[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Barrister]

CBC saying that Harper will be resigning as leader tonight.

While I won't be sad to see him go, he leaves a significant legacy. He has left his mark on the country, and leaves his party in better shape than the last few government changes. Depending how the leadership selection goes - and whether Trudeau lives down to your expectations - the Conservatives could be in good shape by the nest election.

I'm in no mood to be cheered up tonight Jake.

[Barrister]

Conservatives lost less than 7 per cent of the vote share from last election. A drop in the bucket yet enough to go from a majority gov't to the opposition. I'm hoping now that we can start talking seriously about election reform.

Speaking as someone whose party lost tonight...

God I hope not.  I think the value of a MP being elected to represent a specific riding, and not merely being chosen off a party list, is high.

[saskganesh]

Seriously, what is Harper's legacy? He was a destroyer not a creator.  The dude had a very narrow minded vision of transforming Canada into a socially and fiscally conservative nation. And he failed. He need another half generation to create the new normal.

[Monoriu]

At least the NDP lost.  At least the Green party is stuck at one seat

[Josephus]

Conservatives lost less than 7 per cent of the vote share from last election. A drop in the bucket yet enough to go from a majority gov't to the opposition. I'm hoping now that we can start talking seriously about election reform.

Speaking as someone whose party lost tonight...

God I hope not.  I think the value of a MP being elected to represent a specific riding, and not merely being chosen off a party list, is high.

Maybe but reform does not necessarily mean one over the other. There has been talk of a hybrid model

[Josephus]

Trudeau's wife is cute, but she has a bit of a hippy-dippy look I'm not a fan of.

[Neil]

Conservatives lost less than 7 per cent of the vote share from last election. A drop in the bucket yet enough to go from a majority gov't to the opposition. I'm hoping now that we can start talking seriously about election reform.

Speaking as someone whose party lost tonight...

God I hope not.  I think the value of a MP being elected to represent a specific riding, and not merely being chosen off a party list, is high.

The Liberals will push for their AV Jos-esque nonsense.  It will give them a permanent majority, so I can't say I blame them.  Still, it's a terrible idea, and so we need to push back against it with protests, and if necessary by other means.

[Fireblade]

Is weed legal in Canada yet?

[Grey Fox]

Trudeau's wife is cute, but she has a bit of a hippy-dippy look I'm not a fan of.

What do you mean?

[crazy canuck]

Seriously, what is Harper's legacy? He was a destroyer not a creator.  The dude had a very narrow minded vision of transforming Canada into a socially and fiscally conservative nation. And he failed. He need another half generation to create the new normal.

What is the legacy? Much ink has been spilled asserting that Canada has become more conservative.  But the popularity of the promise to run a deficit, legalize pot, make climate change a priority, increasing taxes on the rich etc. is some evidence makes the claim doubtful.

We won't really know his true legacy until we know what direction the Conservative party goes and how well that is received during the next election. 

[Valmy]

The funny thing is that immigrants are an excellent base of conservative support. Most of them have little stomach for western left wing bullshit. But right wing parties everywhere constantly wiff on them for obvious reasons. It does create the funny effect of left wing parties championing conservatism in every culture except their own.

[crazy canuck]

Recent immigrants are traditionally strong Liberal supporters so, at least in the Canadian context, your assertion is questionable.

[Valmy]

Recent immigrants are traditionally strong Liberal supporters so, at least in the Canadian context, your assertion is questionable.

Why would immigrants to the US be radically different from immigrants to Canada? They are coming from the exact same places. The reason they support left wing parties is because of the xenophobic slant of the right wing parties.

[Grey Fox]

I think Valmy's assertion is correct for Canada. It is just weirdly worded in a Canadian context.

We call it multicultiralism.

[Josephus]

Trudeau's wife is cute, but she has a bit of a hippy-dippy look I'm not a fan of.

What do you mean?

She did that whole "hugging her chest" thing, a spiritual "I hug you all" thing;  very Jon Anderson of Yes like.