Canadian Politics

[The Marlborough]

Tbh even if they are intel assets we should still be looking out for them. Prisoner swaps are normal in those cases.

Which is why it's doubly important that we keep our sense of perspective about this whole situation (and to clarify this isn't directed at you). China didn't grab two random tourists off the street and threaten them with execution, it grabbed two probable intelligence assets. Those two situations are very different in terms of their moral and political consequences and we have to be careful not to get swept up in conservative and/or American hysteria about China.

That is fair and true.

Treating this whole thing as an American blunder and not Chinese aggression is the correct way to frame it. The Americans' interest in nabbing Wanzhou exposed us to risk that they were not prepared to adequately cover us for, whether out of the Trump administration's own brand of chauvinism or the historic American imperial attitude towards us as a satellite country. At minimum we need to re-evaluate our partnerships with the US since the Trump administration was not some one off anomaly but a taste of the sort of mask-off imperialism that will be brought to bear the next time a Republican gets into power, except much more competently.

I would treat it as both tbh. Hostage diplomacy is something we shouldn't tolerate because the Chinese have actually been doing that with other countries. Further I at least doubt Spavor being an intel agent (at least for our side) given his close ties with the North Koreans. Personally I think one reason the Americans haven't been that involved is in part due to Spavor's closeness to the North Koreans.

That being said, I do agree with re-evaluating our partnership with the US though I don't think we should run to embrace China either. Also why I legitimately support having a nuclear deterrence is because of the mask off imperialism we'll be seeing - though I don't think it'll just be the Republicans doing it either.

Unrelated, but I'm about 99% confident I'll vote for the Manitoba NDP when the next election comes around in 2023.

I'm not sure I can support the provincial NDP here in BC in any way except as harm reduction. Given a slam dunk majority and an opportunity for social transformation the NDP has shown that it's more interested in the status quo and in continuing the violation of Indigenous sovereignty than in anything so bold as renewed social democracy.[/quote]
There really isn't much choice in Manitoba, it's either the PC's or the NDP. Personally I'm just tired of the incompetence, lack of interest in indigenous issues, and then having our Justice Minister racially profile an MLA in the legislature was just a "What the fuck" moment.

[Nilokeras]

I would treat it as both tbh. Hostage diplomacy is something we shouldn't tolerate because the Chinese have actually been doing that with other countries.

It's a game as old as time, really. And I think 'tolerate' isn't really the word since there's not much we can actually do about it. Picking the two Michaels seems to be a carefully calculated move on China's part to not escalate things with us - they again didn't grab two random tourists, they grabbed people that they seemingly knew were either Canadian or American intelligence assets. China's not stupid, and they know just as much as we do that the decision to nab Wanzhou was made at the behest and doubtless pressuring of the US and we don't really have the national chutzpah to stand up and refuse.

Further I at least doubt Spavor being an intel agent (at least for our side) given his close ties with the North Koreans. Personally I think one reason the Americans haven't been that involved is in part due to Spavor's closeness to the North Koreans.

We really don't know much about his activities beyond a carefully cultivated apolitical stance, which seems to be a prerequisite to dealing with the North Korean regime. I'm tempted to believe that he has or does play some role in NK intelligence-gathering if only because China's selection of him would be grossly out of step with the detention of Kovrig.

That being said, I do agree with re-evaluating our partnership with the US though I don't think we should run to embrace China either. Also why I legitimately support having a nuclear deterrence is because of the mask off imperialism we'll be seeing - though I don't think it'll just be the Republicans doing it either.

Oh 100%, I just think that this Biden administration is probably the last of the 'ancien regime'. When the Republicans inevitably win the presidency back in one term that'll be the inflection point that Democrats will have to adapt to.

[Arisyan]

To try and get a good, concrete topic to talk about until the inevitable vote-of-no-confidence this year, what are your views on the Western Separatist Movement? Most people outside Alberta and Saskatchewan consider it a joke, as do i, but does it have any merit whatsoever, could it ever happen and would the federal government even let the West secede?

Oh, and while we're at it im also bringing up a lesser known movement about making Northern Ontario a province/territory. It's considerably small, but also considerably mighty in NO, where the Northern Ontario Party was kind of close to winning like a seat in the 2018 provincial election. So, what are your views on that as well?

[Nilokeras]

To try and get a good, concrete topic to talk about until the inevitable vote-of-no-confidence this year, what are your views on the Western Separatist Movement? Most people outside Alberta and Saskatchewan consider it a joke, as do i, but does it have any merit whatsoever, could it ever happen and would the federal government even let the West secede?

Nobody with any real power on the right believes in 'Western' sovereignty in anything other than as a convenient culture war issue to keep the base disciplined. It won't happen because everyone except the frontline true believers know how ludicrous of a plan it is.

[Luziyca]

To try and get a good, concrete topic to talk about until the inevitable vote-of-no-confidence this year, what are your views on the Western Separatist Movement? Most people outside Alberta and Saskatchewan consider it a joke, as do i, but does it have any merit whatsoever, could it ever happen and would the federal government even let the West secede?

As a Saskatchewaner, western separatism is a very dumb idea that is only popular because a Trudeau is in charge of the country. It was not as prominent when Chretien, Mulroney, or Martin were in charge as it was in the 1980s or now, and it sure as hell was virtually non-existent ten years ago.

If the Liberals removed Justin Trudeau from the party leadership and from the role of PM, I guarantee you that 75% of the demands for western separation will dry up, with most of the rest drying up whenever the Tories get back to power.

[Shrillland]

Meanwhile on The Rock: The NL Election deadline has been pushed back yet again, this time to Thursday, March 25 at 4 PM NT

And the NL press is talking about four people who couldn't register to get their ballots because the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador page wasn't loading due to being swamped on the deadline to register

[Nilokeras]

Meanwhile on The Rock: The NL Election deadline has been pushed back yet again, this time to Thursday, March 25 at 4 PM NT

And the NL press is talking about four people who couldn't register to get their ballots because the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador page wasn't loading due to being swamped on the deadline to register

All I can think about is how insanely lucky the BC government was in pulling off its election when it did and how wildly irresponsible it was to even try.

[Shrillland]

Meanwhile on The Rock: The NL Election deadline has been pushed back yet again, this time to Thursday, March 25 at 4 PM NT

And the NL press is talking about four people who couldn't register to get their ballots because the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador page wasn't loading due to being swamped on the deadline to register

All I can think about is how insanely lucky the BC government was in pulling off its election when it did and how wildly irresponsible it was to even try.

Well, NL didn't have a choice in the matter, their law says they have to have an election within 12 months of a new premier coming in, so they have to have a vote by August at the latest.

[Nilokeras]

All I can think about is how insanely lucky the BC government was in pulling off its election when it did and how wildly irresponsible it was to even try.

Well, NL didn't have a choice in the matter, their law says they have to have an election within 12 months of a new premier coming in, so they have to have a vote by August at the latest.

An August election would have been infinitely safer considering vaccine rollout timelines. And gives the election authorities more time to plan to do it safely, which it very much seems they did not this time around.

Every provincial government seems to be itching to try and capture the NB/BC magic of riding 'good' pandemic management into majorities and the fact that the media is not excoriating governments for trying is a major indictment.

[Luziyca]

Well, NL didn't have a choice in the matter, their law says they have to have an election within 12 months of a new premier coming in, so they have to have a vote by August at the latest.

An August election would have been infinitely safer considering vaccine rollout timelines. And gives the election authorities more time to plan to do it safely, which it very much seems they did not this time around.

Every provincial government seems to be itching to try and capture the NB/BC magic of riding 'good' pandemic management into majorities and the fact that the media is not excoriating governments for trying is a major indictment.

Yeah, Saskatchewan did kinda also do that: the Sask Party got 48 seats to the NDP's 13 in the 2020 provincial election, compared to 51 and 10 in 2016 respectively.

[Arisyan]

Meanwhile on The Rock: The NL Election deadline has been pushed back yet again, this time to Thursday, March 25 at 4 PM NT

And the NL press is talking about four people who couldn't register to get their ballots because the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador page wasn't loading due to being swamped on the deadline to register

honestly they should just push it back to Summer. Actually might be more convenient given that we could be having a general election then, so the dates could meet up and they'd see higher turnout.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

billionare fucks general public again

[Luziyca]

Meanwhile on The Rock: The NL Election deadline has been pushed back yet again, this time to Thursday, March 25 at 4 PM NT

And the NL press is talking about four people who couldn't register to get their ballots because the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador page wasn't loading due to being swamped on the deadline to register

honestly they should just push it back to Summer. Actually might be more convenient given that we could be having a general election then, so the dates could meet up and they'd see higher turnout.

I think it's been customary that if the date of a provincial election overlaps with a federal election campaign, the former gets moved to a different date.

Certainly last provincial election, the municipal elections were moved from late October to November 9th, 2020 because of the provincial election, which in turn because of a snowstorm, a handful of municipalities (mine included) had theirs moved later: mine was held on the 13th, while Swift Current's was held on the 12th.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

So at this point I'm just going to go on a full fantasy mode here:

I think we need to strengthen Canada's Navy and Air Force while investing in green power and infrastructure in Africa and Europe.

I'm thinking Air craft carrier and investment in building new cool domestically designed and built fighter jets and bombers.

We need to get China influence out of Africa and the EU while also bolstering our own defense.

[Luziyca]

So at this point I'm just going to go on a full fantasy mode here:

I think we need to strengthen Canada's Navy and Air Force while investing in green power and infrastructure in Africa and Europe.

I'm thinking Air craft carrier and investment in building new cool domestically designed and built fighter jets and bombers.

We need to get China influence out of Africa and the EU while also bolstering our own defense.

That's a bit too optimistic, to be honest. The latter part is certainly doable, but I don't think having a strong Canadian navy or air force would help expand Canadian influence globally, especially so long as we're still chained to America.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

So at this point I'm just going to go on a full fantasy mode here:

I think we need to strengthen Canada's Navy and Air Force while investing in green power and infrastructure in Africa and Europe.

I'm thinking Air craft carrier and investment in building new cool domestically designed and built fighter jets and bombers.

We need to get China influence out of Africa and the EU while also bolstering our own defense.

That's a bit too optimistic, to be honest. The latter part is certainly doable, but I don't think having a strong Canadian navy or air force would help expand Canadian influence globally, especially so long as we're still chained to America.

It wouldn't but it would be a strong back bone for a defence to any threats to Canada.

While we are doing this of course lowering carbon emissions and investing deeply into the sciences would be high prioritys too.

I'd really want a party with the environmental and social policies of the ndp but the milltary spending of the cons.

[Nilokeras]

So at this point I'm just going to go on a full fantasy mode here:

I think we need to strengthen Canada's Navy and Air Force while investing in green power and infrastructure in Africa and Europe.

I'm thinking Air craft carrier and investment in building new cool domestically designed and built fighter jets and bombers.

We need to get China influence out of Africa and the EU while also bolstering our own defense.

The answer to American and Chinese imperialism is not to do imperialism of our own - we're a country of 37 million, we will lose.

[Shrillland]

I really need to start being more diligent with the news on this thread...

Another Election coming up, Yukon is going to the polls on Monday, April 12

The only territory with partisan votes for their assembly, and there's not a lot of polling available. Though it seems to be another vote like Nilokeras pointed out, Silver's trying to get the Liberals to widen their majority, which they have the barest of, 10 out of 19 seats.

[Arisyan]

I really need to start being more diligent with the news on this thread...

Another Election coming up, Yukon is going to the polls on Monday, April 12

The only territory with partisan votes for their assembly, and there's not a lot of polling available. Though it seems to be another vote like Nilokeras pointed out, Silver's trying to get the Liberals to widen their majority, which they have the barest of, 10 out of 19 seats.

oh, I thought they were having it in November? I guess too close to Nunavut's. In any case, they technically have 11 seats given that the one independent member left the liberal caucus. Looking at the polls (of which there are 2), it appears the NDP has a super narrow lead of 33% to 32% for the Yukon Party and 31% to the liberals. Could be a close one.

[Shrillland]

I really need to start being more diligent with the news on this thread...

Another Election coming up, Yukon is going to the polls on Monday, April 12

The only territory with partisan votes for their assembly, and there's not a lot of polling available. Though it seems to be another vote like Nilokeras pointed out, Silver's trying to get the Liberals to widen their majority, which they have the barest of, 10 out of 19 seats.

oh, I thought they were having it in November? I guess too close to Nunavut's. In any case, they technically have 11 seats given that the one independent member left the liberal caucus. Looking at the polls (of which there are 2), it appears the NDP has a super narrow lead of 33% to 32% for the Yukon Party and 31% to the liberals. Could be a close one.

Too close isn't the issue. Look how sudden the vote is, just a month to prepare. No, Silver's just doing what the premiers have been doing nationwide, banking on good Covid responses to ensure strong majorities.

[Nilokeras]

I really need to start being more diligent with the news on this thread...

Another Election coming up, Yukon is going to the polls on Monday, April 12

The only territory with partisan votes for their assembly, and there's not a lot of polling available. Though it seems to be another vote like Nilokeras pointed out, Silver's trying to get the Liberals to widen their majority, which they have the barest of, 10 out of 19 seats.

oh, I thought they were having it in November? I guess too close to Nunavut's. In any case, they technically have 11 seats given that the one independent member left the liberal caucus. Looking at the polls (of which there are 2), it appears the NDP has a super narrow lead of 33% to 32% for the Yukon Party and 31% to the liberals. Could be a close one.

November's waaaaay too close to things being back to normal politics as usual. Gotta take advantage and extract that pandemic 'good governance' majority while the iron's hot. And then do nothing with that majority while the media stays more or less silent, because that's the country we live in.

[Shrillland]

Just what Canada needs...less media competition.

Rogers is buying out Shaw for $20 billion

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Just what Canada needs...less media competition.

Rogers is buying out Shaw for $20 billion

Ah yes beacuse the same corporation that charges over 500$ to a retired person for not retuning equipment during a lockdown from covid at the retirement home she lives in should control more of the market.

We are in a duopoly. Bell and Rogers don't compete. They just sit on the market making all of the money.

[Luziyca]

Just what Canada needs...less media competition.

Rogers is buying out Shaw for $20 billion

I honestly hope the regulators don't approve that one, because frankly, it'd give Rogers and Bell a duopoly, which is quite frankly, not great. Sure, SaskTel still exists (for now, I doubt it'll survive the Sask Party's government), and Quebec has their own thing going on, but I don't want a Rogers/Bell duopoly.

Plus, I'd end up using Rogers internet instead of Shaw internet and compared to my current service (which is basically high-speed given my household has two gamers, and two who work from home while the other is a uni student), Rogers probably will be a downgrade.

[Scalizagasti]

Just what Canada needs...less media competition.

Rogers is buying out Shaw for $20 billion

Taxpayers gave Rogers millions in dollars for the wage subsidy... yet they had $20 billion in cash just lying around so they could buy up competition.

Funny how that works.