[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Barrister]

So it's snowing hard in Edmonton today.

I can not do anything but take it as an omen.

I thought you liked snow.

In may, after I've planted my plants?  Not so much.

[Grey Fox]

When I arrived in Canada in the mid-90s, I heard a horror story that the previous federal ruling party went from a majority in parliament to 2 seats in a single election.  Ever since then my impression is that party loyalty isn't one of Canadian voters' strong points 

It's the same thing then now, Mulroney's coalition got destroyed when both the Bloc Québécois & the Reform Party came unto the scene, effectively splitting the right wing.

The right is divided, the current governing PC has used all it's political influence.

[Maximus]

When I arrived in Canada in the mid-90s, I heard a horror story that the previous federal ruling party went from a majority in parliament to 2 seats in a single election.  Ever since then my impression is that party loyalty isn't one of Canadian voters' strong points 

Lack of party loyalty may be one of their strong points, however.

[Josephus]

When I arrived in Canada in the mid-90s, I heard a horror story that the previous federal ruling party went from a majority in parliament to 2 seats in a single election.  Ever since then my impression is that party loyalty isn't one of Canadian voters' strong points 

Generally, Canadians are pretty stable.  Alberta has hjad stable right-wing governments since the great depression.

That's what makes this election such a shocker.

Lighten up. Change is good. Power breeds corruption. No one was happier than me when Chretien's Libs got tanked several years ago. In four years your right wingers will be back in power.

[Grey Fox]

and it will be his dream, a Wild Rose government.

[Barrister]

When I arrived in Canada in the mid-90s, I heard a horror story that the previous federal ruling party went from a majority in parliament to 2 seats in a single election.  Ever since then my impression is that party loyalty isn't one of Canadian voters' strong points 

Generally, Canadians are pretty stable.  Alberta has hjad stable right-wing governments since the great depression.

That's what makes this election such a shocker.

Lighten up. Change is good. Power breeds corruption. No one was happier than me when Chretien's Libs got tanked several years ago. In four years your right wingers will be back in power.

I wanted change.  I voted for change, both in 2012 and yesterday.

I didn't want this kind of change. 

[viper37]

stay and fight, or run like a coward?

Or the 'Quebec' choice, stay like a coward.

that's different.  there's not much hope for the right here, it's not even a rearguard figth.  In Alberta, they can come back.  In Ontario, after the disastrous NDP they had Mike Harris.

[Malthus]

When I arrived in Canada in the mid-90s, I heard a horror story that the previous federal ruling party went from a majority in parliament to 2 seats in a single election.  Ever since then my impression is that party loyalty isn't one of Canadian voters' strong points 

Generally, Canadians are pretty stable.  Alberta has hjad stable right-wing governments since the great depression.

That's what makes this election such a shocker.

Soooo ... picked out your edible hat yet? 

[Valmy]

Mmmmmm that does look yummy. The hat would be pretty good to.

[Neil]

Are we really so sure that the PCs won't reabsorb the Wildrose?  I can't speak for everyone, but I'd certainly consider voting for a suitably chastised PC party.  The Wildrose?  Never.

[Valmy]

What did the PC do to lose power? Or is this just a natural result of the oil price downturn?

[Barrister]

Are we really so sure that the PCs won't reabsorb the Wildrose?  I can't speak for everyone, but I'd certainly consider voting for a suitably chastised PC party.  The Wildrose?  Never.

What's your beef with Wildrose?

[Neil]

What did the PC do to lose power? Or is this just a natural result of the oil price downturn?

They released a budget with tax increases, which angered the 20% of the electorate that holds to principles that you would identify with the Republican Party.  Those people went and voted for the Wildrose.

Of course, the fact that they had been in power for 44 years, and they haven't really had effective leadership for probably the last 15 of them, was probably just as decisive.  If not for the various scandals (especially during the Redford period), the party would probably have been stronger.

[Barrister]

What did the PC do to lose power? Or is this just a natural result of the oil price downturn?

How long do you have?

Yeah, a huge part of it is the price of oil, but combined with 44 year fatigue, several scandals surrounding the last premier Redford, the seemingly unscrupulous was Prentice attempted to knock out the opposition Wildrose by absorbing most of their MLAs,  He presented a "bad news budget" that raised taxes just enough, and cut spending just enough, to piss people off without actually pleasing anyone either.  Then he called a snap election months before the fixed election date just to catch the opposition unaware: Wildrose elected their leader only 2 weeks before the election, and the Liberals went through the election with only an interim leader.

[Malthus]

Mmmmmm that does look yummy. The hat would be pretty good to.

Very tasty looking. Though the act of eating is supposed to be a punishment.

The hat, I mean.