2011 Canadian Election Thread

[Daradon]

Lol, that goofball up there makes a well reasoned argument...

???

I'm very stoked at the outcome of this election. With a majority we know longer have to worry about a coalition. And the Bloc is all but dead. No more holding the country hostage, and even from a French standpoint, maybe a return to more prosperity in Quebec? Perhaps business will return there now?

Lastly, this will be good news for economic indicators. A solid government. Should keep us trucking along through these unsteady times right now.

In truth, I really didn't mind a minority government, kinda enjoyed the balance of power, but any possible coalition with the Bloc involved sent chills up my spine. The political fighting was getting to be too much too.

Now, I only hope Harper doesn't betray the power we've put into him. They are the best of the options we have right now, but I still don't like everything the party has done or stands for. On the other hand, I do believe they have governed better than the Chretien government.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cheese

But with a majority government also comes expectations from the base that Harper has tried to keep happy over the past five years.
"For years, we've kept our mouths silent because we knew it was a minority and we didn't want this hidden-agenda label to come out," said Craig Chandler, a businessman and long-time supporter of the party in its various incarnations.
"But the reason we chose a westerner is because we wanted the Canadian Alliance-Reform agenda, and now that he has won a majority, he won't be afraid to show his true colours."


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/co-parent-c...042739182.html

Me thinks Mr Chandler has a rude awakening coming.

Ontario (toronto really) is where this majority was won and as such will be well represented among cabinet. The reform agenda is dead for the most part and the policy makers know it. Harper wont re-visit the abortion/gay marriage stuff, but obviously will eliminate the gun registry and will certainly get his crime legislation through. The voter subsidy is long gone as well.

beyond that though, Harper will have to appeal to his caucus and that will mean staying small "c" which is palatable to the Ontario and East brigade.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Honest question. When was the last time a party had the share of the vote over 50%?

IIRC it was Diefenbaker in 1958.

It is nearly impossible to get 50% in a multi-party system.

[MarchHare]

beyond that though, Harper will have to appeal to his caucus and that will mean staying small "c" which is palatable to the Ontario and East brigade.

I'm sure we've all heard the old joke:

"When the Liberals are in power, Albertans vote for the Conservatives. When the Conservatives are in power, Albertans start a new party."

It should be interesting to see how Harper tries to satisfy his core base supporters like Craig Chandler in the quote above while also staying relatively moderate so as not to alienate voters in Ontario and the GTA in particular.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by transplant99

IIRC it was Diefenbaker in 1958.

It is nearly impossible to get 50% in a multi-party system.

IIRC Mulroney in 84.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Dan02

IIRC Mulroney in 84.

Correct. Mulroney's Conservatives got 50.03% of the popular vote.

[Hanni]

Harper is far too much a strategist to do anything big right away. He knows that if he goes in guns blazing with a Canadian Alliance-Reform agenda the Conservative party will once again be decimated come next election, Ontario simply will not tolerate it.

The Bloc being destroyed is great, but from everything I have heard they are poised to make big gains in the next provincial election so lets not get to excited.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Hanni

Harper is far too much a strategist to do anything big right away. He knows that if he goes in guns blazing with a Canadian Alliance-Reform agenda the Conservative party will once again be decimated come next election, Ontario simply will not tolerate it.

The Bloc being destroyed is great, but from everything I have heard they are poised to make big gains in the next provincial election so lets not get to excited.

Not sure about 'poised to make big gains' but I would agree it is probably far from the end for them. It doesn't take much for people to get disenfranchised with their leaders and cast protest votes again. This time it was for the NDP, next time it could be for the Bloc again.

They'll probably be a thorn in the side until immigration catches up in Quebec in 60 or so years?

Still, it's a good sign for now.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

IIRC it was Diefenbaker in 1958.

It is nearly impossible to get 50% in a multi-party system.

Maybe outside of a massive scandal by a party

It bugs me about the those saying that 60% voted against the conservatives.
A PR system technically is more "fair" and reflective of people wishes. The downside is that it encourages more parties leading to fragmented a coalition governments that has multiple competing interests from all over the country. This results in more frequent elections. Further, it raises the possibilities that smaller parties have increased power due to the ability to get concessions to keep the government in power.

Neither system is perfect (well, maybe the Swiss version of PR), but we make do with what we have.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Hanni

Harper is far too much a strategist to do anything big right away. He knows that if he goes in guns blazing with a Canadian Alliance-Reform agenda the Conservative party will once again be decimated come next election, Ontario simply will not tolerate it.

The Bloc being destroyed is great, but from everything I have heard they are poised to make big gains in the next provincial election so lets not get to excited.

They can vote Bloq all they want during provincial elections. A separatist party has no place in federal politics imo.

[HeartsOfFire]

I begin today, looking at this 41st parliament with cautious optimism. But if they again try to push through copyright reform, and if they insist on being heavy handed with TPMs and their circumvention, I'm fata'd I don't know what you're talking about, Constable Fraser. No, I don't make backup copies of DVD's I've purchased. I happily buy brand new copies of movies if my original DVD wears out, like Mr. Harper and his hollywood studio handlers wants me to do.

[peter12]

Craig Chandler is a total wacko. Entirely on the outside.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

Maybe outside of a massive scandal by a party

It bugs me about the those saying that 60% voted against the conservatives.
A PR system technically is more "fair" and reflective of people wishes. The downside is that it encourages more parties leading to fragmented a coalition governments that has multiple competing interests from all over the country. This results in more frequent elections. Further, it raises the possibilities that smaller parties have increased power due to the ability to get concessions to keep the government in power.

Neither system is perfect (well, maybe the Swiss version of PR), but we make do with what we have.

yeah it really is the most ridiculous argument in my eyes. I have been perusing more "liberal" websites to see commenst and its a running theme.

Well I can counter that 81% didnt vote Liberal. 70% didnt vote NDP. So what does that make them? Its a stupid point and even more worthless in the FPTP system.

[Canada 02]

no surprise, Michael Ignatieff just quit as liberal leader

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...ff-future.html#

[GirlySports]

I think people are over-estimating the demise of the Liberal Party. The NDP was the 3rd party forever and all of a sudden they get 2nd place and people are saying it's going to be CPC and NDP two-party system from now on?

The Liberal Party is still a very strong brand. They ran an awful campaign with a terrible leader who didn't understand the dynamics of Canadian politics. The NDP has the majority of its seats in Quebec. We know how Quebec is, it changes with the wind. With the Bloc out of the equation, NDP could lose Quebec back to the Liberals just as fast as it got it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

no surprise, Michael Ignatieff just quit as liberal leader

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...ff-future.html#

had to happen..hard to drive the bus when you dont have a chair to sit in.

This election may be a crushing defeat for the Libs, but it may turn out to be the best thing for them moving forward.

Yes they need a new leader, but more than anything they need a new "brand". Something for people to grab onto as the most recent platforms and catch phrases simply dont resonate. They are a victim of their own past successes. "Natural governing party" has such an arrogant and condescending message to it. They simply couldnt get away from it either....now they can drop off the face of the map into backrooms and grassroot areas and rebuild. I think this can happen sooner rather than later as well if for no other reason than the NDP really aren't able to move to the middle wehereas the Liberals likely can.

I said it last night and I will repeat it...the CPC as of today is the center party in Candian politics, as they are way closer to the middle than the NDP, but there is room for the Liberals to get back to what they once were and regain that middle ground. No more elections to fight for at least 4 years, no more having to run an effective opposition means time. Time to raise money, time to find the right leader, and time to establish themselves with a makeover.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I begin today, looking at this 41st parliament with cautious optimism. But if they again try to push through copyright reform, and if they insist on being heavy handed with TPMs and their circumvention, I'm fata'd I don't know what you're talking about, Constable Fraser. No, I don't make backup copies of DVD's I've purchased. I happily buy brand new copies of movies if my original DVD wears out, like Mr. Harper and his hollywood studio handlers wants me to do.

To be fair, no matter who was voted in, they'd have to change the copyright laws. There's massive pressure to get it redone.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

no surprise, Michael Ignatieff just quit as liberal leader

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...ff-future.html#

Ignatieff said he found it difficult to recover from the "unscrupulous attacks" from the negative ads rolled out by the Conservatives prior to the election campaign.



I guess Ignatieff wasn't in Canada when the Liberals were bombarding Canada with ads about how the CA had a "hidden agenda" or that the CPC wanted to militarize our cities. With guns. In our cities.

What a flake. Don't let the door hit you on your way out, Michael.

[The Goon]

The Liberal Party will be back. The New Democrats will stumble with so many seats (and rookie MPs), and an inability to do anything other than react angrily.

[bc-chris]

i just want to preface my post with a 'i haven't being following this thread' disclaimer so please forgive me if this has already been talked about....

last night at 7pm the polling stations had just closed here in bc - which of course means that not a single vote had yet to be counted in this province. the living room tv was on and our election coverage began.... i had to chuckle when the 'breaking news' headline on the screen was already declaring a conservative majority... i'm glad my vote meant something! ha! ha!