Hey, World! Tonight (Monday 23rd) is Election Night in Canada!

We had an election not so long ago (1 1/2 + year) which produced a Minority Government led by the Liberals (aka 'Grits). Said Govt fell in November (no-confidence vote on politicking) so we're back at it! Woot! :) I just voted 10 minutes ago.

Here we have 4 main parties:
Conservative: Center-Right (The US Republicans will be happy with this pro-US party)
Liberals: Centre (Been 13 years in power - time to go)
NDP: Center Left (Held the keys to the prior minority Government)
Bloc Quebecois: Left (Solely elected in Quebec Province to represent provincial interest).

Whether it's a Majority or a Minority Government, it most likely will be led by Stephen Harper's Conservative Party (aka the 'Tories', i.e. 'Irish Thieves' lol). This is the party that 'founded' Canada in 1867, but they've been in the political wilderness for 13 years. (Went from 169 seats to 2 seats in 1992!!!)

The Minority Govt we just went through was pretty exciting. It's interesting to see the different coalitions on various issues. It's the first time in my adult life I live under a Minority Govt. This type of Govt has been the standard in several countries for a long time now: Italy, Israel, Sweden, India, can't thing of any others now). It definitely heighten the debate, since for every bill that passes the support of one another I needed - as opposed to a majority that just rolls over the Opposition and pass bills easily.

The Canadian voting patterns are different too. Not only we're sick of the ruling Liberal Party, but I also think we're all unconsciously affected by the monolithic fight in the US between 2 poles (Republican - Democrats), and as such support for a diversified democracy is growing. The problem with a 2 party democracies is the partisan mindset. With Minority Govt. It gets immensely more complex.

Anyway... Just thought I'd share that with fellow TTers...
http://www.cbc.ca/
http://www.cbc.ca/andstory/canadavotes2006/national/2006/01/23/poll-times-060123.html

Hey Baarainz, I've been following it somewhat. Looks like the Libs are under some scandal scrutinization and the Conservatives have a chance to win because of it...

I heard all about it. Good.

Cons win by short margin. Should be interesting how the rest sizes up. Major changes in store for Canada? Probably subtle changes for now...

They're already talking about how this could improve US / CDN relations... So do we expect to see them pandering for Bushie's bunch? Good luck over there in Victoria, Hugo.

Wait, where is Canada?

_{Kidding, kidding... Canadian Parliament coverage on CSPAN is way more fun to watch than the US Congress...}

Martin resigned!! What a turd!! He might as well just hand the Cons a majority. Who the hell in the Liberal Party will Canada trust enough to vote for next time? Unless the Conservatives really screw up I expect that we will be heading to the polls in another 18 months and this time they will win a majority.

Did a small majority of canadians quietly await the day that they could support a canadian lap dog ala blair to suck up to the fatherland (US)?

Or is it more complex than this?

Isn't it glorious to live in a democratic world where the fate of a country is decided by 36% of its population?

Lewis Lapham believes that democracy no longer really exists. Because democracy requires an informed dialogue between an aware, issue-conscious public and the government it elects. He's speaking about the suffering US democracy but that now applies to Canada too. People don't use their brains to vote. In Canada, the war cry against the liberals was "no more Liberal arrogance", "It's time for a change". Never mind that that change involved electing a man who has publicly disparaged the Canadian way of life and social liberty on the international stage. Want some interesting reading? See what he had to say to when he addressed the US Council for National Policy in 1997 - a right-wing think tank.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/

Until recently, I felt a developing sense of identity with my country -- a patriotism -- that I hadn't really felt before. I was proud of my country's position on foreign policy and domestic social management. Now it's evaporating and I've come to believe that we're just as duped and dumb plumb-ignorant as the Americans who re-elected Bush in the last US election. Not to mention the Brits and Austalians who have also seen fit install right wing leaders.

I'm gonna get me in my tank and make me a new country somewheres.

Thanks for your post Hugo

Jacques

Sore loser...hehehehe. JK. I am not a registered republican or democrat. I have voted for Dukakis, Bush Sr., Ralph Nader in 2000 and Bush Jr. In 2004. ( democrat, republican, green party, and republican). I don't eat green bananas. I wait to see all sides of everyone's story and then I vote.

I think change is good for Canada. The libs have been in power too long and maybe their loss could be their gain. Learn from mistakes. Change is healthy. Maybe this new cat will do some good things for Canada? Hmm, wait and see.

Good luck my Canadian friends!! KKB ;)

Wow that's a wide choice. Thought you were hard-core republican!

Jacques I don't think the Tories in with a minority means the end of the Canada as we know it! Very hard to get things moving in bulky bureacracies. It's gonna bring a wind of change in Ottawa which is sorely needed.

I also thing Stephen Harper evolved - he visited 100 ridings in the past year, and I'm sure he realizes if he's going too much on the right he'll be bulldozed next election.

About the next leader of the Liberals: Belinda Stronach in 2012! (Along with Hillary's second term! 2 blondes ruling North America! - but our is hot!)

I voted NDP this time (NDP MP got elected, Denise Savoie, she's on city council).
In life as in TT I root for the underdogs!

J: nice tip of the hat to lewis lapham.

Yeah she's hot, single, and rich but lets see what she does with a microphone and no script.

Harper has such a very small minority that all the yahoos who got elected with him are going to have to toe the line, unable to advance their agenda, and the only agenda he can advance will be rejected by his own party. His first move should be to distance himself from the Neo-Cons south of the boarder. Bush already called and congratulated him.

Frank McKenna or Brian Tobin are the best Liberal leader candidates so far.

Indeed he'll be walking a fine line... It will be exciting times. Ok there are yahoos, but it's all good, they're entitled to their yahooness. It's a pizza parliament so anything too radical right-wingy can be killed by the coalition of Liberals, NDP and Bloc, so no worry there.

I come to like some of Harper's policies - mainly economic ones and also his vision on renewing federalism. Having grown-up in Quebec (but now living for 10 years in BC) I'm always in favor of more power to the provinces, i.e. More regional power and decentralization from the massive Ottawaian bureacracy that freakingly suck up our taxes to pay for Canadian flags. (ok I know they build roads too, but I don't have a car).

Man... 2% off the GST? Cooool.