# 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:** 45
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/881 "2011-05-02T22:24:25Z")
My oh-so-convenient Globe-and-Mail Politics App says 22:00 EDT, but I’m sure it’s using my phone’s location. So here’s the [straight dope from Elections Canada](http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=bkg&document=ec90815&lang=e): Newfoundland Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Atlantic Time: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time: 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Central Time\*: 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time\*: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. This is either Standard time or Daylight time for the various time zones. In each time zone, we start getting media coverage when the polls close. I thought they had it set up so that the polls close at the same instant (just expressed as different times in different time zones), or maybe two different instants, but looking at the list, that doesn’t seem to make sense. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/882 "2011-05-02T22:26:17Z")
nm - beaten by Sunspace. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/883 "2011-05-02T22:28:40Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > nm - beaten by Sunspace. I was just replying to your post, which said something completely different than mine. I am now confused. Edit: the app said, “election results will be available at 22:00 EDT.” Not the same thing as the polls closing time… [sub]Area codes I can handle, but I always have to stop and think about time zones…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/884 "2011-05-02T22:30:34Z")
Those poll closing times converted all to EDT: Newfoundland: 7 pm Atlantic: 7:30 Eastern: 9:30 Central: 9:30 Mountain: 9:30 Pacific: 10 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/885 "2011-05-02T22:30:53Z")
Gosh, that’s much later than here, where voting ceases at 6.00pm. So you’ve still got a couple of hours before the easternmost provinces finish voting, and then a couple more for the west to finish. Then the counting, which will presumably be close. So probably no result - if any - until late this afternoon perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/886 "2011-05-02T22:38:05Z")
Yeah, I wouldn’t expect anything definitive until after midnight eastern, and possibly after that. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/887 "2011-05-02T22:38:53Z")
Depending on how it goes, we’ll likely know the make up of the House of Commons within 6 hours. This one will be very interesting, however… ---
**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:** [May 2, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/888 "2011-05-02T22:42:03Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I was just replying to your post, which said something completely different than mine. I am now confused. Be not confused - I was responding from memory with information that’s about 15 years out of date. I still remember what it was like tuning in from Manitoba to discover that the Liberals had already won despite not electing a single member west of Winnipeg. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/889 "2011-05-02T22:55:00Z")
Yes, the 1993 election was billed as a potential nailbiter but everyone in the Central timezone and west got to turn into Peter Mansbridge telling us it was over within 5 seconds. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/890 "2011-05-02T23:40:12Z")
I’m glad to hear other people remembering that; I seem to recall winners being announced before polls in the west had even closed. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/891 "2011-05-02T23:47:35Z")
Got around to voting around 7 or so. It was odd, as there seemed to be a line-up for one polling booth, but none for others…we just walked right up to our assigned one past a line of 15-20 people for another. Our polling station is in an old folk’s home, so the experience involves mandatory hand washing with Purell. Ours are the _cleanest_ votes in Canada! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/892 "2011-05-02T23:50:42Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Depending on how it goes, we’ll likely know the make up of the House of Commons within 6 hours. This one will be very interesting, however… It is entirely possible that whether or not the Conservatives get a majority will come down to whether they win, say, 15 seats in BC versus 13. So it very well could be not just a nailbiter, but the nail-bitingest election in Canadian history. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/893 "2011-05-02T23:56:16Z")
I voted in the advance poll. 🙂 Edit: there was a lineup even there, even in this small town of Bancroft (pop. 3500). ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/894 "2011-05-03T00:08:07Z")
Well, PM Harper finally made it to Calgary. 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/895 "2011-05-03T00:09:11Z")
The East Coast results are pretty interesting…but not TOO interesting… (😛 to elections Canada) ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/896 "2011-05-03T00:11:50Z")
Based on your smilie, I can only guess the East has gone entirely Green. It’s a code, right? 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/897 "2011-05-03T00:17:25Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Based on your smilie, I can only guess the East has gone entirely Green. It’s a code, right? 🙂 Oh jeez… Do you WANT me hauled away with my new android tablet confiscated! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/898 "2011-05-03T00:46:50Z")
I got a leak… Good GOD… all the polls were wrong… the very fabric of our country! NATO will probably attack within hours of this being released. Prime Minister Dogg? Will the secession of Nova Scotia offset Argentinia… damn, I’ve said too much! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/899 "2011-05-03T00:51:46Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I got a leak… Good GOD… all the polls were wrong… the very fabric of our country! > > NATO will probably attack within hours of this being released. Prime Minister Dogg? Will the secession of Nova Scotia offset Argentinia… damn, I’ve said too much! Well, _I_ got a tweet that mentioned Prime Minister Karl… no, I’ve said too much. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/900 "2011-05-03T00:57:20Z")
There have been [reports all day](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/05/02/cv-election-polling-pranks-411.html) of voters being given false information about a change in the location of their polling station. Someone tried to [steal the ballot box](http://www.globaltvbc.com/decisioncanada/Votes+secure+ballot+damaged+Glasgow+tries+steal+ballot+Peter+MacKay+riding/4712763/story.html) in Peter MacKay’s riding. More interestingly, there is also a [report](http://www.examiner.com/canada-headlines-in-canada/stephen-harper-breaks-election-rules-campaigns-on-radio-on-election-day) that Prime Minister Harper campaigned on the radio this morning, in contravention of Elections Canada rules. I’m waiting to see if this gets picked up and confirmed by mainstream media, or whether this is a last-minute tactic to discredit the Prime Minister. Sadly, either one would seem to be possible with this election. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419.md?page=46)