Michelle Malkin is doing a nice job of sending her sizable audience to get the latest in Canadian election coverage.
Poll closing times have been staggered to minimize the lag time between east and west coast results, however, if you’re looking for an advance peek at regional returns, I’m told Captains Quarters will be liveblogging.
I currently don’t have plans to be online – I’m planning on a night out with a few friends in front of a big screen tv with a beer in my hand. But if I can get a hookup for my laptop, I may get a post or update in.
The comments thread will also be open. See above – I won’t be here to police things, so behave yourselves, and don’t feed the inevitable trolls.
 |
650 CKOM will be posting results on their website as soon as Sask polls close. The little map should update automatically as the night goes on. |
A final note – I am making no predictions whatsoever. I don’t know that it’s really possible for any pollster to predict how votes may split, or the effect of a dismal campaign on a disappointed Liberal base. I’m content to just wait and see, and keep my fingers crossed for my own CPC candidate, Carol Skelton.
One final reminder to those who will be watching live – early returns tend to favour urban results. In ridings with urban/rural splits, the rural (conservative leaning) polls tend to come in a little later and in many cases, early leads by the left are overtaken. The trend isn’t as strong as it was some years ago, due to better communcations, but it still exists.
Other links I’ve been sent in the past week: ( I have no idea what they plan on doing – perhaps just sharing their emotional highs and lows…)
BBS
Vectorsphere
Decisioncanada2006.
Econoline
Publius Pundit.
Uncle Meat
Surly Beaver
Send your trackbacks, and comments, but I do advise Canadian bloggers not to overtly break the ban on posting results directly.
Also – judging by the google generated traffic, there’s a chance the server’s going to get slammed by this evening. Try to do your part by taking it easy on the reloads when reading comments.
And while we wait, a thoughtful piece by Pieter Dorsman on the future of the left in Canada.
Update: Kate Foxworthy moment: When you’re working as a scrutineer at a polling station and some guy rides up in a sled and votes in a full face helmet and gear – and everyone knows who he is – you might be in Saskatchewan.
Duke, Anguish and others. I share your well founded misgivings about 2/3rds of Canadians who seem to accept the fear Harper drivel that has been dripping daily from the MSM for the last year.
As I write this Paul is saying there will be another chance, another time.
That*s the best news we could hope for this night. By saying that, Paulie is saying there is no scheme to steal back Harper’s and our win by plotting a cimbines power grab with Jacko’s NDPeers.
Harper and the team will prove over time that the fear propaganda was a Librano lie.
Once that is out of the way, the next election should be a Conservative sweep and the ideal house should also gain more greens over NDP for balance.
If voting fraud is found to be substantial in Edmonton and Surrey Newton, there could well be a few more conservatives headed for Ottawa. TG
I love the SK map. Close, but no cigar. The next year or so will be Harper’s to win (coaleasce the centre) or lose (let loose the Myron Thompson’s). Let’s hope that Senator Segal and friends will have a lot of influence. A great night!
I love the SK map. Close, but no cigar. The next year or so will be Harper’s to win (coaleasce the centre) or lose (let loose the Myron Thompson’s). Let’s hope that Senator Segal and friends will have a lot of influence. A great night!
Why were all the polls (except SES) wrong?
Mark
Ottawa
Martin announces he’s stepping down …
I am so disappointed with these results, the only real upset was Tony Valeri! I was hoping for so much more. What is wrong with this country … the Liberals should have been at Kim Campbell levels of support.
We can hope that a minority now will translate into a majority in a year or so. Please Mr. Harper, play this right.
Folks, I am a Calvinist. That means I believe in the total depravity of man (inclusive usage). But until today, I did not believe in the total stupidity of man. A city is like a mob: its IQ is that of its dumbest member divided by the total population…Toronto is a lump of petrified wood, Vancouver a fetid algal swamp, and the Atlantic provinces a harem of selfish slatterns. The rural-urban divide I so wide as to be unbridgeable by anything less than global catastrophe. I am sitting here in Ottawa, near despair, wishing I had never left the prairies (how the hell could you re-elect Goodale?!). The only hope for this country is if Alberta separates and begins confederation anew, with the benefit of hindsight.
Henry
I’m a little disapointed, but realistic. The hipsters in the urban centers turned to the crooks as being the safest option.
Harper has the chance he wanted to prove he can govern fairly. He has already proven that he can build consensus by uniting the right when many said it was impossible.
As Harper ran his campaign so to will he run his government, slow and steady and continue to build support.
There are a lot of things to be happy about. A base to work from in Quebec. Small gains on the east coast. The NDP do not hold the balance of power.
Harper did not really want a majority this time around.
He is a smart man. I look for him to build on tonights results. Not a resounding victory, but a start.
Syncro
Congratulations to Stephen Harper!
It is an uneasy ‘win’, but now we will appreciate the stuff he is made of, and hope that the public will be given a proper chance to see the mettle of our man.
It will be an opportunity to get into the books and see what is behind the doors that the Liberals blocked to us.
Hopefully, the will of our southern neighbor to work in some less-handicapped way with our government, will once again be to the benefit of both.
While we can be to some real degree, disappointed, we must always be hopeful..and proud of the way our leader conducted his campaign.
We will now steel ourselves for a very tough challenge ahead of us.
Think of how it would feel to be heading back to opposition seats…
How much time do we have? How long before the Libs can organize a leadership connvention? Any guesses who Harper might be up against next time around?
Cons Grewal has been declared elected 9:35pm.
Remember, to those who lament Goodal squeaking in. There are still the process of law and Gomery to come. How many fat libranos will that delete from the house? TG
Good point BB. Had the LPC managed to hang on to power I would have been talking to my local separatist canidate here in Alberta to find out what I could do to help.
Canada has one more chance and the right man for the job. If Harper can’t turn this mess around then the way forward will be clear for me.
I look for him to move quickly on the Accountability Act and lets get the AG into those trusts and the Gun Registry etc…
Syncro
This was the one Conservative chance for a breakthrough. This is the best media coverage the Cons will ever get. The libs will now hold a leadership convention and some new saviour will be the media darling (the new Paul Martin) who will make everything right. Its over – the Conservatives have 12 – 18 months and even if they do everything right they will have little chance of improving on the current result. With Martin gone the Liberals will be united again.
I too expected a few more seats maybe 130-135 but most governments that come in like this with a minority go on to form majority government.
A majority government was wishful thinking at this time.
Economics is probably playing a huge part in this Ont is worried. The Ford announcement today is only the beggining. A lot of manufacturing anything dependent on US purchasing is going to be in for a rough ride. That probably explains why BC and ONT stayed to the left. Both have heavey Union membership reliant on the US.
Atlantic Canada has got its head up it’s ass. 30 years of a government check and nothing has changed there you would think those people might figure that a change to something different couldn’t make life any worse and give a chance for something better.
Quebec has done the lets give the left a chance and it’s not working looks like they may swing right again. Surprise, surprise.
I don’t understand how anyone could vote for the crooks either.
Look at these guys. Pretty close or what?
electionprediction.com
Look at these guys. Pretty close or what?
electionprediction.com
Disappointing indeed, with piddly numbers like 125 I sure aint tearing up my ASP card.
That said, we won’t have a provincial vote for a couple of years yet, and Harper may be able to make a go of it. Elected Senate was a clear promise, if 125 is enough to pull it off, it’s a good start.
Step one- Destroy or impound every document shredder in every government office in the land.
Step two- Unleash Sheila Fraser, the 300 new auditors that were hired by Alcock(and no b….), and the RCMP on every suspicious government account.
Step three- Start prosecuting Libranos right around the time they gather to pick a new leader. Given the state of the Librano finances, that convention will likely be held at the Oshawa Circle 8. If they can get a deal.:)
I must say, I thought our country was lost already. I had no faith in Canadians to do the right thing. For the first time, with the Harper win, no matter how tight, I have some hope.
Congratulations Prime Minister Harper!
Remember it wasn’t that long ago Conservatives held 2 seats just 2 seats in the House of Commons. Today we form the government.
Some of you may remember that twit of a politics student from Waterloo, Mark Johnston who has been writing such biased rubbish in the uni newspaper IMPRINT. He is also the local director of the Liberals in Kitchener-Cos. His three term candidate lost….wonder if he’ll still be sprouting more of the same old rubbish come next issue of IMPRINT?
HORSE RACE IN THE ISLES:
NDP Catherine J. Bell is LOSING by .4 percent against the Conservative John Duncan
I am a little sad about the results, but very happy at the same time. This is the chance the Canadian voter’s have given Mr. Harper to show what he’s got!
I can say now: Prime Minister Harper!!!!!!!
This is something to be very happy about. The house cleaning in the HC wasn’t as large as we wanted but WAIT TELL THEY SEE OUR MAN IN ACTION!
Congratulations to Stephen Harper and the Conservative party.
I don’t think we’ll have enough votes to even scrap the Gun Registry, Libs 103 + BQ 51 = 154 ! At best maybe investagate it!
Geezus. You know, if you keep telling other Canadian they’re stupid, they’re no gonna sympathize. Stop being so bloody shrill and petulant. I mean, maybe you guys should just stop voting Conservative, eh? How about that? It’s the same bloody logic.
Let’s see what Harper and his people can do. If they do well, they’ll get more seats next time around. Sheeesh.
(Having said all that, I’m glad Martin is gone.)
Jeff: “Remember it wasn’t that long ago Conservatives held 2 seats just 2 seats in the House of Commons. Today we form the government”
– you missed an important point…that was the old PC’s…good riddance, just as greedy as the Liberals.
This is a colation of the new Conservatives and past Reformers.
“if you keep telling other Canadian they’re stupid, they’re no gonna sympathize”
Maybe if Ontario realizes we don’t want sympathy but accountablity and a fair chance. Don’t tell me they gave it to us tonight, some like the Ottawa area did, but a majority stayed with the same crooks.
Remove the Alberta and western vote and should show you how did the Conservatives did.
I don’t want sympathy.
I think Andrew Coyne made a good point in his NY times column Tomax. The old Conservative party just tried to take over the Liberal organization all the ties that they had.
It appears Prime Minister is going to try and dismantle it. Not try to control it. Therefore when and if the Liberals ever form another government they won’t be able to pick up where they left off.
Correct me if I’m wrong but dosn’t the Bloc have some pretty heavey Conservative ties.
This could get interesting if Harper and Dueceppe come to an arrangement. Dueceppe hates the Libs and thats probably why PMPM resigned.
Bonus!!!
That windbag Alcock is out!!!!!!! So is Sniffy and Yappy Annie!!!!!!!!!!!!
The big loser tonight….. Duceppe….. lost 3 seats and 6% of the pv.
Syncro
My point still stands, Tomax. The stuff I’ve read here about Toronto and Vancouver is just sad. Call them stupid all you want, but why the hell would they vote Conservative? You want accountabiluty? So do I. And guess what, The Liberals lost this election. Fair chance? Got it, Haper is PM. But the kind of stident, over the top nonsense I’ve read in this thread will condem the CPC minority status for a long time.
Well, Herle got beat by nearly 4000 votes, after dominating at one polling station.
So the Libs can call conservatives racists, biggots, homophobes, nazi sympathisers, and so forth and its ok but if the Cons are upset because so many Canadians voted for a corrupt party we are extreme – what are you getting at Soviet Canuckastani?
1. It’s not OK for Liberals to say that kind of BS, and not all Libs say that.
2. If you call people “stupid” b/c they vote for another party, why the hell should bother reaching out to you?
Bruinooge edges out Alcock by 110 votes!!! Congratulations Rod!
Paul Martin drove a huge wedge not only between the various parties but also within his own party. The schisms that he created within the liberal community in his quest for power are very deep and will be extremely difficult to repair.
I saw an online poll asking who the next liberal leader will be – amongst the choices were Kinsella & Copps. Could you imagine the civil war within that party if either of them went for it?
All I have to say is:
!@#$ YOU, MEAGHAN WALKER-WILLIAMS! YOU HAVE BEEN !@#$ING PROVED WRONG! HA!
Okay. I’m done.
DEMOCRACY IS DEAD IN CANADA! FASCIST STATE DECLARED BY SHRUBCO MCHALLIBURTON!
Shrubby McRove has declared Ottowa to be occupied territory! Rove declared Prime Minister, with his patented mind-control radiation to be beamed over CBC airwaves!
Okay, seriously: it looks like the Tories have won govern…
just heard Prime Minister Harper; altho I was disappointed by the voters in Ontario, I feel inspired to work for promoting conservative ideas in Canada. When liberalism faces conservatism in the battlefield of ideas, conservatism wins. Canadians just need more exposure to conservative ideas. More work ahead. congratulations to Mr. Harper and everyone who worked on conservative campaigns.
Mr. Harper delivered a noble speech. I wish him well.
Myself I’d show my disappointment to the Maritimes and Ontario, but at the same time willing to work with them.
Wonder how many noses got out of joint because he said the “West is in” and “God bless Canada”.
cheers
tom
Soviet..I would not agree with those who would choose to use the word “stupid”…But it does fail logic to think that anyone who read The Sun’s 196 reasons not to vote for Paul Martin would still have voted for Paul Martin.
Now for other thoughts:
Notable: Ottawa and area went mostly Conservative, those who work with the Liberals did not want them.
Strong gains in Quebec for a “western” party.
Better relations with our biggest trading partner.
Also…We live in rural Ontario, can we annex that to Alberta???
My fellow Torontonians once again put gay marriage, the right to eliminate inconvenient life, and xenophobic hatred of the West, the USA, and Christianity, ahead of responsible government and accountability. We get the representation we deserve.
The good news: Canada has a strong, principled leader who will have a good 12-24 months to prove himself. Harper has a strong Quebec caucus that will grow in the next election, as he has put the separatist movement back at least a decade. He has a clear mandate thanks to a clear campaign platform. No party will dare vote against a reduction in the GST. Martin is out, and Ignatieff will raise the level of discourse in this country as next Liberal leader. Bring him on. Layton is neutered, as the Libs can’t threaten to bring down the gov’t for a long time. Duceppe is both neutered and shamed. Peter McKay is neutered after a weak showing in his own riding. Bay Street will hop on board as the CPC will allow bank mergers to proceed.
The bad news? Looks like Toronto-Montreal-Vancouver may never join in, making a Harper majority a likely impossibility. Remaining Libs will be ugly and obstructionist, as will the Bloc. Media will work hard to portray this as a Conservative defeat.
Annie
If it doesn’t work out you can become part of Alberta!!!
Syncro
1)Thank you, Quebec, for the 10 seats! Your openness to the new Conservatives really has made a difference in the way I view you!
2)Great job in Palliser, Dave!
3)Shame on you, Wascana.
4)Hope there’ll be a recount in northern Sask.
5)How come the Libs get 103 seats? is that fair?
Yeah, that’s true Annie. But let’s recall that people just weren’t voting “against Paul Martin”. The Liberals are deeply, deeply entrenched in Toronto, particuarly among immigrants. Frankly a lot of people think all politicians are corrupt, so that’s not enough of a winning issue. And when I see people basically stamping their feet and saying “Torntonians are stupid”… let me tell you that’s not a very effective campaign strategy.
Disclaimer: I’m not from Toronto. And I don’t live there.
You can only glean one thing from these results, Its very difficult to pull pigs away from the trough. Or for that matter elitrsts away from power. There is no excuse for the abuse our democracy took tonight from the voters in Atlantic Canada and Toronto, Amglo Montreal and Vancouver. For Shame that you could vote for the Party of Entitlrmrnt.
Soviet, point taken. However, keep in mind that the people here are not campaigning. We are voicing our opinions and in the past, our frustrations at not having a voice in our country.
I, for one, was voting FOR the conservatives. To call all politicians corrupt is a cop out. Does power corrupt – definitely, especially 12 years of power. However, Harper ran on positive messages and one of the most positive was his federal accountability act. He wants to do what he can to restore accountability in government. What I and others cannot believe is that the liberals could be supported after the lack of ethics in the past 12 years. Canada can do better and Canadians deserve more. I would respect the liberal voters more if they had voted NDP – an ideology I completely reject however I could understand. Looking at everything – and we could argue many points – it is beyond my understanding how this government could be supported.
To kick a dead horse, has anyone found where those thousands of student votes ended up.
🙂
I still can’t believe so many voted for Liberals, it just boggles the mind.
Lanny,
The economy is pretty strong. Unemployment is low. Interest rates are low. Sure, the Libs got their hands caught in the cookie jar… it’s not the only issue.
2nd disclaimer: I didn’t vote Liberal either. I’m just distressed at the really shrill stuff I read above.
Now… see the stuff “Jim” wrote? I mean, come on. “Abuse of democracy”. I guess these people are “pigs”.