Canadian General Election- May 2, 2011

[Joel]

It's election time up here in Canuckistan again, and the big day is May 2nd. Discuss the issues and who you're voting for in this election in this thread.


Canada Votes 2011, Vote Compass

A quiz compiled by the CBC which shows what (major) party your views are closest to.

List of all Registered Political Parties (Elections Canada)

 

[Joel]

To get the ball rolling, I find it hard to get behind any of the major parties. The only party which closely represents my views is the Libertarian Party, and they don't even have a representative in my riding.

I can't get behind the Liberals, because I'm opposed to raising taxes and taxing the "evil corporations" higher to handout money to others. I can't get behind the Conservatives fully because I don't like how eager they are to handout money to big businesses. I also don't like the party's stance on legalization of marijuana. The NDP are too far left for me, I could never support a party running on a socialist platform. The Greens don't seem to have ways to make their ideas economically viable, and the Bloc aren't an option as I don't live in Québec.


I just find it frustrating that I have to choose between the Conservatives and Liberals if I want a party likely to be elected, because I can't support either fully. If there was a Libertarian candidate, I'd absolutely vote for them, but there is none in my riding. The best of a bad lot in my view is the Conservative party, but Stephen Harper's a knob. I'd probably just turn in a spoiled ballot because I can't in good conscience choose any of these parties.


Note: I'm 16, and won't have a vote anyway

 

[Pyle_PMG]

Ah. The TV airwaves have been jammed with election coverage. If I did vote, I'd have to vote for the Liberals. The only way to get the Conservative Party and Prime Minister Stephen Harper out of power is to vote in the Liberals and have a coalition government. Its a scary thought, and its a hilarious opinion on my part, as in business class we studied about corporations and how tax increases can mess things up. But in this economic crisis we need to spend, and spend to jump start our economy. Just like after the recession in the 1990s. Sure we had a large deficit, but before the Conservatives came into power the deficit was eliminated. Then they came into power, and screwed it up. Canada in its history has only ever had 1 coalition government, its about time we had our second. But then again, if the Communist Party of Canada had a candidate in my riding, I would vote for them. I believe the spending of a country's money should be controlled by a certain few who are qualified and know what to do with it.

 

[Joel]

I believe the spending of a country's money should be controlled by a certain few who are qualified and know what to do with it.

How do you determine who is qualified? How can you judge who knows what to do with it? I'm sorry, but I vehemently disagree with taxing and spending out of a recession. I know the popular opinion for kids our age is to say that "communism is great in theory, but bad in practice", but it really isn't. It's horrible both in theory and practice, because it ignores human nature. Who's going to want to suffer through 10 year of hard ass schooling to become a surgeon, just to make the same amount of money as a janitor?

The Liberal Party platform is to tax corporations, and give money "back to the families". What do you think the corporation is going to have to do when the government takes their money? All they're going to do is lower wages and/or raise prices. I understand that there's a recession now, and that people are going through tough times. Making it tougher for the people who are employing those poorer people won't help.

Not that I believe the Conservatives are really much better, but at least they aren't proposing heightened taxes on businesses like the Liberals are. I guess with my father owning his own business I'm just tired of "evil corporations" and "corporate greed" being made out to be the thing that's ruining Canada. Business owners work, and they work hard. Just because they aren't the man on the factory floor doesn't mean they work hard. My father worked very hard and moved 2000km away from his home with a newborn baby (I was 4, and my brother was newborn) in search of a better economic opportunity. He's travelled for business and been away from home for weeks at a time, and in the past few years is working more and more as the company grows. I respect my father and how hard he's worked to get to where he is right now , and when people talk about taxing corporations to give it to "families who deserve it", it angers me, because my father deserves and worked for everything he has right now.

 

[Pyle_PMG]

I understand and respect your opinion. Once I read what I posted, I felt redicolous. However, if you don't try to boost your economy by spending more, aren't you going to make things worse? Its like leaving a plant in a dark room and not exposing it to sunlight because your afraid the plant could get exposed to too much sunlight, meanwhile your killing it because your afraid to let it grow. By not spending more, your just running in a marginal economic situation, but by spending more you can boost your economy, attracting business to your country, creating jobs, and thus generating more tax dollars, paying off the deficit.

 

[Badger-X-]

For me the most important thing is getting Harper out of there. He's already done a ton of damage and will continue to do so. I don't trust the Liberals idealism or the Bloc's ulterior motives. NDP? Is it actually time to vote NDP?!

 

[Joel]

I understand and respect your opinion. Once I read what I posted, I felt redicolous. However, if you don't try to boost your economy by spending more, aren't you going to make things worse? Its like leaving a plant in a dark room and not exposing it to sunlight because your afraid the plant could get exposed to too much sunlight, meanwhile your killing it because your afraid to let it grow. By not spending more, your just running in a marginal economic situation, but by spending more you can boost your economy, attracting business to your country, creating jobs, and thus generating more tax dollars, paying off the deficit.

I think the way the system is set up now is unfair and penalizes any "plant" that manages to grow. Successful people are taxed very highly in this country, and often end up paying for many people's shares of the government. I don't think that spending more is the answer, we've been spending and it isn't working. Harper's spent tax dollars on our "economic action plan", given handouts to GM, updates to military equipment, and it just isn't working. I think what's eventually going to have to happen to this country is a massive reduction in "free" services. I just can't see how all of this spending is sustainable. The best way to reduce deficit is to cut back on spending, and lower taxes. To use a Simpsons analogy, the more money that Mr. Burns has, the more Homer Simpsons he can hire, and the more fancy cars he can buy, the more fine wine he can buy, which stimulates the economy. Even further, the more Homer Simpsons that are employed, the more that can buy Ford Focuses and Toyota Corollas, and so on.

For me the most important thing is getting Harper out of there. He's already done a ton of damage and will continue to do so. I don't trust the Liberals idealism or the Bloc's ulterior motives. NDP? Is it actually time to vote NDP?!

I feel similarly, I don't think Harper's the man for the job, nor can I follow Ignatieff or Duceppe. I do think Jack Layton seems like a reputable candidate, and could possibly make a good Prime Minister, but I just can't get behind the NDP platform. The NDP want to spend even more aggressively than the Liberals, and I just don't feel like that's the way to go. I also don't think it's legitimate or fair in any way, but from a purely pragmatic point of view, I still don't like tax and spend economics.

 

[Pyle_PMG]

I'd say the Green Party would be good in charge, but come on. That won't happen. This election will be won by either the Conservatives or the Liberals. If your voting just to get Harper out of office, then your best bet is for the Liberals. If your voting for what suits you and/or your family best, then you should run as an independent, because no party is really representing the majority of the peoples concerns.

 

[Jawsers]

Well we could have more money for healthcare, social programs, roads. Or we could continue paying an absorbent fee to our members in the Senate, who we have no choice in who gets in. Those who occupy seats in the Senate, if I'm not mistaken, already have boatloads of cash, the only reason they are in the Senate is because they donated, or supported which ever party happened to be in power. I do believe they receive a nice pension as well. Same with our politicians in the Commons. If they make a certain amount of money, the amount of pension they get when they retire from politics should be capped. The backbenchers in Parliament, most of them do not have the money, they should at least be compensated with good pensions.

Obviously this is a whole other issue, which is why I'm abstaining from voting once again.

 

[Joel]

Obviously this is a whole other issue, which is why I'm abstaining from voting once again.

I recommend at the very least turning in a spoiled ballot. Not voting doesn't send a message, they can't tell the difference between someone like you and someone who just doesn't care at all.

 

[Jawsers]

A spoiled ballot gets tossed out. They don't keep track of the amount of ballots that are invalid. Basically you are just wasting your time doing that.

 

[Joel]

A spoiled ballot gets tossed out. They don't keep track of the amount of ballots that are invalid. Basically you are just wasting your time doing that.

I was under the impression that they counted them, however, I guess I'm wrong.

 

[Pyle_PMG]

Spoiled votes don't count? That means my grade 8 teacher was wrong.

 

[AOS-]

I never really cared about voting as how it affects me is almost unnoticeable, but then again, I don't even know what their views are.

I think I'll just vote the least popular one just for the sake of not contributing to the winning ballot.

 

[Joey D]

I might as well be Canadian since I can see the place from my house (take that Sarah Palin!) so I went through the Canadian political compass thing. I'm close to the Liberal party per the results on that and based on what I know about them, which admittedly isn't a ton, I would say my ideologies fall somewhere around there. I do like some of the Green Party's ideas, much like the Green Party in the US, but I don't think I would vote for them. The Bloc Québécois is irrelevant to me as I don't have an opinion on Quebec other then they should get their NHL team back.

The radio stations out Windsor-Essex have been talking quite a bit about the election and I'll be curious to listen in and see how everything progresses. I know it sounds odd but Canadian policies affect Detroit quite a bit since we have one of the busiest international crossings. In a weird way I do care about what happens to our neighbours to the north politically (or neighbours to the south if you think of Windsor).

 

[Max Powers]

I took the political compass quiz just for the hell of it, no real surprises.

I'm almost as conservative as possible financially and exactly on the line between social liberalism and social conservatism. So, I guess I'd be voting for the conservative party.

When it asked for province I picked Yukon

 

[AMCNUT]

Well, I'll be voting for the Conservative Party for sure. They have the best platform of all the current available ones, and I don't want to see a coalition government for sure! Actually, I think we'll end up with a Conservative minority still - I don't see anything changing drastically. Only thing I really don't agree with is the lowing of corporate tax - that really should be going higher than it is.

But that we've had a Conservative minority survive since 2006 is amazing since Canadians pretty much always vote Liberals in if they have even a semi-good leader... the fact that they've suffered so much the past few years is pretty indicative of the uninspiring duds the Liberals have chosen to lead their party... and the very effective (although low I must admit) viscous Conservative campaigns to define opposition leaders before they can define themselves.

This is also my first time exercising my right to vote since I turned 18, so I'm really looking forward to this. Should be a good one!

 

[Joel]

I'm almost as conservative as possible financially and exactly on the line between social liberalism and social conservatism. So, I guess I'd be voting for the conservative party.

The thing about Canada, is that even our Conservatives are fairly liberal fiscally. The Conservative party is in full support of universal health care, give tax credits for putting your kids in sports, etc etc.

I think the Conservative platform is the best out of all of the major parties, but still needs some work. I don't like Harper very much, but I'd still feel relatively confident in a conservative majority. I think being Canadian means I have to cut my losses and deal with the high taxes and things I don't agree with (universal health care, for one), because for me as a Canadian to say in public that I don't think we should have universal health care is almost considered treason.

Also, I agree with AMCNUT on the Coalition. A Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition is a scary thought, and I'm really hoping Harper can come out with a majority just because that coalition would be very bad indeed.

 

[Ben78]

Conservatives are mostly rednecks from Alberta with a 1940 mentality. I live in Québec but I have never voted for the Bloc Québécois. I used to vote for the Liberals before Gomery jumped in the scandal a couple of years ago. I voted for NPD since and I'll vote for them again. BQ is second though. If they can make a push here and impress me, I might change my mind.

In my town, the Liberals have won for over 100 years. NPD almost won at the last elections though, but I believe in miracles !

 

[Ben78]

The thing about Canada, is that even our Conservatives are fairly liberal fiscally. The Conservative party is in full support of universal health care, give tax credits for putting your kids in sports, etc etc.

I think the Conservative platform is the best out of all of the major parties, but still needs some work. I don't like Harper very much, but I'd still feel relatively confident in a conservative majority. I think being Canadian means I have to cut my losses and deal with the high taxes and things I don't agree with (universal health care, for one), because for me as a Canadian to say in public that I don't think we should have universal health care is almost considered treason.

Also, I agree with AMCNUT on the Coalition. A Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition is a scary thought, and I'm really hoping Harper can come out with a majority just because that coalition would be very bad indeed.

You can't be serious ! Wow. You're probably young to think that way (under 25) or old (50+) and dead affraid of change. Harper is the equivalent of Bush.

 

[AMCNUT]

You can't be serious ! Wow. You're probably young to think that way (under 25) or old (50+) and dead affraid of change. Harper is the equivalent of Bush.

Well, if it's not going to be a Conservative government I could accept a Liberal one... but I sure as 🤬 don't want them conspiring with separatists and socialists to run our government! That's a perfect way of showing how bitter and partisan they really are. I'm not afraid of change; I just know what change I want to see brought about and what ought to be left alone. Simply put, I think that Harper and the Conservatives currently are the best at that, and that a coalition government would not advance any meaningful cause. If I wanted a coalition I'd mark that on the ballot...

Also I resent that age comment; I think that age somewhat irrelevant so long as people are informed and impassioned. As a student studying political science at York University I feel at somewhat confident in stating that the political convictions I've arrived at after doing my 'homework' have some logic and strength to them. I also happen to handily undercut your age cutoff!

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Well now, this is interesting:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...tudents-expulsion/article1973301/?from=sec368

Between this and Harper shuttering parliament last year when the vote of no confidence came around makes me wonder if I missed some sort of change in Webster's for the definition of democracy.

The compass gave me the exact answer I was expecting. Ignatieff's in town tomorrow and I think I might catch him, just to see what he has to say, and meet the man in person. My roommate from first year (also from York) got deeply into politics and has been helping on the campaign, and since I'd rather see any other party than the Conservatives in charge, I at least want to get to know their biggest opposition a bit better.

 

[Joel]

You can't be serious ! Wow. You're probably young to think that way (under 25) or old (50+) and dead affraid of change. Harper is the equivalent of Bush.

Attacking me for my age? Great job, big guy! 👍

Bottom line, how can a coalition between the Liberals, NDP (socialists), and separatists make any progress whatsoever? None of them will agree on anything.

 

[Pyle_PMG]

Attacking me for my age? Great job, big guy! 👍

Bottom line, how can a coalition between the Liberals, NDP (socialists), and separatists make any progress whatsoever? None of them will agree on anything.

Don't say that. Historically, many coalition governments have learned to coexist and agree on policies that are good for their countries citizens.

Ben78

You can't be serious ! Wow. You're probably young to think that way (under 25) or old (50+) and dead affraid of change. Harper is the equivalent of Bush.

Harper is the equivalent of Bush. Had to say it twice to show the importance.

 

[AMCNUT]

Don't say that. Historically, many coalition governments have learned to coexist and agree on policies that are good for their countries citizens.

Historically, coalition governments don't include factions bent on tearing the country apart...

However, regardless of where coalitions do or don't work elsewhere in the world, I can assure you that it would tank in Canada. The ideologies are simply too far spread out to work cohesively together, as it would encompass our nation's furthest left (NDP) and furthest right (Bloc), who both have agendas completely different from the Liberals! The only thing in common between those three parties is that they want the Conservatives out. Not a good base for an 'alliance' if you ask me! Nothing meaningful would be accomplished I assure you.

Harper is the equivalent of Bush. Had to say it twice to show the importance.

No. Harper is not Bush. (Had to roll my eyes TWICE to show the importance!) The whole Canadian political spectrum is shifted left in comparison to the United States; our right is more or less aligned with their left - that would make Harper and Obama roughly equivalent ideologically. Canada has no right-wing equivalent to Bush or the Republican Party. Similarly, the US has no direct equivalent to the Liberals/NDP - down there they would be known as 'communists'...

 

[JezzaLowe11]

Can someone please message me or post back on here: the main policies of each party and what the general consensus on each character is.
Thanks

 

[Joel]

^

That. How can Harper = Bush when Harper is in support of universal health care? They aren't the same at all.

Hahah as I was writing this, a Conservative attack ad came on in french on the Canadiens game

 

[Keef]

I would vote for the French one because they would be powerless to fight a libertarian uprising in Canada.

 

[Omnis]

I vote for the Quebec secession guy, whichever one that is.

 

[AMCNUT]

I would vote for the French one because they would be powerless to fight a libertarian uprising in Canada.

I vote for the Quebec secession guy, whichever one that is.

With all due respect, why would anyone (Canadian, American or otherwise) want to vote for the Bloc Quebecois????? I'm not quite sure what the rational is for that. They don't even pretend to care about Canada! They only care about one province, don't even run in any other areas of the country, and are committed to breaking up said country. I personally don't want these people having seats in Parliament.

Saying you want to vote for the Bloc is like saying you'd support the South trying to secede the Union prior to the US civil war... I personally think national unity is a good thing. If it's right-wing ideology you're after you may as well vote Conservative and sleep sound in the knowledge that Canada will still be in one piece when you wake up the next morning.