40th Canadian Federal Election - Welcome to another Conservative Minority (whee!)

[Nehkara]

PM expected to launch election campaign Sunday

Harper is expected to visit Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean at 9 a.m. ET on Sunday and ask her to dissolve Parliament, the Canadian Press reported Thursday.

Canadians would then go to the polls on Oct. 14.

Liberal MPs have been sent back to their ridings to prepare for the long anticipated election call.

Off to the races. I gotta say, I much prefer the Canadian system of essentially a 5 week campaign to the 2-year campaign in the US.

I'm sure some people will not appreciate my opinion but these are my preferences for this election (although some rather unlikely):

1. NPD minority - The Liberals and Conservatives have both had their shots and neither has done particularly well. Time to give the NDP a shot. Maybe they can repair some of our ailing social programs and health care system.

2. Liberal minority - The Conservatives have not impressed me. Time the pendulum swings back a bit.

3. Conservative minority - Don't want a Conservative government but if we have to have one, definitely needs to be a minority. If the Conservatives get a majority, you will see the social conservatives come out of the woodwork.


We should also get a poll going here, see who would win right now in an election if only Calgarypuckers were voting.

[burn_this_city]

Stevie FTW..

Here we go with the secret social agenda rubbish..

NDP don't ever deserve a chance. You want to run this country into the ground. Give Jackie boy a blank cheque and a 4 year term.

[Canada 02]

I love how it works in Canada! 5 week election campaign instead of the two year marathon we have south of the 49th

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I love how it works in Canada! 5 week election campaign instead of the two year marathon we have south of the 49th

Seconded. Canada knows how to run an election--it may not be perfect, but it's efficient and, like ripping off a band-aid, it's over fast.

On the other hand, now I'm not sure if I sent my absentee ballot request in time.... I mailed it a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully I get to vote this time.

[troutman]

Macleans.ca web-poll:

Conservatives 44%
Liberals 39%
NDP 9%
Bloc <1%

Green 7%

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Stevie FTW..

Here we go with the secret social agenda rubbish..

NDP don't ever deserve a chance. You want to run this country into the ground. Give Jackie boy a blank cheque and a 4 year term.

1. I don't think it is any secret that the Conservatives have many social conservative members.

2. The NDP do deserve a chance. They have never governed, how do you what they would be like if they never get a chance. I also said MINORITY, Layton won't have a blank cheque and unless he runs things well, won't have a 4 year term.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

1. I don't think it is any secret that the Conservatives have many social conservative members.

I don't think it's any secret that Harper put the gay marriage thing back up and it still went through with a Conservative minority... What exactly do you think he's going to do?

2. The NDP do deserve a chance. They have never governed, how do you what they would be like if they never get a chance. I also said MINORITY, Layton won't have a blank cheque and unless he runs things well, won't have a 4 year term.

Well, looking at their policies, I could see what they would TRY to be like. It'll never happen anyway.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

On the other hand, now I'm not sure if I sent my absentee ballot request in time.... I mailed it a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully I get to vote this time.

How does that work? what riding would you vote in?

[troutman]

http://www.macleans.ca/canada/opinio...20_65455_65455

— Correct me if I'm wrong, but did I not sign a bill of yours barely 16 months ago directing that elections be held on a fixed schedule? Third Monday in October, as I recall. In the fourth year after the last election. What are you doing asking me to dissolve Parliament a year ahead of time?

— Yes, but if you remember, it also said that nothing in it affected the power to dissolve Parliament "at the Governor General's discretion." Meaning at my discretion. If it please Your Excellency.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by troutman

http://www.macleans.ca/canada/opinio...20_65455_65455

— Correct me if I'm wrong, but did I not sign a bill of yours barely 16 months ago directing that elections be held on a fixed schedule? Third Monday in October, as I recall. In the fourth year after the last election. What are you doing asking me to dissolve Parliament a year ahead of time?

— Yes, but if you remember, it also said that nothing in it affected the power to dissolve Parliament "at the Governor General's discretion." Meaning at my discretion. If it please Your Excellency.

I read that article as well...I found it very entertaining and interesting!

[evman150]

I think it would be great for the country if the NDP formed the government. Health care would be improved, post secondary education would most likely be made free, marijuana would be legalized (and taxed to hell and back). All wonderful things for this country.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I don't think it's any secret that Harper put the gay marriage thing back up and it still went through with a Conservative minority... What exactly do you think he's going to do?




Well, looking at their policies, I could see what they would TRY to be like. It'll never happen anyway.

Never sure exactly what is in Harper's brain but with a majority, and the ability to push through legislation, I think you could see the issue of gay marriage arise once again, you could also see abortion come up as an issue and possibly a drift towards a US-style of governing that we have no need of here. That is what I am concerned about, as much or more concerned than those who think the NDP would blow up the nation.

Also, what policies exactly are everyone afraid of from the NDP? Support for unions? Better health care? Better pension? Better environmental awareness and conservation? Better social programs? Education that is excellent and affordable?

For years we have had governments attempting to undermine social programs and push the health care system into mediocrity. I figure it might be time for a party that actually cares about Canadians and not just about money.

It is true their policies would cost money but that is what the surplus is for... and you know they won't be in for long, so if they were to form a government the beloved Liberals and Conservatices would be back to build up the surplus in a few short years.

But you are right... it will never happen.

[MarchHare]

I don't think it's any secret that Harper put the gay marriage thing back up and it still went through with a Conservative minority... What exactly do you think he's going to do?

Harper re-introduced the gay marriage bill because he was trying to repeal the legalization that was passed by the previous Liberal minority government. I don't have time to produce the exact voting record now, but IIRC, almost every Conservative MP voted against legalized gay marriage both times. The only reason it's legal today is because of Liberal, NDP, and BQ MPs who supported it. A Conservative majority would likely have the number of votes required to repeal it.

[CaptainCrunch]

In 5 weeks, we're going to be in the exact same place that we are now with a conservative minority government

God forbid the NDP ever get access to the countries vault, they've run provinces into the ground when they've had a chance, I'd hate to see what they do with the whole country.

I don't want to see the Libs in power, I think Dion is pretty much a one trick pony, his carbon tax would cause more destruction out here, and frankly I won't vote for a government that panders to the east, couldn't be bothered to have their leader campaign out here, and has a leader that couldn't lead his way out of a one way back alley.

The same old buggaboo about the Social conservative agenda, it proved so true this time, and its irrelevant if they get a majority because if the Conservatives start putting in a grass roots evil Palpatine like social agenda they won't get a chance to govern again, so its not going to happen. Gay rights won't be repealed, woman won't be foreced back into the kitchen as baby factories, there won't be soldiers on the streets with guns. Its a lame excuse for not voting for a party because you toe a company line thats put out as an election smear. We've actually had better govenment under the Conservatives then we have had at any time under the Liberals.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by evman150

I think it would be great for the country if the NDP formed the government. Health care would be improved, post secondary education would most likely be made free, marijuana would be legalized (and taxed to hell and back). All wonderful things for this country.

Thanks evman, thought I was a One-Man NDP army on CP.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

PM expected to launch election campaign Sunday



Off to the races. I gotta say, I much prefer the Canadian system of essentially a 5 week campaign to the 2-year campaign in the US.

I'm sure some people will not appreciate my opinion but these are my preferences for this election (although some rather unlikely):

1. NPD minority - The Liberals and Conservatives have both had their shots and neither has done particularly well. Time to give the NDP a shot. Maybe they can repair some of our ailing social programs and health care system.

2. Liberal minority - The Conservatives have not impressed me. Time the pendulum swings back a bit.

3. Conservative minority - Don't want a Conservative government but if we have to have one, definitely needs to be a minority. If the Conservatives get a majority, you will see the social conservatives come out of the woodwork.


We should also get a poll going here, see who would win right now in an election if only Calgarypuckers were voting.

1. The NDP has had the luxury of taking the social high road on every issue because they have no realistic shot of every governing this country. You can talk all you want about pumping money into social programs when, at the end of the day, you don't have to answer to anyone about how you choose to spend your imaginary dollars.

2. The Liberals had their shot at governing with a minority government. Didn't work. While the Conservatives haven't been angels in Ottawa, it's too soon to forgive and forget the stunts pulled by the Liberals that lead to their fall from grace in the first place.

3. Like FireFly mentioned, there are already social conservatives in the rest of the House. Is there a particular social issue you are afraid the staunch conservatives within Harper's government are waiting to ram down Canadians' throats the moment they obtain 155+ seats?

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Stevie FTW..

Here we go with the secret social agenda rubbish..

NDP don't ever deserve a chance. You want to run this country into the ground. Give Jackie boy a blank cheque and a 4 year term.

I really don't understansd this unjustified fear of a right wing social agenda being rammed down the throats of everyone if the Conservatives win a majority. There's not enough people even in the Conservative party that support such an evangelical agenda. The only thing a Conservative majority will do social issuewise is not entertain BS proposals like more safe injection sites, social engineering projects like government-run daycare, and the continued coddling of criminals. That's all very fine by me.

As for Jack Layton, I think he serves a valuable role as stand up commedian going on a cross-country tour every time an election writ is dropped. But I suppose lifes losers deserve their voice too, even if it doesn't make logical sense.

[Russic]

Can the Conservatives realistically pull a majority out of this? Are people any more enraged or supportive of any party since the last election? From where I'm sitting the Conservatives are either going to remain in the exact same position or make their situation worse. Then again, I'm notoriously brutal at predicting things like this.

[Boblobla]

It will be a conservative minority again imo. I would love a majority gov't but I don't think that will happen this time around. Maybe if Dion has some more chronic foot-in-mouth moments...

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Never sure exactly what is in Harper's brain but with a majority, and the ability to push through legislation, I think you could see the issue of gay marriage arise once again, you could also see abortion come up as an issue and possibly a drift towards a US-style of governing that we have no need of here. That is what I am concerned about, as much or more concerned than those who think the NDP would blow up the nation.

Also, what policies exactly are everyone afraid of from the NDP? Support for unions? Better health care? Better pension? Better environmental awareness and conservation? Better social programs? Education that is excellent and affordable?

For years we have had governments attempting to undermine social programs and push the health care system into mediocrity. I figure it might be time for a party that actually cares about Canadians and not just about money.

It is true their policies would cost money but that is what the surplus is for... and you know they won't be in for long, so if they were to form a government the beloved Liberals and Conservatices would be back to build up the surplus in a few short years.

But you are right... it will never happen.

The NDP would also drastically increase corporate taxation, which would drive business out of Canada. Drastically tax anyone that makes a decent salary to support the poor driving those people out of the country. The NDP is magical in terms of deficit spending, they couldn't balance a checkbook let alone the nations government.

I would hope that if the NDP had a minority that Alberta would vote to secede the next day.