[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Jacob]

That puts the Libs at 169 (of 172 required), with two apparently safe Lib seats up for byelection and a third one in Quebec (that they won by 1 (one) vote).

(Thanks for the article CC )

[viper37]

and a third one in Quebec (that they won by 1 (one) vote).

That will be an interesting by-election to watch.

Carney was in Terrebonne, Qc today, wearing the local hockey team's jersey.

1 year ago, he was considered a total political neophyte.

Training hockey players to be actors is easier than training actors to be hockey players, so they say...

[Grey Fox]

I don't think the byelection will be competitive. Terrebonne is quite the BQ fortress and without the PP threat will the Liberal voters still feel mobilized?

[Josephus]

As long said about 5 minutes after the last federal election results; this Liberal government is pretty right of centre, in fact Carney is a conservative in a nice Liberal suit.

In the Trudeau era, we used to say it makes sense for the Liberals and NDP to merge; now it might make sense for the Conservatives and Liberals to form one large governing party.

[HVC]

Maybe with the conservatives of 10 to 15 years ago, not their current iteration.

*edit* actually, not even then. In Closing the conservatives are shifting further to American right and all the really bad shit that entails.

[viper37]

I don't think the byelection will be competitive. Terrebonne is quite the BQ fortress and without the PP threat will the Liberal voters still feel mobilized?

LCN does not have a lot of leg to criticize the Liberal right now.  I'm sure they'll find something to rant all day long for the old people listening to QUB, but will it stick?

Carney has avoided major pitfalls so far and he's still walking on water as far as non Quebecor medias are concerned.

I believe the government effect will play in favour of the Libs.  Lots of people in this riding are young too and the Bloc's discourse has been tailored toward seniors and boomers.  Half the pop is below 54.  I think that will play in them disliking the Bloc's current positions on asking favors for retirees.

[crazy canuck]

As long said about 5 minutes after the last federal election results; this Liberal government is pretty right of centre, in fact Carney is a conservative in a nice Liberal suit.

In the Trudeau era, we used to say it makes sense for the Liberals and NDP to merge; now it might make sense for the Conservatives and Liberals to form one large governing party.

Back in the time before time when the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals competed for the middle they were much more closely aligned.  There was a book called One Eyed Kings whose main thesis was that there was very little of substance that separated the two parties, and all the fighting was around the edges. 

Then came Reform, the destruction of the PCs, and the shift to the right of the party that eventually emerged as the Conservatives.  While you correctly identify Carney as being to the right of Trudeau (which is not saying much since Trudeau was to the left of Mulcair) it is a stretch to claim the Liberals and Conservatives are similar.

[Bauer]

The liberals were always right of centre under Chrétien.  He called them the radical right.  Carney is simply restoring the pragmatic aspect of the party that had been forgotten under Trudeau.

Here in BC I really wish we could get a PC party...

[crazy canuck]

Bad couple of days for PP.  First Vance's good buddy goes rogue and travels to meet with his MAGA friends to build his bona fides with Maple MAGA, and now the floor crossing.

Which way does PP go, revert to form and appeal more to Maple MAGA to head off a challenge to his leadership or do what O'Toole tried to do and attempt to make the Conservatives electable.