OT: Canadian Federal Election

BlackRose · #1 June 29th, 2004, 07:39 AM

Oh My, I dont know if anyone is awake right now (I'm in BC) but this Liberal/NDP Majority is dissapearing.

It seems to all be coming down to two things, a vote in NEW WESTMINSTER that just went over to the Conservative Government.

The Independant Candidate that was elected in SURREY who was formerly a Conservative MP but chose to run as an INDEPENDANT. He is however planning on polling the people that voted for him to see if they want him to go back to the Conservative.

Regardless of the second point is this

The Liberals ended up with 135 Seats
There supposed coalition partner the NDP ended with 19 Seats
The Conservative ended with 99 Seats
BLOC with 54
And the Independant who may/may not go over to the conservative has 1

SO In theory the the Liberals with the NDP now would hold 154 Seats which is not a majority vote (they would need 155).

Things just got ugly

narf poit chez BOOM · #2 June 29th, 2004, 07:53 AM

I'm awake. I live near Vancouver.

David E. Gervais · #3 June 29th, 2004, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Renegade 13:
One problem with seats based on popular votes:

How would you distribute the seats around the country?? Would you randomly distribute them? What? You could end up with a NDP incumbent in a riding that voted 70% Conservative...and THAT would not be right. They would not be getting the appropriate representation.

I understand the problems involved in "How to distribute the seats" if they were given out by popular vote. But I think the 'Party leaders' could decide who goes to Ottawa to represent them, and as for 'the person with the most votes in a riding not geting to Ottawa' well, instead of voting for all these individual mp's just have the 'party-name' on the ballots. (and have all registered partied on every ballot.)

The Green party got close to 600,000 votes and as is 4.3% of the population has no representation in the house of commons. At the very least the 'Leader' of the Green party should have a seat in the house of commons.

Our system is far from perfect and never will be, but such is life. Nuf said.

Cheers!

EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro · #4 June 29th, 2004, 10:02 PM

Hi, I was just wondering about a recent quote from the leader of the "Bloc" about how he was going to put issues regarding Quebec first. Isn't that kind of selfish? I know Senators down here look out for their own states but jeesh! Are there importand issues in Quebec that need to be addressed above other national matters? I was just reading about that "Bloc" leader guy. A ex militant Marxist? Oh great! Don't be adding any hammer and sickle to that red maple leaf!

TerranC · #5 June 29th, 2004, 10:27 PM

Hi, I was just wondering about a recent quote from the leader of the "Bloc" about how he was going to put issues regarding Quebec first. Isn't that kind of selfish?

Yup.

Are there importand issues in Quebec that need to be addressed above other national matters?

Not really IMHO, they just need a bunch of money for lots of things just like every other province, but the bloc argues that since a majority of Quebecers speak French (and have, in turn a "distinct" society), that Quebec should be special and get better treatment by the federal government than other provinces.

I was just reading about that "Bloc" leader guy. A ex militant Marxist? Oh great! Don't be adding any hammer and sickle to that red maple leaf!

Don't worry; should he get his way, you won't be seeing a People's Republic of Canada; instead, you'll be seeing a People's Republic of Quebec.

[ June 29, 2004, 21:28: Message edited by: TerranC ]

EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro · #6 June 29th, 2004, 10:47 PM

Thanks, just wanted to get an opinion on that. I do care what happens in Canada. I go there quite a bit and would hate to see anything interfere with their standard of living or happiness...or the continued construction of underground shopping malls.

Vancouver has a "Skytrain" underground; hey who knew!

Grandpa Kim · #7 June 30th, 2004, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Renegade 13:
How would you distribute the seats around the country??

Simple:

1. Have all candidates run at large. So 5000 candidates up for 310 slots. Top 310 win those slots... and represent no one part of the country more than another.

2. Candidates (again at large) must produce a verifiable petition with 100,000 names on it to gain a seat. If you can get 1,000,000 names, you gain 10 seats... and 10 votes in the house!

The beauty of the Last one is you represent those 100,000 citizens wholeheartedly! No disgruntled voters who voted for the other guy!

These ideas are not new by a long shot, but as this election has proven, the electorate hates change. They prefer the bad old ways to taking a chance. These electoral ideas are just way too big a change.