GT: Federal Election

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

I dunno. I am city hear me roar? You think anyone in Toronto or Montreal considers Calgarians family? I am not sure about that. To many in the rest of the country we're still the bumpkin cousins. Transit funding is nice, but if the country is making choices about things like resource industries vs carbon goals the colours on the political map are going to matter a lot. When Europe demands Trudeau puts the oil industry's head on a stick in Paris, I'm not convinced he's going to hold off for fear of risking our 5 seats in the next election. We've hopped in our Delorian and gone back to 1979 I think.

We've got to stop thinking like this.

No, Eastern Canadians don't hate us. For the most part they think very highly of Calgary. Many of them would love to come out here to see our beautiful city. And yes, they think of us as their family... maybe we need to treat them with that same respect finally.

[Armchair Quarterback]

Originally Posted by _Q_

We've got to stop thinking like this.

No, Eastern Canadians don't hate us. For the most part they think very highly of Calgary. Many of them would love to come out here to see our beautiful city. And yes, they think of us as their family... maybe we need to treat them with that same respect finally.

This! I regularly travel down east (Quebec and the Maritimes) for work. When I first started going there I thought for sure people would hate me for being a westerner, then I realized that people actually love westerners. Most of the hate is on this side of the equation.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption under normal circumstances. Traditionally the Conservatives would be much more likely to be the second choice of Liberal voters than the NDP.

Indeed. And to borrow off your earlier question about the direction the Conservatives take, the same is true of the NDP. I suspect a lot of the NDP's hardline supporters are going to look at this election as a rejection of the idea of moving towards the centre. The NDP is probably going to snap back to the loonie left out of this.

And to answer your earlier question, the direction the Conservatives go will depend on the leader. And while he has already said he won't run now, getting a guy like Brad Wall to jump up to the federal level would push the party forward.

[MarchHare]

I suspect any electoral reform enacted by the Liberals will not be a move to proportional representation but rather some form of preferential/ranked ballot/instant run-off type system. For one, it would be much easier to make that change, and secondly (and cynically) it would probably benefit the Liberals the most as they are the second choice party for most Conservative and NDP supporters.

[Armchair Quarterback]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption under normal circumstances. Traditionally the Conservatives would be much more likely to be the second choice of Liberal voters than the NDP.

That was true in 2011 when the NDP under Layton was polling very high on the eve of the election. Not so sure about that today, especially after seeing what a Harper majority looked like.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by _Q_

We've got to stop thinking like this.

No, Eastern Canadians don't hate us. For the most part they think very highly of Calgary. Many of them would love to come out here to see our beautiful city. And yes, they think of us as their family... maybe we need to treat them with that same respect finally.

I agree. I have lived all over this country (spending at least 4 years or more in Northern BC, Southern Alberta, Vancouver, Manitoba, Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario), and I have never had the impression that anyone anywhere else in this country hates Alberta or Calgary. At the very worst, they might be ignorant about how nice Alberta is.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

This is my fear as well. Plus yes Calgary might be urban, but we're Albertan's with a energy sector, and usually pasted as the villains by everyone else.

The energy sector didn't need to be painted in this light and it was really Harper's mismanagement that caused us to be like this.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by _Q_

We've got to stop thinking like this.

No, Eastern Canadians don't hate us. For the most part they think very highly of Calgary. Many of them would love to come out here to see our beautiful city. And yes, they think of us as their family... maybe we need to treat them with that same respect finally.

I think you are hopelessly out of touch, have you spent any time in TO at all?

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Drak

Finally we have a Leadership couple good looking enough to hob knob with Prince William and Kate.

Plus they can talk about how awesome it is to be from a powerful family!

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And to answer your earlier question, the direction the Conservatives go will depend on the leader. And while he has already said he won't run now, getting a guy like Brad Wall to jump up to the federal level would push the party forward.

Brad Wall said that he isn't interested.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...sion-1.3278943

Lisa Raitt would be a good choice if she could pick up French like Harper did.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

Would depend on the type of ballot used. If transferable, preferential ballots were implemented for example (as in Australia), you would indicate in numerical order your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. If we assume that Liberal or NDP voters would both place CPC third in a preferential ballot, then the Conservatives would have a great deal to lose.

I expect we would have seen one Alberta riding (Calgary Confederation) change with that kind of vote, and all others remain the same - but I expect it could make significant differences elsewhere.
Interesting that Australia uses mandatory voting as well.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by zamler

I think you are hopelessly out of touch, have you spent any time in TO at all?

Probably not productive to paint the people of Toronto with the same brush.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Brad Wall said that he isn't interested.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...sion-1.3278943

Lisa Raitt would be a good choice if she could pick up French like Harper did.

That was then...
Oh - never read the article. He said no Monday night.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Indeed. And to borrow off your earlier question about the direction the Conservatives take, the same is true of the NDP. I suspect a lot of the NDP's hardline supporters are going to look at this election as a rejection of the idea of moving towards the centre. The NDP is probably going to snap back to the loonie left out of this.

I think that's probably going to be better for them in the long run, especially if the long game is to recapture Quebec and expand in B.C. I'd also argue it's better for Canada. Having three parties all within a few shades of the centre is indicative of hegemony, and doesn't really help anyone. There needs to be clear alternatives.

And to answer your earlier question, the direction the Conservatives go will depend on the leader. And while he has already said he won't run now, getting a guy like Brad Wall to jump up to the federal level would push the party forward.

Yeah, that would be a smart choice for them. I kind of having the feeling that Wall is going to pick his spot, though, and now might not be the best time for him.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by zamler

I think you are hopelessly out of touch, have you spent any time in TO at all?

I hate how some people from ROC paint Alberta as a monolithic block of neoconservatives the same way people here assume all easterners hate us. It's a joke and is completely false on both accounts. With the influx of people here in the last 30 years, everyone knows someone who's moved to Alberta. I've never encountered a hate for Alberta anywhere but from a couple donkeys living in lower mainland BC.

[flamingreen]

Originally Posted by zamler

I think you are hopelessly out of touch, have you spent any time in TO at all?

I have lived in Toronto. I never came across the perception that they hated us. Ignorant maybe but never hate.

Have you lived in Toronto?

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by zamler

I think you are hopelessly out of touch, have you spent any time in TO at all?

Yes I have... as well as London, Ontario and Montreal. I have lots of family and friends in Southern Ontario. While yes, the arrogant Torontonian that thinks his city is the centre of the universe certainly exists, those people are the exception.

For the most part, the people I meet are excited that someone from Western Canada is visiting their city. Usually they're just curious about what Calgary is like or have been here and can't stop talking about how great the city is.

I met a Leafs fan that must have been in his mid 70's while I was watching a game at the ACC. When he learned that I'm from Calgary, he couldn't stop talking about how magical 2004 was for the entire country, how Daryl Sutter was our best coach, how he should have never gone into management and how that team got to where they did with strong work ethic and heart.

I also met Montrealers that insisted that I go for a beer with them because in their words "Albertans are like Quebecois, always getting screwed by Ottawa".

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by _Q_

We've got to stop thinking like this.

No, Eastern Canadians don't hate us. For the most part they think very highly of Calgary. Many of them would love to come out here to see our beautiful city. And yes, they think of us as their family... maybe we need to treat them with that same respect finally.

I don't think anyone hates anyone. Great sound byte though.

We've got different interests on some pretty fundamental questions. We'll see how that plays out.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Drak

Probably not productive to paint the people of Toronto with the same brush.

But why not. Already painted the brush that the son is going to be exactly like the father. Already painted the brush that the Liberal party doesnt care about Alberta. Guess Hehr and Kang must hate us dirty Albertans!

Ive never lived out east but I would estimate I spend a good 10 weeks of the year between Montreal and Toronto over the past 5 years. I would say most of my interactions are with people within the 20-40 year age range. Never once have I heard any of this hate or even a negative view of Alberta. Ecspecially in this last year with alot of people being sympathetic of the layoffs and the effects that the oil costs are having on our province. But hey! why let the truth get in the way of party rhetorics! Good old Calgary er... I mean Toronto born Harper definetely had our best interests right!

[Armchair Quarterback]

Lol, no Brad Wall is not going to save your Conservative movement. He is a parochial, Saskatchewan politician. Doesn't speak a word of French. Bashes other leaders and regions without any restraint.

He would get destroyed in federal politics.