Federal Election Called for Oct 19, 2015

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Weitz

They already announced the budget won't come till after the federal election.

There will be plenty of speculation though from other parties and from economists in the fall. The Tories will certainly be claiming that the NDP are hiding something and making guesses as to the size of the deficit that the NDP will have to confirm, deny or refuse to comment on.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Jacks

There will be plenty of speculation though from other parties and from economists in the fall. The Tories will certainly be claiming that the NDP are hiding something and making guesses as to the size of the deficit that the NDP will have to confirm, deny or refuse to comment on.

Heck I already think that will be the case, which is why they are waiting so they don't torpedo the Federal NDP.

[Jacks]

Another interesting situation is possibly coming up. Mulcair has said that he will only participate in debates where Harper is in attendance and also that he will participate in an equal number of French and English debates. Since Harper has so far only agreed to one French debate then Mulcair either needs to change his position or skip some English debates. It's reported today that they he might now pull out of the Globe and Munk debates.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tom-...ates-1.3179992

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says he has not yet agreed to participate in two high-profile English language leaders' debates, despite promises from the organizers the NDP leader would be there.

Both The Globe and Mail and the Munk Debates have said Mulcair will be part of their leaders' debates, on the economy and foreign policy, respectively. But Mulcair told a Radio-Canada radio morning show Wednesday he had only committed to two debates, and neither were to be hosted by Munk or the Globe.

"For now, I will attend [the debate organized by] Maclean's tomorrow," he said in French. "I have confirmed that I will participate in the TVA debate."

His supporters were looking forward to a debate with "an empty podium in Harpers place", it would be ironic if the opposite happened.

Also, for those interested, the first debate will be tomorrow at 6pm in Toronto. Watch it here.

Streaming:
http://www.macleans.ca/national-leaders-debate/
or on their youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/MacleansMagazine

or Live:
In English, on City. In English and French, on CPAC. In Italian, Punjabi, Mandarin and Cantonese on OMNI.

[Looch City]

^ I don't understand, why would he only attend those attended by Harper?

[Senator Clay Davis]

No one is going to be watching the debate tomorrow. There's a potential mega train wreck in the Republican debate at the same time tomorrow. Only one of these is must see TV.

[2Stonedbirds]

Which explains much of our societies fair weather/non-invested approach to domestic politics.

We would rather be entertained by the going ons in the US than what is actually happening at home. Sad.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

^ I don't understand, why would he only attend those attended by Harper?

Because he wants to portray the election as a choice between him and Harper. If he goes to a debate without Harper, he legitimizes Trudeau's bid to become PM.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Jacks

There will be plenty of speculation though from other parties and from economists in the fall. The Tories will certainly be claiming that the NDP are hiding something and making guesses as to the size of the deficit that the NDP will have to confirm, deny or refuse to comment on.

And the NDP will be claiming that the Conservatives are hiding a deficit and refusing to release a budget update.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

^ I don't understand, why would he only attend those attended by Harper?

I have no idea why he would box himself in like that but he did. By also claiming he will do equal debates in French and English something has to give. It's likely that Harper will be in at least 1 more English than French debate.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by John Doe

Because he wants to portray the election as a choice between him and Harper. If he goes to a debate without Harper, he legitimizes Trudeau's bid to become PM.

Haha wow, that's just childish.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by John Doe

And the NDP will be claiming that the Conservatives are hiding a deficit and refusing to release a budget update.

That will come off pretty strange asking for a budget update in the middle of an election. When the writ is dropped Parliament is dissolved and the government goes into caretaker mode. By contrast, at that point the NDP will have been in power for 5 months without bringing forth a budget.

[John Doe]

I find the reluctance to attend debates to be very concerning. If someone wants to represent Canadians, they should be able to debate why they should be chosen to do so and they should do it in a venue where the largest amount of Canadians can view it. If we as the electorate allow them to get away without doing this then we are just as responsible.

[Looch City]

Yeah I agree, it's BS if you set rules on attending.

"I won't attend because candidate C will be there." Why? Are you afraid he'll actually look a better against you?

[Jacks]

This narrative that the parties are avoiding debates is mind bottling. In the past there have been 2 debates. This time there are going to be as many as 7. The first debate is available for streaming on multiple websites and TV channels and in what looks to be 6 languages.

Edit: I mean to say that there will be plenty of debates and chances for people to see the leaders. Having debates that are missing leaders is silly though.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I find the reluctance to attend debates to be very concerning. If someone wants to represent Canadians, they should be able to debate why they should be chosen to do so and they should do it in a venue where the largest amount of Canadians can view it. If we as the electorate allow them to get away without doing this then we are just as responsible.

Well then that brings in the Trudeau option. He'll debate anyone, anywhere, anytime in English or French.

Could a Mulcair-Harper fight see Trudeau go right up the middle?

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I find the reluctance to attend debates to be very concerning. If someone wants to represent Canadians, they should be able to debate why they should be chosen to do so and they should do it in a venue where the largest amount of Canadians can view it. If we as the electorate allow them to get away without doing this then we are just as responsible.

I agree. I cannot vote for someone who does not show up to the very few debates we get before a federal/provincial/civic election. Makes my choice easy I guess.

[GirlySports]

I'm also sad Duceppe is not in an english debates, he debates better in english than in french!

[Kjesse]

Mulcair is again demonstrating his shrewdness with his new stance on participation in debates. He's alienating Trudeau and that asshat Green Party leader, while promoting himself as the foil to Harper.

Make no mistake, he would be a disastrous PM for Alberta, and I think the rest of Canada as well, but I have a begrudging respect that he makes bold strategic moves and sticks to them.

I suppose there is more to Alberta's prosperity than pipelines, and O&G certainly shouldn't dictate the political agenda, but between Notley nixing Keystone and soft on going West, and Mulcair shooting down going East, Alberta is in for a world of hurt.

[PsYcNeT]

Why do people care who the party leader is/does anyway? It's not like they are but a mere fraction of what the governing party does.

The American cult of personality has crept into Canadian politics I suppose.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Why do people care who the party leader is/does anyway? It's not like they are but a mere fraction of what the governing party does.

The American cult of personality has crept into Canadian politics I suppose.

They shouldn't but most people vote based solely on the leader. That is how we get such embarassing MPs. Rob Anders is a good example.