# 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:** 37
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/721 "2015-10-20T16:23:21Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > I wonder if anyone against the Monarchy is voting for this twit who’s only claim to fame is his father’s name? Truly baffled that people are so shallow. I’m sorry, but the garbage negativity and lying are over with now. You can stop. The Canadian people have decided that they did not believe the sad misinformation and crap that was being peddled against Trudeau. Brian Mulroney said that people underestimated Trudeau at their peril. Justin Trudeau was underestimated before he entered politics. He was underestimated when he was first elected. He was underestimated when he became leader of the Liberal Party. And people like you continue to post the same sad rubbish, and will underestimate him in the future. Enjoy your cloudy, rainy depressing world that you live in. The rest of us are enjoying the sunshine today. Full disclosure: I have not voted Liberal for 20 years, and did not vote Liberal in this election. ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/722 "2015-10-20T16:32:37Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I am over the moon that my country stood firm against the politics of fear, divisiveness, negative campaigning, islamaphobia and dirty tricks. > > I confess, I was of the very cynical opinion that the cons had so gamed the system ( changing funding, taking expat votes away, misguiding robo calls, redistricting, etc.) that they really couldn’t lose. I am enormously happy to be proven wrong. > > I’m thinking yesterday was a great day for Canada! I couldn’t agree more! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/723 "2015-10-20T16:33:35Z")
Do most Canadians vote for the party and not the person for their particular MP? In other words, do you care about Smith’s qualifications and positions relative to Jones, or do you just vote for the party that you want to control the government? ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/724 "2015-10-20T16:35:14Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > While going down the list of winners from last night, a name I spotted that literally made me laugh out loud that he’s still in Parliament: Stéphane Dion. Moreover, M. Dion won his riding with 61.6% of the vote, just shy of 17,000 votes ahead of the second-place finisher. For all that the Conservatives were able to paint him as a wilting, nerdy loser, he was never a political lightweight. ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/725 "2015-10-20T16:35:24Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > While going down the list of winners from last night, a name I spotted that literally made me laugh out loud that he’s still in Parliament: Stéphane Dion. Why would that make you laugh? Dion is an experienced and well respected MP who is known for being ethical and hard working. I expect he will have a place in the new cabinet. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/726 "2015-10-20T16:37:22Z")
Let’s not forget that while there are sharply divided opinions on the legacy of Justin’s father, he was indisputably one of Canada’s brightest and most colourful prime ministers, and IMHO, one of our greatest. When you consider the source, this is one of the highest compliments ever paid to a Canadian PM: A scratchy, long-lost recording reveals a rambling Richard Nixon struggling to discuss trade issues in the Oval Office with a wily and eloquent Pierre Trudeau, someone the president had referred to hours earlier as a “son of a bitch.” The two-hour conversation is believed to be the only discussion between the two men captured on the infamous Nixon recording system – and the storied chat that later prompted the sputtering president to call Trudeau “an asshole” and a “pompous egghead.” > **[Nixon tapes include testy Trudeau chat](https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2008/12/08/nixon_tapes_include_testy_trudeau_chat.html)** > > A scratchy, long-lost recording reveals a rambling Richard Nixon struggling to discuss trade issues in the Oval Office with a wily and eloquent Pierre Trudeau, someone the president had referred to hours earlier as a "son of a bitch." 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/727 "2015-10-20T16:37:33Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m sorry, but the garbage negativity and lying are over with now. > > You can stop. The Canadian people have decided that they did not believe the sad misinformation and crap that was being peddled against Trudeau. > > Brian Mulroney said that people underestimated Trudeau at their peril. Justin Trudeau was underestimated before he entered politics. He was underestimated when he was first elected. He was underestimated when he became leader of the Liberal Party. > > And people like you continue to post the same sad rubbish, and will underestimate him in the future. > > Enjoy your cloudy, rainy depressing world that you live in. The rest of us are enjoying the sunshine today. > > Full disclosure: I have not voted Liberal for 20 years, and did not vote Liberal in this election. Well said! Full disclosure: I have not voted Conservative for 20 years, and did vote Liberal in this election. 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/728 "2015-10-20T16:42:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Do most Canadians vote for the party and not the person for their particular MP? In other words, do you care about Smith’s qualifications and positions relative to Jones, or do you just vote for the party that you want to control the government? Some MPs are personally very popular and would win regardless of their party’s fortunes, but on the whole I think “strategic voting” – voting for the party – tends to dominate, though the extent varies with the political climate. It certainly dominated this election, and even more so some years ago when the Conservative Party was practically wiped out after the Mulroney era. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/729 "2015-10-20T16:48:33Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > f you want to blow every minor mistake out of proportion, feel free to do so. (Such as claiming “X” was printed next to the Conservative candidate’s name, when your source says no such thing, when in actuality the voter was accidentally given a spoiled ballot, which was immediately replaced with a good one.) Anyway, if you want to jump on that train, you’re going to be awful lonely. I’m not jumping onto any train. I linked to a story that says a voter found an X next to the Tory candidate’s name. I didn’t say it. Lonely? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/730 "2015-10-20T16:48:44Z")
> [@Latimera](#): > > Why would that make you laugh? Dion is an experienced and well respected MP who is known for being ethical and hard working. I expect he will have a place in the new cabinet. More that I had mostly forgotten he existed, had not heard one word about or from him during the campaign, and then he’s sticking around to be in Parliament to see Harper just as another MP. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/731 "2015-10-20T17:24:16Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > More that I had mostly forgotten he existed, had not heard one word about or from him during the campaign, and then he’s sticking around to be in Parliament to see Harper just as another MP. Dion has stuck around to be the representative of the people of the riding of Saint-Laurent—Cartierville. That tells me that he is interested in being a part of government, and doing the best he can for the people of his riding. (Although I’m sure he likes being paid well, and it’s a pretty good job!) I do seriously doubt that we’ll see Mr. Harper stay as a sitting MP for very long though. He may not have pulled the “full Jim Prentice” by resigning his seat on election night, but I can’t see him stowing his massive ego and being simply another MP. Not gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/732 "2015-10-20T17:32:11Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Do most Canadians vote for the party and not the person for their particular MP? In other words, do you care about Smith’s qualifications and positions relative to Jones, or do you just vote for the party that you want to control the government? A little from A, a little from B. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/733 "2015-10-20T17:36:06Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I confess, I was of the very cynical opinion that the cons had so gamed the system ( changing funding, taking expat votes away, misguiding robo calls, redistricting, etc.) that they really couldn’t lose. I am enormously happy to be proven wrong. You know, I hope, that the determination of how ridings are “districted” isn’t up to the party in power? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/734 "2015-10-20T17:48:36Z")
Wait, Canada has politics? Is this a recent development? ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/735 "2015-10-20T17:53:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Wait, Canada has politics? Is this a recent development? We also say “excuse me” before we knife you in the back, and “sorry” after you slump to the ground… ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/736 "2015-10-20T17:55:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You know, I hope, that the determination of how ridings are “districted” isn’t up to the party in power? That’s right. It’s up to the people the party in power puts in power. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/737 "2015-10-20T17:58:56Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You know, I hope, that the determination of how ridings are “districted” isn’t up to the party in power? No, it’s under control of [Elections Canada](http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=cir/red&document=index&lang=e), a non-partisan department of the public service. They did get beat up a little the last decade or so, but have for the most part resisted partisan influence. See the FAQ on who forms the redistributing committees here: > **[Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=cir%2Fred%2Ffaq&document=index&lang=e)** > > Information on the readjustment of electoral boundaries and representation in the House of Commons of Canada. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/738 "2015-10-20T18:07:08Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > That’s right. It’s up to the people the party in power puts in power. No, it’s not. Your obsession with election conspiracies is getting in the way of your understanding of the truth. Tell you what; show me evidence of gerrymandering of Canadian federal ridings. Let’s see it. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/739 "2015-10-20T18:13:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Some MPs are personally very popular and would win regardless of their party’s fortunes, but on the whole I think “strategic voting” – voting for the party – tends to dominate, though the extent varies with the political climate. It certainly dominated this election, and even more so some years ago when the Conservative Party was practically wiped out after the Mulroney era. It occurred to me in a moment of reflection that the above-mentioned circumstances had a lot to do with what happened yesterday. After the Mulroney debacle, there were serious questions about the viability of the Progressive Conservative Party. Meanwhile a bunch of lunatics out west had formed a socially conservative far-right party called the Reform Party (think Ted Cruz and you get the idea). In 2003 it was led by a loon named Stephen Harper and had become quite prominent. It was seen as advantageous to the lunatic cause to merge with the Progressive Conservative Party which, having only a few seats at the time, didn’t feel it had much choice. And so it was that a new Conservative Party was born and lurched far to the right, the word “progressive” quite appropriately dropped from its name, and Harper insinuated himself as its leader. For more than a decade it pretended to be a moderate, centrist party while Harper and his fellow loons used every trick in the book to enact their far-right ideologies, sometimes openly but more often by stealth – everything from executive decrees to silence federal scientists to draconian legislation hidden in massive omnibus bills that would make an American Republican proud. This is what ended yesterday, proving the old adage that you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. It’s over. And hopefully Harper’s resignation means that it’s over for good. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807/740 "2015-10-20T18:15:48Z")
The last round of re-districting in Saskatchewan was significantly disadvantageous to the Conservatives, who screamed bloody murder at the injustice of there being entirely urban ridings in Saskatoon and Regina. They lost two of the new seats, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-longest-election-campaign-in-modern-canada-thread/726807.md?page=38)