Canadian Election

[Luvian]

You know, that separatist movement pay a lot. They got 51 seat? They always get tons of sets, and they have no national agenda. They don't even have to work for their seat either.

So they won't get to power any time soon, but that's also the point of their party. You can't rule Canada? Start your own country...

[True_Moose]

Sorry, K, I must've worded my post badly. There are some, particularly here in Alberta, vocal conservatives who seem to want to give carte blanche to the Americans to run our foreign policy. I don't think its the majority, let alone most, conservatives. But there is a strong undercurrent of following the Americans even into things that we don't want to get into. That's what I meant by my comments. And I'm not anti-American: I have family down there and whatnot, and I agree with many of the things they've done (I have no problem in Afghanistan.) The problem I see with some mouthpieces is that, in order to be friends and closest allies to the States, we have to support them in everything, and I disagree with that.

[Knightscape]

Originally posted by True_Moose: Sorry, K, I must've worded my post badly. There are some, particularly here in Alberta, vocal conservatives who seem to want to give carte blanche to the Americans to run our foreign policy. I don't think its the majority, let alone most, conservatives. But there is a strong undercurrent of following the Americans even into things that we don't want to get into. That's what I meant by my comments. And I'm not anti-American: I have family down there and whatnot, and I agree with many of the things they've done (I have no problem in Afghanistan.)

The apology was not necessary, this is the current events area and expressing differing opinions is generally a good thing. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I agree with American foreign policy more often than not; which, I would point out is much different than giving Americans carte blanche to run the Canadian foreign policy. There are some liberal minded people here in Ontario (okay quite a few liberal minded people) that seem to believe that agreeing with America on anything is wrong. The Liberals took advantage of this in promoting an anti-American culture during much of the election.

The problem I see with some mouthpieces is that, in order to be friends and closest allies to the States, we have to support them in everything, and I disagree with that.

and on the other side of the fence...
The problem I see with some mouthpieces is their assertion that in order to be a patriotic Canadian one must criticize the U.S. on everything and anything, and I most definitely disagree with that.

[True_Moose]

Out of curiosity, Knightscape, what were the results in your riding?

One thing that does encourage me about this election is that more people were talking about the issues. The thing that seemed to characterise the last (Liberal Minority) election was, out west the reasons people gave for voting for the Conservatives was largely anti-liberal rather than pro-conservative, whereas what was portrayed as in the east was the opposite, a fear of the conservatives as rednecks, so the liberals were voted in. This election, for whatever reason, right or wrong, was about things like taxes, the sponsorship scandal and daycare. If there's one thing I hate, it's blind party loyalty, and that doesn't seem to have been a hallmark of this election. And if the Conservatives truly have become a national alternative, that can only be a good thing. It will be interesting to see how they enact their platform while in office - they still have a lot of grey areas in their policies, which will have to be fleshed out under fire.

Touche on that last point too.

Finally, I haven't heard, wasn't paying enough attention to everything, but are we going to see some re-evaluation of the way off-shore resources are handled in the Atlantic? Because I see that as perhaps the best opportunity to get that region back on its feet.

[Sir Degrader]

Historically they've wanted tarrifs, if thats the case, then piss on them, Free Trade is here to stay, hopefully.

[Knightscape]

My riding went Liberal(again) NDP a close second.

...right winger from Ontario debating left winger from Alberta ( the anti-cliche )

The one area Harper seems to have support across party lines is his tough on crime stance (especially after the boxing day shootings in downtown Toronto). Perhaps it will be something the new government can build on to give all Canadians a sense of confidence in their elected officials.

[Aerich]

Gun crime is an issue on which I had problems with the stance of each party. Many of the measures suggested were "quick fixes" that will be ineffective or are just plain wrong.

Mandatory minimum sentencing? No judge is going to give a low sentence to a serious crime committed with a gun, so this one does nothing. It also costs around $100 000 taxpayer dollars a year to keep each individual in a max security prison.

Reverse-onus requirement for someone suspected of a gun crime to get bail? Similarly ineffective because it is a reactive rather than proactive measure. It's only effective based on the premise that all the gun crimes are committed by a very small group of repeat offenders. It may also be challenged and struck down under the Charter, as it skates perilously close to crossing a little line called 'presumption of innocence'.

The only measure on guns I've heard that I agree with is increased border security.

Where are the parties promising gun and gang education programs? Where are the initiatives aimed at integrating young people, especially young immigrants, into the Canadian society and economy?

[pritchke]

Originally posted by Aerich: Where are the parties promising gun and gang education programs? Where are the initiatives aimed at integrating young people, especially young immigrants, into the Canadian society and economy?

This I believe was part of the NDP program, with part of the method of targeting the youth in communities through youth programs to educate them enough to keep them out of gangs. Besides having tougher laws. I thought theres were the best method on this issue. It also somewhat explains how they did well in the big centers and came close to liberals in other ridings in the three big centers.

[ 01-25-2006, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Luvian]

I regret they got ellected. I just learned they want to remove gun control laws, gay marriage, reconsider kioto and such. They are basically the opposite of the Liberals.

[Knightscape]

Originally posted by Aerich: Gun crime is an issue on which I had problems with the stance of each party. Many of the measures suggested were "quick fixes" that will be ineffective or are just plain wrong.

The most ineffective or just plain wrong thing to do would be to do noting, or just keep the system the way it is.

Mandatory minimum sentencing? No judge is going to give a low sentence to a serious crime committed with a gun, so this one does nothing.

On what are you basing this?

I don't believe that is an accurate assessment of the situation.

It also costs around $100 000 taxpayer dollars a year to keep each individual in a max security prison.

A smaller tax burden is not a good reason to be giving violent criminals light sentences.

Reverse-onus requirement for someone suspected of a gun crime to get bail? Similarly ineffective because it is a reactive rather than proactive measure. It's only effective based on the premise that all the gun crimes are committed by a very small group of repeat offenders. It may also be challenged and struck down under the Charter, as it skates perilously close to crossing a little line called 'presumption of innocence'.

Public safety should be the priority. As long as a suspect has the right to due process and a quick trial, I see no violation of the Charter.

The only measure on guns I've heard that I agree with is increased border security. Where are the parties promising gun and gang education programs? Where are the initiatives aimed at integrating young people, especially young immigrants, into the Canadian society and economy?

Have you tried looking for this information at the Conservative's web page?