Canada General Discussion

[Hatman 🍁]

The Abacus CEO is literally around 30 years old. I met him a long time ago, he's a former New Democrat. But Abacus does stuff for the Sun now, so he may be a Tory.

[RogueBeaver]

OLP split on the deficit.

[RogueBeaver]

Here's a real poll: Harris-Decima has 33-29-24.

[RogueBeaver]

Highly recommend this Michel David column (and he's a must-read for #polqc followers generally).

[RogueBeaver]

Waiting for this announcement.

[DC Al Fine]

Harris Decima has another poll out with the Bloc doing better

[RogueBeaver]

Which is why they should never be written off despite getting zero press coverage even in friendly media like Le Devoir or JdM.

[RogueBeaver]

The House Board of Internal Economy could be overhauled or scrapped.

[RogueBeaver]

PLQ Montreal office was raided by UPAC this summer. Radio-Canada's trying to get the warrant unsealed for the content.

[DC Al Fine]

Very interesting Leger poll on voting intentions and the charter. Interestingly the compromise option is more polarizing than the PQ's. Vote-wise, similar to CROP. QS is polling high on Montreal Island, which hurts the PQ. Montreal Francophones are more supportive of the charter than ROQ ones.

Nugget from Hebert: Marois personally believes that long-term, religious minorities' role in QC public life is a threat to identity. Implicit acknowledgement that the demographic tide's against them. Not that anyone has any solutions about boosting the birthrate, which is far more relevant IMO.

Quiet Revolution is biting the PQ in the ass in that respect.

[RogueBeaver]

Very interesting Leger poll on voting intentions and the charter. Interestingly the compromise option is more polarizing than the PQ's. Vote-wise, similar to CROP. QS is polling high on Montreal Island, which hurts the PQ. Montreal Francophones are more supportive of the charter than ROQ ones.

Nugget from Hebert: Marois personally believes that long-term, religious minorities' role in QC public life is a threat to identity. Implicit acknowledgement that the demographic tide's against them. Not that anyone has any solutions about boosting the birthrate, which is far more relevant IMO.

Quiet Revolution is biting the PQ in the ass in that respect.

Birthrate's low in ROC too, for not dissimilar reasons. Still blasphemous.

[RogueBeaver]

On another subject, Harper, like Trudeau, is a very light drinker. Doubtful Mulcair's much different.

[RogueBeaver]

Some interesting consumer protection stuff in the Throne Speech, plus more intra-OPC warfare.

[RogueBeaver]

So let me get this straight: Trudeau's existing economic team is widely respected across party lines. All are former ministers, all 3 have an economic/business background. Their newest colleague is a pundit. A glitzy one, but still a pundit. My sympathies to Brison & Co.

[RogueBeaver]

PLQ MNA Pierre Marsan has obviously forgotten about his ex-colleague Tony Tomassi. Marsan wrote a fundraising pitch to Jewish Grits: donations for daycare slots. Couillard said yesterday that he'd talked to Marsan, it was inappropriate and would never happen again. Beyond the sleaze, this is a perfect example of the PLQ's essentially transactional view of their non-Francophone voters. Then again, they've been that way since Bourassa. Lesage was their last leader to genuinely care before, during and after elections.

Agreed with Kay here.

[RogueBeaver]

Radio-Canada reporting that a bunch of Liberal ex-MNAs, including Normandeau, are in UPAC's crosshairs.



CAQ offers to quickly pass a compromise charter, Marois wants a longer debate. Problem is that the compromise would be seen as caving to the opposition parties and thus rob it of any electoralist value, plus a lot of intraparty damage has already been inflicted.

Hear, hear.

[Hatman 🍁]

Multiple deaths in a train-bus accident in Barrhaven (suburb of Ottawa)

[RogueBeaver]

Multiple deaths in a train-bus accident in Barrhaven (suburb of Ottawa)

Simply awful.

[Hatman 🍁]

At least 5 dead on the bus.

[Hatman 🍁]

It was a double decker bus; the people killed were likely on the top level near the front.

I hope this doesn't mean the end of them. I've yet to ride on one of the new style double deckers here.

[Hatman 🍁]

Apparently, the crossing signals were up and everything- the bus just didn't stop.

Surprising that they haven't yet built a bridge under/over the tracks there. The train tracks through there have an at-grade crossing across the Transitway (the rapid bus-only highway) and a major busy road right next to it. The crash happened on the Transitway.

[Hatman 🍁]

The train de-railed after impact; VIA rail reporting no fatalities on board.

[Hash]

Tragic and awful

Apparently, the crossing signals were up and everything- the bus just didn't stop.

 Some drivers really are idiots.

[Hatman 🍁]

Train was going southwest, headed for Toronto. Bus headed north headed downtown (probably lots of passengers due to rush hour)


Bus never slowed down... apparently passengers were yelling at the driver asking him to stop.

[Hatman 🍁]

Picture: