2011 Canadian Election Thread

[metallicat]

Wouldn't they be wise to move to the centre themselves?? CBC I mean.

[Slava]

I think it's Harpers last, just because he'll most likely retire nearer to the end of the mandate. It's nothing partisan or anything, but by that point he's been PM for about 9 years and has probably had enough?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think it's Harpers last, just because he'll most likely retire nearer to the end of the mandate. It's nothing partisan or anything, but by that point he's been PM for about 9 years and has probably had enough?

Well, if you read the article, they argue that he only won a majority because of some very unlikely factors that may never occur again, hence their reasoning that this may be his last. Their argument seems to be that this was all a fluke. I think trying to predict what will happen 4 years from now is pretty silly on their part.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Well, if you read the article, they argue that he only won a majority because of some very unlikely factors that may never occur again, hence their reasoning that this may be his last. Their argument seems to be that this was all a fluke. I think trying to predict what will happen 4 years from now is pretty silly on their part.

I read the article and while it's a dumb study to do, there could be some validity. They basically got every single vote split exactly as needed...that's not easy to maintain.

It's 4-5 years away though, so who knows what happens over that time. The only certainty is that Calgary will vote conservative!

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Slava

I read the article and while it's a dumb study to do, there could be some validity. They basically got every single vote split exactly as needed...that's not easy to maintain.

It's 4-5 years away though, so who knows what happens over that time. The only certainty is that Calgary will vote conservative!

That could all change though. Who ever would have thought that the NDP would be the party of Quebec? Not me, and yet, they swept it completely. If the Liberals are committed to rebuilding their party and earning the confidence of Canadians, maybe it's not so far fetched to think that 4 years from now, Alberta could be in play.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Hey, this thread is still going, fantastic. Could anyone here tell me when the vote is, and how I look up the polling stations?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Hey, this thread is still going, fantastic. Could anyone here tell me when the vote is, and how I look up the polling stations?

Next Monday. Expect a phone call to inform you of where to go to vote.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ark2

That could all change though. Who ever would have thought that the NDP would be the party of Quebec? Not me, and yet, they swept it completely. If the Liberals are committed to rebuilding their party and earning the confidence of Canadians, maybe it's not so far fetched to think that 4 years from now, Alberta could be in play.

Sure Alberta could be in play, if a new party starts up.

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Wouldn't they be wise to move to the centre themselves?? CBC I mean.

I'd say we save 1 billion dollars a year and put the CBC up for sale.

[metallicat]

Well I think they do a fine job at a lot of things, but when it comes to news and politics, they should be remaining as neutral as possible due to being publically funded.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Ah, gotta love CBC's left wing bias. Merely three days after the election and CBC is already predicting that this will be the Harper's last majority government.



http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stor...ers-views.html

Even more interesting to me is the comments section. I suppose hatred and bitterness leads a person to say some strange things, but wow.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by zamler

Even more interesting to me is the comments section. I suppose hatred and bitterness leads a person to say some strange things, but wow.

wow is right

A "one hit wonder" that has the portent to go on forever, especially if Mr. Harper succeeds in cutting funding to all the other parties!
There are several reports coming that should be enough to indict Mr. Harper, and his party, on several charges, from election fraud to war crimes.
The courts had darn well better step up or we're going to find out what Mr. H. really meant when he said: "You won't recognize Canada when I'm through with it!"

Of course Harper's majority gov't will be a one time deal. 4 years from now when he's bankrupted this country with his deficit spending which he has been doing since before the '08 financial crisis.

He will also strip this country of it's sovereignty to integrate us into the US system that has worked soo well for them. NOTE sarcasm!

In 4 years voters will have realized their mistake.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I don't have a problem with Ignatieff snapping up an academic gig right after the election. U of T is a good school and Ignatieff (contrary to what some people seem to believe) really is an academic genius in political science and global relations. He's a smart cookie but a pretty terrible leader.

Agreed. This will be better for him and Canada.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Stranger

I'd say we save 1 billion dollars a year and put the CBC up for sale.

I know its a contentious issue, but I like having the CBC if at least for the news.

People may think it leans too far left, but I remember a discussion about a year ago in a US thread that turned it's eyes to the media again down there and we all pretty much agreed the CBC was far more balanced than anything down there and more concerned with news than ratings.

Maybe second only to the BBC really. Funny enough, both are public funded.

EDIT: I don't think that predicting this is Harper's last majority is left wing bias either. I think it's a good prediction. How many people thought he'd get a majority this time? With 5 parties, it's harder and harder to get a majority, and that's not any one leaders fault, it's just the system.

Not sure why people have to take predictions so personally. It's like when a broadcaster predicts against the Flames. A lot of people jump on him and her, claim they are biased and stupid. Maybe just chill before taking leaps like that?

[Frequitude]

Harper knows he got everything just right this election and he certainly has no aspirations of losing the majority.

The Conservatives will govern more from the centre this time around to hang onto and solidify that part of the spectrum they stole. Its a tremendous opportunity and the only path to a repeat majority.

Define yourself first, then broaden your support.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Harper knows he got everything just right this election and he certainly has no aspirations of losing the majority.

The Conservatives will govern more from the centre this time around to hang onto and solidify that part of the spectrum they stole. Its a tremendous opportunity and the only path to a repeat majority.

Define yourself first, then broaden your support.

I do hope so. But we have only to look at this election to see how quickly things can change. Politics is a risky business. It's hard to bet for or against anyone anymore.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Wouldn't they be wise to move to the centre themselves?? CBC I mean.

If Harper's smart, he'll move to the middle. The best case scenario for his party after 4 years would be to supplant the Liberals as "Canada's natural governing party."

Any attempt to move to a more right wing agenda would be disastrous for the Conservatives.

I'm sure Harper recognizes this. For this reason, centrists and those on the left have less to fear than might be inferred from the Conservatives' right wing roots.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

If Harper's smart, he'll move to the middle. The best case scenario for his party after 4 years would be to supplant the Liberals as "Canada's natural governing party."

Any attempt to move to a more right wing agenda would be disastrous for the Conservatives.

I'm sure Harper recognizes this. For this reason, centrists and those on the left have less to fear than might be inferred from the Conservatives' right wing roots.

I believe he knows this, I just wonder how he'll deal with opposition. Just because he has a majority, doesn't mean he doesn't need to cooperate. I kinda see him as someone who might not compromise enough, in fact do his best to quiet opposition. Sometimes what we know and what we do are very different things.

Also I'm not entirely sure he's above the lobbies. At least the ones that will get him in trouble.

That said, those are just feelings I have. I'm not sure about them, and hope he leads moderately. I was happy with the victory and look forward to continued prosperity, as long as it's mixed with foresight and pragmatism. We need to to take care of our country, our greenspaaces, as well as our pocketbooks. I believe the two can be done together, even prospered with a few small changes.

[flylock shox]

A very nice, well considered, moderate post Daradon.

If Harper's "victory" speech is anything to go by, he is conscious of the need to reach out to those who have not supported him in the past. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the right approach.

I think the more interesting developments will come from the NDP. Depending on what they do, they could force an NDP/Liberal merger, or (more likely) recede to the far left allowing the Liberals to re-emerge up the middle, re-establishing the status quo.

In any event, a very interesting time in Canadian politics. Personally, I hope to see the Liberals return to prominence as the "centrist" alternative between the right-leaning Conservatives and the left leaning NDP. I really don't want to see Canada follow the U.S. down the road of vicious partisanship. I think it's damaging to the nation as a whole. We are one country after all - and compromise and cooperation is the Canadian way.

[transplant99]

Ontario Provincial Police will not be laying charges related to the leak of police information last week regarding Toronto Police finding NDP Leader Jack Layton naked in a Toronto massage parlour in 1996.

"There were no grounds to support laying charges against anybody," said OPP Insp. Dave Ross.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/05/05...e-parlour-leak