2017 Canadian Politics Megathread - Sesquicentennial Edition

[Nation of Quebec]

Welcome to the mod-sanctioned Canadian Politics Megathread.

Just because the election has been over for several months, that doesn't mean that interesting things aren't happening in the world of Canadian politics. Feel free to post news relating to anything that happens in Canadian news, although bigger news stories should obviously have their own thread.

Over the weekend, the NDP held their convention in Edmonton. They voted to hold a new leadership race before the federal election, although Tom Mulcair appears to be staying on as leader until the election. Is this a good move?

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016 ... g-day.html

Although I'm a Liberal supporter, I believe that if the NDP want to move on from last year's election they should force Mulcair to resign now and appoint a new interim leader until their leadership vote. While I think that Mulcair is a good Parliamentarian, he was a terrible campaigner. He never came across to me as sincere like Trudeau and I really think he betrayed his party by shifting more to the right. He also stooped to Harper's level with attack ads and questionable campaigning, such as that fake poll that said that Trudeau would lose his seat. The NDP needs a new face just like the Conservatives. Ruth Ellen Brosseau would be good choice. Thoughts on this?

It seems that across the country, the NDP is having a difficult time. They lost power in Nova Scotia in 2013 and are expected to be given the boot in the Manitoba election next week. They did surprisingly win in Alberta last year, but are only in second or third according to recent polls. The only province where they do have the poll lead is BC. Does this spell trouble for the NDP going forward, or will they bounce back from their "wilderness years" just like the Liberals and Conservatives did previously?

What about the Conservatives? As much as I dislike Harper, I think he did the right thing in resigning as party leader on the day of the election. If the Conservatives are smart, they will pick a leader who has no connection to Harper and someone who isn't from Alberta or the Prairies. They should go for either a rookie MP or an outsider. So far the only two candidates are Maxime Bernier and Kellie Leitch. I don't think either of them would do well in a general election, but Bernier is a better choice than Leitch. She's too close to Harper. The party needs a fresh face as well.

Please keep things civil when debating.

I'll also try to have a new poll every couple of weeks as other news develops. Feel free to post any news relating to Canadian politics here.

[Sanctissima]

I'm not a member of any political party, but I do support the Greens more often than not. Their candidates are mostly uncharismatic and leave a lot to be desired, but what can I say, I like Elizabeth May.

In terms of the NDP, honestly, I don't know why Mulcair is prolonging the agony. He should just get it over with and resign now, rather than continuing to lead the NDP for the next couple of years.

[The Liberated Territories]

As a Canadian citizen, Libertarian Party. None of the mainstream parties are going to do it for me, and the Libs seem promising from last election. I neither trust Trudeau to aptly deal with the increasing inflation and oil slump. Besides, when I come this summer, I want everything to be as I left it!

[Major-Tom]

Harper was incompetent, albeit, not cartoonishly evil like the left says. Trudeau is incompetent and relies on style over substance 99.999999% of the time, and I really just can't stand the guy. Mulcair has principles, albeit, flawed ones.

Now, Canadian politics have changed since October, and I don't know who I'd support. If the Conservatives can nominate someone from their more libertarian wing as leader, then that's cool shit.

[The Liberated Territories]

Harper was incompetent, albeit, not cartoonishly evil like the left says. Trudeau is incompetent and relies on style over substance 99.999999% of the time, and I really just can't stand the guy. Mulcair has principles, albeit, flawed ones.

Now, Canadian politics have changed since October, and I don't know who I'd support. If the Conservatives can nominate someone from their more libertarian wing as leader, then that's cool shit.

eh you dooker, you dun e'en be a citizen. go bug the aussies more eh?

Nah jk. I agree, but I doubt the Conservatives can find someone presentable to the public, especially after Harper. I wouldn't mind a sort of populist, "Wildrose" style conservative appearing, but we Canucks don't tend to be the types that trust populists too much.

[Geilinor]

Harper was incompetent, albeit, not cartoonishly evil like the left says. Trudeau is incompetent and relies on style over substance 99.999999% of the time, and I really just can't stand the guy. Mulcair has principles, albeit, flawed ones.

Now, Canadian politics have changed since October, and I don't know who I'd support. If the Conservatives can nominate someone from their more libertarian wing as leader, then that's cool shit.

I'd support the Liberals if I was Canadian, but I do wish that Trudeau would tone down the style and symbolism a bit.

As for the NDP, I liked Mulcair. He seemed pretty competent and responsible and I hope that they don't move too far to the left. I get the sense that Canadians didn't want to go left-wing but just wanted Harper gone.

[Geilinor]

Harper was incompetent, albeit, not cartoonishly evil like the left says. Trudeau is incompetent and relies on style over substance 99.999999% of the time, and I really just can't stand the guy. Mulcair has principles, albeit, flawed ones.

Now, Canadian politics have changed since October, and I don't know who I'd support. If the Conservatives can nominate someone from their more libertarian wing as leader, then that's cool shit.

eh you dooker, you dun e'en be a citizen. go bug the aussies more eh?

Nah jk. I agree, but I doubt the Conservatives can find someone presentable to the public, especially after Harper. I wouldn't mind a sort of populist, "Wildrose" style conservative appearing, but we Canucks don't tend to be the types that trust populists too much.

"Populism"

Gross.

[Nation of Quebec]

While I'm not a member of a political party, Trudeau's Liberal won my support. They aren't perfect, but I think they're the closest thing to a centrist party in North America. I think Trudeau is more competent and intelligent than his critics make him out to be. He at least knows how to connect with Canadians, unlike his predecessor.

Harper was too corrupt and authoritarian while Mulcair came across as an opportunist and hungry for power. The NDP should get rid of him as soon as possible so that Canadians can get to know their new leader in time for the 2019 election.

If the Conservatives can nominate someone from their more libertarian wing as leader, then that's cool shit.

I think the only one that comes close to that is Michael Chong, who if I recall tried to pass reforms that would take away power from party leaders and give it back to the MPs (including backbenchers). The Conservatives should stay away from someone more socially conservative this time around if they want a chance, but there are still many social conservatives in the party.

[Wolfmanne2]

I preferred Mulcair and the NDP, but I'm not saddened by Trudeau's victory. Perhaps a Liberal-NDP coalition would had been preferable to me under Trudeau.

For the record, I think Justin Trudeau is a great role model for leaders of progressive parties of the world. He seems in-touch with progressive issues that establishment leftists often ignore, yet is not a wingnut. For me, he is like a mixture between thd best aspects of Hillary and Bernie. His model of the Liberal Party is one to study for sure; I know the Labour think tank Progress did an analysis of the Liberal victory.

[The Liberated Territories]

eh you dooker, you dun e'en be a citizen. go bug the aussies more eh?

Nah jk. I agree, but I doubt the Conservatives can find someone presentable to the public, especially after Harper. I wouldn't mind a sort of populist, "Wildrose" style conservative appearing, but we Canucks don't tend to be the types that trust populists too much.

"Populism"

Gross.

Don't you support Sanders? Hmm, maybe not.

[Geilinor]

"Populism"

Gross.

Don't you support Sanders?

I don't.

[Zoice]

Harper was a little bit more cartoonishly evil than the left portrays. Viva le Trudeau.

[The Liberated Territories]

Don't you support Sanders?

I don't.

Hmm, well what can I say? Sometimes populism can be a good thing, or at least be evident of some internal anger. But I like to think most Canadians aren't as uptight as Americans - this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the status of things.

[Regents]

Trudeau's quite a niceman.

[Napkiraly]

I voted for the Liberals. While I don't regret it, I do wish the photo-ops and style that Trudeau is doing would tone down. I want to hear about him more about what he's doing in Ottawa not getting bowed to by New Yorkers.

It'd take a rather heavy moderate for me to think about ever voting for the Cons. I'm talking good ol' fashioned Progressive Conservative.

[Geilinor]

I don't.

Hmm, well what can I say? Sometimes populism can be a good thing, or at least be evident of some internal anger. But I like to think most Canadians aren't as uptight as Americans - this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the status of things.

Well, what is it that Canadians are angry about, if anything?

[Nation of Quebec]

It'd take a rather heavy moderate for me to think about ever voting for the Cons. I'm talking good ol' fashioned Progressive Conservative.

Agreed. I think Harper tainted the Conservatives by taking them too far to the right and being too authoritarian. I'm not sure if a moderate would be able to win because of Harper, but we'll see how different things are in three years when we're discussing the next election.

[The Liberated Territories]

Hmm, well what can I say? Sometimes populism can be a good thing, or at least be evident of some internal anger. But I like to think most Canadians aren't as uptight as Americans - this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the status of things.

Well, what is it that Canadians are angry about, if anything?

i dunno but i am pissed about quebec's maple syrup monopoly

[Regents]

Well, what is it that Canadians are angry about, if anything?

i dunno but i am pissed about quebec's maple syrup monopoly

I'm not liking that we export weapons to the Saudis, which are the biggest humans rights violators, and kill their own populace with our bullets.

[Valaran]

As an somewhat ignorant foreign observer, I really like what I do see of Trudeau, and I really grew to dislike much of Harper's policies and stances.

i dunno but i am pissed about quebec's maple syrup monopoly

I'm not liking that we export weapons to the Saudis, which are the biggest humans rights violators, and kill their own populace with our bullets.

*whistles to Ganos*

Sounds bad by all accounts.

[Camicon]

As an somewhat ignorant foreign observer, I really like what I do see of Trudeau, and I really grew to dislike much of Harper's policies and stances.

I'm not liking that we export weapons to the Saudis, which are the biggest humans rights violators, and kill their own populace with our bullets.

*whistles to Ganos*

Sounds bad by all accounts.

Hmm. A deal set up by the Tories, followed through on by the Liberals, the stated reason being that it would be extremely poor form and precedent to renege on a deal made by the Canadian government because there was a federal election. The Liberals have stated that they have no intention of making any further arms deals with regimes like Saudi Arabia's.

For myself, I found the Tories socially conservative policies to be unpalatable. I don't even necessarily mind their economic policies most of the time, though their insistence on austerity, and jumping on-board with the TPP, turned me way off during last year's election.

Granted, the Liberals have signed (not ratified) the TPP, but from all I can tell staying out of the agreement is projected to be more economically harmful than joining it, so I don't particularly fault them for choosing the better shitty option. With any luck the next US president will nix the TPP, and the whole thing will collapse.

[Valaran]

Hmm. A deal set up by the Tories, followed through on by the Liberals, the stated reason being that it would be extremely poor form and precedent to renege on a deal made by the Canadian government because there was a federal election. The Liberals have stated that they have no intention of making any further arms deals with regimes like Saudi Arabia's.

Glad to hear, though as I understand, this will be Canada's largest weapons deal so far, so its still rather sizeable, even as a one-off. And that makes sense by the Liberals, I am more expressing dismay at it ever being conducted in the first place - though my own nation has a far worse track record on arms shipments to Saudi Arabia.

[Napkiraly]

Hmm. A deal set up by the Tories, followed through on by the Liberals, the stated reason being that it would be extremely poor form and precedent to renege on a deal made by the Canadian government because there was a federal election. The Liberals have stated that they have no intention of making any further arms deals with regimes like Saudi Arabia's.

Glad to hear, though as I understand, this will be Canada's largest weapons deal so far, so its still rather sizeable, even as a one-off. And that makes sense by the Liberals, I am more expressing dismay at it ever being conducted in the first place - though my own nation has a far worse track record on arms shipments to Saudi Arabia.

It's not surprising that the Tories decided to sell it. Our arms industry has certainly gotten quite a boost due to the popularity of the LAV III and iirc a number of nations are looking at the C7 assault rifle and C8 carbine. Shit, I'm pretty sure the SAS and the SBS use the C8 now.

[Regents]

Another fact about our arms exports is that the Saudis are (to us at least) illegally exporting LRT-3 Rifles that Canadians manufacture to Yemen, who are fighting a brutal civil war.

[Camicon]

Another fact about our arms exports is that the Saudis are (to us at least) illegally exporting LRT-3 Rifles that Canadians manufacture to Yemen, who are fighting a brutal civil war.

CBC did an article on that.