Elections Tommorow!

[Sir Degrader]

Woohoo voting day! Monday, June 28. Just a friendly reminder to all Canadians not to forget to vote. Who do you think's going to win (or at least form a minority gvt). It looks neck and neck, but I hope Harper.

I have heard rumblings that the early voters have been indicating they are looking for a change in parties....Let us know how it turns out.

[Aerich]

It's a tossup for me. I'm going to vote, but it will be based on my local candidates. I have issues with the platforms and/or leaders of each party, so I'm going to go with the person I think will represent my area the best.

Harper may make a good Prime Minister, but only if he keeps a lid on spending and also the fanatics in his party. Martin may make a good PM if he cleans up the inefficiency and patronship in his party and actually puts money into the military. I watched the leadership debate, and after that, I decided that Layton was dangerous. He came across as an arrogant SOB. It's not impossible to correct, but he offended a lot of people with his attitude and sneer that night, including me.

I'm actually hoping for a minority government of some kind. It can be inefficient, but it will also put some kind of controls on the party with the most seats.

[Gab]

I'll vote but I sure hope that it isn't Harper who wins. Despite how pissed off I am at the Liberals because of the sponsership scandal, there's no way I'm going to vote for a right-wing radical (even though he's trying to portray himself as a moderate)who was formally the leader of the most conservative party of Canada.

It looks for sure that there's going to be a minority government and I hope so. I find it more progressive.

[ 06-27-2004, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: Gab ]

[pritchke]

I was leaning towards the conservatives but I will be voting Green. I can't vote liberal based on the principal that they have wasted so much money and are corrupt giving there buddies handouts for providing 0 services and you can't believe a word Martin says. Because of these scandels I sometimes feel like I am living in a banana republic. The conservatives have a great platform except there is a few big issues I don't see eye to eye with. Harper is a good leader but has some scary people in is party that could influence decisions much like what happened to Bush. The NDP do not have a great platform, and their leader is a motor mouth, and I worry that there spend, spend, policy could be very bad. The provinces have had this big socialist type of government proved that the policies don't work well if there isn't a limit on spending. The Bloc isn't worth mentioning as it is a separatist party that wants to give everything to Quebec. Quebec gets more than its share already. The Green party isn't well known and has a smaller number of old baby boomer farts in it compared to other parties that have been calling the shots for years. They have a good platform but they don't have the funds for campaigning. So by voting for them I will hopefully give them enough support to receive party status and provide an alternative for the future. It will be a minority government so it could be good in that MP's will have to actually work for there constituents, instead of following the party lead and sucking up to the leader all the time, as well cooperation with other parties may be required. Downside is nothing may ever get done if they can't work together.

[ 06-28-2004, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[pritchke]

Results from last night:

Liberals
Seats: 135
Popular vote (%): 36.7

Conservatives.
Seats: 99
Popular vote (%): 29.6

Bloc
Seats: 54
Popular vote (%): 12.4

N.D.P.
Seats: 19
Popular vote (%): 15.7

Other
Seats: 1
Popular vote (%): 5.6

Total seats: 308
Majority: 155

Note: Green Party got a paycheck as they received Party Status by getting more than 4% of the popular vote.

[ 06-29-2004, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Aerich]

Pritchke, I couldn't agree more with your assessment.

We probably got one of the best results possible, considering the overall weaknesses of the parties. A minority government with a small party holding the balance of power, and a strong and fairly principled Opposition. I wish the Greens had taken a seat or two; they actually had a decent chance around here. Unfortunately, I voted Liberal. It looked like a close race in my riding; our three-time MP (who I believe is knowledgable, intelligent, and a person of integrity) recently crossed the floor from the Conservatives. The Conservative candidate in my riding was a jackass; he couldn't sit still in all-candidates meetings and constantly interrupted other candidates and members of the public. I'm also leery of the Conservatives, as I don't know how far they might go on deficit budgets, foreign policy, and possible imposition of a certain type of morality. I might have voted NDP, as their candidate in our area was extremely well-respected, but Layton scares me as much as the undercurrents in the Conservative Party do. The Greens didn't stand a chance in my riding, due to the strength of the other candidates. I had to go with the default option, and vote for my candidate, and not so much on the national level.

[ 06-29-2004, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Aerich ]

[Djinn Raffo]

I think the outcome is horrible. The Liberals and the NDP will ally and their isn't much the Conservatives can do about it as I doubt the Bloc will stand with them.

[Djinn Raffo]

I voted Conservative mainly as a Western protest vote against the Libs. Although i would like our military to once more have something to be proud of and not be the joke of Nato it is now. I'm also keen on the decentralization and the elected Senate.

[ 06-29-2004, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Djinn Raffo ]

[pritchke]

Good point Aerich!! I often vote for candidates that I know well do a good job of representing the region. I didn't have a great selection to choose from here. If I were in Halifax I would have voted NDP as they have some good candidates in that region for that party.

I should comment on the leaders speeches.

(liberal) Paul Martin (PM) I actually didn't catch his victory speech but he did look somewhat relieved to win as he drove away from his hotel.

(NDP) Layton - This guy gives a big victory speech even with 19 seats. While a good number for the NDP and according to popular vote they should have gotten a few more as the Bloc had a ton more seats with nowere near the popular vote (A flaw of our system or a flaw of having a separtist party to run in one region). The speech was pretty arrogant considering it sounded like he would be the one calling the shots, and influencing the liberals. While it is a good possibility the liberals will make deals with the NDP to pass bills as they have some common ground it is a little early to be tooting that horn just yet.

(Conservative) Harper - Very good speech, and down to earth, congratulated other parties on a well fought race, and accepting the peoples choice. Sounded somewhat disappointed as a few weeks ago he was expecting a minority. But premier Ralph, and conservative member White (one of the scary guys) flapping there gums sure didn't help his campaign.

(Green Party Leader) - Seemed kind of neutral. Was happy to get party status but disappointed that did not get there first seat this time around.

(Bloc Leader) - What a lying piece of crap. Said his agenda was not about separation, and that the people of Quebec should vote for his party. Most of them do and his victory speech was all about separation. I am sure Federalists Quebecers will be pleased they tossed their vote to him.

[ 06-29-2004, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]