I know, how DARE we Canadians have this whole election thing going on, what with all the headline making news over the weekend! But
I've been sitting here so long I think the screen changed color....
it’s true. Today is the big day and I am left sitting here going OMG where the fuck did the time go and will I have my life back? I have been glued to Google news for like 36 days now, soaking in everything I possibly can, save Sun news (which is like our version of Fox). I have ranted, debated, encouraged and sometimes got downright angry in real life with friends and friends of friends. The kicker was one night crying myself to sleep at the prospect of a Conservative majority. TMI moment here, but my period is also a week late and arrived handily this morning as if to say “HI!! I understand you’ve been stressed, worried and making your husband do everything, so I thought I’d show up late and kind symbolize that you are BLEEDING FOR YOUR RIGHTS NOW BEND TO MY WILL AND EAT THIS MAYO OUT OF A JAR!!!!!!”
I realized in retrospect that I wanted to post so much more and keep everyone updated to the minute what was going on, but seriously, you have no idea how much more that would have stressed me out. I still wanted a chance to share my final thoughts going into this thing, as scattered as they are, so apologies if I don’t make sense.
1. There are 13 parties in total running in this gig. I covered the big 3, but if you check this article and go down to Candidates by party, you can see everyone in the running…..and no, the Pirate Party is not as fun as it sounds.
2. I am still very miffed about the fact that they wouldn’t let Elizabeth May of the Green party participate in the leadership debates despite the fact that the Green party is pretty wide spread and got almost the same share of votes as the Bloc….but they’ll let Gilles Duceppe participate despite heading a party that’s based on Provincial interests.
3. HOLY SHIT GUYS NDP SURGE!! Definitely the most exciting moment of the elections for me.
4. The youth vote appears to be more engaged this time around, probably thanks to social media and internet access. However, that vote is the most volatile and we’ll see what happens when the chips are down.
5. Gross smear campaigns up North? Yup. Did it work? Nope. Not to mention the attempted smear? Already attempted and old news.
6. Media and Harper started out complaining that this election was going to be boring and unnecessary. However, advanced poll numbers showed that it wasn’t the case. This election may have our best turnout rate in years.
7. My husband deserves a special award. Not only has he been looking after the kids and attempting to cook dinner while I scour the interwebs for info, but he has done it without question and without complaint. He was the guy who didn’t “get” politics, but he voted today, gave me a hug and said that he was proud of my attention to detail and my fight to inform as many people as possible. He didn’t make me feel ridiculous when I cried and he didn’t talk me down when I engaged people.
8. Guys, I am SO SCARED of a Conservative majority that I only got 2 hours of sleep last night.
I don’t know what I’ll do with myself once this election is over. I guess life will go back to normal, I’ll actually read the other feminist blogs I enjoy, I’ll play catchup and maybe get back to posting my original material. My initial plan was to attempt to liveblog the election, but it turned out to be illegal. So I shall post tomorrow with results, notables, etc etc. To the Canadian readers, you have until 8:30 PM your time to cast your ballots if you haven’t done so already*. Everyone else, wish us luck!
*EDIT: It turns out that not all polls are open until 8:30, some close as early as 7. To which I say, balls to Elections Canada.
Actually, in some areas, polls are only open until 7:30 p.m. You can find your polling station, including hours at: http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/finded.aspx?L=e
Whaaaaaaa?? Only 7:30?!
“My initial plan was to attempt to liveblog the election, but it turned out to be illegal.”
…???
What baraqiel said. SRSLY?
Also, mucho harpy kudos to Mr. Marie Anelle for supporting her political activism.
@baraqiel and BeckySharper
Yup…..http://www.nowpublic.com/world/canada-election-2011-it-illegal-post-results-facebook-2779842.html
Needless to say I can’t afford the fine!
I’m going to vote after work, and I can’t remember ever being excited about an election before!! It sucks that you’ve been stressed about the possibility of a Conservative majority. I’ve been happily focusing on my excitement over the NDP surge, and the possibility that my NDP candidate might oust the sitting Conservative MP in my riding.
Yeah, my polling station is only open until 7
MA- I haven’t been able to devote as much attention to these elections as I’d like (and as they deserve), but mega-thanx to you for keeping me tuned in–at least on the big national issues. Fingers crossed for all your northern harpies!
I have already voted ABC, Anyone But Conservative!!
Yup, no exit polls in Canada, also no results from other time zones can be transmitted in your area until after the polls close (7.30 pm here.) . Which is fine. Voting is a personal thing for me (not even my SO knows how I vote) and I’d rather not be hassled afterwards. But I do hate waiting until 8 pm to find out! Especially since the polls have just closed on the Atlantic coast!
Marie Anelle, I don’t think there will be a majority. I’m pretty sure it will be a minority gov’t, although of whom will be the big question. You will know an hour earlier than me, though! I’m so excited for today, I have a good feeling about the direction our country is headed.
Oh, fuck.
Agreed.
Polls are only open until 7 in BC – they try to average out the times so that polls are mostly open at the same times across Canada.
And as to the results… FUCK I just feel sick.
my commiserations…
Ugh. Well that sucked. A Harper majority. Apparently my fellow Canadians are fine with a PM who was legitimately found to be in contempt of parliament. To add insult to injury, my riding’s NDP candidate lost by 3% to to the Conservative MP.
This is distressing and depressing, all the more so because of raised hopes.
A friend of mine, a US citizen who spent a couple of years in Alberta posted “Canada election 2011 = US election 2004.”
@phDork: I don’t know if it’s that comparable. They held a FIrst Past the Post parliamentary election with three parties. If the right side of the spectrum is unified, the leftish side of the spectrum can win a national majority but still hand over ridings to large conservative pluralities. Pretty sure that if all the Libs voted for NDP or vice versa, Conservatives wouldn’t have won a majority. This is an endorsement for AV or PR voting systems.
@BDCB: You’re right about the political system differences but I think it’s comparable in terms of the emotional letdown Marie Anelle’s feeling. 2004 was the first thing I thought of.