2015 Canadian Election

[Geilinor]

Well I came across this in the toronto star, titled "harper, mulcair opt out of debate on womans issues." It about a debate for gender equality won't attend by the ndp leader do to what seems to be a straegic move to only attend debates with harper. I can understand why, he wants to use his resources looking better than harper, though I can see the concern of this issues becoming "invisible" if not addressed.

What do you guess think?

(Ps would link but heading into work, sorry. I'll do that in an edit)

Who's going to be at the debate if the two leading parties aren't there?

[Geilinor]

Harper is fearmongering with the economy.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-harper-economy-markets-1.3201727

"This creates a good competitive situation for this country. The alternative — what the other guys are proposing, at a time of enormous market instability — is that they would embark on large-scale, permanent spending increases," Harper said.

"They would finance that through deficits and through big tax increases, including big tax increases on workers and on job-creating businesses. We think that is clearly the wrong track. It would be clearly damaging both in the short-term and the longer term to this country."

[Napkiraly]

Well I came across this in the toronto star, titled "harper, mulcair opt out of debate on womans issues." It about a debate for gender equality won't attend by the ndp leader do to what seems to be a straegic move to only attend debates with harper. I can understand why, he wants to use his resources looking better than harper, though I can see the concern of this issues becoming "invisible" if not addressed.

What do you guess think?

(Ps would link but heading into work, sorry. I'll do that in an edit)

Who's going to be at the debate if the two leading parties aren't there?

Trudeau and his sock puppet versions of Harper and Mulcair.

[Napkiraly]

Harper is fearmongering with the economy.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-harper-economy-markets-1.3201727

He's also being still being a dick when it comes to reporters. http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/if-we-want-to-ask-stephen-harper-questions-we-have-to-give-his-party-78000?utm_source=vicefbca

[Fanosolia]

I'll save you the trouble of seeking the link out again and toss it up here: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015 ... group.html

Personally I'm torn on this decision. I think that more debates are good, but I can also see where Mulcair is coming from in that he wants to preserve his "Prime Minister in waiting" reputation and solely face off against Harper. Debates that only feature the leaders of opposition parties could potentially strengthen Harper because the other leaders will spend more time tearing each other down rather than talking about the absentee Harper.

I'm hoping that after the mess that were the debates in this election, the new government will establish some form of independent body to regulate elections (maybe put it under the Chief Electoral Officer).

Thanks Dude.

Yeah I sorta feel the same wait, plus I'm always curious of the how to the policies people propose, so not hearing muclair when it's clearly in their policy book sort of disappoints me, but I rather him use his strategy than not.

I really hope we can integrate First Nations people into Canadian society somehow instead of these constant legal battles over land.

"Integrate the natives" is pretty much always code for cultural genocide. The federal government should stuff off and leave the First Nations be.

I'm always mixed about that debate, personally. Then again... can't say I blame them for wanting some level of autonomy that actually means something real for them.

[Nation of Quebec]

Well I came across this in the toronto star, titled "harper, mulcair opt out of debate on womans issues." It about a debate for gender equality won't attend by the ndp leader do to what seems to be a straegic move to only attend debates with harper. I can understand why, he wants to use his resources looking better than harper, though I can see the concern of this issues becoming "invisible" if not addressed.

What do you guess think?

(Ps would link but heading into work, sorry. I'll do that in an edit)

I'll save you the trouble of seeking the link out again and toss it up here: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015 ... group.html

Personally I'm torn on this decision. I think that more debates are good, but I can also see where Mulcair is coming from in that he wants to preserve his "Prime Minister in waiting" reputation and solely face off against Harper. Debates that only feature the leaders of opposition parties could potentially strengthen Harper because the other leaders will spend more time tearing each other down rather than talking about the absentee Harper.

I'm hoping that after the mess that were the debates in this election, the new government will establish some form of independent body to regulate election debates (maybe put it under the Chief Electoral Officer).

I agree with Mulcair on this one. As important as it is to have a debate on women's issues, there's really not much point if it's just going to be the opposition parties, particularly on an issue they all tend to agree on. Polls tend to show that women don't support Conservatives as much as men do. This is a demographic the Conservatives maybe feel like they can do without. They're more interested in pandering to parents anyway.

[Democratic Socialist States of Africa]

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

[Fanosolia]

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

Damn, can I have your high hopes?

[Vistulange]

Not registered, and not going to register since I reside outside Canada, but I would vote NDP.

As for why I will not vote, I find it wrong on principle to vote for a country when I don't suffer the consequences of it.

[Nation of Quebec]

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

Personally, I think it's majority or bust for Harper. If the Conservatives don't form government I expect he'll pull a Prentice and resign immediately. Even if he gets a minority, I doubt he'll want to stay on as leader for more than a year.

[MERIZoC]

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

Personally, I think it's majority or bust for Harper. If the Conservatives don't form government I expect he'll pull a Prentice and resign immediately. Even if he gets a minority, I doubt he'll want to stay on as leader for more than a year.

Yeah, honestly looks like Harper's going all in for this one. If they lose to the NDP, he'll probably resign. If they get third, definitely.

[Democratic Socialist States of Africa]

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

Personally, I think it's majority or bust for Harper. If the Conservatives don't form government I expect he'll pull a Prentice and resign immediately. Even if he gets a minority, I doubt he'll want to stay on as leader for more than a year.

I honestly don't care about Harper's political career. I just want him to resign.

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

Damn, can I have your high hopes?

*Gives you my high hopes*

[Oneracon]

Not registered, and not going to register since I reside outside Canada, but I would vote NDP.

As for why I will not vote, I find it wrong on principle to vote for a country when I don't suffer the consequences of it.

Well, in fairness you do still receive some consequences even if you're currently an expat. Look at Harper meddling with the Elections Act to try and exclude expats from voting, as one example.

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

Personally, I think it's majority or bust for Harper. If the Conservatives don't form government I expect he'll pull a Prentice and resign immediately. Even if he gets a minority, I doubt he'll want to stay on as leader for more than a year.

Well if the Conservatives come in second then he can step down with a little bit of smugness still intact, since he achieved his original goal of destroying the Liberals. (Seriously, his hatred of the Liberal Party borders on the creepy and obsessive... case in point: continuing the anti-Trudeau attack ads even though the NDP are the ones currently in the lead)

[Nation of Quebec]

Well if the Conservatives come in second then he can step down with a little bit of smugness still intact, since he achieved his original goal of destroying the Liberals. (Seriously, his hatred of the Liberal Party borders on the creepy and obsessive... case in point: continuing the anti-Trudeau attack ads even though the NDP are the ones currently in the lead)

I personally don't think that he'll succeed in his goal of "destroying the Liberals" All the polls are indicating that they will at least double and perhaps even triple their seat count. Interestingly enough, Mulcair could succeed in destroying the Bloc. Latest results from Poll Tracker have them winning 0 seats.

On a related note, it appears that the Conservatives are losing their trump card as being "prudent fiscal managers".

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada- ... -1.3201735

[Geilinor]

Not registered, and not going to register since I reside outside Canada, but I would vote NDP.

As for why I will not vote, I find it wrong on principle to vote for a country when I don't suffer the consequences of it.

Well, in fairness you do still receive some consequences even if you're currently an expat. Look at Harper meddling with the Elections Act to try and exclude expats from voting, as one example.

Personally, I think it's majority or bust for Harper. If the Conservatives don't form government I expect he'll pull a Prentice and resign immediately. Even if he gets a minority, I doubt he'll want to stay on as leader for more than a year.

Well if the Conservatives come in second then he can step down with a little bit of smugness still intact, since he achieved his original goal of destroying the Liberals. (Seriously, his hatred of the Liberal Party borders on the creepy and obsessive... case in point: continuing the anti-Trudeau attack ads even though the NDP are the ones currently in the lead)

Harper has had it out for the Liberals since Pierre Trudeau.

[Fanosolia]

Well, in fairness you do still receive some consequences even if you're currently an expat. Look at Harper meddling with the Elections Act to try and exclude expats from voting, as one example.



Well if the Conservatives come in second then he can step down with a little bit of smugness still intact, since he achieved his original goal of destroying the Liberals. (Seriously, his hatred of the Liberal Party borders on the creepy and obsessive... case in point: continuing the anti-Trudeau attack ads even though the NDP are the ones currently in the lead)

Harper has had it out for the Liberals since Pierre Trudeau.

damn! is that how far the hate really goes?

[Geilinor]

This is interesting. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-justin-trudeau-to-accuse-tom-mulcair-of-austerity-over-balanced-budget-pledge-1.3202773

[Geilinor]

Harper has had it out for the Liberals since Pierre Trudeau.

damn! is that how far the hate really goes?

He was once a Liberal.

[Oneracon]

Well if the Conservatives come in second then he can step down with a little bit of smugness still intact, since he achieved his original goal of destroying the Liberals. (Seriously, his hatred of the Liberal Party borders on the creepy and obsessive... case in point: continuing the anti-Trudeau attack ads even though the NDP are the ones currently in the lead)

I personally don't think that he'll succeed in his goal of "destroying the Liberals" All the polls are indicating that they will at least double and perhaps even triple their seat count. Interestingly enough, Mulcair could succeed in destroying the Bloc. Latest results from Poll Tracker have them winning 0 seats.

On a related note, it appears that the Conservatives are losing their trump card as being "prudent fiscal managers".

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada- ... -1.3201735

Yes the Liberals will probably rebound from the 2011 results, but if the NDP becomes Canada's new dominant left-leaning party he will have achieved his goal of ousting the Liberals from being considered "Canada's natural governing party". The party may not be destroyed, but they will potentially be relegated to third party status for a while.

---

Saw some seat projections today from the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (a research group at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario) based on blended poll results from last week collected by Forum, Leger, Abacus, Mainstreet, and CROP...

NDP: 134
CON: 116
LIB: 86
GRN: 1
BQ: 1

Result: NDP minority, CON official opposition

[Nation of Quebec]

I personally don't think that he'll succeed in his goal of "destroying the Liberals" All the polls are indicating that they will at least double and perhaps even triple their seat count. Interestingly enough, Mulcair could succeed in destroying the Bloc. Latest results from Poll Tracker have them winning 0 seats.

On a related note, it appears that the Conservatives are losing their trump card as being "prudent fiscal managers".

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada- ... -1.3201735

Yes the Liberals will probably rebound from the 2011 results, but if the NDP becomes Canada's new dominant left-leaning party he will have achieved his goal of ousting the Liberals from being considered "Canada's natural governing party". The party may not be destroyed, but they will potentially be relegated to third party status for a while.

---

Saw some seat projections today from the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (a research group at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario) based on blended poll results from last week collected by Forum, Leger, Abacus, Mainstreet, and CROP...

NDP: 134
CON: 116
LIB: 86
GRN: 1
BQ: 1

Result: NDP minority, CON official opposition

That seems to more or less correspond with the CBC Poll Tracker, which (as of today) is indicating:

NDP: 126
CON: 118
LIB: 93
GRN: 1
BQ: 0

Also regarding polls, the NDP are surging in BC and the Conservatives are in third place there according to an Insights West poll:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.3203207

I would still prefer the Liberals over the NDP, but at this point, I don't see how Mulcair can do any worse than Harper. Harper has spent just as much as any NDP government would.

[Fanosolia]

I personally don't think that he'll succeed in his goal of "destroying the Liberals" All the polls are indicating that they will at least double and perhaps even triple their seat count. Interestingly enough, Mulcair could succeed in destroying the Bloc. Latest results from Poll Tracker have them winning 0 seats.

On a related note, it appears that the Conservatives are losing their trump card as being "prudent fiscal managers".

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada- ... -1.3201735

Yes the Liberals will probably rebound from the 2011 results, but if the NDP becomes Canada's new dominant left-leaning party he will have achieved his goal of ousting the Liberals from being considered "Canada's natural governing party". The party may not be destroyed, but they will potentially be relegated to third party status for a while.

---

Saw some seat projections today from the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (a research group at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario) based on blended poll results from last week collected by Forum, Leger, Abacus, Mainstreet, and CROP...

NDP: 134
CON: 116
LIB: 86
GRN: 1
BQ: 1

Result: NDP minority, CON official opposition

My only question with that is then would the ndp have to concern itself with being more board to keep that status? I know that people have gone on about how it's already apparently more centered now.

[Great Franconia and Verana]

I honestly feel that if Harper doesn't win the elections, his career as a politician might end which is something that I am very happy about.

For Harper, its majority or nothing. Even if he can eke out a minority, it will still mortally wound his authority. And then, Even if he does get another majority, which thankfully looks like a slim prospect, i think he would resign before the next election. His support seems stuck around the high twenties and it doesnt seem to be getting any better.

After he leaves it would begin the battle to succeed him. I think he top contenders would be John Baird, Peter MacKay, Jason Kenney, or, as a dark horse candidate, Lisa Raitt.
Baird and MacKay might be retired or retiring but i think the opportunity would be a bit too tempting for them to take up.

[Oneracon]

Yes the Liberals will probably rebound from the 2011 results, but if the NDP becomes Canada's new dominant left-leaning party he will have achieved his goal of ousting the Liberals from being considered "Canada's natural governing party". The party may not be destroyed, but they will potentially be relegated to third party status for a while.

---

Saw some seat projections today from the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (a research group at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario) based on blended poll results from last week collected by Forum, Leger, Abacus, Mainstreet, and CROP...

NDP: 134
CON: 116
LIB: 86
GRN: 1
BQ: 1

Result: NDP minority, CON official opposition

My only question with that is then would the ndp have to concern itself with being more board to keep that status? I know that people have gone on about how it's already apparently more centered now.

Who knows? Maybe the NDP will tack back to the left if they get into power and people will like it. It's a big mystery until October 19th

[Napkiraly]

Yes the Liberals will probably rebound from the 2011 results, but if the NDP becomes Canada's new dominant left-leaning party he will have achieved his goal of ousting the Liberals from being considered "Canada's natural governing party". The party may not be destroyed, but they will potentially be relegated to third party status for a while.

---

Saw some seat projections today from the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (a research group at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario) based on blended poll results from last week collected by Forum, Leger, Abacus, Mainstreet, and CROP...

NDP: 134
CON: 116
LIB: 86
GRN: 1
BQ: 1

Result: NDP minority, CON official opposition

My only question with that is then would the ndp have to concern itself with being more board to keep that status? I know that people have gone on about how it's already apparently more centered now.

I'd say it would depend on their record as a government. If they perform really well with their current stances, perhaps not. And of course the state of both the Liberals and the Cons in the next election.

Lawrence Martin at the G&M argued a good way to get more support among more centrist minded people would be to boost defence spending a bit more given how the Harper government actually has allowed defence spending to dip to 1% of GDP, which in turn could help blunt attacks that the NDP are soft on defence and don't "support the troops".

[Fanosolia]

My only question with that is then would the ndp have to concern itself with being more board to keep that status? I know that people have gone on about how it's already apparently more centered now.

I'd say it would depend on their record as a government. If they perform really well with their current stances, perhaps not. And of course the state of both the Liberals and the Cons in the next election.

Lawrence Martin at the G&M argued a good way to get more support among more centrist minded people would be to boost defence spending a bit more given how the Harper government actually has allowed defence spending to dip to 1% of GDP, which in turn could help blunt attacks that the NDP are soft on defence and don't "support the troops".

wait, when you say dip, you mean to say it was higher? of like it touched that on spending in recent years? Also, you'd think wanting to help the vets was more of Canadian centrist thing, but I guess my parents aren't the majority on this.