ELECTION!!!!!! MONDAY MAY 2ND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy maple leaf is happy. Why? ELECTION!
Yes, dear friends and readers, I’ve got Canadian election fever. Last Friday, our left leaning parties voted against the Conservative minority government during a confidence vote and we are being sent to the polls. Not only is Stephen Harper being deliciously weird about it, but now he can’t go to the royal wedding (wah-wah). We lefties have been having a rough go of this Conservative minority and have been DYING to be sent to the polls. We would have done it sooner on a previous confidence vote, but Jack Layton, the leader of the NPD, decided to strike a last minute deal and keep that government going.
Now, our politics are not that fascinating. In fact, they’re downright boring compared to other governments. We have a robot of a Prime Minister who is trying WAY to hard to run American style politics, a Liberal party leader with the charisma of an amoeba, a political party that doesn’t get voted for outside of 1 province and Jack Layton. Now, I love me some NDP, but Mr. Layton is kind of all over the place. Sometimes he has strokes of brilliance and real leadership…other times you wonder if he still smokes pot. Then there’s the Green Party of Canada and poor Elizabeth May. While we don’t get the same histrionic fucked up behavior from….oh, let’s say…..Repub
For the next while, I will be showcasing these leaders and their respective parties. I’m also hoping to get into issues like voter apathy and notes on the campaign trail. I will be going on Canadian Election Coverage Mode, and while it won’t be half as interesting as American politics, I hope you’ll stay posted!
while it won’t be half as interesting as American politics
I suspect this is because your candidates tend to be less extravagantly batshit than ours. (I’m happy to have some birthers, creationists, race-baiters, and Jesus-freaks shipped north if you want to liven things up).
Oh Becky, that’s a very sweet offer!
No.
Oh, MA…I wish our politics were less interesting…how I wish…
Anyway, I’m actually really excited about this!
“May you live in interesting (politically-speaking) times.”
I dunno, RoboPM is/was pretty batshit. As far as Canadian politics go.
I’m *very* excited to see Canadian election coverage here!!
I’m really excited about this! I typically just dive into some research a bit before our elections, I must admit, but I am looking forward to keeping up with your coverage!
Excellent! I too am a bit of a politics junkie at election time. I’m planning to do my usual on election night — hang out with some friends and a bar where they tune the tv to election results, drinking and watching as the seats fill. Good times!
Lots of creationists and race-baiters in my province! The creationists keep their heads down (we know who they are) but for the finest in race baiting, just google Jim Pankiw. **Massive trigger warning for anti-First Nations sentiment**. He’s threatened to run in our riding, but that was last year. If I get any mailers from him I’ll be sure to let you know.
What’s the status of the recent push for proportional representation up there? As I understand it, you guys are still first-past-the-post. As much as I think “local control” is usually just a way for the rubes and the rich to mess up policy, I kind of like the idea of ensuring that your entire party platform isn’t made in a populous corner of the country, especially in a huge country like the US. I thought I heard the campaign had sort of shifted to supporting multi-member districts as kind of a middle ground, but I don’t really know, so I was hoping you could enlighten us.
The push for proportional representation as far as I know is on hold for sure. Media is too concerned about recent scandals and Harper’s bizarre fixation on a coalition government.
Oh God Hilary….you Alberta or Sask?
After the rejection of proportional government in referendums in Ontario, Prince Edward Island & British Columbia, the issue is dead, and probably will be for some time.
BC has its share of creationists and racebaiters too, although primarily amongst the Cons. We honestly don’t need more of them sent north.
I’m looking forward to your series.
What IS with Harper’s bizarre fixation on coalitions? My husband and I have actually set up an entire drinking game for the conservative speeches. The unfortunate thing is, we are already drunk before five minutes have passed. If I hear the words “reckless coalition” one more time…
I have no idea, but I fear for your liver! It’s worth noting that he’s been vocally in favour of them before: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/03/30/cv-milewski-harper-coalition.html