Canada General Discussion

[RogueBeaver]

Flaherty's staying.

[RogueBeaver]

On a completely different subject, the mayor of Huntingdon kills kittens with his car. What a depraved individual.

[Hatman 🍁]

I dont understand why Quebecers love shock jocks so much... but Huntingdon isn't even in the right wing part of Quebec, how did this guy get elected?

[RogueBeaver]

He's been in loads of controversy for years on a variety of different subjects. In more shuffle news, looks like Rob Moore's the new regional minister for NB and probably the new Fisheries Minister.

[MaxQue]

I dont understand why Quebecers love shock jocks so much... but Huntingdon isn't even in the right wing part of Quebec, how did this guy get elected?

If you thing than municipal races are based on ideology in Quebec...
In Montréal, yes, elsewhere, no.

[Hatman 🍁]

I dont understand why Quebecers love shock jocks so much... but Huntingdon isn't even in the right wing part of Quebec, how did this guy get elected?

If you thing than municipal races are based on ideology in Quebec...
In Montréal, yes, elsewhere, no.

They're just basically popularity contests then? What about Quebec City or some of the mid-sized cities like Sherbrooke or Three Rivers?

[RogueBeaver]

Fife just had a mega-update on the shuffle: MacKay, Kenney and Moore could be on the move. Raitt, Alexander, Bergen, Rempel, Rob Moore are getting promoted. Yellich, Lukiwski, Poilievre get junior posts, which I assume mean ministries of state.

[MaxQue]

I dont understand why Quebecers love shock jocks so much... but Huntingdon isn't even in the right wing part of Quebec, how did this guy get elected?

If you thing than municipal races are based on ideology in Quebec...
In Montréal, yes, elsewhere, no.

They're just basically popularity contests then? What about Quebec City or some of the mid-sized cities like Sherbrooke or Three Rivers?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Even if the votes aren't ideological, some elections are fought on local issues (which sometimes aren't ideological, but on mergers, autocratic mayors, labor issues, some controversial projects...).

Quebec City politics are simple. You're with Labeaume or against him.
Sherbrooke has quite rocky municipal politics, with lots of people, representing various interest groups and groups of voters, the one with the biggest coalition wins. Trois-Rivières is like Quebec City, either you're with the mayor or against him.

[Hatman 🍁]

Good to know. May I pick your brain during the municipal elections in the Fall? I'm going to need someone to educate me on the various races for my blog. And perhaps also direct me to some maps/past results as well.

[RogueBeaver]

Here's the full list of both ministers and committee memberships. Some surprises: Kenney replaces Finley, who goes to Public Works. Alexander going straight into full Cabinet at Immigration a bit surprising. Glover to Heritage, thought she'd be more logical for Public Safety- but she also gets a seat on P&P, so Harper obviously thinks the world of her. Paradis gets demoted to a useless ministry- probably would've been dumped IMO were more options available in Quebec. The only minister of state with an important agenda is Poilievre at Democratic Reform, he'll be handling the Senate file. I thought Rempel was underpromoted, gets a pork-distributing junior ministry.

[RogueBeaver]

Harper also confirmed that there will be a Throne Speech this fall, hence prorogation. Plus a new policy agenda.

[DC Al Fine]

Just got back from a Tory event. Our candidate in Halifax West will be seeking the nomination provincially in Timberlea-Prospect, which was an NDP safe seat, but based more on personal votes than demographics. This solves an awkward problem. Dr. Pretty got re-districted out of our riding but wanted to run again federally.

[RogueBeaver]

Poilievre says Senate will be his top priority, elections and term limits foremost. Personally I'd prefer the Albertan system if there has to be a change. Term limits might be easier with mandatory retirement already in place. Plus they can be imposed de facto by appointing people who'd agree to self-limit.

[RogueBeaver]

Alberta PC MLA Mike Allen has resigned from caucus after being arrested by Minnesota police in a prostitution ring bust.

[RogueBeaver]

Duffy e-mail witheld from the RCMP.

WTF moment: MacKay's office sends out a line-by-line rebuttal of a Citizen column on his MOD tenure.

Ivison suggests Poilievre's political objective is enabling the government to regain the outsider mantra.

[Njall]

Alberta PC MLA Mike Allen has resigned from caucus after being arrested by Minnesota police in a prostitution ring bust.

*Sigh*

[RogueBeaver]

Ivison has this weird idea of Raitt being a leadership candidate. She doesn't strike me as someone with ambitions for higher office.

[Hatman 🍁]

Alberta PC MLA Mike Allen has resigned from caucus after being arrested by Minnesota police in a prostitution ring bust.

*Sigh*

Any chance he'd resign his seat? A by-election in Fort Mac would have a record low turnout

[Njall]

Alberta PC MLA Mike Allen has resigned from caucus after being arrested by Minnesota police in a prostitution ring bust.

*Sigh*

Any chance he'd resign his seat? A by-election in Fort Mac would have a record low turnout

I doubt it, at least for the immediate future, but if he's charged then that could change things.  If he does resign, this could be a tough seat for the PC's to hold, given the circumstances.  Allen won with 49% in 2012, versus 43% for the Wildroser (although the Wildroser was the incumbent, so take from that what you will).

But yeah, turnout would probably be very low.  I'm pretty sure less than 8,000 people voted there in the general election.

[RogueBeaver]

EKOS out: LPC 30, CPC 28, NDP 24. So JT's honeymoon was shorter than Iggy's. LOL.

[DC Al Fine]

EKOS out: LPC 30, CPC 28, NDP 24. So JT's honeymoon was shorter than Iggy's. LOL.

What ridiculously high number does EKOS have the Greens at?

[Hatman 🍁]

EKOS out: LPC 30, CPC 28, NDP 24. So JT's honeymoon was shorter than Iggy's. LOL.

What ridiculously high number does EKOS have the Greens at?

Forgetting about a party called the BQ?

[DC Al Fine]

EKOS out: LPC 30, CPC 28, NDP 24. So JT's honeymoon was shorter than Iggy's. LOL.

What ridiculously high number does EKOS have the Greens at?

Forgetting about a party called the BQ?

Who?

[Njall]

EKOS out: LPC 30, CPC 28, NDP 24. So JT's honeymoon was shorter than Iggy's. LOL.

What ridiculously high number does EKOS have the Greens at?

They're showing the Greens at 8.5% nationally.  They're also showing them as getting 13.6% in BC, 10.9% in Manitoba (albeit with an 11.2% MOE) and 9.7% in Ontario.

[Hatman 🍁]

The poll is on our website: http://ekos.com/admin/articles/FG-2013-07-18.pdf