. We knew from Day 1, Page 1 that the longer election period would play exactly into Harpers hand. This long campaign gives the Conservatives all the time in the world to sit back and sling attacks while Poll after Poll wears down and disenfranchises the left.

Just remember, there are 3 weeks left and the battle is not yet won...and the bloodbath really doesn't start until late next week when people become more certain and parties switch to a more "Get out to vote" mindset

There's nothing I can do about it though unless I moved. I live in Vancouver Centre. Hedy Fry (Liberals) is going to win. I'm going to vote on principle but the others don't stand a chance.

I'm discouraged my vote doesn't mean anything in the national arena. If I was in a contested riding it would, but it doesn't here. I want to vote nationally instead of regionally.

 

[mdubs]

I just viewed a part of the power and politics episode today on cbc and they were discussing what would happen after the election when one of the panelists brought up the scenario were both the NDP and liberals tie/end up extremely close after this election in seat count. Does anyone know what happens if both the NDP and Liberals tie while the conservatives are in first in seat count because it looks increasingly likely lately that this may happen. Who will prop up who as PM if this scenario happens? Will they have to rely on Elizabeth May or the Bloc(if they win any seats) to form government.

Worth reading for anyone interested in what would happen if the seat counts are close from a constitutional perspective http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...titutional-rules-of-the-game/article26406464/

 

[firehawk12]

I just viewed a part of the power and politics episode today on cbc and they were discussing what would happen after the election when one of the panelists brought up the scenario were both the NDP and liberals tie/end up extremely close after this election in seat count. Does anyone know what happens if both the NDP and Liberals tie while the conservatives are in first in seat count because it looks increasingly likely lately that this may happen. Who will prop up who as PM if this scenario happens? Will they have to rely on Elizabeth May or the Bloc(if they win any seats) to form government.

Based on history, the GG will let the Conservatives form government and if they fail a confidence vote, the second place party will get a chance as well.
But I guess anything can happen.

The Conservatives can play games though, because it becomes a question of whether or not anyone has the balls to trigger an election less than a year after this one.

I think a lot of funny things can happen though. I think if the Liberals come third, maybe they'd want to support the Conservatives if only so they can find a way to remain relevant (losing an election with the Trudeau name is going to be even more damaging that losing with Dion and Ignatieff combined).

There could be other hijinks though. The NDP could have a minority, and the Conservatives might support them if only so that they can take the time to find a replacement for Harper. That'd be funny.

 

[Annubis]

I want to vote nationally instead of regionally.

My riding is the opposite. NPD will win because of regional candidate.

I mean, as much as people say vote liberal, that would mean getting Melanie Joly in my riding. She's a woman who admitted electoral reimbursement fraud "de bonne foi" (she tried becoming mayor of Montreal and failed - tons of controversies).

 

[Tabris]

I want to vote a Prime Minister and I want to vote for my regional MP. These should be separate votes on the same day. I may agree with a party but disagree with a regional MP and my votes in both situation would matter. All the governor general should do is be a mediator at most.

I want my voting to be proportionally ranked (instead of the Australia system) so the worst party by my vote does not get in because they command a unified 30% of Canadians.

And with that, I want voting mandatory.

 

[firehawk12]

We would have to become a Republic to have a directly elected executive.

I'd be happy with that - having a GG is stupid anyway.

 

[mo60]

Based on history, the GG will let the Conservatives form government and if they fail a confidence vote, the second place party will get a chance as well.
But I guess anything can happen.

The Conservatives can play games though, because it becomes a question of whether or not anyone has the balls to trigger an election less than a year after this one.

I think a lot of funny things can happen though. I think if the Liberals come third, maybe they'd want to support the Conservatives if only so they can find a way to remain relevant (losing an election with the Trudeau name is going to be even more damaging that losing with Dion and Ignatieff combined).

There could be other hijinks though. The NDP could have a minority, and the Conservatives might support them if only so that they can take the time to find a replacement for Harper. That'd be funny.

I don't think the Liberals expect to win this election at all. As long as they do significantly better than last time Trudeau has nothing to worry about because this is a 2 election plan for them.

 

[matthewwhatever]

I feel confident predicting we won't have a tie in seat totals. That's not based on anything other than "well it's never happened before", but I think it's extraordinarily improbable.

And on the small chance it does, and that the Liberals and NDP tie...suddenly Elizabeth May becomes the most important person in Ottawa.

I noticed this and thought "Is it really that bad?".
It is.

I can't stand most of his posts, and I'm a card-carrying Liberal who donates monthly to them. I can't imagine how those posts must look to someone on the fence about who to support.

I'm pretty sure that if I said Auschwitz is some type of German sandwich, at least half of Canada would believe me.

I really want this to be wrong, but at the same time, when an educational trustee can't be trusted to have heard of Auschwitz, I despair for the future of our country.

0 seats is not out of the question for the Bloc in Quebec according to the Poll tracker and some recent polls. I'm not sure if the conservatives will even get 0 seats in Quebec right now.

Even if the Conservatives were absolutely tanking in the polls in Quebec, Maxime Bernier would still win his seat. That guy managed to survive a scandal that featured him leaving top secret documents at the home of his Hells Angels-affiliated ex-girlfriend. He managed to get a little over 50% during the Orange Wave, and that was even after he lost 11 points from the 2008 election. He's kind of a libertarian idiot, but he guarantees the Conservatives will retain at least one seat. (I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being Harper's eventual successor, either.)

It's not like Alberta, BC and some of the other provinces were the Liberals are a distant second or third are boarding the Liberal train. The only places were the train is being boarded so far for the liberals is Ontario and Atlantic Canada. That may be a bit of a problem for the Liberals. They really need to expand their support outside of those two regions to have a better shot at official opposition or government.So far in order to beat the NDP on election night and to form official opposition and maybe even government they have to get a popular vote around 1%-4% higher right now than the NDP and the conservatives which may be a bit difficult for them. I really don't care if the liberals win, but I'm being realistic.

Actually, some polls have them pretty strong in Manitoba and BC, and they're within striking distance in quite a few Calgary ridings. It varies from pollster to pollster right now, and it's hard to tell if their support is geographically concentrated enough, but there are signs that the growth might not be just in Atlantic Canada and Ontario.

 

[mo60]

I can't stand most of his posts, and I'm a card-carrying Liberal who donates monthly to them. I can't imagine how those posts must look to someone on the fence about who to support.



I really want this to be wrong, but at the same time, when an educational trustee can't be trusted to have heard of Auschwitz, I despair for the future of our country.



Even if the Conservatives were absolutely tanking in the polls in Quebec, Maxime Bernier would still win his seat. That guy managed to survive a scandal that featured him leaving top secret documents at the home of his Hells Angels-affiliated ex-girlfriend. He managed to get a little over 50% during the Orange Wave, and that was even after he lost 11 points from the 2008 election. He's kind of a libertarian idiot, but he guarantees the Conservatives will retain at least one seat. (I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being Harper's eventual successor, either.)



Actually, some polls have them pretty strong in Manitoba and BC, and they're within striking distance in quite a few Calgary ridings. It varies from pollster to pollster right now, and it's hard to tell if their support is geographically concentrated enough, but there are signs that the growth might not be just in Atlantic Canada and Ontario.

Yep. You are the right. The question is if their support in those areas will be enough to win this election or become the official opposition even though they aren;t expected to do as well in those areas as they are doing in Ontario and Atlantic Quebec. The NDP probably still have an advantage over the Liberals because of Quebec and BC to a lesser extent.Also, if the liberals end up with sub 50 seats in Ontario after this election I don't think they will become official opposition or win this election.I do think the NDP has a shot at least of staying as official opposition or winning this election.

 

[Walpurgis]

I may have asked before but anyone know why rural Manitoba is so blue? I thought it was mostly Aboriginals and reserves out there. I would expect them to be going red. Are there really that many white farmers?