POLL: Canadian Federal Election

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Just wondering what some of my fellow Canuckians' thoughts on the upcoming election are.
Random thoughts, comments, complaints, whines, views, opinions, questions, whatever; are extremely welcome.

Personally; I despise the Liberals and think the NDP are the worst joke since communism. Coincidentally; I happend to seriously like the Conservatives (let me put it this way: if the Alliance were still about, they'd get my vote). All other "parties" (especially the BQ) are a waste of time and paper; and so do not deserve mentioning. (although I will include the BQ in the poll...just for randomness' sake).

Here goes...just pretend you've entered a polling booth and are going to cast your ballot; who's it gonna be?

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 15 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Canadian Federal Election (15 votes.)

Canadian Federal Election (Choose 1)
* Liberals - 7% (1)
* Conservatives - 20% (3)
* NDP - 27% (4)
* Bloc Quebecois - 0% (0)
* Other - 7% (1)
* Don't vote/don't care/not Canadian/too young...etc. - 40% (6)

 

I JUST DON'T KNOW!!!

I would like to vote for someone who is honest, reputable, charismatic, forceful in dealing with foreign policy, and has large set of cahones. Maybe a Tommy DeVito (AKA Joe Pesci) type leader...

Don't take no nothin from nobody.

 

Well, I'm just going to repeat what I said in Jaguar's Devil You Know thread, because my feelings haven't really changed (and it's easier than re-typing ):

My problem in this election is that I don't really trust the Liberals anymore. Up until the sponsorship scandal, I would have probably gone with them, but I don't believe for a minute that the former finance minister was unaware of what was going on with the sponsorship program. Plus Martin just seems like such a phony.

But if not the Liberals, then who? I used to vote PC, but I really don't know if the new Conservative party is ready to lead the country, and there's just something about Harper that bothers me, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Ironically, even though I doubt I would ever vote for them, I think the NDP (our more-or-less left wing party, for those outside of Canada) is the most honest and sincere. However, like the Conservatives, I again have serious doubts about their ability to lead. Plus, I really don't feel like having my taxes double to pay for all the social programs they would undoubtedly want to put in place (although, in fairness, in Manitoba, we have an NDP government, and they are actually being more or less fiscally responsible). I also doubt the domestic and international financial markets would react well if the NDP got in.

Addendum: my biggest concern with the Conservatives is, like the former Reform Party, they have party members who keep coming out with ridiculous, bigoted comments. It actually scares me a bit to think what this country could become if they got into power. Yes, these comments are not party positions, but I wonder if they reflect an underlying attitude.

I'm still on the fence.

 

What does it meant? Québec is not important enough and it should not try to protect it's right? I don't know if yo remembered but Wasn't the BQ was once the official opposion?

Even If I don't like BQ, it doesn't mean it do not deserve mentioning. So what I understand from your post is that Québec isn't important? If I recalled Québec is one of the most populated province...

pff....

Well, I'm still underage to vote but I still have a little knowledge... well I think..

Liberal: Well, After the sponshor scandal.

Bloc Québecois: All they can do is whine and they do nothin'.

Conservatives: No way too much Right wing to my taste

NPD: Sorry I know so little information ton actualy have an opinion.

 

@Ofelix- You should probably know that I'm french-canadian and that my *entire* family lives in Québec. So no, I don't think that Québec isn't important.
And with french being my first language (though it's no longer my more proficient language), I'm sure you can imagine that I do care about Québec protecting its language rights.
And yeah; Québec is the second most populated province. So what? I don't see a federal Ontario party running for Parliament ( and no, the Liberals don't count as Ontario's party...). And what about BC? What about the rights of BCers? Or Albertans or Acadians for that matter?

What I mean, is that provinces have their own provincial governments for a reason...such as protecting their province's rights...

The BQ is no better than the Marijuana Party because of its obsessive single-mindedness.

 

I resent that. The Marijuana Party isn't just about legalizing pot. Sure its a major point, but they do have others. In my opinion, they have a well developed platform.

I think I know who I am going to vote for...

 

For the record, I'm from Québec.

Here's what I think about the four major parties:

Liberal Party: cocky, confident and corrupt to the bone. They forget they're supposed to be center-left and act more like center-right. Need a good cleaning-up, but Paul Martin is not the person to set things straight since he's pretty much the embodiment of corruption. I wish Sheila Copps had been appointed head of the party instead, just out of curiosity. Martin may or may not have been a good Finance minister, but he's basically a (very rich) businessman. And I don't want a rich, corrupt businessman as PM, period.

Conservative Party: I don't think it is acceptable, as a country, to regress when it comes to moral issues. As a whole, Canada is a very progressist country (especially compared to our neighbours to the south). Stephen Harper's election would be a major step in the wrong direction IMO. Yesterday on Parliament Hill people celebrated the one-year anniversary of the granting of the right to marriage for same-sex couples. One man held a sign that read "Stephen Harper: a leader for the 18th century!" That pretty much sums up my opinion on the Tories.

Bloc Québécois: the Bloc is an oddity. It's a party hell-bent on defending the interests of only one province, and yet it runs in the federal elections. It does not have enough candidates to form the government in power (in fact, barely enough to hope to be the official opposition), and yet people still vote for them. Why? I think it's a self-defense mechanism. When Québécois feel threatened, they vote Bloc to counterbalance the influence of the "big two". Here's an hypothetical example: the conservatives win the elections with a majority, and since there's no chance in hell (according to current polls) that a conservative candidate will be elected in Québec, there will be no Québécois ministers in Ottawa. Suddenly, having a few Bloc MoPs becomes very important.

New Democratic Party: can a resolutely left-wing party ever win the elections in Canada? Sadly, I don't think so. I think they have a magnificent program that presses all the right notes (social services, environment, health, long-term planning), but unfortunately I am with the minority here. The NDP's program is not built to win elections because they don't make unrealistic promises. It's built towards improving the quality of life in the country, not boosting the economy or funding the military and that, unfortunately, scares people off.

I often read or hear about people who vote for one candidate only to make sure another one doesn't win, and then they complain because the guy they elected is some moron who can't even tie his own shoelaces. Or Jean Charest. People, please THINK before you vote. Vote with your conscience for the party that most closely reflects your own opinions. Vote FOR someone, not AGAINST someone.

Now, what was that about the Marijuana Party?

Have a great election time everybody!

 

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts after the first leaders' debate?

IMO:

Gilles Duceppe did a damn fine job of verbally slamming just about all of the other leaders, although this is understandable as he doesn't have to bother with upholding a platform. He did a superb job of pointing out the weaknesses in the platforms of the other parties though. So he was fun to watch.

Paul Martin proved that he really is a suitable successor to Cretin (oops, sorry; "Chretien"). He successfully said absolutely nothing. He proved completely unable to defend his party's position. As well as making countless false accusations with the intent of fooling the uneducated public to his side. Despicable.

Stephen Harper quietly and humbly took it home. He was the only one of the leaders who managed to stick with the questions asked by the journalists; as well as assert his and his party's positions against his opponents.

Jack Layton, while a good speaker generally has nothing to say. And that's how the debate went. The double standards he firmly upholds (ie. equality for all; but special rights and attention to the minorities and the "less well off").

So basically; Harper had the best arguments, Duceppe had the strongest comments, Martin was full of sh*t, and Layton had nothing of any significance to say.


Hehehe...does it show that my opinion's slanted at all?

 

I feel that Canada still needs a military force.

Conservative

 

I'd rather not have most of the budget spent on the military. I mean, what are we, Bush-ites?

We are peacekeeprs, and I'm fairly sure that we don't need more deathmachines. I am almost fairly sure that Canada isn't about to be invaded anytime soon, and if we were, well, a few more tanks ain't gonna stop it.

Vote no conservatives.

 

Well, I feel that Harper did the best in the English debate - he was focused and kept his cool. Martin seemed flustered a lot of the time (not surprisingly, since everybody else was attacking him), Layton wouldn't shut up, and Duceppe was a minor player.

Having said that, the Conservatives still scare me - they seem to me to be the Reform/Alliance Party under a new name, and those parties were too far to the right for my taste. I'm still not completely decided, but I'll probably hold my nose and vote Liberal on the 28th.

 

Jaguar, just because we are peace keepers doesn't mean that we don't need an army. Without our own army we will become even more dependant on the americans. Lose our army and we will have another one replaced, hired and paid by the States and then "our" military will be going into other countries to kill. I'd rather keep Canada with its Canadian peace keeping military system thanks.

Are you aware of how pathetic our military budget is right now?

 

Military budget? My ex goes to one of the military colleges here, and the number of rants I have heard about the lack of funding is increcdible.

Yes, we need better funding for our military. My problem is, I can't support the Conservatives and follow my own beliefs.

 

Personally, I will probably vote Liberal. They have not exactly been impressive lately but quite frankly I don't really like anyone who is running.

I think it is quite evident that the Liberals would have been better served had Martin remained finance minister and someone better suited for the job led the party but hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

I do not find the whole sponsorship scandal business to be as offensive as most people seem to. Sure I would prefer a corruption free government but quite frankly I don't see any of the other parties as being less likely to engage in similar activities.

The other big strike against the Liberals around here is outrage over the Ontario Liberal's completely inept provincial budget. Personally, I don't blame the Federal party for the Provincial equivelant's stupidity.

As far as the other parties,

My dislike for the political ideology of the New Communist Party is quite strong so I will just say I would sooner vote in the Rhino party than an NDP government.

The Conservatives are far too conservative for my tastes - the public statements that various party members have made about social/moral issues send shivers up my spine. I suppose that hard-line Catholics would probably be pleased as punch but quite frankly I tend to favour a "let people do what they want as long as it doesn't harm someone else" philosophy.

The BQ - let me just say that I am one of the many Anglo ex-Montrealers who left due to the language laws. I think you can probably deduce what my opinion of the BQ is.

 

Well, the election has come and I have voted. The sad thing is, when I got to the polls, I still couldn't decide. The one party I was leaning too had to many cons vs their pros.

In the end, I went with the one party that would fight for the people, had a sound governing theory, and would never win the election.

So, long live the Marxist/Lenninist Party of Canada.

 

Jag, I know you spent some time on this.

The important thing is that you did your research, made an informed decision, and voted with your conscience.

Most importantly, you voted.

Congratulations.

 

There was actually a Marxist/Lenninist Party of Canada candidate that was leading in the early stages of the results of one of the ridings near me. My jaw just about hit the floor when I saw that.

If there is anyone here from the Surrey North riding, good for you guys re-electing Cadman as an indepedent. I can think of no better slap in the face to the Conservative leadership.

 

Yep, good to see an Independent get in.

This election basically turned out exactly the way I was hoping. The Liberals needed a wake-up call, and hopefully they got one with their minority (as opposed to a majority). As I said before, having the Conservatives in power, even with a minority, would have been a bit scary. Thank goodness they have members who keep putting their feet in their mouths.

 

The result was a lot better than I expected but I still have serious doubts as to the ability of this minority government to last the full term. I have a feeling that we will be doing this all over again after next year's budget.

 

Agreed. I have no expectation this will last the full term. As is usually the case in these situations, one or two years is the most we can hope for.