# Canada: GovGen dissolves Parliament, Carney drops the writ, and the election is on! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 23, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985 "2025-03-23T19:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/321 "2025-04-14T17:07:05Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > If Singh supported the non-confidence motion the last time the Conservatives had brought it up for a vote he would have handily won his seat and thus his pension And of course, all these folks _so concerned_ that Singh might get a pension also ignore that PP has _already qualified_ for that same pension. So if PP loses his seat, or is tossed from the party following a loss, he rides off into the sunset with a golden pension far better than any other Canadian gets. Now understand, I think all this bleating about MPs pensions is bullshit, but if you’re going to whine about corrupt politicians because of it, at least be consistent. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/322 "2025-04-14T17:23:52Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > But Singh screwed himself and the NDP by not using the power he had and now everyone is likely to vote for other than the NDP. If he had brought down the government when he had the opportunity, he had a chance to be the Official opposition. No doubt it would’ve been better for the NDP to have called the election back then. However we know why he didn’t. Trudeau was getting creamed in the polls so Singh saw that he could milk him for a lot of policy concessions. Why not, eh? This way the NDP can point to their recent record whenever the election gets called. There is NO WAY anyone could have predicted that: 1. Trump would’ve won the US election in Nov 2. Trump would go full on fascist goblin on Canada 3. The republicans would control all three branches of the US government and cheer his wild fascism 4. The entire election would be dominated by these issues I can safely say that Singh should’ve called the election ONLY WITH HINDSIGHT. Back then, nah. Plus after PP started paying out serious money to sling personal attacks (and sicking the worst loonies) after him… Singh would NEVER DO ANYTHING to help PP; just out of sheer spite. Make it personal and people will bite their own tongue just to spit blood in your eye. Not that PP cared, he felt that he didn’t need a working relationship with the NDP with the record poll numbers the CPC had (and the hate Trudeau had). It was almost a different world back then. > [@Horatius](#): > > So if PP loses his seat, or is tossed from the party following a loss, he rides off into the sunset with a golden pension far better than any other Canadian gets. > > Now understand, I think all this bleating about MPs pensions is bullshit, but if you’re going to whine about corrupt politicians because of it, at least be consistent. I like to think that PP never got over being mocked by Rick Mercer about this issue 15 years ago (getting a pension at 30 with 0 previous work experience nor higher education). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gnmgL5CZqfs/hqdefault.jpg "Rick Mercer: Pierre Poilievre's Pension | CBC") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnmgL5CZqfs) ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/323 "2025-04-15T01:16:02Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > I like to think that PP never got over being mocked by Rick Mercer about this issue 15 years ago (getting a pension at 30 with 0 previous work experience nor higher education). I was unaware that PP had the power to bring down the government back then, but for his own selfish reasons did not. If you want to argue the conditions for achieving a pension in parliament are unfair or overly generous, then do so. The only relevance to Singh is his support of the government long past its sell by date. PP has a bachelor of arts. Are you saying that if someone doesn’t have higher education they shouldn’t get a pension? Or that being in Parliament isn’t work? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/324 "2025-04-15T02:38:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I mean, yeah, the projections show them picking up around half a dozen. That’s not that shocking. You say that so casually. Do you know the last time the Grits got six or more seats in Alberta? **1940**! They got 7 seats that year. That’s not within living memory for Albertans today. Since 1940, there has been one election where the Liberals got 5 seats, 4 elections where they got 4 seats, 5 elections where they got 2 seats, 2 elections where they got 1 seat, and **13 elections where they got 0 seats**. In other words, in over half the elections since 1940, the Liberals got 0 seats. Of course, with redistribution, six seats isn’t as big a proportion of the total number of Alberta seats as it was back then. In 1940, Alberta had 17 seats, so 7 seats was 41.2% of the Alberta representation in Parliament. Six seats would have been 35.3%. This election, Alberta has 37 seats, so 6 seats would be 16.2% of the Alberta representation. Do you know the last time the Liberals had 16.2% or greater percentage of Alberta seats? **1968** , when 4 seats out of 19 amounted to 21.1%. You’d have to have been born in 1947 to have voted in that election. (Voting age in 1968 was 21). Six Liberal seats in Alberta would be both the largest number of Liberal seats for this generation of voters, and the largest percentage of Liberal seats for this generation of voters. Albertan Conservatives would be drinking heavily that night. Their electoral world would be shaken. Full details: | Election year | # of Alberta seats | # of Liberal seats | %age | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **1940** | 17 | 7 | 41.2% | | **1945** | 17 | 2 | 11.8% | | **1949** | 17 | 5 | 29.4% | | **1953** | 17 | 4 | 23.5% | | **1957** | 17 | 1 | 5.9% | | **1958** | 17 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1962** | 17 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1963** | 17 | 1 | 5.9% | | **1965** | 17 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1968** | 19 | 4 | 21.1% | | **1972** | 19 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1974** | 19 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1979** | 21 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1980** | 21 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1984** | 21 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1988** | 26 | 0 | 0.0% | | **1993** | 26 | 4 | 15.4% | | **1997** | 26 | 2 | 7.7% | | **2000** | 26 | 2 | 7.7% | | **2004** | 28 | 2 | 7.1% | | **2006** | 28 | 0 | 0.0% | | **2008** | 28 | 0 | 0.0% | | **2011** | 28 | 0 | 0.0% | | **2015** | 34 | 4 | 11.8% | | **2019** | 34 | 0 | 0.0% | | **2021** | 34 | 2 | 5.9% | | **2025** | 37 | _6_ \* | _16.2%_ \* | \*Hypothetical at this stage ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/325 "2025-04-15T02:53:20Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Nonetheless, despite your and my preference for continuous leadership, the Liberals and Conservatives in our lifetimes definitely like turfing leaders who lose election Booting out their leader then running (and winning, bafflingly enough) on correcting their own party’s mistakes is the Alberta conservative’s bread and butter. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/326 "2025-04-15T10:37:40Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > PP has a bachelor of arts. Are you saying that if someone doesn’t have higher education they shouldn’t get a pension? Or that being in Parliament isn’t work? Not that you will acknowledge it, but I just sense wild hypocrisy from your attacks on Singh for “being in it for the pension”. I, personally, think its a plus to PP for bothering to return to university to complete a BA via distance education while in office, but here’s a quote from yourself not 48hrs ago. > [@Uzi](#): > > And yet somehow we ended up with a PM for 9 years who was a drama teacher and showed it regularly. That person replaced the last guy who was an economics major and was the one who actually got us through the 2008 financial crisis. Qualifications only seem to matter when is supports your choice. Otherwise, not so much. By your own stated words PP, your candidate, wouldn’t have qualified for even teaching a drama class. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/327 "2025-04-15T15:00:10Z")
My issue isn’t the education, its the ‘Drama’ class. Nothing about it is relevant to the role of PM, and in my experience those in such roles aren’t the most serious of people and it showed in the dressup while in India. The only thing missing there was the black face. I was answering someone else claiming that Carney was getting his vote over PP because of his education. My response was that it only seemed important now that your guy has the education. There is no doubt that Carney has great credentials and even greater experience in finance. On that he ‘wins’ over PP. It didn’t seem relevant that the previous PM’s education was so much greater than the clown that replaced him. > [@orcenio](#): > > Not that you will acknowledge it, but I just sense wild hypocrisy from your attacks on Singh for “being in it for the pension”. What do you mean hypocrisy? He had ample opportunity to bring the government down after complaining about them all the time. He did nothing. And now there is an election for which he will likely lose his seat, but he made it long enough to qualify. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/328 "2025-04-15T15:08:42Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Not that you will acknowledge it, but I just sense wild hypocrisy from your attacks on Singh for “being in it for the pension”. Singh took political actions that at least suggested he was avoiding triggering an election to ensure his pension would be secured. He withdrew formal support once his pension was no longer in jeopardy. I can’t read the man’s mind but his behaviour matches that motivation. That’s what the “Singh and his pension” criticism was about. No one was just randomly saying based on nothing that Singh was only interested in a pension. I agree Poilevre is a terrible choice for PM but let’s at least be clear about the facts. ---
**Author:** ![Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slight_Off_Hand)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/329 "2025-04-15T15:20:19Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > My issue isn’t the education, its the ‘Drama’ class. Not that it probably makes a difference but I was under the impression that he was a French and Math teacher at Westpoint Grey Academy and was subbing for a drama teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/330 "2025-04-15T17:18:30Z")
Here’s something I’ve noticed: In my area, there seem to be a lot fewer lawn signs in front of people’s houses. Like, less than 10% the usual, maybe? There are still signs along the major roads, but almost none where people have to request (or at least allow) signs to be posted. Even my next-door neighbour, who has had Conservative signs up for every election I can remember for the last 25 years, doesn’t have a sign. Has anyone else noticed this? They do have signs, so I don’t think it’s just a lack of sign availability because of the early election. I wonder if there’s less engagement, or maybe everyone figures everyone else has already made up their minds about who to vote for? I mean, we’re less than a week away from the early polling days, and I can’t remember any previous Federal election with so little engagement at this point. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/331 "2025-04-15T19:56:49Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Here’s something I’ve noticed: In my area, there seem to be a lot fewer lawn signs in front of people’s houses. I’m not sure I’d read too much into that. I noticed dramatically fewer Trump signs in the rural eastern US during the run up to the 2024 election. That did not turn out to be the cause for hope I took it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/332 "2025-04-15T19:59:21Z")
I wouldn’t say it’s “Hope” I’m feeling. With the way the Trump administration has screwed around, I’d have expected a lot more engagement. Low voter turn out could screw us. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/333 "2025-04-15T23:11:38Z")
Where I live, any signs that aren’t conservative end up being vandalized. I, and some neighbours I’ve talked with, don’t want any signs up in my yard that will attract criminals. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/334 "2025-04-16T00:13:01Z")
> **[Carney supporters steal and vandalize hundreds of Conservative campaign signs...](https://www.westernstandard.news/canadian/carney-supporters-steal-and-vandalize-hundreds-of-conservative-campaign-signs-in-ottawa/63904)** > > Barbara Bal, the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Nepean, is accusing Liberal supporters of stealing and vandalizing her campaign signs in a bid to undermine her run against Liberal Leader Mark Carney in the Ottawa-area riding. Yes, don’t want to attract criminals. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/335 "2025-04-16T00:49:40Z")
The Western Standard is a right wing paper founded by right winger Ezra Levant and its coverage needs to be read with that in mind. The story offers no evidence that Liberals and their ilk tore down the signs apart from the Conservative candidate’s accusation. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/336 "2025-04-16T00:51:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Singh took political actions that at least suggested he was avoiding triggering an election to ensure his pension would be secured. He withdrew formal support once his pension was no longer in jeopardy. The ridiculous thing about these allegations is that it completely ignores that typical NDP voters did not and do not want Singh to do anything to further the cause of the Conservative Party of Canada. They much prefer a Liberal minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power to any sort of Tory government. NDP voters would have been pissed as hell at Singh if he’d brought down the government unless it was swinging way far to the right. But it couldn’t be that bog standard political calculus that kept Singh from bringing down the government, it must be his pension. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/337 "2025-04-16T00:52:31Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > The ridiculous thing about these allegations is that it completely ignores that typical NDP voters did not and do not want Singh to do anything to further the cause of the Conservative Party of Canada. That’s fine and it’s also a logical conclusion, but the fact remains that his behaviour coincided with his financial interest, whereas observed Poilevre got his pension back when he wasn’t in that sort of position isn’t the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/338 "2025-04-16T01:13:30Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Yes, don’t want to attract criminals. Jackasses destroying signs happen in every election, and across the political spectrum. > **[‘Someone really hates them,’ Election signs are being destroyed in Toronto...](https://nowtoronto.com/news/election-signs-are-being-destroyed-in-toronto-and-across-canada-as-voters-head-to-the-polls-in-2-weeks/)** > > Election signs in Toronto are noticeably being destroyed with some social media users saying the problem is growing across the country. [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-candidate-sign-vandalism-1.7510433](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-candidate-sign-vandalism-1.7510433) [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/yellowhead-soma-signs-vandalized-1.7510260](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/yellowhead-soma-signs-vandalized-1.7510260) [Jenna Sudds, who is running for the Liberals in Kanata, and Blair Turner, running for the Conservatives in Ottawa South, say the vandalism to their signs is disappointing and takes a toll on volunteers and campaign staff.](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6706277) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/339 "2025-04-16T01:18:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That’s fine and it’s also a logical conclusion, but the fact remains that his behaviour coincided with his financial interest, whereas observed Poilevre got his pension back when he wasn’t in that sort of position isn’t the same thing. So he should have acted against the wishes and interests of NDP supporters, in order to prove that he wasn’t following their wishes just because it was in his financial interest to do so? It’s a ridiculous argument. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985/340 "2025-04-16T01:28:58Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > So he should have acted against the wishes and interests of NDP supporters I’m not saying what he should or shouldn’t have done, but pointing out the comparison doesn’t make sense. (And his strategy didn’t work anyway.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-govgen-dissolves-parliament-carney-drops-the-writ-and-the-election-is-on/1015985.md?page=18)