POLL: Does Canada really need a spring election?

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This applies mostly to the Canucks on SP but anyone can vote. In light of everything happening and being released from the Gomery inquiry about the sponsership scandal, should canadians be forced back to the polls so sson after a Federal election?

And is it really worth it seeing as we currently have a minority government who are somewhat impotent due to the lack of seats?

I say no, solely based that Steven Harper says the government should be held accountable for wasting Canadian tax payers money. But wouldn't it be a waste to spend millions of dollars on another election just to oust a minority government that can be stopped at evry turn with a party coalition?

I say, wait till the end of the inquiry, see what they find and if it is as damning against the Federal Liberals as the Conservative Alliance is then maybe call an election. I think doing it right now would hurt the Tories more than help...

Poll Information
This poll contains 2 question(s). 13 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Does Canada really need a spring election? (13 votes.)

Does Canada really need a spring election? (Choose 1)
* Yes - 46% (6)
* No - 54% (7)

Do you believe that the current PM had any involvment? (Choose 1)
* Guilty - 77% (10)
* Not Guilty - 23% (3)

 

Nah, they need a king. It's way more cost effective to have just one king instead of 500 parliamentarians - even if the king has 100 serveants and a castle.

 

For the life of me I don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal about the sponsorship scandal. This sort of thing seems to happen all of the time regardless of which political party is in power. It isn't as if Mulroney and his cabinet didn't have his fair share of scandals both during and after his time in office.

Quite frankly, given the choice between a Liberal government that has made a few shady deals and Harper's socially conservative fanatics I wouldn't hesitate to vote for the Liberals. Given that an election at this time can't help but be to the conservatives' advantage I would prefer to delay as much as possible. Given time this will blow over and people will come back to their senses and vote based upon real issues.

@ Ragusa - A king? We already have a Queen - are you saying that we should push Queen Elizabeth to the side and have Charles take the throne? Actually, now that I think of it, the Queen's representatives in Canada have been as scandal plagued for wasting money as anyone else.

 

Whether or not we need an election is something that is determined by individual opinion. There are diehard Liberal supporters who simply don’t care about the lot of things, and there are others of us who see this as a good time to topple the Liberal Empire (10+ years...). Personally, i think that the only way to keep politicians marginally honest and concerned about the country is to have different parties in power every once and a while. When you get one, like the Liberals, in power for so long they tend to lose focus. Now, to tie this into whether or not we should have an election, well, i think so simply because i don’t like Paul Martin (a groundbreakingly legitimate reason if i ever saw one...). 'Course i don't really like any of the other Party's, so the poll will be a galling experience either way. That and the knowledge that my vote is irrelevant after Ont. and Que. vote... hmmm... 3 cheers for the Western Separatist Party!

Regarding the question of Martin's guilt, of course he was affiliated. He was the Finance Minister for umpteen years and he's guilty even if he simply gave out blank checks. The saying, 'if i don’t see it it's not illegal' doesn’t apply to politics. The big deal, however, lies in the mechanics of things. Most politicians are crooks, but only the ones good enough to not get caught should be able to become PM... It helps to have an oilier leader with regards to foreign affairs, instead of trying to please other countries, you know they’re trying to get the most for themselves... and hopefully that includes the entire country by affiliation.

wow... what a rant. I think i need coffee...

*EDIT for typos

[ April 13, 2005, 08:47: Message edited by: Celesialraven ]

 

I have to agree with you JSBB, Mulroney had his share of scandal. Remember when he stacked the senate with Tories to pass the GST? Every government has scandal it's true but one thing you can say is that at least Martin is accpeting repsonsibility as PM by ordering the inquiry and sticking to it even though things look bad for the Liberals. But then again that could be the great plot...lol

 

Let politicians do what they want. They will anyway so I don't much care one way or the other. There will always be dishonest politicians because there are dishonest people everywhere and the job has too much power. I am just thankful I am living in the greatest country in the world. And now here in Newfoundland, we have a premier who will fight for us and our natural resources. My province is in better shape politically than it has been since confederation with our new offshore deal. So my hat is off to Mr. Martin regardless of what goes on on the mainland for giving us a fair shake.

 

I voted No/Yes.

Assuming the testimony is accurate, I find it hard to believe Martin didn't know what was going on. And if it's shown to be accurate, then the Liberals should be booted out as soon as possible; this goes beyond cronyism - it's basically theft of public money on a massive scale.

The problem, of course, is that we've only got the testimony of one side, and that side is likely looking to take someone down along with it. I'd rather wait for the enquiry to finish before I pass judgement.

 

It doesn't really matter, the Liberals will win again.

 

I second Celesialraven's thoughts. I was too young to remember what life was like before the Liberals stepped in, so I wouldn't mind seeing a change. Maybe it will make me appreciate them more. Maybe...

 

A more important question: does Canada really need a military (seeing as how Merka's just south of it)?

 

Well it would be nice to have one to offer some resistance to when the US tries to make us a new state and take all our fresh water. LOL 1812 baby, 1812!!!

 

...or they try to send missiles over our oil platforms in the North Atlantic.

 

You are asking if we really need a military? Our military is already so small that for all intents and purposes it is non-existent.

 

I come from a military family so I know too well the sad state of it in terms of equipment, resources and support from ANY government. Many people believe that it's unnecessary these days, but even being a pacifist I know that it's a necessary evil. One life lost to save a million and all that... And no offense to the Yanks here but with the way your government keeps ticking off other countries we need to shelter ourselves from the splash damage.

Sorry just had to throw that quote in...

LMAO Just for you Newfie, wees newfs has got to stick together bye. Gander represent! LOL

 

That's how I've voted these past few elections myself Beren. The lesser of all evils. Let's look at the choices: Liberal (middle ground leaning heavy left socialist), Canadian Alliance (middle ground leaning heavy right wing), NDP( hippies...lol), Bloc Quebecois ( Yeah, right...) and other independant parties that stand no chance in hell of winning like Natural Law, Green Party, Rhino Party, Communist Party ( I still think that's an oxymoron in a democratic election).

We essentially have 3 choices for federal parties.

When you boil it down the NDP don't have too strong a platform. Many times I've liked their ideas but they never say how they'll pay for it.

So that leaves us with the Liberals and the Canadian Alliance. Despite what they say and the fact that they merged with the Progressive Conservatives, the CA still seems like a Western Canadian version of the Bloc.

Steven Harper scares me frankly. He's too eager to give in to U.S pressure about anything. If we're going to bend over and present for another country, let's not hand them the lube. I like that he wants to support the military but last election all he talked about was orbital missle defence and new weapons. Hey Stevie, let's replace the old WW2 infantry equipment first and get out soldiers proper camouflage uniforms for places like the desert where green doesn't really blend in; before we buy bombs and staellites to shoot down missleswe'll never be attacked with or see over Canadian skies.

So in the end that pretty much just leaves the Liberals. Many people in eastern Canada see the CA as too far right wing and no offense to the Americans on the site, but too much like wanting to be American. The Liberals want good relations with our neighbours to the south but still try to preserve our identity.

In the end, unless the CA can find some middle ground, IMHO we may have the Liberals in power for a long time to come.

 

Marystown, NL, Istolil, here but a transplanted townie for the past 12 years. I got to agree with a lot of what you say, but of course, as fellow Newfies we see things in the same perspective. Christ, us Newfs are everywhere but home!

 

That's because there's no cod fish left on the Rock. But at least Brian Tobin went to war with Spain over turbot. I don't know what a turbot is but I'll be damned if I let some guy from Spain tak'em. lol

 

I agree totally with Istolil and Beren. If there is an election soon, I might, for the first time ever, just have to vote for one of the fringe parties, since at this point the idea of any one of the three main parties in power turns my stomach.

 

Sorry I'm so long getting top this one, but I've been busy, and thought this was for only US politics...

I think that Martin is guilty, but a spring election is not needed.

Don't get me wrong, I hate Paul Martin and his Liberals, and to give an honest opinion would result in language that would get me kicked off SP, but the people elected this government, and this is the way the majority want it--a Liberal Minority.

I like a Minority Government however. The other three parties have some check on the ruling party, and if they don't like a law, then it doesn't get through. Therefore, to get their agenda to go ahead, they MUST co-operate with the other parties, and, GASP, ask their input on the matter!

And I voted for a fringe party last time because all three of the major ones (and the Bloc for that matter) disgust me too.