Motion of No Confidence in Canada (Harper isn't going)

[Phantasee]

For all the Canadians in the audience: Elections Canada elector information | Elections Canada renseignements aux électeurs.

Please vote on Monday, 2 May, 2011. Or I will find you.

[TithonusSyndrome]

Man, that's like asking me if I want to punched in the balls or kicked in the balls; either way it's going to suck and hurt like hell. But if you held a gun to my head and asked me to decide which one is less bad overall, I'd go with the NDP.

It's THAT close to you? Are you just so focused on your economics hobbies that Harper's Bush-like campaign to reshape the PM's office in his own image doesn't register with you? I guess for all any of us know Jack Layton could be some kind of Machiavellian sleeper agent devoted to more of the same too, but if both have dismal economic policies then their social and political records close the case by a wide fucking margin.

On the topic of the NDP's budget, I'm not a huge fan of how they've crunched their numbers either, but most of us here are aware of the political reality throughout the Anglo political world that a rightward shift is much easier and more natural than a leftward one. Harper shifting to the left on his blinkered ideological economic platform seems far less likely than Layton giving in and accepting that his social spending isn't feasible and then making a necessary rightward shift. So far as I can tell, he isn't an inflexible ideologue like Harper who refuses to budge on spending issues like that.

[aerius]

It's a lot more than just economic policies, the NDP has a braindead energy policy that will result in rolling blackouts within 10-20 years as our older nuke plants reach the end of their licensed service lives. They want a moratorium on all nuclear projects and the policies they put in place will make it impossible to get any new plants built. They also want carbon emissions reductions which means coal & natural gas plants are going to be out of the running, meaning we'll have to rely on renewables to replace existing conventional & nuclear power plants as they're retired and to meet any future increases in electricity demand.

The only way we can come close to doing that is if we go full out on the James Bay Project in Quebec and dam & divert every single river flowing into James Bay. Oh yeah, and shutting off Niagara Falls and diverting every last drop of water through the power turbines. Somehow, I don't see that happening so it's either rolling blackouts or we buy a shitload of power off the US, assuming they have any to spare.

The energy & economics policies are the main problems as I see them. Dick those up in the next 5-10 years and our country is basically left in the dust for a hell of a long time, we will not be able to enjoy the standard of living which we have now for the rest of our lives if the NDP or PC put their platforms into effect.

[General Trelane (Retired)]

I think it's high time the Conservative Party stop being referred to as PC. The Progressive part was dropped (both in name and policy) when the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party merged.

[Phantasee]

I think it's high time the Conservative Party stop being referred to as PC. The Progressive part was dropped (both in name and policy) when the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party merged.

Thanks for bringing this up. It's been bothering me. In Alberta the ruling PCs are still "Progressive" for a reason. There is a large faction of Red Tories in the party. You don't find any of those people in the federal Conservative Party. The Cons are just the Reform/Canadian Alliance with a new name, they are wearing the skin of the Progressive Conservatives but they are not the same party underneath.

Call them Tories, but the abbreviation for the party is CPC. Personally, I prefer Cons.

[aerius]

I think it's high time the Conservative Party stop being referred to as PC. The Progressive part was dropped (both in name and policy) when the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party merged.

True enough, I'm just so used to calling them the PC since that's what they've been called for pretty much my entire life. I think I'll go with Phant here, goddamn Cons.

[Enigma]

I loved that Royal Canadian Air Farce episode when they suggested the new name for the Tories (back when the CA and Reform merged) be Canadian Reform Alliance Party or C.R.A.P..

[Norade]

It's a lot more than just economic policies, the NDP has a braindead energy policy that will result in rolling blackouts within 10-20 years as our older nuke plants reach the end of their licensed service lives. They want a moratorium on all nuclear projects and the policies they put in place will make it impossible to get any new plants built. They also want carbon emissions reductions which means coal & natural gas plants are going to be out of the running, meaning we'll have to rely on renewables to replace existing conventional & nuclear power plants as they're retired and to meet any future increases in electricity demand.

The only way we can come close to doing that is if we go full out on the James Bay Project in Quebec and dam & divert every single river flowing into James Bay. Oh yeah, and shutting off Niagara Falls and diverting every last drop of water through the power turbines. Somehow, I don't see that happening so it's either rolling blackouts or we buy a shitload of power off the US, assuming they have any to spare.

The energy & economics policies are the main problems as I see them. Dick those up in the next 5-10 years and our country is basically left in the dust for a hell of a long time, we will not be able to enjoy the standard of living which we have now for the rest of our lives if the NDP or PC put their platforms into effect.

The NDP's plan might fuck places like Ontario and Quebec, but you can be damned sure that as a British Columbian I won't be worrying about power anytime soon. Hell, we'd be happy to sell you some power if you'd be willing to outbid California for it. That said are there ever any really good options in politics anyway? I mean, look at how well Obama has worked for the states and everybody felt like he was going to be something special at first.

[Coop D'etat]

Polls and early results seem to indicate that the Liberal are getting crushed, the conservatives basically holding steady to a minority and the NDP having their best election ever. This a shame, a couple weeks ago the Liberals were comfortably placed to gain ground but the late surge by Layton seems to have crumbled the Liberal's left flank.

This might lead to an extemely unusual scenario where Conservatives win the most seats, try to face parliment on a throne speach and fail and the NDP gets a chance to form a government for the first time ever.

At least there is a decent chance that my total prick of an MP (Hawn) gets thrown out.

EDIT: Another good thing is that the polling is showing the Bloc getting evicerated, most of the NDP's gains are supposed to be at their expense.

[Enigma]

Currently it is:

Conservatives 135
NDP 73
Liberals 30
Bloc 5



Also, there's a chance that Ignatieff might lose his seat as he is currently trailing by about 90 seats so far to a Conservative candidate.

[Enigma]

Now its:

Cons 141
NDP 89
Lib 29
Bloc 5

[Enigma]

If you want to know where the bulk of the seats the NDP are getting or leading, they're in Quebec. 56 ridings so far.

[Coop D'etat]

While I'm disgusted by the prospect of a Conservitive majority, the prospect of the Bloc getting utterly crushed is delishious to me.

[Enigma]

While I'm disgusted by the prospect of a Conservitive majority, the prospect of the Bloc getting utterly crushed is delishious to me.

The Cons just reached a elected\leading number of 153. They need just two more for a majority.

Don't blame the Cons for the prospect of a majority, blame the NDP and Libs. People are tired of the Libs and are splitting their votes with the NDP.

Bloc won't even get official party status since as of this moment they'll only get 4 seats.

EDIT: I'm definitely sure that Ignatieff will get the boot from the party, especially so when he loses his seat.

Double Edit: Cons now need 5 for a majority and the NDP have broken the 100 mark. Damn, Layton will be getting pissed off drunk tonight. lol

[Norade]

Yeah, Quebec is painted Orange right now, the Bloc looks like they're going to be even less relevant than usual this time around and I consider that to be a good thing.

[Enigma]

Both Gill Dusceppe and Michael Ignatieff are pretty much seatless as of this moment and Harper must be biting his nails as his party is teetering towards a majority.

[Xess]

Both Gill Dusceppe and Michael Ignatieff are pretty much seatless as of this moment and Harper must be biting his nails as his party is teetering towards a majority.

CBC has the Cons at 161 seats at the moment. Here's hoping he doesn't screw up the country too much with his likely majority.

[Enigma]

Both Gill Dusceppe and Michael Ignatieff are pretty much seatless as of this moment and Harper must be biting his nails as his party is teetering towards a majority.

CBC has the Cons at 161 seats at the moment. Here's hoping he doesn't screw up the country too much with his likely majority.

The Sun has them as of this moment at 157.

EDIT: Now they've jumped to 165.

[J]

CBC has the Cons at 161 seats at the moment. Here's hoping he doesn't screw up the country too much with his likely majority.

Indeed. I'm quite disappointed but not too surprised. Time for Reagan-Mulroney-Bush lite, or maybe not so lite since he does have a majority and will almost certainly be abusing his power within a year. Well, abusing it more than he already is.

[Enigma]

The latest poll results are as follows:

Combined elected\leading

Cons 166
NDP 105
Libs 34
Bloc 2
Green 1

It's official, Iggy and Gilles have lost their seats.

[aerius]

Well I guess I got what I asked for but fuck, the next few years ain't gonna be pretty.

[The Romulan Republic]

The latest poll results are as follows:

Combined elected\leading

Cons 166
NDP 105
Libs 34
Bloc 2
Green 1

It's official, Iggy and Gilles have lost their seats.

Well, I'll enjoy watching our economy (most likely) crash and burn.

I'm also quite alarmed by the fact that we are effectively a two party system now, polarized between a fairly far Left and fairly far Right party.

The Greens finally got a seat though. That's interesting. I was somewhat expecting this.

And my anger at Harper's victory is somewhat tempered by my glee at watching the Bloc crash and burn.

[Coop D'etat]

CBC has the Cons at 161 seats at the moment. Here's hoping he doesn't screw up the country too much with his likely majority.

Indeed. I'm quite disappointed but not too surprised. Time for Reagan-Mulroney-Bush lite, or maybe not so lite since he does have a majority and will almost certainly be abusing his power within a year. Well, abusing it more than he already is.

At least Mulroney led his party to extinction. Then again he managed to screw up something fierce with both the decifit and the bungling he did on constitutional matters. Had the country had broken up in 95 he would have been the most to blame IMO.So I prefer to not have that kind of shitstorm just to discredit the a political party I dislike.

[Artemas]

dont worry, a centrist party will pop up. either the ndp will move towards the centre, or the libs will make a resurgence. it'll take a couple of elections though.

[Artemas]

and conservative majority.