Canada, you're going to the polls.

Intrepid - As for the mood in Quebec (which is right across the Ottawa river) I think that in this election they'll stick with the Bloc, for various reasons... one being that Quebec has largely been made the scapegoat for the current sponsorship scandals ("That's the way they do politics in Quebec") and the people aren't happy about it. Another being the same reason the Conservatives are gaining ground in Ontario and the NDP in the Maritimes: health care. Both Bernard Landry and Jean Charest have joined with the other provinces to try to get more money for health care from the Chr�tien/Martin govt, and feel that they've gotten nothing.

Plus, a lot of Quebecois think the Liberals are arrogant... but they're not the only ones, are they?

AlexKennedy - Conservatives would make Alberta into a mini-Texas, methinks

We are being told how to vote AGAIN. The CBC, a gov't agency, unhappy with less funding, pushed Harper tonight. Gave him 7 min.'s. They gave the PM 1 min. and Layton less. Pushing a minority gov't.

Let's screw with them, Conservatives only platform is "vote out the Lib.'s." WOW, what's that saying? I say, let's vote them both out. Anyone that was thinking of voting NDP, DO IT. That will really screw with what we are being TOLD to do. I'm tired of that.

Originally posted by intrepid
Well in Ontario, as far as the Liberals go, we don't have to remember Mcguinty, he's screwing us weekly.

remember harris? That was more of a blow-to-the-head every ten minutes sort of deal.

That's speaking strictly as a student who got his future screwed by the system...

DE

That's exactly it DE. Lib.'s AND Cons. have had their chance. Both blew it in a big way. Can the NDP do worse?

I live in Quebec but don't know much about politics, but I can tell you from here, feeling the vibe, lots, and I mean LOTS of people are unsatisfied from Charest, you can't imagine how many anti-Charest publicity we see, and people even held manifestations in the streets because of him, etc etc...

I think him and his crowd should go. I never liked him anyway.

Intrepid - re the Conservatives, there's an article in the Globe and Mail today wondering if the Canadians really know what Harper's Canada would be like. Maybe a lot of people are hoping to elect a minority Tory government, which would prevent Harper from governing too far right. But the thing is, if everyone does that... we get a Tory majority, even without Qu�bec.

So, with the polls showing 34% for the Libs, 30% for the Tories, Qu�bec to the Bloc and the NDP picking up 16%, the pundits are looking more and more at a Tory minority.

It can't happen, in my humble opinion. Here's why...

A) Harper's core voters - Alberta and Saskatchewan - woud see this as a deal with the devil. They already think (and in a way they're right) that the country has been governed by Qu�bec for the past 35 years. They'd desert Harper at the next election, and since a minority government can't last long anyway, I doubt Harper would want to jeopardize his core support.

B) The Bloc has a social-democratic tradition that is more in line with the left-wing Liberals. I doubt it could support a Tory government very long.

But if it did happen... what would be funny is that Harper - if he gets no one elected in Qu�bec - would have to name a minister or two from the Bloc Qu�b�cois, or govern without Qu�bec.

So... Gilles Duceppe, Finance Minister?

Originally posted by d1k
I love our goverment. Tell me another goverment where they argue about whats best for their people, then actually and truely move foward with it. We are the best country by far!

NDP 4 the win!

We do it a bit differently in the US. Down here, we the citizens argue about what is best for us, and then the politicians go ahead and do what they want anyway.

Good luck, and get out there and vote! Our big day comes in exactly five months from today.

So what is fundementally wrong with the NDP? They've never governed nationally, so they can't be blamed for any of this mess. They have roots in 75% of the provinces. They have a strong leader. So, what is the problem?

Oh, you mean aside from being quasi-commie and ridiculously far from center?

Also, the NDP's inexperience works both for and against it. My cynicism at a yougn age is rather unbecoming, I suppose. I'm running out of parties to badmouth.

The conservatives are just a bunch of aristocrats and bankers looking for dollars and cents.

the liberals...well, they're corrupt screwups.

NDP has been noted above.

Anyone else is below my attention...sicne they don't have a hope in hell of winning. The NDP still seems like the lesser of three evils, though.

DE

DE, you are ignoring a very large party, the Leg Humping, Nothing to Say Party. Personally, my leg needs a massage, this party seems to have what I need. The fact that they are fiscally irresponsable is immaterial.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a prediction. I'm doing it here because I don't feel it is worth of it's own thread.

*crawls out*
My this is a might small limb, I hope it doesn't break.
Ok, here it is....

The Liberals and Allian....err....I mean Conservatives battle and break each other down, While the NDP and Bloc gain in strength, 49% is split between the Liberal and Conservative, while 51% is split between the NDP and Bloc, the later two join forces to form the government.
There also has to be the one token Green party or better yet a Marijuana Party member from BC, or a Marxist-Leninist from Montreal
I haven't figured out the exact numbers yet, but if it happens what a field day the Air Farce and 22 minutes would have. eh.

Imagine if they won:
www.absolutelyabsurdparty.ca...

Originally posted by DeusEx
remember harris? That was more of a blow-to-the-head every ten minutes sort of deal.

That's speaking strictly as a student who got his future screwed by the system...
DE

And yes, what was McGuinty's promise? To lower tuition.

I highly doubt that one.

hehehehe

For you, Intrepid:

I've been living in Canada for 27 years, and I know very little about Canadian politics. In fact I probably know more about the american government and politics.

Who should I vote for? And why??

Well, election this coming week. I've listened to the rhetoric and this is how I percieve it. Harper wants to lower taxes and increase spending. The only way to increase spending is to increase taxation. This thing about a more fiscally responsible gov't will make the difference, heard that one before. Then they get in and say. "The books were worse than we thought, can't give you this, or this, or this."

Martin, a little more logical. Not going to cut taxes, but do a better job with the money. Not a strong arguement this. Also says that Canada will become a world leader in "wind power." WHO CARES.

Layton, is not going to cut taxes, not going to raise them either. He wants to take a more socialistic approach, as to education and gov't programs.

I"m voting NDP for the first time in 20 years.

Originally posted by intrepid
This thing about a more fiscally responsible gov't will make the difference, heard that one before. Then they get in and say. "The books were worse than we thought, can't give you this, or this, or this."

Ya, do and cut and paste job of what the McGuinty government said 8 months ago.
Did you see the statement issued yesterday by the conservatives, about Martin supporting child porn? lol, looks like the campaign might become messy, it'd make for amusement, though. Nothing did beat Eves' bunch calling McGuinty the repitlian kitty eater though. LOL

Anyway, I think the only thing I really agree with that is supposedly on the conservative agenda is getting rid of the gun registry. It's absolutely ridiculous.

Martin, a little more logical. Not going to cut taxes, but do a better job with the money. Not a strong arguement this. Also says that Canada will become a world leader in "wind power." WHO CARES.

Aren't the NDp proposing, as well, to put in billions of dollars into establishing Wind Power? I'm just wonderin where the majority of the wind mills would be located, as a lot of places in Canada wouldn't generate much power.

Originally posted by DeusEx

Originally posted by intrepid
Well in Ontario, as far as the Liberals go, we don't have to remember Mcguinty, he's screwing us weekly.

remember harris? That was more of a blow-to-the-head every ten minutes sort of deal.

That's speaking strictly as a student who got his future screwed by the system...

DE

I was a student under Harris gov, they didn't screw us over!! Thats just the garbage that your teacher tells you because Harris was anti-union. I never met a teacher who was pro-harris. Can you explain to me how Harris screwed your future??

Originally posted by parrhesia
Aren't the NDp proposing, as well, to put in billions of dollars into establishing Wind Power? I'm just wonderin where the majority of the wind mills would be located, as a lot of places in Canada wouldn't generate much power.

I just think that wind power is a non-issue. If impemented I would think that the Man. and Sask. would be logical choices. Maybe Alberta as well. Coastal areas too.

Originally posted by f16falcon
I was a student under Harris gov, they didn't screw us over!! Thats just the garbage that your teacher tells you because Harris was anti-union. I never met a teacher who was pro-harris. Can you explain to me how Harris screwed your future??

I was a student under Harris, as well.
What I think DeusEx may be referring to, though, is the changes to the education system with regard to the removal of Grade 13/OAC, and bringing in mandatory tests in grades 9 and 10, and community service. Glad I didn't have to go through that. hah. Anyway, I've heard a lot of younger people complaing about these changes to the system, very few thinking that they're beneficial.

Originally posted by intrepid
I just think that wind power is a non-issue. If impemented I would think that the Man. and Sask. would be logical choices. Maybe Alberta as well. Coastal areas too.

Ya, I know what you mean, but it's an attempt to movie to alternative sources of energy, I guess, which is a good thing. The conservatives don't offer any alternatives, and don't want to be held to Kyoto, so, for some, it could be an issue.