It's been a perfect campaign for the Conservatives - boring and tedious. They haven't promised anything, haven't even said what their plans are if elected. Oh they make vague comments like, we're the best party for the economy, or Canada has become more conservative in the last while and the newspapers report them as gospel. Nobody is calling on them to explain how they plan on being the best party for the economy or even asking why anybody should vote for them, and the most recent polls still show them flirting with a majority government.
The good news, for those in opposition, is that the polls are by no means anywhere as near as conclusive as they were earlier in the campaign. Where it once looked like they were a pretty sure bet to form a majority, the other parties are making enough inroads into Conservative support that the chances of that happening are decreasing. Tonight the leaders of the four national parties, Conservative, Liberal, New Democratic Party, and The Green Party, will face off in a debate over the issues that will go a long way in deciding whether or not Steven Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada form a majority or have to make do with another minority government.
If the other four leaders are able to make the country realize that Steven Harper isn't actually saying anything and wake everybody up enough to notice that he could be on the verge of winning a majority government, there's a good chance it will be enough to prevent it from happening. On the other hand if nobody is able to do anything to wake people up, to make them pay attention to what's going on, to care enough to vote, Steven Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada could very well have a majority government by October 15th.
It would be supremely ironic if on the eve of an historic breakthrough for liberalism in the United States, the election of a black president, Canada, historically the far more liberal country, elects its most conservative government ever.
Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
So I guess I should emigrate to Calgary in a few months? (Kidding. Kinda.)
2 - Silas Kain
I wonder if having Canadian grandparents would qualify me for citizenship? I'm so done with this political season. I honestly hope that we find a way to shorten our Presidential election cycle down to 6 - 8 weeks. This race has been too drawn out, too cumbersome, and too lacking any substance. It's the same bull year in and year out and nothing gets accomplished.
3 - Silas Kain
Back to the Canadians. Sorry I digressed. So if the Far Right takes control of Canadian government should we worry about nuclear weapons down here?
4 - Joanne Huspek
Since I live so close to the border, I actually prefer Canadian news over the US variety, so I am aware of your election. My friends over there (for the most part) are like me, independent and tired of the nonsense.
It's nice to see that other countries are having contentious political races, and it's not just us.
I'm hoping my friend in Calgary will adopt me. Sounds like there is a strong economy there.
5 - RJ Elliott
So I understand the Conservatives gained some seats, but are still a Minority Government, correct?
I looked up the election results and studied them briefly. I also did some quick research on the parties up there. It seems there are five main parties in Canuckistan. They are:
The Conservative Party - In the USA, we would call them moderate Republicans.
The Liberals - Pretty much liberal Democrats, if they were in the USA.
The NDP - Far-left characters who win a lot of seats...think Ralph Nader.
The Greens (aka Watermelons - "Green" on the outside but "Red" at heart) - Get a lot of votes, but aren't very successful at actually winning seats.
The Bloc Québécois - French-speaking separatists who are also socialists.
The Conservatives didn't get close to 50% of the total national vote, so although they "won" this election, the Canadian electorate still leans rather heavily to the left.
Would you consider than a reasonable analysis, Richard?