Some rather disjointed thoughts after yesterdays election.
There’s a lot of anguish in the media and on the leftward leaning blogs about yesterday’s voter turn-out. PR is raising it’s ugly head, strategic voting was hailed as the saviour for the left and failed.
Woo, big surprise. Reminds me of the right during the 90’s. Here’s a hint to the left; appeal to the dedicated voter demographics or get them to be dedicated voters.
In my opinion, anyone thinking that Harper “lost” last night because he didn’t get a majority is wrong. At the outset, majority was best case, stronger minority was middle case and reduced minority was worst case. The Prime Minister said that. He met with all of the leaders to try and argue the case for the last parliament.
The results of those meetings was a resounding, “No.” Harper said, “Fine.”, and we went to an election. That became one of the first (of many) Martin campaign parallels, Dion had previously all but promised a fall election and PM Harper pre-empted him.
PM Harper solidified his gains and defeated an ugly, populist based wealth distribution scheme. The Prime Minister limited his real competitor to six seats in the West, beat that competitor in Ontario, held in Quebec and made gains in the Atlantic provinces and the North. It’s a long way and been a long road from “CRAP”, eh, baby.
This was no loss. If incremental conservatism as espoused by Flannigan and Harper is a real strategy then the corollary must be an acceptance of incremental gains. I’d say a 19 seat gain qualifies. Wouldn’t you?
Like every election I’ve ever witnessed, the stuff that made up politics entering the campaign had absolutely nothing to do with the campaign. The so-called Cadman “scandal”, Mulroney-Schreiber, Bernier, none of that mattered.
C-51 and 61 died. They shouldn’t be resurrected.
The CWB need to be addressed immediately. The entire grain-belt voted for the party that hasn’t hidden it’s disdain for the CWB. The only hold out was Regina-Wascana. To me that’s the number one priority. Secondly, the HRC’s and Section 13 have to be addressed. The iron is hot, go for it already.
The environment as an issue is dead. Maybe now we can actually get a Clean-Air bill passed that addresses real pollution instead of make-believe pollution. C’mon left, don’t let your perfect be the enemy of the general good.
According to Elections Canada, they have 28 days to release the full report on valid votes. I know I’m not the only person waiting to download the full dataset? I had my database running last night, had my SQL views and functions written. I found I needed a few more that would have made my life easier, but c’est la vie. I can’t wait to do some serious data-mining and examine some of the voting patterns on a poll-by-poll, riding-by-riding basis. (FWIW, if anyone wants to do this, go and download for free the PostgreSQL database. I can send you my db of last election, it’s 41M.)
I’m glad that Nettie Wiebe lost last night, but there are some questions that have to be asked and looking at the unofficial numbers highlights a couple of those questions.
2006 CPC: 13331, last night: 12166
2006 NDP: 11412, last night: 11913
2006 Grn: 738, last night: 1228
2006 Lib: 3536, last night: 1176
1. Where did the Liberals go?
2. Where did the CPC lose 1200 votes?
3. Nettie only gained 500 votes against a rookie?
Just some of the questions I’ll be asking the data when it’s released.
Did Quebec really turn on $45M cuts to “culture” and holding criminals to account? If so, then congratulations Mr. Duceppe for jumping on that and running with it. Lot’s of people hate the idea of a separatist party in federal politics . . . too bad I say. That’s what the people of Quebec want, that’s democracy.
Having said that the CPC really need to get a ground game going in Quebec. . .course, everyone has been saying that about the right for 15 years.
Anyway, that’s about it for my ramblings. If anyone else has any, “hmmm” moments to share, please do.
Cheers,
lance
Lefty commenters continue to say that Harper squandered $300 million by calling this election.
That would only be true if he was planning to avoid elections in the future (part of the “hidden agenda”, no doubt).
The worst that can be said is that the expenditure was advanced 15 months.
a) Every national party has been trying to get it’s ground game going in Quebec. Why can’t they?
b) The Conservatives have done well everywhere except the Atlantic. They should get their ground game going there as well. Specifically NL. Time to make some sort of amends with Danny boy. I wonder if he is truly happy with the Liberal MPs though?
Hear hear, Lance. Agree with it all.
Danny Whine for Wine Williams has replaced Quebec as the biggest complainer in confederation. here is the average subsidy per capita of the chief whining duff sitting welfare grabbing culture lying folk east of the ottawa river. Danny is the winning whiner.
http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/mtpe.html#Newfoundland
http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/nae.html
put your pudgy nose on the window Danny , you’re on the outside looking in.
Without Quebecs _guaranteed_ 75 seats this country is not viable with a majority government. That bears repeating. Unless the ‘Nation within a nation’ of the Quebecois approves, there will not be a majority mandate. They supported Mulroney, but name another in the last 40 years, that was not a liberal.
Bottom line, if the west wants ‘in’ they cannot be in without an in in Quebec. Period.
But les maudit anglais should continue to send the equalization payments. Hell yes.
Are there no conservatives in Quebec? Why will they not vote for anyone outside their Province? How does the official Federal separatist party of Quebec speak for ‘Canadians’ in any rational way?
Why, why, why does the rest of Canada submit to the vagaries of a failed colonial polity?
And, if there was a vote in the ROC to separate from the french, would this, finally, send the message to them, the ‘Nation’ that you are blessed with the right to be independent, just not on our dime.
@ cal2:
Here is the graph comparing Newfoundland and Labrador’s per capita transfers compared to the other provinces.
As we can see, NL is doing very well for itself.
Many are blaming Harper for the low voter turnout… as if he gerrymandered it. MSM is try to spin it as a loss for Harper because he failed to secure a majority. As stated above, it came as no surprise. In fact, and quite ironically, it was those on the left who stated he wouldn’t get a majority (many saying he would lose seats (120-125 range) who now act as if it was a surprise that he didn’t.
The truth is, Liberals voters were not inspired by their party’s leader. That’s not Harper’s fault, that’s the fault of the Liberal delgates who chose Dion.
BTW, Dion cannot resign as leader – by choice or pressured to. He said he would stay and fight… like John Tory. I don’t like Tory and want him replaced, but at least he’s walking the walk – stayed on in spite of a poor campaign and staying on in spite of just 2/3 renewal of his support at the review. At leaset he’s walking the walk.
If Dion resigns as leader then what does that tell us about him? He said one thing during the campign and does the opposite after the vote. Taking that into account, he did have waht it took to be Liberal leader.
Dana, you’re wrong.
12 seats shy of a majority. I’ve looked at the results of 2006, the CPC could have done it.
Does a party need representation in Que to win a majority, probably. Do they need to sweep Quebec, no. Three seats in Quebec City region were left on the table, probably four in the ridings between Que and Mtl.
The primary reason for the low turnout was the by-election feel to this campaign plus it’s only been a little over 30 months since the last election. The number of incumbents was very high and thus in many many ridings the outcome was very much a fait accompli.
lance, the BQ numbers did not move. 50 seats then , 50 now. Telling them they, the conquered french, are the favorite son was not enough (and to hell with the problems associated with telling all the other Canadians that they are almost (but not quite) as worthy as the “Nation’ ) Mr. Harper took heat last year for warning that this market crunch was coming, took steps to protect our economy, with no credit whatever from the media, the lapdogs of the left, and it did not make a _bit_ of difference to La Belle Province.
The only way to win a majority in Canada is to completely isolate the Quebecois. How the hell is this Nation building?
I said at the beginning when the Arts and Culture cuts were first made, and again after PMSH’s comments in Saskatoon that someone misread the importance the arts has in Quebec.
The lack of a majority is the direct result of not understanding the fact that the arts are actually respected as an honorable vocation in Quebec and for that some PC back room boys should be handed their walking papers.
‘PM Harper solidified his gains’
I voted the-right way but I’m curious about the “gains”. The way I see it he accomplished little and won this time in spite of himself. Due to the complete and total incompetence of the opposition?
What did I miss?
The “Nation of the Quebecois”?
I’m sure I’m over-looking some lesser achievements such as worker benefits for the self-employed and five hundred million tax dollars for cigarette smokers lung health.
The TSX tanked again today.
I’ll still take him over Chretien any day.
Someone should tell both Quebec & The ROC who won on the plains of Abraham. It’s bad enough that the loser dictated the terms of co-habitation back them, it is even worse that they are still dictating the terms today. I say if they haven’t yet signed onto Canada’s Constitution and aren’t willing to be equal partners with each other province and territory, then we should give them 5 years to do so. If they refuse then we should have a referendum for the ROC as to whether we want to continue trying to appease them.
As for Danny Williams he should buy a female dog and name her “Payback” cause payback is a b….!
It’s a little late to suck up now Danny boy.
mid island mike
Many are assuming Dion probably wants to get out of politics but is just puitting on a brave face. Perhaps not. Maybe this guy isn’t just looking for the right time to bow out graciously, maybe he’s so in denial that he actually things he’s more than he is. If that’s the case, when, not if, he’s forced out, any chance he might join May and the Green Party, presuming she stays as leader? I don’t mean Dion as leader of the party, but as a general candidate, with “expertise” on the environment. Would it not be a perfect fit? His cosy relationship with May.
After Dion is removed, any chance he could join the Green Party?
On the issue of low voter turnout and how the MSM is blaming Harper for that, it’s interesting to note that Newfoundland had the lowest turnout of all the provinces. That angle of the story omitted by MSM. Low voter turnout in THAT province, thanks to Mugabe-like tactics by Williams, is not an issue for MSM because it achieved its desired result. A means to an end is what’s important for MSM, not how that’s acheived.
The election was still worthwhile, since PMSH came away with a strengthened mandate.
Maybe then, we won’t have quite the same stalling antics in the Senate, LIEberals saying they won’t observe confidence vote losses, ridiculous allegations that Harper = Hitler, Satan, or some lesser gaggle of demons, having MPs suggesting Mulroney should hang, or that the Senate should be ‘blown up’.
I would quite agree that Parliament was getting dysfunctional. The way some MPs were carrying on they should now get the message that PMSH indeed has a mandate to move forward with his agenda, even if the opposition find it somewhat distasteful.
The opposition is not there simply to be obstructionist at every turn. Dion clearly got that message.
The proposition among the MSM/LIEberals that somehow PMSH ‘lost’ is quite laughable.
Stephane Dion got ‘hung out to dry’ on his Green Shift policy. The loss of 19 seats during economic turmoil underscores the message.
The MSM can wail and sing to the mountains on how the ‘nasty, cold, brutish’ PMSH wasted 290 million in the last election. NONSENSE.
The last Parliament was nothing less than highly divisive, with enough antics for a 3 ring circus. ie Mulroney/Schreiber, Cadman tape, etc. The message the electorate gave is a stronger mandate to govern to PMSH.
I doubt the opposition parties are going to want to retest that theory in the very near future.
Cheers
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North”
Once even more people move westward to the New Canada, the Old Canada will become less and less relevant.
It just takes a seat redistribution.
Last one was in 2004. Alberta’s population increasing 50,000 a year due to immigration and our young having babies.
Alberta’s due for three more seats as of today, maybe another five by the time new boundaries are drawn.
It’s a matter of time and Quebec’s suicidally-low birth rate to create a shift to the economic engine of New Canada … the West.
Sheesh, bitter much Dana?
How is isolating the second most populous province in Canada “Nation building”?
Why are you concerned with nation building anyway? Last I saw we all had roads.
Kevin has it right. IMNSHO, Harper blew it by blowing off the arts backlash and not having anyone in Quebec to fight the BQ when they trumpeted it.
And then, to make matters worse, he caved on the tax credits for movies instead of restoring arts funding, oh goody, Gordon Pinset (sp?) calmed down, but every artist in Quebec ramped up.
It was a stupid move and Harper himself has admitted it more than once, “I think I was goaded into a statement….”
Fact: CPC leading in the polls prior to arts ramping up and CPC third place after.
Do the math and stop blaming a whole people for having a different set of priorities then to which you subscribe for not voting they way you prescribe.
Cheers,
lance
Hans-Christian wrote… “The MSM can wail and sing to the mountains on how the ‘nasty, cold, brutish’ PMSH wasted 290 million in the last election. NONSENSE.”
It’s a trojan horse argument Liberals make – both in MSM and callers to phone-in shows. They’re contradicted by their opposition to the GST cut. They’re up-in-arms over $290 million spent on the election but have no complaint in having a $4 billion GST cut rescinded. the cost of the election is their strawman argument, put out to mask their disappointment at the Liberals’ worst showing in a generation.
I just don’t get the argument made throughout the media today that Harper was a loser in yesterdays vote. the conservatives were only 12 short of a majority, the liberals were 77 short and the ndp were 118 short. Subtract the 48 parliamentary seat warmers from Quebec who will and have accomplished nothing and you have a strong conservative majority.
Many western canadians would be willing to chip in with a few bucks each as part of a severance package to make sure that Quebec went their own way, good riddance.
Better yet, wouldn’t a new nation of like minded people from Hudson Bay to the Pacific and North to the Arctic be a perfect solution, we would be one of the richest nations per capita on earth.
I’m disappointed with the distribution of votes in this country. Hey, the counts are in in Ontario and Quebec and it’s over. No point even counting the ROC ’cause it don’t f*ckin matter. Representation by population.
It wasn’t the Arts the last time the Bloc did well, or the time before that. They have become an instition…the naturally representing party. As crazy as it sounds, I’d just as soon cut Quebec loose so that the ROC can get on with governing that part of the country that actually wants to participate in a federal government.
We all know that Canada is a balkanized country.
Has been for a few decades and it will be that way for a long time to come. Having said that we need to accept that we have a very steady guy at the helm of our country and the Conservative party.
In these troubled times he will manage to get us
past a lot of tough issues. The results are in and one thing is for sure; no party will risk the brinkmanship of another election.
I give our Prime Minister a whole lot of credit for battling through a lot of tough anti-Conservative media battles and still keep us together and ahead. Conservatives have made major gains in a country of hostile media.
Good for Steven Harper and good for Canada.
It’s time to stop replaying the campaign and get on with the peoples business!
Extremely disappointed. Representation by population would have won our election with a majority.
Well folks, I worked the elections yesterday. I got assigned as an “information officer”.
This is completely based on the my perceptions:
1) I don’t know how many people voted, or came through, we had 1 bitch.
2) By far, most people brought way more identification than the needed. They heard (or miss heard) either 2 or 3 pieces were needed.
3) We only had 1 school group come through – it was at a school. For a celebration of democracy, I found it a little “scary”.
4) Since I was in a position that encountered a lot of non-registered voters, I saw a lot of first time voters. It seemed to me … and my perception could be completely wrong … that almost 100% of first time voters were accompanied by their parent(s).
I think that Elections Canada scared the hell out a lot of our citizens by not conveying – just bring your Drivers License with your correct address on it to vote – nothing else is required if you do.
Lance, why do you think Harper will do anything about the HRCs? He’s never so much as mentioned it, and it has to be near the bottom of his list as he embarks on 30 days of meetings and consultations to decide what to do about the world financial crisis.
I voted Conservative, but let’s be real. This election was about Harper trying for a majority and screwing it up by alienating Quebec with the arts and young offender issues, that could have been safely ignored. His secondary goal, damaging the Liberal party, was more successful but still… This federal erection was unnecessary and a waste of time.
The thing is, lance, while I agree it was a gaffe and that the CPC needs people in Quebec who can relate to the people there at the same time I truly believe that if it weren’t the arts cuts it would have been something else.
Haper has worked on building in Quebec with increasing provincial autonomy, transfer payments, seat at UNESCO etc. All this was brought down by $45M cuts on relatively useless art.
The foundation Harper built was therefore shaky at best, anything could bring it down, and at the end of the day without the gaffes I only think the CPC would have gained one or two seats there.
I think essentially the BQ works well for Quebec and they really have no need to give it up. They got their prizes from Harper, and they got to remind the rest of us what they think we owe them.
I do think the CPC needs a deputy leader who can talk to Quebec on it’s level. At the same time, the CPC cannot hold back on things that need to be done simply for the sake of Quebec. If the economy gets any worse and we are forced to take budget cuts, are we to hold all Quebec’s earmarked spending sacred simply to win votes?
If Mr. Harper is the loser, why are the knives being drawn for Mr. Dion? some Liberals openly calling for Dion’s head, and no money to pay for the next selection, even though the last selection hasn’t paid in full yet. The true loser here, is the Liberal Party of Canada.
The NDP is comfortable where they are.
The Bloc seems content with their status as the voice of Quebec.
The Green Party is where it belongs.
who’s really unhappy? the CBC, Torstar, and all the usual suspects…
Mr. Harper can govern as he sees fit.
The Canadian Wheat Board and the aptly named, HRC section 13? Sure Liberals, threaten to make this an election issue, then roll over and play dead again. The only issue I see the Liberals, NDP and Bloc agreeing to all stand against the Conservatives bringing the house down again no matter when it’s approached, is abortion. It seems to galvanize the left, and Mr. Harper said he’s not dealing with it.
So for now, it isn’t the target the left is itching to have.
note to the Liberals,
Do you really think that having a Trudeau back in the house is going to help you?
hahaha. no… no.. no baggage there!
maybe it’ll take the focus off Mr. Dion’s er… “performance”.
langman — “if it weren’t the arts cuts it would have been something else.” I don’t actually think it was the arts cuts. I think Quebecers do not like to move out of their comfortable position. As long as they can vote BQ and have other parties attempting to court them, they will keep voting BQ — unless there is another message that has great appeal for them. (I am not sure what that would be — they are clearly prepared to thumb their noses at conciliatory gestures from Conservatives) or unless they start getting less attention because they have removed themselves from the ROC. I would suggest it time for some benign neglect of “La Belle Province”, just to let them know that two can play at “Je me souviens”.
langman — I also meant to say “good comment”
if they haven’t yet signed onto Canada’s Constitution and aren’t willing to be equal partners with each other province and territory, then we should give them 5 years to do so.
Lease 50 year renewable rights to unrestricted free ROC travel through Quebec via the Trans-Canada Highway, with travellers given the option to pay in order to visit the province. Rent the island of Montreal outright for $5 billion/year.
And another long-festering issue…
What about the failed long-gun registry? The time to get rid of the C-68 debacle is here.
Do it now, Mr. Harper! The timing will never be better.
“Sheesh, bitter much Dana?”
Pragmatic, lance. The reality is, the Confederation will not be ruled by anyone not approved of by the french, the losers on the Plains of Abraham
“How is isolating the second most populous province in Canada “Nation building”?”
That was sarcasm, lance, do I really need a /sarc tag?
“Why are you concerned with nation building anyway? Last I saw we all had roads.”
Paid for by the ROC lance.
Ontario & Quebec have much nicer roads than the ROC, (so I’m told)
Paid for by the taxpayers of the other (have) provinces.
“Kevin has it right. IMNSHO, Harper blew it by blowing off the arts backlash and not having anyone in Quebec to fight the BQ when they trumpeted it.”
The french squealed about the culture gravy train being threatened, while the rest of the worlds economy melts down, and the ROC is supposed to drop all other considerations to assuage the feelings of the artsy-fartsy parasites sucking off the federal teat? Bah.
“And then, to make matters worse, he caved on the tax credits for movies instead of restoring arts funding, oh goody, Gordon Pinset (sp?) calmed down, but every artist in Quebec ramped up.”
I’ll say it again, they are welcome to fund whatever cultural proclivity they find appropriate, but NOT ON OUR DIME.
Pay for your weirdness’ yourself, how is that hard to understand?
‘It was a stupid move and Harper himself has admitted it more than once, “I think I was goaded into a statement….”‘
Goaded by a media completely in the tank for the Liberal Party (owned in toto by Powercorp) of Canada
“Fact: CPC leading in the polls prior to arts ramping up and CPC third place after.”
The very definition of petty. Arrogant beyond belief. Pay for your own damn art.
“Do the math and stop blaming a whole people for having a different set of priorities then to which you subscribe for not voting they way you prescribe.”
I am only blaming the short sighted Quebecois that still vote for the Liberals or the Separatists.
Don’t get me wrong, lance. I wholeheartedly support the Quebecois and their desire to create their own destiny, but I am sick unto death of financing their freedom.
If the Quebecois stop taking federal money, then (and only then) can they talk about standing on their own.
Nicely said Dana.
I agree with you Linda L and Dana – as for the loud whining of the msm about the cost of the election and the low voter turn out – shouldn’t they be grateful that the turn out was low – it will cost tax payers less for the next election.
I was most pleased with the results -imagine 6 NFLDers trying to get along with the likes of Gerald Kennedy and Mr. Deyawn? The west is a sea of blue and has given Mr. Harper a very powerful mandate from the wealthiest region of Canada. After many years of watching Quebec and the antics of the politicians there, I have reached the end of patience; I don’t want any of their traitor separatists sitting in the Federal House of Commons. I want them sitting IN Quebec (Hull) in a room with a television. When any item concerning Quebec arises they could be allowed to speak. I want Quebec to pay their separatists with their own money and I want the pensions of all these members (separatists) cashed out right now. When the voters of Quebec reach a decision on a date to separate (or not) the fate of their owned separatist politicians will be decided – if the people of Quebec wish to be part of Canada AGAIN – the Bloc must be dismantled.
PMSH already had a minority. one that could embarrass the hell out of stephalococcus dion regularly.
he called the election in the absence of a non-confidence thinking there was a majority in the air. else why risk anything?
what lizzie borden/may’s ‘stupid Canadians’ got was statistically predictable, but minor, change; in this PMSH failed in the objective of locking in a majority when the nation’s mood seemed right to provide it.
win? no. lose? no. draw? yep. stalemate? DEFINITELY.
any sustained minority govt will NOT be because of clever Harper management but rather fatigue and debt on the part of opposition.
Amen, lance. What we’re seeing is a slow, steady shift. The Conservatives have made substantial, progressive gains in the last three elections.
People frame this minority as a disappointment, but the fact is that NO government is going to have a majority for a long, long time, because of the Bloq. The Liberals HAD support in Quebec when they had majorities under Chretien, but they also had a lot more support in the rest of the country that they don’t have now, and they aren’t going to rebound in Quebec any time soon.
Outside of Toronto the Liberals won only 47 seats, and only *8* seats west of Ontario; the Conservatives won 71 seats in Ontario and east, and 71 seats west of Ontario. Who’s the big winner?
You’re right about Quebec, too. If whining about it would change anything I’d find some nose-clips and make as much noise as I could, but for now Quebec and the Bloc is part of the realpolitik in this country. What makes me feel hopeful is this: if the Harper Conservatives can get this close to a majority without Quebec, it opens up the tantalizing possibility that, with a few seats here and there, in the maritimes and Ontario, they could get a majority *without* Quebec. That would not only smash the conventional wisdom that you need Quebec to get a majority, it would also put a sock in Quebec’s shameless tendency to scream victimhood even as they’re taking billions from taxpayers in the rest of the country. That would be a happy day, IMO.
Thanks for the rational perspective, lance — there’s not nearly enough of that going around. ,
Regarding the Conservatives in Quebec. The Conservatives are just shy of a majority with minimal support in Quebec. A few more seats in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and B.C. they can form a majority government. If this were to happen I say we go to Quebec and say either quit your constant whining or pick up your toys and get out of our sandbox. At the very least it has to be pointed out they already receive transfer money from equalization. If their arts and culture are so important use this money to fund them.
[quote]I think essentially the BQ works well for Quebec and they really have no need to give it up. They got their prizes from Harper, and they got to remind the rest of us what they think we owe them.[/quote]
The Nation of Quebec is dependant on Canada for its MARKET. The BQ just needs to understand that when they build a wall between Quebec and the rest of Canada that the wall includes thier access to a protected market. (milk boards etc)
It may be possible to goad them into making an agreement with France (EU) and then cut them off.
CBC reporter Chantel ? (quebec) is too good for that worthless organization. It is my observation that CBC thinks their Role in elections is similar to that of a Horse Racing Sec. That is to handicap (adding weight)to all horses such that they all come across the finish line equal.. Just think that one of the best journalist in America, Peter Jennings, left behind that cesspool when he went to ABC.
They (CBC) are what’s wrong in Canada, turn them off and Canadians will be proud of themselves.
Still trying to see where the Conservatives did not do well in the east as per langmann’s comment.
Ignoring NF under the idiot Danny boy that leaves the Maritimes. 24 seats between three provinces. Before the election there were 5 conservatives in those 24 seats. Today there are 10 including the first Con in PEI since the 80’s.
It occurs to me, if the left wants to claim the “Progressive” vote, we should claim the Thinking or thoughtful vote.
Buy three years till 2011….the new census redistribution kicks in, new Alberta seats, new 905 and 519 ontario seats and new suburban and BC interior seats….not all but most will go Con.
No new PQ seats. No new 416 seats.
It will be possible to get a majority without any PQ rep, not recommended, it will be very easy with 10 to 15 PQ seats.
Quebecers are smart, once the new seats are in place they have an implicit choice, participate or seperate…there is no threat it just becomes reality. So my suspicion is they will opt to participate, as long as they arent threatened, and right now nobody is threatenting.
Steve, hang on till 2011….your majority will happen. Holding Ontario and BC become the important pieces of the puzzle while leaving the door open on PQ. If cons look like the strong horse in 2011 then PQ will come along, and if they dont you still have a majority and are in a better situation to negotiate terms of divorce.
Cold but real.
The iron is hot, go for it already
You said it brother!! As for the first strike, my preference is privatizing the official organ of the Canadian Liberal Party, the CBC, or as some brilliant commenter said over at Jay Curries blog, move CBC headquarters to Moose Jaw. Really though, I think the move should come first followed by privatization. Get it out of the centre of the universe and back in touch with the common Canadian. And I’m with you on the wheat board thing, too. So we’re facing a recession. Now is the time to reduce the size of this Liberal monstrosity.
Next, comes complete cleanup of the HRCs and a Royal Commission to discover and compensate its victims.
If they can accomplish just those few things over the next four years, we’ll see a big, big difference in this country.
I must write a letter to my not new MP.
Does anybody else think we’ve witnessed the end of political correctness, or at the very least, given it a serious dint?
Perhaps the low voter turnout was due to the fact of having to provide identification or proof. I think in the past many voters came to vote with the same name, especially in the cities, and didn’t have to provide ID.
Without Quebecs _guaranteed_ 75 seats this country is not viable with a majority government.
======================
That’s right, Dana. Until and unless the Bloc disbands, we will likely never have large or even small majority governments in this country. Leftards haven’t been able to figure that one out yet. I say count the seats outside of Quebec and you see where Conservatives really stand.
As I have seen posted elsewhere, the great thing about this election has been to financially bankrupt the Liberals. If you want to think grand strategy, the Cons have bent the Libs over and will be running their agenda with Liberal support. It will be a repeat of the last session, but with a Liberal party forced to vote with the government lest they be forced into an election they cannot afford.
PMSH has a coalition majority government (with the Libs) without having to share power or to even be concerned with what the Libs have to say.
I think that this has been part of PMSH’s strategy all along.
Dana:
“But les maudit anglais should continue to send the equalization payments. Hell yes.”
Make that “les maudits anglais”.
But keep sending the cash regardless!
I find this all humorous.
I was sitting in SUB on the UofA Campus eating lunch with my daughter. Anybody who thinks the NDP won Strathcona because of students … ha. They won’t vote. Not even for who their parents tell them to vote for by golly. They won’t even vote unless they happen to be interested and who wants to vote after a discussion about who’s ‘red meat’ is the worst.
Anyway, the reason Linda Duncan won is because students don’t vote and she is a lot like the residents in the riding who care to vote … like my sister who voted for her. Does that sound like Democracy?
The reason most of those apathetic people don’t vote is those of us who do, do a damn good job of picking a government that represents us.
The fact is most of us are Conservative (>38%) even if Toronto hasn’t figured it out yet. I’m sure the Liberal’s understand the potential erosion of their base there.
The liberals won previous elections in my riding by 24000 to 17000, this time it was 22100 to 22000. Less than 1 voter per poll and we could have won. Next elections I swear this area turns blue!
I say a win is a win. You take it and run with it. For the next year at least, Harper can jam literally anything at all down the opposition’s throats. The Liberals all got beat, they are all broke and demoralized, their leader is a petulant little nerd who fights like a girl, and they know Canada (outside 905 anyway) thinks they are a bunch of d1cks.
Pretty good position for Harper to be in. Trudeau had less, and he got universal health care done.
So, for any Conservative Party factotums cruising here, this is what I, a fairly normal CPC voter, want.
1. End the gun registry before Christmas. Its an obscene Liberal construction, you just destroyed the Liberals, so get it done. Do not replace it with some other idiot scheme, just dump it.
2. End the HRCs. Remove their empowering legislation, fire them en mass, and investigate the sons of b1tches for criminal abuse of power. Even if none of them get found guilty, five years of investigation hell and legal bills will be a fitting payback for ’em.
3. You’ll need to be seen building something, so bring back the Avro Arrow. Make it new and improved, to intercept the Russians over the north pole. Make a whole squadron of ’em, fly them all over the frickin’ country to every town fair and dog show. Spend whatever it takes.
In doing so, you will bring back the entire Canadian armament industry from bullets to bombers. There is no reason why we should be buying American aircraft and used German tanks from Holland when the infrastructure exists right here to make our own and export it to boot. Institute a concerted Made In Canada policy for the military with some intelligent planning and some investment in the future where the investment actually makes stuff like airplanes, tanks and rifles.
The damn Lefties are always gassing off about “investing in the future”, it’ll drive them insane to see you CPC boys n’ girls actually doing it.
4. TAX CUT. That will be the engine to drive the Canadian economy out of recession fast. The way to “pay” for the tax cut is to CUT PAYROLL. Fire people. Eliminate entire departments. Decimate the bureaucracy.
Do it quietly, do it carefully, do it by stealth and dead of night if you have to, but do it.
That’s what I want. Less government, and a country that stands up in the world.