Author Topic: Canadian Federal Election 2011 (Read 4864 times)

Global Laziness · « **on:** March 25, 2011, 12:45:49 PM »

It's the fourth federal election in seven years. Who will you be voting for? Why?

(inb4 onslaught of Americans who don't care)

PlaysLikeMyung · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2011, 12:49:10 PM »

move to pr please

GuineaPig · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2011, 12:54:50 PM »

Liberals.

For ideological reasons rather than any political ones. There's a current leadership abyss on the Canadian left, but it's not like I'm going to vote Conservative or Bloc.

My riding will go NDP anyways.

yorost · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:08:46 PM »

When Martin conceded to Harper in 2006 I got up and announced to a room of NDPers I was moving out of Canada to the US the next day, and I did.

YtseBitsySpider · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:20:31 PM »

Harper again.
He hasn't fucked shit up, and our pour soldiers have some of, if not the WORST, equipment in the world...if it even belongs to us....borrowed tanks....rented helicopters and all that....

Global Laziness · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:44:10 PM »

Quote from: yorost on March 25, 2011, 01:08:46 PM

When Martin conceded to Harper in 2006 I got up and announced to a room of NDPers I was moving out of Canada to the US the next day, and I did.

Wow...you chose Bush over Harper? Also, how the hell can you move to a different country on a day's notice?

yorost · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:48:51 PM »

I was already moving the next day, of course.

I'm also a US citizen so it's pretty easy to move to the US.

Global Laziness · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:52:56 PM »

Quote from: yorost on March 25, 2011, 01:48:51 PM

I was already moving the next day, of course. I'm also a US citizen so it's pretty easy to move to the US.

Aw, that's much lamer.

yorost · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2011, 01:54:59 PM »

Yeah, I got some long looks from my friends when I made the announcement.

LeeHarveyKennedy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:01:01 PM »

What kind of a backass excuse for a country has elections in odd-numbered years? Fuckin loonies...

LieLowTheWantedMan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:03:27 PM »

I'm not old enough, but conservatives.

yorost · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:10:03 PM »

Quote from: LeeHarveyKennedy on March 25, 2011, 03:01:01 PM

What kind of a backass excuse for a country has elections in odd-numbered years? Fuckin loonies...

It's a nice attempt at a friendly jab other than the fact that their elections are based off of no confidence instead of fixed cycles.

LeeHarveyKennedy · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:13:03 PM »

So whenever you feel that a politician is inept, you have an election?

LieLowTheWantedMan · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:14:05 PM »

I remember once the NDP people phoned my house and asked if we wanted a sign in our yard. My grandpa, who picked up the phone, made it very clear that we did not want a sign in our yard. We came home to a find a huge NDP sign hammered a foot deep in our front yard.

yorost · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:29:28 PM »

Quote from: LeeHarveyKennedy on March 25, 2011, 03:13:03 PM

So whenever you feel that a politician is inept, you have an election?

Not individuals, no confidence in the government. The government calls when elections occur, with a maximum amount of time between each one. If a coalition falls apart a no confidence can occur and cause early elections.

YtseBitsySpider · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2011, 03:51:54 PM »

If they don't have a majority and one of the major bills fail they have to call an election.

The budget....coming up....will fail. = no confidence motion will pass....election will be called.

AND

We'll get another Conservative minority and waste however many millions in the process.

dumb.

LeeHarveyKennedy · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2011, 04:02:59 PM »

Quote from: yorost on March 25, 2011, 03:29:28 PM

Quote from: LeeHarveyKennedy on March 25, 2011, 03:13:03 PM
So whenever you feel that a politician is inept, you have an election?
Not individuals, no confidence in the government. The government calls when elections occur, with a maximum amount of time between each one. If a coalition falls apart a no confidence can occur and cause early elections.

I kinda dig that.

Gorille85 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2011, 04:48:33 PM »

I'm not sure yet but Bloc Québécois.

Nick · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2011, 05:49:58 PM »

You guys have a government and a leader?

You really do learn no shit every day.

Genowyn · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2011, 06:11:49 PM »

There have been some pretty appalling examples of government under Harper (such as repeatedly suspending parliament whenever he felt threatened) that means he needs to be ousted. His pro-american nature is also rather hard to deal with, for me.

PlaysLikeMyung · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2011, 07:47:55 PM »

Quote from: Nick on March 25, 2011, 05:49:58 PM

You guys have a government and a leader?

You really do learn no shit every day.

Nick goddammit you were supposed to move this thread

ZBomber · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2011, 08:00:12 PM »

Quote from: PlaysLikeMyüng on March 25, 2011, 07:47:55 PM

Quote from: Nick on March 25, 2011, 05:49:58 PM
You guys have a government and a leader?

You really do learn no shit every day.

Nick goddammit you were supposed to move this thread

YOU JUST WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE CANADIANS

TL · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2011, 08:49:37 PM »

Though I favor the Liberals, I'll be voting for my riding's NDP candidate again, based entirely on how great a representative he is. Plus, he's going to win again regardless (he received over 60% of the vote here last time, up from 53% in 2006, and 46% in 2004. He has gotten a higher percentage each time since his initial election in '97).

He has done a fantastic job, and is an all around great guy. I've met him on multiple occasions, and he is proper impressive. I mean, he's good enough that he has me voting for an NDP candidate, and I don't really like the NDP.

YtseBitsySpider · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:03:09 AM »

Yes but TL, his vote does nothing over all for the good or bad of the nation. He simply doesn't count towards or against anything. Oh sure, he'll help get you a new sewage treatment plant for your riding, and some exposure for that new Owl habitat....but really voting NDP is just a way of saying "I hate the Libs and Conservatives" so I'm gonna try and split the vote with these losers.

GuineaPig · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:10:51 AM »

Canada needs to implement some sort of PR. I know my riding's going to go NDP; why should I vote if it won't count?

I'd vote for any party that wanted electoral reform. I was bummed Ontarians shot the referendum on it down.

PlaysLikeMyung · « **Reply #25 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:16:45 AM »

Quote from: GuineaPig on March 28, 2011, 08:10:51 AM

Canada needs to implement some sort of PR.

Do you mean proportional representation?

GuineaPig · « **Reply #26 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:19:40 AM »

Yes. Mixed-member proportional would be a good first step.

PlaysLikeMyung · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:21:04 AM »

I've always felt that the United States should adopt that system. Given how few political parties we have compared to countries like Italy I think it could work.

How is the politics in Canada? I know someone I play online with who bitches about the 'tories' all the time

GuineaPig · « **Reply #28 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:27:12 AM »

Politics in Canada is OK. It's fairly civilized, not overly corrupt or buffoonish, and despite the spate of elections in recent years has worked well enough. Things could be improved. I think electoral reform would help change some of the apathetic views towards voting, as like in Britain the FPTP system means that if you don't vote for the winner, your vote is wasted. This means that a party like the Green Party can amass 8 or 9% of the popular vote and get no seats, whereas the localized Bloc Québecois can get a smaller total percentage but pick up 30-40 seats and become a major player.

There are four main parties, plus the Green's who are significant but have never won a seat. They are the New Democratic Party, a left-wing, vaguely socialist party that originally had lock over the Prairie provinces but has since become urbanized; the Liberals, the historical rulers of Canada, a centre-leftist party; the Conservatives, a party who has returned to power in the last half-decade after merging two conservative parties that were draining votes off each other, and the Bloc Québecois, a Québec-only party that has in the past been advocates of separation from Canada but in recent years have backed off that as popular support for secession in Québec has declined.

Global Laziness · « **Reply #29 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:25:20 AM »

Quote from: GuineaPig on March 28, 2011, 08:27:12 AM

the New Democratic Party, a left-wing, vaguely socialist party

Someone's been listening a little too much to Mr. Harper.

Chino · « **Reply #30 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:14:54 AM »

I'll vote for anything the revolves around the word "green".

tri.ad · « **Reply #31 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:00:06 PM »

I thought it was "blue".

TL · « **Reply #32 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:47:19 PM »

Quote from: YtseBitsySpider on March 28, 2011, 08:03:09 AM

Yes but TL, his vote does nothing over all for the good or bad of the nation. He simply doesn't count towards or against anything. Oh sure, he'll help get you a new sewage treatment plant for your riding, and some exposure for that new Owl habitat....but really voting NDP is just a way of saying "I hate the Libs and Conservatives" so I'm gonna try and split the vote with these losers.

Don't patronize me. Just don't.

Yes, I totally shouldn't vote for the candidate I want in a democratic election, because some asshole thinks my candidate is a spoiler. That's totally how democracy works.

He tends to vote in ways I agree with on important bills, he's really good at addressing the concerns of his constituents, and has just overall done a fantastic job representing this riding. I've met the man several times, and I can say that I'm proud to have someone like him representing me.

Quote

Harper again.
He hasn't fucked shit up, and our pour soldiers have some of, if not the WORST, equipment in the world...if it even belongs to us....borrowed tanks....rented helicopters and all that....

Really?
The conservatives have wreaked havoc on the economy. They've also blatantly lied to the public about how Canada's democratic system works. When the sitting PM goes on television to tell the nation that a completely valid, constitutionally allowed practice such as forming a coalition government is undemocratic, and his government calls the practice treasonous (especially considering that the Conservatives tried forming a coalition with the Bloc a few years prior), it's time for him to go. That shit can not be tolerated.

Genowyn · « **Reply #33 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:46:31 AM »

It's especially hypocritical considering his own party is a coalition.

Mr. Beale · « **Reply #34 on:** May 02, 2011, 09:09:22 PM »

Holy crap, that's quite an election you canucks had! Libs around 30, NDP over 100, Bloc dead? Amazing.

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Author Topic: Canadian Federal Election 2011 (Read 4864 times)