# The "Longest Election Campaign in Modern Canada" Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 2, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807 "2015-08-02T15:45:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/281 "2015-09-11T16:26:24Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > **Euph. Pol.** , that exquisitely expressed my assessment of the situation. Thank you. Thanks. And yet when I express similar sentiments in a similar way in forums in our national newspapers, I am routinely called a Marxist, a stupid leftie, or that I am deranged, and merely hate Harper because of my low IQ. This is what passes for “debate” among the more fervent Harper supporters out there. I strongly suspect that many of these posters in on-line forums are in actual fact paid members of the PMO’s “media advisers”. I know that this sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory, but when one reads these newspaper on-line forums, the talking points appear quickly, and are repeated word-for-word by a variety of “new” and regular posters. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/282 "2015-09-11T16:52:24Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I strongly suspect that many of these posters in on-line forums are in actual fact paid members of the PMO’s “media advisers”. I know that this sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory, but when one reads these newspaper on-line forums, the talking points appear quickly, and are repeated word-for-word by a variety of “new” and regular posters. That’s no half-baked conspiracy theory. It’s fully-baked [**astroturfing**](https://www.google.co.uk/search?as_q=astroturfing+canada+conservatives&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=&as_occt=&safe=images&as_filetype=&as_rights=not+filtered+by+licence). ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/283 "2015-09-11T17:56:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Thanks. > > And yet when I express similar sentiments in a similar way in forums in our national newspapers, I am routinely called a Marxist, a stupid leftie, or that I am deranged, and merely hate Harper because of my low IQ. (Shrug) It goes the other way too. I’ve seen Harper compared to Adolf Hitler enough times to make Godwin barf. I don’t believe it’s because my Facebook feed is full of NDP/Liberal moles. It’s because people simplify and demonize when politics comes up; my guy is a saint, yours is Satan. It has always been that way, really, it’s just that now it’s easier to post it where everyone can see it. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/284 "2015-09-11T18:13:29Z")
I also have to disagree that Harper is merely “meh” and only need to get rid of him for freshness. As mentioned above, omnibus bills are an insult to the parliament system and public participaton. No way to have a discussion on a law when you pass 400 at once. But even more ridiculous are his attempts at “getting tough on crime”. Mandatory minimums and various other ways to hamstring judges’ discretion have mostly been proven failures in US jurisdictions and were also quite predictably found unconstitutional. So he wastes all this court time and money just to play to his base. I guess you could file this under “meh” because he’s mostly failed to permanently inflict these bad ideas on us, but I’d rather not give him any more kicks at the can. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/285 "2015-09-11T18:33:22Z")
I would also take issue with the destruction of the Long Form Census. I still do not understand at all why this was done. “something something protect our privacy” is pretty much all I see from the Harper Party. (And yes, I do use that term deliberately. I don’t see any team here… I don’t see anyone making decisions other than the man at the top) The loss of the census has been panned by business groups, and government departments that rely on actual data to make decisions. I don’t know of another country in the world who has done this. And I simply don’t know exactly WHO was clamouring for this to be done here in Canada. For those who value privacy to THIS DEGREE, I am amazed and astounded that they would then go ahead and support Bill C-51. What the heck to they think that little piece of legislation does to their precious privacy? How can anyone simultaneously support the loss of the long form census AND Bill C-51? It’s enough to make my head explode. Of course, I guess Harper supporters can always point to: _64) Signing a new agreement to keep the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montréal._ That’s a tremendous achievement right there. Signed an agreement. Didn’t negotiate it. Or do anything else. Just signed it. Wow, good job Steve. You signed your name. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/286 "2015-09-11T18:36:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > (Shrug) It goes the other way too. I’ve seen Harper compared to Adolf Hitler enough times to make Godwin barf. I don’t believe it’s because my Facebook feed is full of NDP/Liberal moles. It’s because people simplify and demonize when politics comes up; my guy is a saint, yours is Satan. It has always been that way, really, it’s just that now it’s easier to post it where everyone can see it. Some people do say hyperbolic things about Harper, this is true. I was referring to nasty, personal things said directly to ME. Because I pointed out some things that Harper has done poorly. And I don’t have a “my guy”. And if I did, I sure as heck would not idolize him. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/287 "2015-09-11T18:51:12Z")
If I posted on Facebook that I was a big supporter of Stephen Harper - I’m not, I’m just doing an exercise here - I bet I’d have 100 people block me and at least as many more send me abusive messages. I’m not saying everything is equivalent, but it’s close. Incidentally, why haven’t the people at “[www.threehundredeight.com](http://www.threehundredeight.com)” changed their url to “www.threehundredthirtyeight”? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/288 "2015-09-11T19:51:13Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If I posted on Facebook that I was a big supporter of Stephen Harper - I’m not, I’m just doing an exercise here - I bet I’d have 100 people block me and at least as many more send me abusive messages. > > I’m not saying everything is equivalent, but it’s close. I"d be shocked if you got that many. Unless you have several thousand facebook friends… Incidentally, I heard my first attack ad against Mulcair the other day on radio. Apparently, he is simply a career politician, and we can’t trust the NDP anyway because they destroyed British Columbia completely in the 90’s. I must say, I was unaware that the 1990’s BC NDP were running in this election. And I was also unaware of the massive amount of time Mr. Harper spent working outside of the political realm. A well kept secret I suppose. The only reason I knew it was a conservative ad was the bit at the end saying who paid for it. Does the Conservative Party have ANY positive messaging out there? > [@RickJay](#): > > Incidentally, why haven’t the people at “[www.threehundredeight.com](http://www.threehundredeight.com)” changed their url to “www.threehundredthirtyeight”? I’d guess because [http://threehundredthirtyeight.com/](http://threehundredthirtyeight.com/) is taken, and they won’t sell the domain name. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/289 "2015-09-11T20:07:59Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I must say, I was unaware that the 1990’s BC NDP were running in this election. I suppose the Tories were right in their assumption that in retaliation the Liberals and the NDP wouldn’t remind us that Mulroney and Campbell brought the grand total of Tory MPs down to two while under the narration is a video of a greasy thug receiving bundles of cash in a paper bag. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/290 "2015-09-11T20:25:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I"d be shocked if you got that many. Unless you have several thousand facebook friends… About a thousand, most of whom live in Toronto and so are reflexively anti-Harper. Many work in entertainment. Trust me, it wouldn’t be polite disagreement. Hell, I’d be blackballed from performing at a lot of venues. > [@](#): > > Does the Conservative Party have ANY positive messaging out there? Some, but you don’t notice it because it’s not significant. “Look, a new little tax credit that will save some people thirty bucks” just isn’t a big impact thing. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/291 "2015-09-11T20:54:07Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Some, but you don’t notice it because it’s not significant. “Look, a new little tax credit that will save some people thirty bucks” just isn’t a big impact thing. That’s not really positive messaging though… just typical vote buying/pandering. (Which should probably be # 8 on my list above; Yes, all politicians are guilty of promising a chicken in every pot in order to get elected… But it seems to me, Harper has ramped this up to 11, and is not even pretending that these are policy announcements. He might as well pull a Ford, and go around handing out $20 bills) ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/292 "2015-09-11T22:57:09Z")
Three different Sept 8 polls by three different polling companies: Three different parties in the lead. This election is going to be incredibly close. People in BC might even get to “decide” who wins for a change, instead of tuning in at 8:00 to hear “Welcome to everyone in BC. We’ve just predicted that XXX will win this election” Nanos Research September 8, 2015 Con 25.9 NDP 31.2 \*\*Lib 32.5 \*\* ±2.8 pp Ipsos Reid September 8, 2015 Con 29 \*\*NDP 34 \*\*Lib30 ±3.6 pp EKOS September 8, 2015 \*\*Con 31.8 \*\* NDP 29.6 Lib 26.9 ±1.9 pp ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/293 "2015-09-11T23:00:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Nanos Research September 8, 2015 Con 25.9 NDP 31.2 \*\*Lib 32.5 \*\* ±2.8 pp > > Ipsos Reid September 8, 2015 Con 29 \*\*NDP 34 \*\*Lib30 ±3.6 pp > > EKOS September 8, 2015 \*\*Con 31.8 \*\* NDP 29.6 Lib 26.9 ±1.9 pp As I mentioned above, I don’t see any reason that the Liberals and the NDP won’t cut a deal. All of these polls indicate such a deal is in the offing. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/294 "2015-09-11T23:26:52Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > As I mentioned above, I don’t see any reason that the Liberals and the NDP won’t cut a deal. All of these polls indicate such a deal is in the offing. Trudeau has explicitly said “no” to any kind of formal coalition. I really don’t see any “deal” of any kind before Oct 19 (Actually before the 20th) And historically, what happens is - a election occurs and then the party with the most seats tries to see if they can form a minority government by wining the support of the house… by convincing another party to vote with them on confidence bills (for a while, at least), or by convincing enough members to cross the isle. Frequently, there are inducements offered. It’s looking like a thin minority, with the other two parties close behind. - If the NDP have the most seats, Mulcair has said he will work with the Liberals. - If the Liberals have the most seats, I can see Trudeau trying to make a minority government work, with the support of the NDP. (That’s historically been done) - If the CPC have the most seats by a few, I don’t see any way that the Liberals or NDP will support them. They have tried this, and have been shat upon. In that case, it’s either a new election (doubtful), or the GG will ask the party with the next most seats if they can win the confidence of the house. (most likely) One final possibility; The Green Party wins 2 or 3 seats. The election is so close that everything depends on which party they decide they could work better with. Elizabeth May plays kingmaker. Heads would explode. I like this one. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/295 "2015-09-11T23:37:08Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Trudeau has explicitly said “no” to any kind of formal coalition. Well, sure he has. There’s an election coming up, after all. If it comes down to it, I see no reason he won’t support an NDP government, or accept NDP support for his government. I’m uncertain why either of these won’t count as a “deal”. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/296 "2015-09-11T23:59:21Z")
None of that matters because the Tories will win after making thousands of phone calls telling likely Liberal and NDP voters that the polling places have moved. Just like the last time. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/297 "2015-09-12T01:53:30Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > He recently moved back to Canada after a couple of decades abroad. Oooooooh! Did he come back for me? ---
**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:** [September 12, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/298 "2015-09-12T01:56:12Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > None of that matters because the Tories will win after making thousands of phone calls telling likely Liberal and NDP voters that the polling places have moved. > > Just like the last time. Proven untrue. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/299 "2015-09-12T02:51:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Some people do say hyperbolic things about Harper, this is true. > > I was referring to nasty, personal things said directly to ME. Because I pointed out some things that Harper has done poorly. Must be the same Harper acolytes I mentioned [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18676914&postcount=276) who attend all his rallies to suppress dissent, and who accuse the media of being “lying pieces of shit” because they dare to say something critical about Harper. Kind of scary, actually. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And I don’t have a “my guy”. And if I did, I sure as heck would not idolize him. Exactly. And I think that applies to most Canadians. Certainly applies to me. It seems to be mainly some of the Harper fans who idolize him, vilify his critics, and vilify the media, kind of in the manner of conspiracy theorists who see the whole world of fact, media, and science apparently stacked against them. Personally I’d be happy with either Trudeau or Mulcair and don’t have pinups of either of them taped to my wall, nor do I have any lawn signs or bumper stickers. And I have, in the distant past, voted Progressive Conservative when that was still a party and before it was invaded by the Harper hordes and the Reform and Alliance lunatics. That said, in the present circumstances I’d favour an NDP minority government because Mulcair is a political moderate who I think is more competent than Trudeau, and I’d love to be able to say that I never thought I’d see the day when we had an NDP government both federally and in Alberta, and at the same time, too! 🙂 > [@RickJay](#): > > … most of whom live in Toronto and so are reflexively anti-Harper. Ah, so that’s why I was asked earlier if I lived in the GTA – I thought there was something in the water! 😉 That statement, however, is hokum. Even the city of Toronto is regionally divided, let alone the GTA, with Conservatives elected in some of the northern and outer Toronto ridings. How do you think a right-wing lunatic like Rob Ford ever got elected mayor? Or the moderate but still conservative John Tory? It mostly came from the 905 areas. And in the broader GTA, it’s almost like a Conservative stronghold surrounding Toronto. The riding where I live has been solidly Conservative since forever. Probably yours, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/300 "2015-09-12T03:53:32Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Proven untrue. You mean the robocall lies were perpetrated by Liberals or New Democrats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807.md?page=16)