Canada General Discussion

[DC Al Fine]

What's the likelihood of Conservatives holding on to their majority in Parliament after the elections in 2015 or so? I have my thoughts (especially when you consider the economic recovery from this recent recession will likely be in full throttle by then), but what are yours? 

If the economy's in good shape and the anti-Harper vote splits favourably, the Tories would keep their majority. That said Conservative minority seems most likely at this point.

[DC Al Fine]

Supremes rule on Etobicoke Centre next week.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/19/optiz-wreznewskyj-scoc-thurs-oct25.html

That would be a brutal by-election for the Tories.

[DC Al Fine]

I saw a poll that had the Liberals with JT as leader polling at 39%. Perhaps the NDP should be focusing on not going back to 3rd place.

[DC Al Fine]

Marois/Marceau will bring down their first budget 2 weeks from tomorrow.

http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/363212/le-gouvernement-marois-deposera-son-budget-le-20-novembre

Odds of a winter election?

[DC Al Fine]

Marois will be introducing the new Loi 101 before Xmas break. The opposition parties are nominally opposed but I think they'll strike a deal if pushed hard enough. Legault was a language mega-hawk until he left the PQ and Couillard has already signalled that he wants the PLQ to start competing with the PQ on ID/language.

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-quebecoise/201211/10/01-4592453-depot-imminent-dune-nouvelle-loi-101.php

So where do the Anglos go if the Liberals are just as bad as the PQ?

[DC Al Fine]

One has to wonder what the Liberals are thinking by trying to go toe to toe with the PQ on language. There is no way they are going to win the votes of hardcore French nationalists. This will alienate their best supporters and risk another Equality Part. showing up.

[DC Al Fine]

i tink the liberals are a dume party tat is full of stupid n coon socialists & i would vote for christian hertigy or the nazi party n some hardcore conservatives

CHP wouldn't have you.

[DC Al Fine]

One has to wonder what the Liberals are thinking by trying to go toe to toe with the PQ on language. There is no way they are going to win the votes of hardcore French nationalists. This will alienate their best supporters and risk another Equality Part. showing up.

Equality Party was a disaster which only marginalized Anglos. It looked to the average French voters than the Anglos were unable to accept than they were a minority and weren't ruling Québec as before the 60's. I'm quite sure than a rerun wouldn't work.

Liberals are making a wonderful work of making Anglos voting for them by scaring them with the risk of independantists having the most seats in Assembly if they don't vote Liberal.

I think an Equality Party would be useful to Anglos insofar as it reminds the Liberals that they can't win power without the Anglos. Not that it should stay around longer than 1-2 elections.

[DC Al Fine]

Speaking as a Quebec Anglo, no. Just no.

Rogue Beaver, I was a twinkle in my dad's eye when the Equality party won seats. What is so bad about them?

[DC Al Fine]

I just remembered that the photo of David McGuinty on Wikipedia has me in the background. No idea who took it. You can sort of see my NDP pin.  It was taken at my old high school.

Are you the guy in the Nordiques hat?

[DC Al Fine]

I just remembered that the photo of David McGuinty on Wikipedia has me in the background. No idea who took it. You can sort of see my NDP pin.  It was taken at my old high school.

Are you the guy in the Nordiques hat?

Yup

Wow that's amazing, way to troll!

[DC Al Fine]

Tonight's an all-nighter on 3000 Brison amendments- consecutively, no debate. He's one of my favourite MPs, but seriously, 3000 amendments is just douchy.

I've always wondered if other MP's would sit down and "have a chat" with the people who make them stay up voting Nay all night. After 1000+ amendments, I'd be ready to punch him out no matter what my party affiliation was.

[DC Al Fine]

Does it is a surprise, since Tommy Doublas finished first in that CBC contest?

Not at all

[DC Al Fine]

Harper awarded the other Justin (Bieber) a Jubilee Medal for "achievements abroad that bring credit to Canada." LOL.

What was worse was that JB was in overalls.

After posting the picture on the PM's facebook page, his office quoted Harper as saying that were there roles reversed, Harper would be wearing overalls too.

ugh.

Bieber was approaching self-parody with his outfit.

[DC Al Fine]

*Sigh*

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2012/11/prepare-the-parliamentary-sleeping-bags-for-the-biannual-budget-vote-a-thon.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Whatever happened to the good old days where the majority government rammed through it's legislation in an hour and everyone went home for steaks?

[DC Al Fine]

Yeah, Kenney's the heir apparent. If the Reds are smart they run Moore instead of MacKay.

Alberta: There needs to be a tipping point, and so far that hasn't arrived. The national media has also been rather, to be polite, easy on her.

So Kenney, Moore and/or MacKay, Bernier will make a run as the libertarian candidate. Anyone else?

[DC Al Fine]

I'm confused about the Toronto mayor, Rob Ford.  More specifically, I'm confused by the judges ruling that, on the one hand, his alleged misconduct merits his removal from office, but on the other, the judge's opinion that he would be eligible to run for the office in a special election after that took place.  What's the point of saying someone has disqualified himself to serve in office and then allowing him to run for the same office again immediately after getting kicked out?  Can someone help me here?  Thanks.

Basically, it's a standard case of the law not being logical.

[DC Al Fine]

Did he rule or not? The article is contradictory on that point. If he didn't, I expect him to rule in her favour. Ugh.

That omnibus will also go through tonight.

That Place projects a comfortable Dipper win in BC, 63-22 in seats.

Why do you dislike The 308?

[DC Al Fine]

Penashue is the only Tory MP from Newfoundland, so I think he'll stay on regardless.

[DC Al Fine]

What's everyone's thoughts on how Trudeau will poll once he is actually leader. I think he will do ok, but this Liberal majority nonsense will stop.

[DC Al Fine]

PM will meet First Nations leaders.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/canadian-press-newsalert-pm-to-meet-first-nations-leaders-next-friday-185659032.html

Excellent news.

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*face palm* that's an 18-19% swing from the NDP to Liberals.

Actually that's pretty low considering how much of the electorate is anti-Harper and doesn't care which party it takes to get rid of him.

[DC Al Fine]

True. I'm somewhat surprised as it seemed that the Tory floor was 30% or so. Obviously that isn't the case.

[DC Al Fine]

True. I'm somewhat surprised as it seemed that the Tory floor was 30% or so. Obviously that isn't the case.

It probably still is, actually.

True. I'm pretty sure our "Justin Trudeau is a pretty boy, not a leader" ads should knock 4% off at least

[DC Al Fine]

Yes, and most of that will come back to the NDP. The Tories are quite useful in scaring would-be Liberal voters in to the NDP camp. Maybe I should donate to them

I recall a Liberal acquaintance saying the same thing circa 2006

[DC Al Fine]

What about moving another big gun into Flaherty's spot instead?