# Canadian Dopers - have you voted yet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 28, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592 "2004-06-28T18:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/1 "2004-06-28T18:51:20Z")
I did first thing this AM. Go vote! ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/2 "2004-06-28T18:57:47Z")
I almost opened an IMHO thread on the election, then I caught this one. I was going to ask what the stakes are. From what I’ve read there’s a chance there will be a minority party in charge. 😕 Also, the chance of a no confidence vote, making it possible for another election shortly if it happens. I started a thread on Isreal’s NC voting and am now curious if it’s basically the same as in Canada. Also, whom should Bush/Kerry supporters be hoping for? Sorry if it’s a hijack, but thanks for your time nonetheless. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/3 "2004-06-28T19:09:58Z")
There’s a pretty good chance there will be a minority govt. Potentially, that could lead to a Liberal/NDP coalition govt. which I’ve heard candidates from both parties speak positively of. If the two parties can come together then you can have a well run govt. However, this doesn’t typically happen. The longest lasting coalition govt in Canadian history lasted about 3.5 years. I suppose Bush supporters should support Stephen Harper of the Conservatives, but there really isn’t a super tight parallel there - Stephen Harper - the most right wing of the party leaders, is still pretty far left of GWB. Kerry supporters could really be happy with anyone - I think all the candidates are still pretty far left of Kerry (although Harper might be close.) ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/4 "2004-06-28T19:18:04Z")
I haven’t voted yet but I’m going to leave work an hour early so I can vote and still make my 6:00 hockey game. I may not need all 3 hours off of work to vote but I’m glad its available. Or else I’d have to choose and nothing is more important than playing hockey. Glad to see that I have my priorities in the right order. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/5 "2004-06-28T19:19:28Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I did first thing this AM. 1/2 an hour ago. Almost switched to the Marijuana Party at the last moment (Polling station was in a Catholic High School, making me want to piss the pope off), but I stuck to my guns. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/6 "2004-06-28T19:22:17Z")
Folks, we’ve got a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258368) on the election over in GD. **duffer** , it deals with minority governments, firts past the post elections, the role of the GG etc. **Alice** , you’re way to organized. 😉 I’m wandering over to the polls on my way home. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/7 "2004-06-28T19:59:06Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > **Alice** , you’re way to organized. Nah - I’m not organized - I just hate crowds. At 7:45 this AM there wasn’t much of a crowd. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/8 "2004-06-28T21:26:06Z")
I’m going to wander on over in about an hour or so. If I don’t vote I don’t get to complain and I loves me some complaining ! ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/9 "2004-06-28T22:36:20Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Folks, we’ve got a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258368) on the election over in GD. **duffer** , it deals with minority governments, firts past the post elections, the role of the GG etc. > > **Alice** , you’re way to organized. 😉 I’m wandering over to the polls on my way home. Thanks for the link, **Grey.** ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/10 "2004-06-28T22:49:51Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I just hate crowds. My polling station is at the first elementary school I went to when I moved to Vancouver. It’s just across the street from me. I keep looking out the window to see if all the little anklebiters have gone away yet, so I can get in there and vote unmolested. 3:45 and the place is still crawling with them. Get thee home to your Playstations! What do you think this is, a beautiful June afternoon or something? Step away from the monkey-bars! 😃 I think I’ll put a brave face on and wade through them in fifteen minutes or so. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/11 "2004-06-28T23:11:52Z")
No! I’m not allowed to vote as I have no immediate plans to return to Canada. Sad. ☹ As a side note - are bars still closed during polling hours? Dave says he’s glad that’s not the case here, as he’s “gotta get up ‘courage’ before he votes for either one of the idiots running here”. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/12 "2004-06-28T23:17:49Z")
Voted first thing this morning, before going to work. Since there’s still 15 minutes until the polls in Nova Scotia close as I write this, I’m gong to go out on a limb, and predict a very, very small Liberal majority (yes, I know the smart money’s on a minority, but I’m a contrarian–I think more folks will hold their noses and vote Grit when push comes to shove). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/13 "2004-06-29T00:46:33Z")
Voted first thing this morning. As far as I’m concerned, both Bush and Kerry supporters should be hoping that Stephen Harper wins, because he would be much more friendly to the U.S. than the Liberals are. Early returns are not looking good, though. If Atlantic Canada is any guide, Canadians are reverting to their old Liberal voting patterns (sigh). This is a party that is so corrupt that they would all be in bloody jail if they pulled their shenanigans in the U.S, but here in Canada we just shrug and go, “eh, that’s politics” and vote them back in. Maybe it’ll change as the vote tallies move across the country. Probably only Alberta will show real strong conservative support. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/14 "2004-06-29T00:53:32Z")
Vote early and vote often! 😛 Sam, looks like our votes have cancelled each other out. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/15 "2004-06-29T04:15:30Z")
Woo! Looks like we’ve doubled the size of our caucus. (Heh.) Not too shabby. ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/16 "2004-06-29T05:27:31Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > I almost opened an IMHO thread on the election, then I caught this one. I was going to ask what the stakes are. From what I’ve read there’s a chance there will be a minority party in charge. Jack Layton, NDP leader, clearly stated in the debates he would not cooperate with the liberals. Their is a minority government and we can thank the NDP for that. Layton has managed to screw Canada by siphoning votes away from disgruntled voted, just like Nader managed to screw America in 200 (and in turn the world by giving the Presidency to Bush). We are now stuck with a government which will be able to accomplish nothing; 3 cheers for the NDP. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/17 "2004-06-29T12:57:04Z")
**Spezza** , I know we’re not in GD but have you got a cite for that. I’m pretty sure Layton said that he’d be willing to work with any party with respect to forming government. Which led to his comment of “bullshit” when asked if he would form an alliance with the Conservatives. And maybe you should pick up a history book and read about some previous minority governments that accomplished stuff. It seems like they brought us some pretty useful things: Canada Pension Plan 1965 Auto Pact 1965 National Flag for Canada 1965 Universal Medicare 1965 Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism a new Canadian immigration act [Cite](http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/primeminister/p/pmpearson.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/18 "2004-06-29T17:19:37Z")
A Lib/NDP minority gov’t was the best possible outcome. As for Layton, his stance is [far from obstructionist](http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040629/CPN/16279017): > [@](#): > > He rattled off a shopping list of Liberal promises that match NDP priorities, including the protection of public health care, opposition to weapons in space, implementation of the Kyoto environmental accord and a national child-care program. > > “My commitment to Canadians tonight is that we will hold (Paul Martin) to it with every ounce of energy we have,” Layton told hundreds of party supporters. > > “We will not let you down.” The NDP pledged to allocate almost seven billion dollars more towards affordable housing than the Liberals (who themselves pledged $1.5 billion more than the Conservatives’ nice round figure of $0.) The Liberals and NDP proposed similar plans for universal child care programs in the neighborhood of five billion. The Conservatives oppose such a plan. Looks good for that, too. The Liberals and NDP agree that the NCB (“Family Allowance”) should be raised – the NDP just want it raised _more_. The NCB is offensive to Conservative sensibilities. They offer a per-child tax cut instead. This is a government that is far more likely to accomplish the goals that were actually campaigned on. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-have-you-voted-yet/252592/19 "2004-06-29T17:40:12Z")
Since I happened not to be in my area, I ended up spending over two hours on busses and Skytrain just to walk in and do a two minute job and then get back to work. :rolleyes: Oh well, I’ve got a clear concience and the right to complain for the next few years! 😃 At least the locals did one thing right and told the Conservatives where to get off by re-electing Chuck Cadman. I don’t agree with everything he stands for but I totally admire his dedication. (Besides, he’s got Mr zoogirl’s hair 😉 )