# 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:** 50
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/981 "2011-05-03T03:31:34Z")
What is with Iggy licking his lips every 20 seconds? I kept seeing tongue. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/982 "2011-05-03T03:34:21Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > It’s made the papers now. The Australian (conservative leaning, nationwide paper) has this [short summary.](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/canadas-stephen-harper-wins-elusive-majority/story-fn3dxity-1226049107342) > > It’s all making very interesting lunchtime reading while I scoff my ham and cheese sandwich. Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/983 "2011-05-03T03:34:46Z")
Whether Ignatieff resigns or not, the guy who runs 308 blog definitely should. ---
**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, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/984 "2011-05-03T03:38:15Z")
> [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](#): > > Well the west can’t complain this election was decided before they turned on the TV. Well, we can, but no one’s gonna listen. 🙂 > [@Rysto](#): > > This is a goddamn disaster. The Liberals are decimated and now Harper has the power to administer the coup-de-grace to them by cutting off their funding. We’re going to be left with the Conservatives and the unelectable NDP. So all the parties will have to get their own funding instead of sucking the public money tit. I still don’t get why that’s such a terrible thing. > [@RickJay](#): > > \ > And guys, seriously, stop insulting each other. You look awful. It’s an election. We have peacefully chosen who shall lead our government, and done it peacefully, graciously, efficiently, for the 41st time in a democratic history over a century long. We will do it again, and again, and again. Someone will win, and someone will lose. Start learning to be a good loser and a gracious winner, because if you want to keep living in Canada and being a part of the political process, you’re going to be happy and disappointed with many, many elections to come. I agree completely. ETA: And yes, I will try to remember that next time my party loses. ---
**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, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/985 "2011-05-03T03:38:23Z")
Nobody predicted this. It’s genuinely out of the margin of error of any meta-analysis of the polls. I’ve got like 8 prediction sites on the Favourites and they all underestimated the Tory bounce and the NDP’s astounding success. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/986 "2011-05-03T03:43:39Z")
Sad day indeed. When will we ever get any clear answers from the conservatives about anything now? Harper was already running the country like a despot-- and that while at the head of a minority government. We may be headed for interesting times, and not in a good way. ---
**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, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/987 "2011-05-03T03:43:59Z")
I will apologize for my strong language in expressing my disappointment in this election result. Given the past - both under Liberal and Conservative governments - I hope Canadians keep their government accountable over the next 4+ years, and that we all end up better off. ---
**Author:** ![Grapefruit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@Grapefruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grapefruit)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/988 "2011-05-03T03:50:43Z")
I didn’t want to see a majority government, and I understand the bitterness of throwing away money on election after election, but I liked the idea of the parties having some semblance of balance in terms of power. I also don’t think I’ve quite gotten over the shock that the BQ has lost so many seats. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/989 "2011-05-03T03:54:10Z")
Duceppe just announced he’s (obviously) stepping down as leader. Looks like only 3 or 4 at most seats for the BQ… So can we officially call the time of death on that party or is there a chance in 4 years they will return? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/990 "2011-05-03T03:54:39Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > So all the parties will have to get their own funding instead of sucking the public money tit. I still don’t get why that’s such a terrible thing. Well ultimately it was to eliminate the influence of large unions and corporations and thereby reduce their influence in skewing what people wanted in elections. I’m not sure it couldn’t stand a tweak or two but really is it worth it to scrap it and so force the parties to look to larger sources of funding? Especially give the fact that partial public party funding is the least of our current federal spending concerns. ---
**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, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/991 "2011-05-03T04:00:10Z")
You know what occurs to me, this election result being such a surprise might be the result of the older generation not being aware of the power of the internet and social media yet. I run across this at work and in my personal life all the time; they use email and maybe Facebook, but they only dip their toes into the pool. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/992 "2011-05-03T04:00:55Z")
CBC just called a win for May… a Green party seat. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/993 "2011-05-03T04:01:41Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > You guys wanna get a room maybe? The tone in here is getting unpleasant. > > I’ve just found another silver lining: my favourite racist idiot Jim Pankiw is polling dead last in Saskatoon-Humboldt with 2% of the vote. I am pleased with Nettie Wiebe’s turnout. Some of the Sask ridings have been pretty close between the Tories and NDP, which was the best I could hope for. Business as usual over here with Ralph. My coworker brought up an interesting idea - Goodale running for Liberal leadership. I don’t know if the Liberals would go for a prairie leader though. ---
**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, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/994 "2011-05-03T04:02:50Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > Duceppe just announced he’s (obviously) stepping down as leader. Looks like only 3 or 4 at most seats for the BQ… So can we officially call the time of death on that party or is there a chance in 4 years they will return? It will depend on the next 4 years. The impression I get is that the Conservatives are not perceived as being Québec-friendly. There’s a worry that the NDP MPs might not be able to continue to represent Québec as strongly as the Bloc has; that’s Layton’s challenge, basically. If things go wrong - if Québec feels ignored/robbed/marginalized/etc over the next 4 years, it could mean a resurgence of sovereignist sentiment, or perhaps simply a backlash against the NDP…which could benefit the Liberals depending on how they rebuild. Too many possibilities, and they could be dead, but there are so many factors to be considered. CTV quoted a tweet from someone which is just rather funny (paraphrased) : “the Conservatives are like Nickelback. No one likes them, but they always seem to do well!” I admit…I do dislike Nickelback…! ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/995 "2011-05-03T04:04:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > You know what occurs to me, this election result being such a surprise might be the result of the older generation not being aware of the power of the internet and social media yet. I run across this at work and in my personal life all the time; they use email and maybe Facebook, but they only dip their toes into the pool. Really? I’d love to see a sample poll of who actually votes compared to all the hot air blown on the social media. My guess is that the old farts probably still show up in greater numbers over the young hipsters tweeting each other about how useless it it is to go out and vote since “they’re all liars and crooks anyway” ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/996 "2011-05-03T04:04:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > And guys, seriously, stop insulting each other. You look awful. It’s an election. We have peacefully chosen who shall lead our government, and done it peacefully, graciously, efficiently, for the 41st time in a democratic history over a century long. We will do it again, and again, and again. Someone will win, and someone will lose. Start learning to be a good loser and a gracious winner, because if you want to keep living in Canada and being a part of the political process, you’re going to be happy and disappointed with many, many elections to come. Hear, hear! Well said! ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/997 "2011-05-03T04:07:24Z")
For the first time, I voted for a winning candidate – in hopes of preventing this Conservative majority, I voted for the idiot over the unprincipled. My father: “Oh, how nice, the Conservative party is back. I’m glad they’re not the Reform any more.” Here’s to five more years of police oppression and politics of fear. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/998 "2011-05-03T04:09:41Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > One thing, though…I want Harper slapped with a fine for campaigning on Election Day. It’s against the law, he’s the Prime Minister, he needs to respect Canada and her laws. I don’t care if it’s a nominal fine…I still want it on the record that he broke the law in order to try and gain power. I can only hope it will serve as a check and balance for the future, though I’m not optimistic. There’s no excuse, and this shouldn’t be ignored. They campaigned on accountability a few years back…Election Canada is in a position to enforce it, at least once. **mnemosyne** , there’s no general ban on campaigning on election day. There are restrictions on campaigning in or near individual polling stations (see [_Canada Elections Act_, ss. 165 and 166](http://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-2.01/page-68.html#h-67)). Now, it used to be customary that politicians would taper off and not campaign on election day, but that was simply a tradition, not a statutory prohibition. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/999 "2011-05-03T04:11:04Z")
So much for 308 by the way – the Liberal won my riding by 10%. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419/1000 "2011-05-03T04:16:51Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Business as usual over here with Ralph. My coworker brought up an interesting idea - Goodale running for Liberal leadership. I don’t know if the Liberals would go for a prairie leader though. Pretty sure he doesn’t want the job, or he would have thrown his hat in the ring one of the last couple rounds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-canadian-election-thread-or-maybe-not/575419.md?page=51)