2011 Canadian Election Thread

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

You are just happy to have an election so you can bet on it!

Of Course! Conservative majority is a +150 underdog.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by peter12

Wealthy and special interests already have an outlet directly linked to government. It's called lobbying.

And why do MPs listen to the lobbyists? Donations. Eliminating alternative funding lends increased weight to donations, and thus lobbying.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by The Goon

Obviously, as most of us are Alberta residents, our votes aren't really that important. Perhaps one or two seats in Edmonton are in play.

The decision will come from Ontario and Quebec (as usual).

I get the sense you resent that. If you want Alberta to have influence, swing vote!

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by SebC

I get the sense you resent that. If you want Alberta to have influence, swing vote!

As I live in Calgary West, I have not put my X next to Rob Anders' name in the three or four federal elections we've had since I've lived in Calgary West.

I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but he is one of the most reviled MPs, yet he has won with increasing numbers throughout his time here. So, I give up and give my vote to the person that impresses me most at a debate.

I'll enjoy watching the election, but there's really little point in all of us going back and forth and getting all excited when 95-100% of the seats here (Alberta) are going Conservative.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

You are just happy to have an election so you can bet on it!

30 quatlos on the guy who plays the beatles songs.

[LChoy]

Guess it'll be decided in Ontario again. Harper isn't very popular to most people here in Toronto. However, the alternative being a coalition government supported by the Bloc is equally unappetizing.
My riding is already 100% decided for being that I'm in Olivia's Chow's riding and the way she has cornered the Asian vote here, she's going to continue to roll over any other challenger

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Hesla

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...ol-defeat.html

Its official.

$300 million dollar cost to get Justin Trudeau as liberal leader.

If there's a leadership convention then Bob Rae will secretly murder Trudeau and hide his body in Jack Layton's trunk.

Bob Rae wants to be the Liberal leader in the worst way, from the sounds of it, he's anti Ignatieff and had a big hand in forcing this election.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Guess it'll be decided in Ontario again. Harper isn't very popular to most people here in Toronto. However, the alternative being a coalition government supported by the Bloc is equally unappetizing.
My riding is already 100% decided for being that I'm in Olivia's Chow's riding and the way she has cornered the Asian vote here, she's going to continue to roll over any other challenger

How are the contempt charges playing there in Ontario? They are generally treated as a minor annoyance here in Alberta, but I wouldn't really expect anything different.

I feel that how Ignatieff handles the coalition claims will be critical to his success or lack thereof, which is a shame as the idea of a coalition government shouldn't be so revolting in a parliamentary democracy.

[Frequitude]

The Conservatives are going to murder the Liberals on
1) the economy
2) the coalition (i.e. in bed with seperatists)

...two things that strike a chord with the average Canadian.

Are the contempt charges striking a chord elsewhere in the country? Its the only strong issue I see the Liberals as having going for them.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

The Conservatives are going to murder the Liberals on
1) the economy
2) the coalition (i.e. in bed with seperatists)

...two things that strike a chord with the average Canadian.

Are the contempt charges striking a chord elsewhere in the country? Its the only strong issue I see the Liberals as having going for them.

I don't think that the Conservative record on the economy is as strong as commonly thought. Whether or not the other parties can convince Canadians of this is another matter.

[Dogbert]

We end up with crap on a stick either way. All this is about is choosing the colour of the stick.

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I don't think that the Conservative record on the economy is as strong as commonly thought. Whether or not the other parties can convince Canadians of this is another matter.

My business idea requires a relatively weak dollar. I may not vote Conservative for this fact alone...

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

My business idea requires a relatively weak dollar. I may not vote Conservative for this fact alone...

Our dollar is not strong because of the Conservatives right now and it wasn't weak because of the Liberals. It only is where it is because the US dollar and Euro got hammered in recent years.

People act like a lot has changed since Harper took over.

[LChoy]

The Toronto Star had some coverage of the contempt charges and the scandal about Harper's ex-Aid (and the aid's relation to a former stripper.)

It's the Star, but here's an opinion piece regarding some of the issues expected:

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/edito...-campaign?bn=1

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Our dollar is not strong because of the Conservatives right now and it wasn't weak because of the Liberals. It only is where it is because the US dollar and Euro got hammered in recent years.

People act like a lot has changed since Harper took over.

It was a joke.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I don't think that the Conservative record on the economy is as strong as commonly thought. Whether or not the other parties can convince Canadians of this is another matter.

What other side is there....Collition vote is a terrible thought... For the opposition party to side with a separatist party... that boggles my mind.

This election is a huge waster of tax dollars...

[d_phaneuf]

A new poll suggests the Conservatives hold a commanding lead in public support heading into the campaign. The Conservatives command 43 per cent support among decided voters, putting them well within reach of a majority, according to an Ipsos Reid commissioned by Postmedia News and Global National. The Liberals registered 24 per cent support, the NDP are at 16 per cent, the Bloc at 10 per cent, and the Green Party at six per cent.

And I think fears of a coalition (especially with Iggy's comical deflection of his answer today) are going to push more to the Conservatives, I prefer a minority government that offers some kind of checks and balances. But the threat of a separatist party being in any sort of power is too big a drawback, unless Iggy comes out and says he won't form a coalition I am hoping for a Conservative majority.

[SeoulFire]

I cannot see how you think a minority government offers checks and balances - it basically handcuffs the government and does not allow for anything significant to be done.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by flambers

What other side is there....Collition vote is a terrible thought... For the opposition party to side with a separatist party... that boggles my mind.

This election is a huge waster of tax dollars...

Do you reject any coalition or just one with the BQ?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

I cannot see how you think a minority government offers checks and balances - it basically handcuffs the government and does not allow for anything significant to be done.

Agreed. Especially really big issues like Constitutional Reform.
If Harper gets a majority there will be probably be another attempt to being Quebec into a new constitution. That's another issue voters should be thinking about. Do you want another Meech Lake?