Canada General Discussion

[RogueBeaver]

Hebert: no dominant Quebec figures. At least none who are making their star power felt right now- but they are here.

http://www.thestar.com/article/1118895--hebert-lack-of-leadership-material-pushes-quebec-into-unpredictable-terrain

[RogueBeaver]

Ontario PCs back in the lead, 41-33. Though after running a campaign that made Rick Perry's look brilliant in comparison, I don't get much pleasure out of said poll.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1119068--new-ontario-poll-puts-tories-ahead-of-liberals

[RogueBeaver]

I would as well, but Hudak's the only available Blue. Bad enough that we have a lousy Red in Alberta, sure as heck don't need one in Ontario.

[RogueBeaver]

Horwath best approvals!

Everyone always likes the third party leader best. Look at Layton's when Dippers were in 3rd.

[RogueBeaver]

For once I agree with him.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/20/stop-whining-about-political-impudence-and-fight-back

Thanks for the ad material.

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/137830423.html

[RogueBeaver]

Duceppe confirms his retirement for good.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/in-wake-of-probe-report-duceppe-says-hes-finished-with-active-politics/article2310851/

[RogueBeaver]

I meant at the federal level. Rae is more popular than Harper, even in Ontario.

[RogueBeaver]

Yeah, the left doesn't like when one of their own defects. When the 3 Wise Men defected in '65 certainly no vitriol was spared from the Dipper side.

[RogueBeaver]

Coderre and Garneau have presided over the political neutering of Pelciquisme- both should've been gone long ago.

[RogueBeaver]

PM vows "aggressive action" @ summit w/AFN.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-rules-out-total-repeal-of-indian-act-vows-aggressive-action/article2312916/

A bit too hasty, methinks. Down, but not yet out.

http://www.thestar.com/article/1119997--the-window-for-sovereignty-that-opened-in-1990-is-now-closed

Hmm...

http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/340976/vivian-barbot-a-quitte-la-vice-presidence-du-bloc

[RogueBeaver]

In seats this means...?

[RogueBeaver]

Thankfully the election isn't for another 4 years. For now it looks like the only way to knock the NDP back down is for the BQ vote to rise again. Not enough to win seats, but enough for we Tories to do well in ROQ by sneaking up the middle.

[RogueBeaver]

Uniform swing is the worst way possible to predict canadian elections.

Agreed, but what seat configuration would your model divine from these numbers?

[RogueBeaver]

Hey, at least you don't have a carpetbagging orange poteau as your MP.

This Duceppe scandal expands daily. Now it's shades of Jim Wright/Newt Gingrich.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/26/duceppe-used-commons-cash-to-fund-vanity-book

[RogueBeaver]

Hey, Blue Grits are always more than welcome in our tent. Among other things, imagine the NDP Quebec caucus sharing a caucus room with Dion and Trudeau. Not a recipe for harmony, methinks.

[RogueBeaver]

I certainly hope Harper moves ahead with this.

http://www.thestar.com/article/1122814--prime-minister-stephen-harper-vow-to-reform-retirement-benefits-may-upset-some-canadians

Ex-ce-llent.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1122176--free-trade-british-pm-david-cameron-urges-eu-to-obtain-speedy-pact-with-canadacameron-wants-a-free-trade-deal-by-year-end-to-open-up-export-markets-for-the-european-union-s-27-member-countries

Huh?

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1122573--hebert-fight-over-the-2012-federal-budget-will-take-place-on-the-larger-stage-of-public-opinion

[RogueBeaver]

Fat chance of a Liberal victory, though I would be very happy to see Kennedy back in the House.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Liberal%2Bbattle%2Bbrews%2Bover%2BLayton%2Briding/6065218/story.html

[RogueBeaver]

Major Grit gains.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120128/nanos-poll-liberals-tories-globe-CTV-20120128/

[RogueBeaver]

I call BS on those Grit Quebec numbers. No way are they top dog here. And they won't get it by whining about the gun registry either.

[RogueBeaver]

Shafia trial: GUILTY.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/01/29/shafia-sunday.html

[RogueBeaver]

NDP has been on a middling decline since October, so the trend is clearly established. I won't believe the Grits are in second nationally (and definitely not first in Quebec) until we see more data.

[RogueBeaver]

This is a logical extension of their oilsands policy, so we appreciate you coming around.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2012/01/29/19310301.html

[RogueBeaver]

Leger confirms the NDP Quebec decline, though it's now a 29-29 tie with the BQ. Liberals 16, Tories 14.

QP today: More exchanges on Gateway, pensions and F-35s. Finley pwned Brison when he attacked us from the left on pensions, noting that the Liberals had voted against income-splitting and several other boosts to senior programs. I need not say who was the real LOTO and who had the title today, that certainly hasn't changed in 6 weeks.

[RogueBeaver]

Note to Dippers: Put Laverdiere in Foreign Affairs, where she belongs.

Note to Grits: Check your voting records before critiquing other people's. This isn't the first time Brison lost an exchange with Finley because he didn't check his voting record- surprising considering his reputation for thoroughness.

Note to my fellow Tories: Don't attack Grits from the left on deficit issues, as the PM did in an exchange with Rae today.

[RogueBeaver]

No, in this case they were consistent- they voted to our left, attacked us from the left, Finley counterattacked from the centre. It just surprised me coming from Brison of all people. Usually he critiques us from the right on fiscal issues, which I welcome.


Liberals/energy: Heh, this is wishy-washy compared to 3 years ago when Trudeau came out for the oilsands as a "cornerstone of our economy."