A Likely Election?

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 4/23/2005, 1:39 pm

A little under a year since the last Canadian federal election, it looks like a strong possibility that we may be hitting the voter booths again.

Anyways, I'm sure plenty of us know what is going on, so I won't get into detail about it. What are everyone's thoughts? Should the opposition force a non-confidence vote? Should an election be held before the Gomery report is finalized? Or should we all sit back and wait for what he has to say?

Personally, I'm very disappointed with the Liberal government. Firstly, I have to agree with the Conservatives that Paul Martin is trying to turn the whole sponsorship scandal into a national crisis when it is in fact a Liberal crisis. There was absolutley no reason that what he said on Thursday night could not have been said in the House of Commons. I hate to say it, but the Liberals need to be taken out of office. If it leads to a Conservative government, which it most likely would, then so be it. Trust me, I'm not a fan of Stephen Harper and the Conservative government, but what the Liberal party has done is a disgrace to the entire country.

Personally, I'd love to see an NDP government, but as well all know, that is very unlikely. However, the NDP and Liberal governments are currently in talks to form a coalition which could possibly help the Liberals win in a non-confidence vote.

All in all, I'm very disappointed with the way things are looking. We just had an election last June where millions was spent. Now we are going to be forced to listen to the campaign promises all over again while the parties spend millions again.

I don't believe there is any reason to wait for the Gomery report either. Whether Paul Martin had anything to do with what happen is irrelevant. It was a Liberal scandal and it is now time for them to be judged.

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 4/23/2005, 1:55 pm

The conservatives have the same agenda as the liberals and every issue except for military, gay marriage and other issues that involve religious morals in some form. So basically I see little difference between the Liberal and Conservative platform, especially when put in a minority government.

Personally, I'd like to see a Conservative minority with the NDP and/or Bloc holding them up. This would force the conservatives to sway from their military and religion in order to cater to the other parties. The Liberals simply haven't done enough in their twelve consecutive years of power. The only main thing that has been done is a refocus on healthcare and "a plan" to introduce nationalized child care. I would think that in terms of financing these two problems, the conservatives could do a better job.

reza · Post by **reza** » 4/23/2005, 2:22 pm

J-Neli wrote:The conservatives have the same agenda as the liberals and every issue except for military, gay marriage and other issues that involve religious morals in some form. So basically I see little difference between the Liberal and Conservative platform, especially when put in a minority government.

That doesn't change the fact that having a Conservative government will have an influence on certain members of society. You can't just say that 'they're pretty similar on most things-so whatever.'
I really don't want to see an election, largely because I see the Liberals being taken down. I think that this election will have one of the lowest voter turn-outs in a long time.

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 4/23/2005, 2:35 pm

You mean since the last election? Last year's election saw the lowesr voter turnout since Confederation.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 4/23/2005, 2:35 pm

hasnt harper explicitly stated he wants to cut taxes before paying down the debt to more manageable levels?

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 4/23/2005, 2:50 pm

Oh yeah... I can vote this time.

Perhaps I should start giving a damn? :lol:

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 4/23/2005, 3:04 pm

lotus wrote:
J-Neli wrote:The conservatives have the same agenda as the liberals and every issue except for military, gay marriage and other issues that involve religious morals in some form. So basically I see little difference between the Liberal and Conservative platform, especially when put in a minority government.

That doesn't change the fact that having a Conservative government will have an influence on certain members of society. You can't just say that 'they're pretty similar on most things-so whatever.'
I really don't want to see an election, largely because I see the Liberals being taken down. I think that this election will have one of the lowest voter turn-outs in a long time.

Umm no matter what party you vote for it will have a positive on certain members of society.

And why can't I say they are similar? It would just be telling the truth. Why do you think the conservatives told their members not to show up for the vote for the budget? Because the Liberals created a budget that the conservatives would have made themselves if they had the chance. The Liberals cater to the elites just as much as the Conservatives do.

As much as an NDP government could do some good things, the fact is people don't like taxes and anything the NDP would ever want to do would have to involve even more taxation than Canadians already have to deal with.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 4/23/2005, 3:51 pm

How the hell would Harper cut taxes and then magically start paying off the debt with this new-found less money?

Also, a Conservative gov't held up by the Bloc = :lol:

I'd move.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 4/23/2005, 3:59 pm

i meant instead of paying down the debt
hmmmm *reads what he wrote*
hmmmm i need more sleep and less exams :nod:

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 4/23/2005, 4:06 pm

Oh

That's the classic "get-the-uninformed-middle-class-vote" strategy.
What a dick.

tasha · Post by **tasha** » 4/23/2005, 4:09 pm

i hope there isn't an election until at least november 6th. then i can vote. lol

Long Jonny · Post by **Long Jonny** » 4/23/2005, 4:13 pm

most likely it will be either in June if the Conservatives push for a non-confidenece vote (which will probably happen) or next February if they decide to wait until the Gomery report (or if the Liberals win a non-confidence vote).

beautiful liar · Post by **beautiful liar** » 4/23/2005, 10:42 pm

I think if the conservatives wait the liberals will have time to save face. if they're going to make a move, they should do it now. history has shown that canadians have short memories. if they wait, and hte country doesn't fall to pieces, people will stick with the devil they know rather than the devil they don't.

i don't know. i think the liberals would be smart to revamp the face of their party. most people will associate the scandle with martin. next election, choose a new leader, someone relatively unknown preferrably.

either way, you'll see a minority government, either liberal or conservative, with the general hope being, i believe, that the liberals will keep the conservative's social agenda in line, or that the conservatives will force the liberals to budget more effectively and stop squandering taxpayers money.

at this moment, although i think the liberals need to be removed from power, but i'm afraid to see a conservative government holding the reins when their stance on some social issues (anti-gay marriage, anti-abortion) strike me as unconstitutional. i think many canadians have the same problem. our national dilemma is that the party which many people feel best represents canadian values based on their constant re-election has become too secure and has weak leadership and is prone to bad decisions. however the alternative parties are either too right, or too left wing (although it would seem our parties are all clustered around the same spot on the political spectrum upon close analysis of their policies).

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 4/24/2005, 12:12 am

What's the old saying... "campaign from the left, govern from the right"

Even if the NDP came into power I'm willing to bet they would run things no differently than the Liberals. We are far too dependant on liberalism, and people would rather see their money in their pockets than have it go towards "a national anything".

I'd like to see what the conservatives can do. Especially seeing as how these are economically successful times for Canadians. Let's face it Gay's haven't had the right to marry since the beginning of marriages, what is another 4 years? (I know that's a pretty stupid thing to say because personally I think government shouldn't be able to infringe on people's rights, but I'm looking at this from a selfish perspective in that I'm not gay, so what do I care? Whether gay marriages are allowed in 2005, or 2009 won't make much difference to me).

beautiful liar · Post by **beautiful liar** » 4/24/2005, 12:47 am

I agree. The only difference between liberals and NDP would be an issue of national trust. in policy implementation, there would be no difference.

From the economic perspective, the conservatives may well be the best choice. I also think they'd be smart enough to avoid legislating on issues of public policy that would be highly controversial. I think they'd try and table those issues until they had earned enough confidence to be re-elected with a strong majority. so what you'd see is four years of economic building and structuring and focus on foreign policy rather than the current domestic issues being hammered out.

but i don't have a lot of faith in stephan harper. and i don't know that the conservatives, once in power, would not jump the gun and try to do too much too soon.

and i think 4 years is a big deal. canadians seem to think we're some kind of liberal, progressive nation. suspending equality for that much longer is not acceptable, in my opinion. i am somewhat disgusted that there is even this much debate over the issue. i suppose i have my bias, but i cannot see why two people cannot marry becuase of their genders when the charter of rights and freedoms promises equality regardless of race, gender, etc. i could not, in conscience, vote conservative because of this, despite the fact that otherwise i believe that they may be the best party for the job.

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 4/24/2005, 12:53 am

I agree with in everything you said, but when I list my personal priorities for the future, seeing as howI'll be in the job market within the next 2-4 years, I would prefer the strongest market possible. I already said that its selfish to put my priorities above equality. I hate saying that because it makes me look like an ass, but in the end the only person you can really look out for is yourself. In a perfect world we would all be equal, but true equality can never exist, whether it be socially, or economically.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 4/24/2005, 12:59 am

if equality cant exist why bother with laws at all?

beautiful liar · Post by **beautiful liar** » 4/24/2005, 1:07 am

because it is the role of government to either

a) minimize inequalities
or
b) exploit them

depending on the will (or indifference) of the majority (or the ability of politicians to manipulate said majority).

I AM ME · Post by **I AM ME** » 4/24/2005, 1:56 am

i voted NDP last time out of principle, but this time i might vote liberal just to keep the conservitives out.

Really with a Republican America, the last thing North America needs is a Conservitive Canada. I think we all know that the "Conservitives", are no more then an Alliance takeover, hell i know lots of PC's that have lost intrest because there's no longer anything Progressive about the Conservitive party.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 4/24/2005, 10:11 am

I'm really afraid of what a Conservative Canada would do to us considering the state of things south of the border. For example, It'd be really peachy if I could keep my reproductive rights.