# The Canadian Election Thread. (Or maybe not...) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 21, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419 "2011-03-21T00:51:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/501 "2011-04-14T23:38:47Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Ah, Southern Pontiac, what would we do without this wonderful place. šŸ˜‰ But youā€™re telling us that what causes you to froth at the mouth is the government declaring districts as bilingual and then _actually enforcing this decision_? Do you think public servants in Masson should be able to speak English? Itā€™s also part of the National Capital Region. If not, then your problem is with the concept of a National Capital Region itself. > > But I must say that in terms of things that cause an entire population to start frothing at the mouth, thatā€™s pretty small beans. Iā€™m not frothing at the mouth, personally. I speak enough French that if the reverse situation were encountered I could get by. Iā€™m pretty sure that any francophone could also get by in my linked situation. But the problem is that the federal government enacted a law. The federal government chose the boundaries and then the municipal, small-town folks were expected to comply. In the Pakenham case the lady in question had been the Postmistress for decades. Then the feds come along and said ā€œSorry. Youā€™re not qualified to do your job.ā€ And hey, I know itā€™s small beans. But these kinds of things happen, and if the shoe was on the other foot it would start to collectively leave a bad taste in your mouth. I live on the boarder. My son is attending French immersion school, because it opens more doors for him as he enters the workforce. I studied French in high school because I saw the benefit, and I was born in Scotland and grew up in southwestern Ontario where the only French they know is escargot and or dā€™oeuvres. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/502 "2011-04-14T23:40:39Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > You misunderstand Bill 101 when it comes to the workplace. I didnā€™t say a single thing about the provisions of Bill 101 when it comes to the language of the workplace. > [@](#): > > Hardly oppressive, and really, what kind of business would choose to alienate 90% of itā€™s potential clientele anyways? That is a matter of interest to the business, not me. And of course, the statement that ā€œ90% of the population speaks Frenchā€ quite absurdly ignores the fact that linguistic minorities congregate. In parts of Markham you will find signs that are entirely in Chinese, despite the fact that far more than 90% of Ontarians cannot read Chinese. Are they alienating 90% of their clientele - or dā€™ya think maybe theyā€™re appealing to their clientele? ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/503 "2011-04-14T23:47:03Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 1. Specifically aimed at ensuring public safety. Youā€™re going to have trouble convincing me that calling my restaurant ā€œRickā€™s Placeā€ instead of ā€œChez Rickā€ somehow makes my customers less safe or denies them valid information, and Given that Quebec has Future Shop and Best Buy and Home Depot and Burger King and Scores andā€¦ need I go on? I donā€™t think youā€™d have many problems calling your restaurant Rickā€™s Place. You may have to post signage in French though. > [@](#): > > 1. Not in any way prohibiting me from saying other things I want to say in the language of my choice. Even if I put ingredient lists on my cereal box in both official languages, I could still adorn the box in German, Chinese, or any other language I felt like. Sure. So can you in Quebec. > [@](#): > > What does ā€œin better shapeā€ mean? Itā€™s a wholly meaningless phrase. Under such vague terms you could argue exactly the opposite by simply applying different criteria. Quebec anglophones have no problems getting served in their language, both by private businesses and by the government. In fact, in many places they can live in English only. (Try living in French only in Ontario, in other places than a few small towns.) Theyā€™re not threatened by assimilation. They have access to a public education system in their language up to and including the university level. Iā€™m not sure what your question is. Theyā€™re in better shape by any criterion you may choose. Do you really doubt this, or are you just debating for the sake of debating? > [@](#): > > So just construct the opposite case; Ontario orders that all commerical signage must be in English and the English words must be bigger than any other. Would you be okay with that? Why would I care? If I lived in Ontario perhaps Iā€™d have some grounds to question the policy. And if itā€™s a law like Quebecā€™s, the government would only respond to citizen complaints and then work with the business owners to help them be compliant, which would make it quite harmless. > [@](#): > > Iā€™m not a populist. What do you mean? You donā€™t think policies are good just because theyā€™re popular? Youā€™re probably right, but you need a compelling argument if youā€™re to tell people that a policy they consider vital is actually wrong. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/504 "2011-04-15T01:02:49Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Why would I care? I guess Iā€™m different in that I have some interest in, and an opinion on, about public policy concerning the freedom of expression throughout my country, not just my province of residence. I want Canadians to be free to lives their lives as they see fit. Iā€™m not gay, but I support the freedom to enter into gay marriages. Iā€™m not black, but racial profiling offends me all the same. But weā€™re getting off topic. I am simply trying to illustrate that youā€™re conflating opposition to a matter of free speech versus opposition to the simple existence of the French language and its common predominance in Quebec. Many people, like myself, would prefer to see the restrictive aspects of Bill 101 reversed, but donā€™t see anything wrong with the fact that most people in Quebec speak French or conduct their personal lives and business in French. You seem to assume, again and again, that opposition to the fomer indicates some sort of antipathy to the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/505 "2011-04-15T01:16:55Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I guess Iā€™m different in that I have some interest in, and an opinion on, about public policy concerning the freedom of expression throughout my country, not just my province of residence. I want Canadians to be free to lives their lives as they see fit. Iā€™m not gay, but I support the freedom to enter into gay marriages. Iā€™m not black, but racial profiling offends me all the same. > > But weā€™re getting off topic. I am simply trying to illustrate that youā€™re conflating opposition to a matter of free speech versus opposition to the simple existence of the French language and its common predominance in Quebec. Many people, like myself, would prefer to see the restrictive aspects of Bill 101 reversed, but donā€™t see anything wrong with the fact that most people in Quebec speak French or conduct their personal lives and business in French. You seem to assume, again and again, that opposition to the fomer indicates some sort of antipathy to the latter. Thereā€™s nothing wrong with balance though Rick. I can see why they, in Quebec, would want to protect their culture: their language. Gaelic is all but eliminated in the UK, except that Wales has retained their language by maintaining signage. This has helped keep their language still alive. Iā€™m not sure what government mandates are in effect though. Similar situation, nā€™est-ce pas? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/506 "2011-04-15T01:36:25Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > \ > Well _you_ may not think so. But ask **Cat Whisperer** what she thinks about official bilingualism. Or **Uzi**. Or **Sam Stone**. > \ I think bilingualism could become a non-issue in one generation if we committed to all Canadian kids learning both languages, across the country. > [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > \Alberta does tend to be more socially conservative than many of the other provinces, but it still has a gay scene, it still has environmentalists, and it still has a 38.7% group that does not intend to vote conservative. > > Alberta is not known for its cultural scene, and yet from the following article in the [Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/alberta-has-canadas-biggest-appetite-for-culture-again/article1803231/). Calgary Opera has produced more world premieres of Canadian works than any other company in Canada. That doesnā€™t seem to jibe with the image of Alberta as having a less active culture than QuĆ©bec, but itā€™s a fact - ā€œOver the past nine seasons, Calgary Opera has presented four world premieres, with a fifth in this upcoming season, three Canadian premieres, and many company premieres.ā€ - from the [Calgary Opera](http://www.calgaryopera.com/about/development.php) website. > \ Every city that has a Muslim mayor, raise your hand. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/507 "2011-04-15T01:43:53Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Every city that has a Muslim mayor, raise your hand. šŸ˜ƒ Do city councillors count? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/508 "2011-04-15T02:17:14Z")
More of a GQ question really, but this thread is up and running: are Canadian federal elections required to be held on Mondays? Or is it just a convention? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/509 "2011-04-15T02:22:23Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > More of a GQ question really, but this thread is up and running: are Canadian federal elections required to be held on Mondays? Or is it just a convention? By law a general election must be held on a Monday or, if the week chosen has a holiday on the Monday, the Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/510 "2011-04-15T02:24:52Z")
> [@tingbudong](#): > > Montreal and Quebec City contain some of the best examples of heritage architecture in Canada. Western Canada merely has isolated spatterings of such items. Both cities have a far more old school European urban feel than Vancouver. IMHO. Adds a lot to the country in that aspect. Here on Vancouver Island they say that Oak Bay is more British than Britain. And we got Asian feel on the west coast. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/511 "2011-04-15T02:53:06Z")
I thought some of you might find the [editorial cartoon](http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/bd/1e/a328f5d04f8e85f125372f433df9.jpeg) from todayā€™s Toronto Star amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/512 "2011-04-15T03:16:16Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Well, youā€™re an opera singer; knowing a few languages, especially French and Italian, is an asset to you. šŸ™‚ Youā€™d be astonished how seldom lines like ā€˜Je mange lā€™odeur de tes cuisses.ā€™ or ā€˜OĆ¹ dois-je naturaliser le pĆ©trole de mon cœur?ā€™ come up in everyday conversationā€¦ (Both actual lines from ā€˜Le Vampire et la nymphomaneā€™, music by Serge Provost to a text by Claude Gauvreau.) šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/513 "2011-04-15T05:06:01Z")
Hereā€™s a good reason to root for a minority result: If thereā€™s a majority, because of fixed election laws, every following election will occur during the playoffs from now until thereā€™s another minority (or by some strange chance, loss of confidence). ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/514 "2011-04-15T10:28:44Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Hereā€™s a good reason to root for a minority result: > If thereā€™s a majority, because of fixed election laws, every following election will occur during the playoffs from now until thereā€™s another minority (or by some strange chance, loss of confidence). [No.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_election_dates_in_Canada) > [@](#): > > On November 6, 2006, the Parliament of Canada passed Bill C-16, An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act. It requires that each general election is to take place on the third Monday in October, in the fourth calendar year after the previous poll, starting with October 19, 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/515 "2011-04-15T11:55:56Z")
The conservatives have [filed a complaint](http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/517010--conservatives-ask-elections-canada-to-nullify-votes-cast-at-u-of-g-wednesday) about an advance polling station at University of Guelph, claiming there was partisan material present. If their complaint is upheld, about 700 votes would be thrown out. In a riding that is currently polling at 32.0% for the Conservatives, 35.5% for the Liberals, I can see their concern over 700 votes that, owing to the nature of the vote mob, are not likely to be for the Conservatives. However, trying to take the ballot box, as the local candidateā€™s communications director is alleged to have done, is right out. Iā€™ll be interested to see how this plays out. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/516 "2011-04-15T12:18:06Z")
Worried that the vote wonā€™t go your way? Disrupt the poll and try to steal the ballot box. Colour me impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/517 "2011-04-15T12:32:55Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Worried that the vote wonā€™t go your way? Disrupt the poll and try to steal the ballot box. Colour me impressed. There was a story yesterday of Liberal supporters from a particular riding getting phone calls from a call centre in North Dakota. The Liberal candidate called it a classic attempt to suppress votes. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/518 "2011-04-15T13:02:43Z")
There was a riding in the maritimes where voters received phone calls exhorting them to vote for the NDP candidate ā€¦ who had dropped out of the race. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/519 "2011-04-15T14:02:34Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > There was a story yesterday of Liberal supporters from a particular riding getting phone calls from a call centre in North Dakota. The Liberal candidate called it a classic attempt to suppress votes. Iā€™m sorry, I donā€™t get it. Am I missing something? What was in the phone calls to suppress votes? ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/520 "2011-04-15T14:26:46Z")
Search about on the SDMB for telemarketing threads. I expect that you will find a great deal of hostility directed at telemarketing. Want to get people to vote against you? Subject them to telemarketing on your behalf. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419.md?page=27)