Harper Quits --October 14 Election

Today, Stephen Harper announced he is quitting as Prime Minister.
The Conservative minority has been dissolved by the Governor General.
While that is definitely a good thing, the concept of a Conservative majority scares the heck outta me.
In a snap election like this, a lot of voters get caught off guard.

Here's an article: LINK

Mr Harper called the October 14 vote after nearly 2 1/2 years of struggling to govern with a minority government.

The Conservative leader, who is aiming to get closer to an absolute majority in the 308-seat legislature, said the election would show voters the contrast between right and left economic and environmental policies.

"We have come to a moment that requires the people of Canada to choose a way forward," Mr Harper said.

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion meanwhile said the election was pivotal because "there has never been a federal election that has more clearly provided to Canadians such a stark choice between two visions for our country".

Mr Dion called Mr Harper's Government "the most conservative in our history" and pledged to reduce poverty in Canada by one-third and among children by half.

Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan is expected to figure prominently during the campaigning. Ottawa announced the combat death yesterday of another Canadian soldier, the fourth in the past week. This was the 97th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since 2003.

There are about 2500 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Their mission was extended to 2011 by the Conservatives with qualified support from the Liberals, but recent opinion polls suggest a slight majority of Canadians oppose Canada's role in the mission.

Mr Harper said the Conservatives would run on a record that included lowering taxes, changing rules to prevent funding of political campaigns by large corporations and unions, lengthening mandatory criminal sentences and allocating money for family childcare.

The sagging economy was also expected to be a campaign theme, despite a historically low unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent, amid fears of a recession.

Before dissolution, the Conservatives held 127 seats, the Liberals 95, the Bloc Quebecois 48, and the New Democratic Party 30. Four seats were vacant and independents held another four, including the seat of one member of parliament who announced this week he would join the relatively new Green Party.

Recent surveys showed a strengthening of support for the Conservatives, and some pundits suggest the party could win a majority. But Mr Harper downplayed that possibility yesterday, telling reporters "in all likelihood it will be a minority".

He launched his campaign in the Francophone province of Quebec, where for the first time polls put the Conservatives neck and neck with the separatist Bloc Quebecois.

Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe compared Mr Harper and the Conservatives to the administration of US President George W. Bush.

"Let us never forget, never, that Stephen Harper wanted to take Canada into the Iraq war in 2003," said Mr Duceppe.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May demanded better environmental stewardship. "Our species stands on a precipice," she said. "It's a moment of great peril ... and right now many Canadians are tuned out.

"There is no other planet which we can move to."

I never claimed to be impartial. Jack Layton and the NDPs FTW!
Here's a video LINK to Jack's speech.

[MusicIsLife]

iawtc! NDP all the way!

[Jim1454]

I'm not sure I'm ready for Jack to be PM.

Not sure I'm ready to have Dion PM either.

And I'd rather be rid of Harper.

I guess I'll have to make up my mind by the 14th...

[Kenko]

@Jim: Elizabeth May FTW!!!

[Jim1454]

Originally Posted by Kenko

@Jim: Elizabeth May FTW!!!

Yes, well, um... probably not.

I'm sure she's a lovely person though.

Gotten any closer to that decision Jim?

Just came back from an open forum at my local university. They held a debate there for parties (with seated members of parliament) running in the major university districts. Thus some grassroots parties were omitted from the debate such as the NL "First" Party. Largely unpopular but eh, what can you do?
Both St. John's South Mount Peal and St. John's East candidates were present.

While i was largely undecided who was the best candidate for my riding, I am now for the most part decided that New Democrat, Ryan Clearly is best suited.
Green candidate Ted Warren just did not sway me toward the party at all. He seemed indecisive and all over the place. While i adore Elizabeth May i don't believe in her team here in NL.

[Derek the Wolf]

I am SO confused...

How so?

[Derek the Wolf]

Originally Posted by Proud1p4

How so?

Here in America, we choose to avoid learning about other cultures and governments. It's our generally closed minded way of looking at the world. Unless we're conquering you, we're not much interested in you.
And I'm only half kidding. >sigh< I wish I was born in Ireland.

It's all over folks.
Conservative minority, ten short. A few ridings are undecided still but nothing of interest.
Sigh. I knew the seats wouldn't change much at all.
Although i had that fools hope that they might lose seats instead of gaining.

As i'm watching now it's as follows (out of a 308 seat Parliament):
145 - 75 - 48 - 38 - 2
That Tory (Conservatives), Liberals, Bloc, New Democrats and Independents respectively.

It's a shame, Harper has won quite a few seats. Makes me sad. But the slight gain in seats for the New Democrats makes me hopeful.
Dion has caused the Liberal party quite the downfall. I don't say he'll make it far before there's a leadership convention. He's the kind of guy you'd trust to be the designated driver, not with a country.

Poor Greens got a beating.
Lost their only "seat" and then 'Libby May lost in her own riding. McKay was a tough guy to run against though. She seemed so discouraged . I wished she'd of taken at least the two she deserves. She's earned at least that.

Anywho enough of my ramblings. Lets hope for some form of coalition government.
Can't deny a man of his hope.

[BlakeHarmony]

I am so glad the conservatives did not get a majority government (though this probably means another election fairly soon (maybe I can vote next time!), unless Harper actually follows his own rules), I was really worried last night for a bit though...
The systeme frustrates me a bit because the greens got 6.8% of the total vote but they do not have any seats, where as independents got 1.2% and 2 seats. Mind you the bloc, the liberals and the tories pretty much have proportional seats to percentage representation...
It's unfortunate that dion presented his green shift thing the way he did, the ideals and concept are really good and would be SO beneficial, but the way he presented it I think turned many people off... Gah, I don't really like the liberals, but I sure hate the tories.