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Post by Ginnie on Oct 23, 2008 20:31:21 GMT -4
...and it just occurred to me that whilst there have been hundreds of posts about the forthcoming U.S. elections, ours has come and gone with no notice whatsoever...
No arguments, accusations of malice, dirty deeds....
Well, just to let anyone know, Canada has elected Stephen Harper as the new Prime Minister. He will have a minority government (meaning that his party has less than half the seats in Parliament), so will have to co-operate with other parties to remain in power.
His Conservative Party would be considered about center in the States, maybe even slightly left of centre. Our Liberal Party would be a little left of that, and our New Democrat Party a little more left still. Also represented in our government is the Bloc Quebecois with about a sixth of the seats. It's sole purpose is to look out for the interests of the province of Quebec, in the hopes of eventually separating from Canada.
...return to your regular programming now...
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Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
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Post by Jason on Oct 23, 2008 20:41:56 GMT -4
Sorry - Canada just isn't as interesting, I guess.
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Post by Ginnie on Oct 23, 2008 20:54:35 GMT -4
Sorry - Canada just isn't as interesting, I guess. No, Jason, Canadian politics isn't as interesting! You should come up here for our annual igloo building contest. |
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Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
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Post by Jason on Oct 24, 2008 11:05:38 GMT -4
Sorry - Canada just isn't as interesting, I guess. No, Jason, Canadian politics isn't as interesting! Whatever helps you sleep at night, my maple-scented, moose-eating friend. |
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Post by Ginnie on Oct 24, 2008 15:55:30 GMT -4
Okay, I'll be nice and polite and say no more...  |
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Post by Ginnie on Oct 24, 2008 16:02:23 GMT -4
Okay, I'll be nice and polite and say no more... |
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Post by laurel on Oct 24, 2008 16:14:10 GMT -4
Technically our election isn't over, since we're having recounts in some areas.
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Post by gillianren on Oct 24, 2008 19:16:10 GMT -4
I know about your election. I've been waiting for people who know more on the subject to tell me the truth of the situation. I know my favourite advice columnist isn't pleased, but he also isn't Canadian, so I don't know how accurate his perception is.
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Post by Ginnie on Oct 25, 2008 15:23:57 GMT -4
I know about your election. I've been waiting for people who know more on the subject to tell me the truth of the situation. I know my favourite advice columnist isn't pleased, but he also isn't Canadian, so I don't know how accurate his perception is. Well, in Canada, politics is a strange game indeed. We have a minority government. The makeup of the government is this: Conservatives 143 seats Liberals 77 seats Bloc Quebecois 49 seats New Democrats 37 seats Independent 2 seats/ Since there are 308 seats total, you need to have 154 seats to have a majority gov't. The Conservatives are short 9 seats, so in order to pass anything, need the support of members of other parties. A vote of confidence can happen if the Conservatives "screw up" on major issues - if 155 members vote against the Conservatives in a vote of confidence, then Parliament is dissolved and we have another election. Since this is the third minority gov't in a row, and third election in five years, Canadians aren't anxious to go to the polls anytime soon. So any minority gov't has to be a very co-operative one for it to last. This can be a very good thing, or can result in a sluggish ineffective gov't. I'm hoping for the former. But I voted Green Party and they didn't get any seats at all. |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Oct 28, 2008 13:39:19 GMT -4
Just thought I'd point out that this is a somewhat historic year. Not only is it the Canadian and US elections, but NZ is having theirs too, on the 8th Nov. The last time these three countries shared an election year was 24 years ago, in 1984! What is more remarkable is that if Canada's Parliments actually went the full term, because NZ's term is 3 years, the US term is 4 Years and Canada 5 years, it'd only happen once every 60 years!
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Post by Ginnie on Oct 28, 2008 17:22:36 GMT -4
New Zealand? Where's that?  |
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Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
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Post by Jason on Oct 28, 2008 17:57:17 GMT -4
New Zealand? Where's that? Surprisingly far from Old Zealand, actually. |
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