One thing I'd note is that the border between the US and Canada is no longer undefended. As a result of 9/11 the US insisted upon armed customs agents and DHS to be there. As a Canadian living in the US I've gone through more hoops to get a visa than has previously happened by other Canadians who made the US their new temporary work home.
The Conservative government was what is called a minority government. The Conservatives held a plurality of seats in the House of Commons but not a majority. That meant that the other parties, if they worked in concert, could defeat the government, thus forcing an election.
During that minority parliament, they never did so. Harper requested dissolution before the House even returned from recess, claiming that Parliament was dysfunctional. Yet everyone knows that much of the dysfunction came from the government side, which sabotaged the work of committees to prevent some embarrassing investigations.
Yes, there is plenty of hypocrisy to share on both sides of the border.
I will be voting Tuesday for the first time under my new legal name!
Thanks for spending some time focusing on Cannuck politics. I think that you did an awesome job. I do spend a lot of time on US politics because most of my readers are Americans, but things in Canada are a great concern to me. I am terrified of that pitbull in a sweater vest Harper getting a majority government. Dion reminds me of a used vacuum cleaner sales man and Layton despite having some great policy ideas is homophobic. This is going to be yet another election of lesser evils. At best we can only hope that the green party makes some stride forward for future elections. Even if I were to smoke all of the pot in BC I could not envision any of these leaders as fit to run the country. I need a timmys and an ice pack.
The best we can realistically hope for is to hold the Conservatives to another minority. It's theoretically possible for the Liberals to win a plurality of seats, but that's not going to happen. So we'll be back at the polls before too long. :\
The other result will likely be that will be leadership change in one or more parties. If the Conservatives don't do as well as they expect, then maybe, just maybe, Stephen Harper's days are numbered.
Yeah, thankfully the Bloc had a resurgence (in Quebec) that prevented a Conservative majority. A Harper who needed only his own caucus to pass legislation really would be scary.
There is talk about a Liberal leadership change, of course. That happened even before the vote count was done. But there will be no immediate change. I think a leadership convention might be two years away, and Stéphane Dion does not seem inclined (yet) to resign. I'm reasonably sure, however, that he will not lead the party into the next election.
Now, onward to the more interesting election, the one Obama is going to win. I have my absentee ballot! Unfortunately, my last state of residence is not a swing state.
Veronique, Kentucky is probably going to end up in McCain's column, but we do have a shot at taking out Sen. Mitch McConnell
4:53 AM
[Image]While channel surfing earlier tonight I stumbled across a CBC program called 'The Nation' being broadcast on C-SPAN. It was coming from a town library straddling the US-Canadian border in Quebec and compared and contrasted our two elections.
That's how I discovered we aren't the only peeps on the North American continent having elections this year. While much of the world's and our attention have been focused on our upcoming November 4 election, our northern neighbors are having their own pivotal election as well on October 14.
This Canadian election was necessary because of the dissolution of parliament on September 7, thus forcing new elections to be held.
As a child of historians, I've been fascinated by Canada ever since I noted that the African descended peoples of both nations share some interesting connections and parallels in our cultures despite being separated by the world's longest undefended border. It was also heightened by my fascination with a Afro-Canadian junior high classmate who was born in Calgary and lived there until he was eight.
[Image]For you Canadian politically challenged Americans, here's a quick primer on Canadian politics (Veronique, Renee and my other Canadian commenters please chime in on this where necessary)
Canada has a federal parliamentary system on the British model. It's a constitutional monarchy, composed of the Queen of Canada, who is officially represented by the Governor General (or by a lieutenant-governor at the provincial and territorial levels), and Parliament. The House of Commons has 308 seats directly elected by the people in national or by-elections at the provincial level. There is an upper chamber, the 105 member Canadian Senate.
The Constitution Acts of 1867 and 1982 set the maximum time between federal general elections at five years, except in time of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection. An election can also be called earlier than the five year period if the Prime Minister so chooses or if the Government is defeated on a motion of confidence in the House of Commons.
[Image]The Canadian Parliament just recently passed a bill implementing fixed election dates every four years on the third Monday in October starting in 2009, subject to an earlier dissolution of Parliament.
MP's represent a riding, which is akin to our congressional districts.
There are 15 registered political parties in Canada, but the three major political parties are considered to be the Conservatives, The Liberals and the New Democratic Party or NDP. There are other parties who are players in the Canadian Parliament such as the Bloc Quebecois, who are the heirs to the Quebec separatist movement and the Greens.
[Image]The Conservatives and PM Stephen Harper are currently running thangs in Canada pending the results of the October 14 election. Liberal leader Stephane Dion and NDP leader Jack Layton are vying in this election to deny the Conservatives (or Tories) the 155 seats they need for a clear majority of the parliament and replace him as prime minister.
BTW, if you're interested and seeing a different style of political debate, the Canadian leaders debates will be broadcast on C-SPAN.
So this political junkie, while she awaits her chance to weigh in our on national elections, will be keeping an eye on what's happening with our northern neighbors as well.
posted by Monica Roberts at 9:20 PM on Oct 10, 2008
"2008 Canadian National Elections"
10 Comments -
One thing I'd note is that the border between the US and Canada is no longer undefended. As a result of 9/11 the US insisted upon armed customs agents and DHS to be there. As a Canadian living in the US I've gone through more hoops to get a visa than has previously happened by other Canadians who made the US their new temporary work home.
9:00 AM
Good job, Monica!
The Conservative government was what is called a minority government. The Conservatives held a plurality of seats in the House of Commons but not a majority. That meant that the other parties, if they worked in concert, could defeat the government, thus forcing an election.
During that minority parliament, they never did so. Harper requested dissolution before the House even returned from recess, claiming that Parliament was dysfunctional. Yet everyone knows that much of the dysfunction came from the government side, which sabotaged the work of committees to prevent some embarrassing investigations.
Yes, there is plenty of hypocrisy to share on both sides of the border.
I will be voting Tuesday for the first time under my new legal name!
10:31 AM
Cool...have fun and keep us posted.
I found the Canadian leaders debate fascinating and I envy you peeps.
Imagine a debate where your party leaders argued about issues and platform positions.
12:16 PM
Thanks for spending some time focusing on Cannuck politics. I think that you did an awesome job. I do spend a lot of time on US politics because most of my readers are Americans, but things in Canada are a great concern to me. I am terrified of that pitbull in a sweater vest Harper getting a majority government.
Dion reminds me of a used vacuum cleaner sales man and Layton despite having some great policy ideas is homophobic. This is going to be yet another election of lesser evils. At best we can only hope that the green party makes some stride forward for future elections. Even if I were to smoke all of the pot in BC I could not envision any of these leaders as fit to run the country. I need a timmys and an ice pack.
1:27 PM
Hey Renee, it's only fair. I have Canadian readers as well ;)
And I wasn't kidding about being fascinated with Canada.
6:46 AM
Renee, Veronique and my Canadian readers,
I did enjoy watching the Leaders Debate that was broadcast in the States on C-SPAN.
It was fascinating to watch political party leaders debate policy and not sling mud at each other.
Good luck today and may this election turn out the way you wish it to.
5:14 AM
The best we can realistically hope for is to hold the Conservatives to another minority. It's theoretically possible for the Liberals to win a plurality of seats, but that's not going to happen. So we'll be back at the polls before too long. :\
The other result will likely be that will be leadership change in one or more parties. If the Conservatives don't do as well as they expect, then maybe, just maybe, Stephen Harper's days are numbered.
8:48 AM
I see the Conservatives didn't quite get to 155 seats, so you peeps will have another minority government up there.
Any word on leadership changes in the Liberal party since they lost seats?
11:56 AM
Yeah, thankfully the Bloc had a resurgence (in Quebec) that prevented a Conservative majority. A Harper who needed only his own caucus to pass legislation really would be scary.
There is talk about a Liberal leadership change, of course. That happened even before the vote count was done. But there will be no immediate change. I think a leadership convention might be two years away, and Stéphane Dion does not seem inclined (yet) to resign. I'm reasonably sure, however, that he will not lead the party into the next election.
Now, onward to the more interesting election, the one Obama is going to win. I have my absentee ballot! Unfortunately, my last state of residence is not a swing state.
2:31 PM
Veronique,
Kentucky is probably going to end up in McCain's column, but we do have a shot at taking out Sen. Mitch McConnell
4:53 AM