[cerveza_fiesta]

Hi.


Election coming up this year sometime!

Liberals have Trudeau, Conservatives have (probably) Harper, NDP is fronting Tom Mulcair sans Layton power!

Big debate on the CBC when the election will be called. Early on before the economy goes too far in the shitter from oil prices, or later on when they have an idea where things are going to level out?

Are the cons going to prove to us all that their fixed eleciton act was only passed for temporary political convenience or are they committed to holding elections when they said they would?

Liberals are being tight-lipped about their platform until anything is announced in terms of an election date and are doing well in the polls. Trudeau is obviously a popular guy and CBC at least says nothing but good things about him
NDP is flagging in the polls big time and the media narrative about them is either negative or nonexistent
Cons get whipped at every opportunity by everyone in media (especially CBC), and despite this their deficit elimination plans seem to be working and they are recovering nicely in polls.

I don't know what to think just yet. My riding elects a conservative MP regardless of my vote but I still like talking about it all and vote my conscience regardless. Interested to hear what others think from within Canada and without.

[QuickTidal]

For me it's probably going to be Trudeau.

[Abyss]

Predicting a Cons minority with Harper stepping down within six months and Libs in opposition with Trudeau staying on a leader for the long haul. NDP back to semi distant third.

[D'rek]

Has any of the big 3's platforms really changed all that much in the last decade (other than shouting the word 'economy' more on all sides)? Not much drama to be had... I decided way back during all the firing-public-service-heads-who-try-to-do-their-jobs fiascos that I wouldn't be voting Conservative in the next Federal election, so I'll wait and see what the platforms are to decide, but even anticipating that I don't think it'll be a very riveting campaign.

Conservatives will probably want to wait until the cheques from their new family benefit thingamajig start arriving in mailboxes, and having a Federal election in summer seems to always be a no-no so I expect it'll come in the Fall around October.

[Andorion]

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

[QuickTidal]

D, on 21 January 2015 - 10:41 PM, said:

Has any of the big 3's platforms really changed all that much in the last decade (other than shouting the word 'economy' more on all sides)? Not much drama to be had... I decided way back during all the firing-public-service-heads-who-try-to-do-their-jobs fiascos that I wouldn't be voting Conservative in the next Federal election, so I'll wait and see what the platforms are to decide, but even anticipating that I don't think it'll be a very riveting campaign.

Conservatives will probably want to wait until the cheques from their new family benefit thingamajig start arriving in mailboxes, and having a Federal election in summer seems to always be a no-no so I expect it'll come in the Fall around October.

^^This. Agreed.

Nevermind the last decade, the platforms haven't really changed that much since the mid-90's, probably pre-Chretien.

Aww, remember Chretien? He was like a one-man news story.

[QuickTidal]

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

They give us heat guns to blast tunnel through the ice and the voting ballots are made of ice resistant polymers which we score with a curling iron-like device.

I assume this was a joke about cold Canadian weather. If it's not, please ignore.

[cerveza_fiesta]

D, on 21 January 2015 - 10:41 PM, said:

Has any of the big 3's platforms really changed all that much in the last decade (other than shouting the word 'economy' more on all sides)? Not much drama to be had... I decided way back during all the firing-public-service-heads-who-try-to-do-their-jobs fiascos that I wouldn't be voting Conservative in the next Federal election, so I'll wait and see what the platforms are to decide, but even anticipating that I don't think it'll be a very riveting campaign.

Conservatives will probably want to wait until the cheques from their new family benefit thingamajig start arriving in mailboxes, and having a Federal election in summer seems to always be a no-no so I expect it'll come in the Fall around October.

That's my big beef going into the next election. Maybe it's just media overblowing things as usual, but outwardly the cons *do* seem to be abolishing any and all mechanisms that could feed empirical evidence into policy making. Muzzling of government climate scientists, removal of long-form census, etc...

Much as I agree with a lot of their policies, I just can't get behind an party that's so willing to ignore any and all expert advice. In the long run that type of attitude does a lot of harm.

Their "tough on crime" agenda is a prime example. You have prison guards, judicial system experts, judges, cops, and everyone else involved with the legal system country-wide screaming at them that mandatory sentencing and increased jailtime are stupid policies if you want to reduce crime on the whole. Crime prevention, youth outreach and spending in education works a hell of a lot better, but it doesn't help within their mandate....therefore fuck it. Longer jailtimes sounds good to our base so let's go with that.

Really, I'd vote for anybody who came out with an evidence-based platform. I haven't heard much along those lines from the other two parties though.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 02:51 PM, said:

D, on 21 January 2015 - 10:41 PM, said:

Has any of the big 3's platforms really changed all that much in the last decade (other than shouting the word 'economy' more on all sides)? Not much drama to be had... I decided way back during all the firing-public-service-heads-who-try-to-do-their-jobs fiascos that I wouldn't be voting Conservative in the next Federal election, so I'll wait and see what the platforms are to decide, but even anticipating that I don't think it'll be a very riveting campaign.

Conservatives will probably want to wait until the cheques from their new family benefit thingamajig start arriving in mailboxes, and having a Federal election in summer seems to always be a no-no so I expect it'll come in the Fall around October.

^^This. Agreed.

Nevermind the last decade, the platforms haven't really changed that much since the mid-90's, probably pre-Chretien.

Aww, remember Chretien? He was like a one-man news story.

I miss Chretien... he was the last Canadian rockstar PM.

The platforms are variations of the same. I'd argue leader charisma has been a massive factor in the last three fed elections more than anything else.

I suspect we're looking at Oct, but if the cons manage anything positive sooner, and/or get a clear sense that the oil-related economic mess is going to get worse, it could be as soon as June.

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

We have poller bears.

[cerveza_fiesta]

Abyss, on 22 January 2015 - 03:07 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 02:51 PM, said:

D, on 21 January 2015 - 10:41 PM, said:

Has any of the big 3's platforms really changed all that much in the last decade (other than shouting the word 'economy' more on all sides)? Not much drama to be had... I decided way back during all the firing-public-service-heads-who-try-to-do-their-jobs fiascos that I wouldn't be voting Conservative in the next Federal election, so I'll wait and see what the platforms are to decide, but even anticipating that I don't think it'll be a very riveting campaign.

Conservatives will probably want to wait until the cheques from their new family benefit thingamajig start arriving in mailboxes, and having a Federal election in summer seems to always be a no-no so I expect it'll come in the Fall around October.

^^This. Agreed.

Nevermind the last decade, the platforms haven't really changed that much since the mid-90's, probably pre-Chretien.

Aww, remember Chretien? He was like a one-man news story.

I miss Chretien... he was the last Canadian rockstar PM.

The platforms are variations of the same. I'd argue leader charisma has been a massive factor in the last three fed elections more than anything else.

I suspect we're looking at Oct, but if the cons manage anything positive sooner, and/or get a clear sense that the oil-related economic mess is going to get worse, it could be as soon as June.

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

We have poller bears.

Canadian joke combo'd with a dad joke! Double whammie!


My main prediction for this election is that the CBC news comments section is going to reach out-of-control levels of absurdity. It's a pretty safe bet.

[Abyss]

cerveza_fiesta, on 22 January 2015 - 03:20 PM, said:

...
My main prediction for this election is that the CBC news comments section is going to reach out-of-control levels of absurdity. It's a pretty safe bet.

I find the Globe n Mail comments more entertaining.
On CBC the Left outweighs the Right, whereas on the Globe you have both extremes plus the middle pummelling each other with all kinds of crazy thrown in for shits and giggles value.


I actually think this election will come down to whether enough people dislike Harper enough to vote for young/unproven/inexperienced Trudeau.

Mulcair is unlikely to generate enough of a surge to alter things but if he attacks Trudeau hard enough he may draw away a small percentage of voters who might have gone Lib, which will probably be enough for the Cons to squeak in a minority.

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 02:53 PM, said:

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

They give us heat guns to blast tunnel through the ice and the voting ballots are made of ice resistant polymers which we score with a curling iron-like device.

I assume this was a joke about cold Canadian weather. If it's not, please ignore.

Yup. Mainly because of my friend in Montreal who keeps on talking about what I am sure are mythical -23 C temperatures.

Anyway reading this thread I realised I know absolutely nothingabout Canadian politics. I know something about US and UK, but apparently I totally blank on Canada. So whats a good Canada news site to keep abreast of stuff like this?

[QuickTidal]

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 05:09 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 02:53 PM, said:

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

They give us heat guns to blast tunnel through the ice and the voting ballots are made of ice resistant polymers which we score with a curling iron-like device.

I assume this was a joke about cold Canadian weather. If it's not, please ignore.

Yup. Mainly because of my friend in Montreal who keeps on talking about what I am sure are mythical -23 C temperatures.

Anyway reading this thread I realised I know absolutely nothingabout Canadian politics. I know something about US and UK, but apparently I totally blank on Canada. So whats a good Canada news site to keep abreast of stuff like this?

Our politics is similar to the UK (since we are still associated with them) in how it works. As for political news sites...CBC, Globe and Mail, and The National would keep you covered on all fronts I'd think.

Your friend in Montreal is right...we are experiencing a particularly harsh winter (which confuddles our weatherpeople something fierce...seriously, they can't predict the weather from day to day AT ALL). We are having -10+ C every day and with the wind chill it usually feels double that...and every week the Weatherpeople always say "It's going to warm up next week"...only to have Mother Nature give them the finger and it's still effing cold! We've had these temps for the last 3 or 4 weeks straight. I think we've had one or two days of rain/reprieve warmer temps (only -3 C! Yay!)...but otherwise it's been cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 22 January 2015 - 05:18 PM

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 05:17 PM, said:

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 05:09 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 02:53 PM, said:

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

They give us heat guns to blast tunnel through the ice and the voting ballots are made of ice resistant polymers which we score with a curling iron-like device.

I assume this was a joke about cold Canadian weather. If it's not, please ignore.

Yup. Mainly because of my friend in Montreal who keeps on talking about what I am sure are mythical -23 C temperatures.

Anyway reading this thread I realised I know absolutely nothingabout Canadian politics. I know something about US and UK, but apparently I totally blank on Canada. So whats a good Canada news site to keep abreast of stuff like this?

Our politics is similar to the UK (since we are still associated with them) in how it works. As for political news sites...CBC, Globe and Mail, and The National would keep you covered on all fronts I'd think.

Your friend in Montreal is right...we are experiencing a particularly harsh winter (which confuddles our weatherpeople something fierce...seriously, they can't predict the weather from day to day AT ALL). We are having -10+ C every day and with the wind chill it usually feels double that...and every week the Weatherpeople always say "It's going to warm up next week"...only to have Mother Nature give them the finger and it's still effing cold! We've had these temps for the last 3 or 4 weeks straight. I think we've had one or two days of rain/reprieve warmer temps (only -3 C! Yay!)...but otherwise it's been cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!

Ummm... its just that for somebody who has only lived in the tropics weather like that is kind of difficult to get my head around. I mean right now, what passes for winter here is giving us around 11-13 C minimum, and everybody is muttering gravely about the biting cold and zipping up jackets and pulling donw caps. I mean the coldest I have ever seen was on a vacation to the the Himalayas in a snowed-in mountain pass and that was probaly -3 C or so. SO i am reading your post, reading the temeperatures, but .....brrrrrrr

[Abyss]

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 05:41 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 05:17 PM, said:

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 05:09 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 January 2015 - 02:53 PM, said:

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 01:08 AM, said:

Do Canadian elections ever take place after November? I would have thought it would be impossible to vote.

They give us heat guns to blast tunnel through the ice and the voting ballots are made of ice resistant polymers which we score with a curling iron-like device.

I assume this was a joke about cold Canadian weather. If it's not, please ignore.

Yup. Mainly because of my friend in Montreal who keeps on talking about what I am sure are mythical -23 C temperatures.

Anyway reading this thread I realised I know absolutely nothingabout Canadian politics. I know something about US and UK, but apparently I totally blank on Canada. So whats a good Canada news site to keep abreast of stuff like this?

Our politics is similar to the UK (since we are still associated with them) in how it works. As for political news sites...CBC, Globe and Mail, and The National would keep you covered on all fronts I'd think.

Your friend in Montreal is right...we are experiencing a particularly harsh winter (which confuddles our weatherpeople something fierce...seriously, they can't predict the weather from day to day AT ALL). We are having -10+ C every day and with the wind chill it usually feels double that...and every week the Weatherpeople always say "It's going to warm up next week"...only to have Mother Nature give them the finger and it's still effing cold! We've had these temps for the last 3 or 4 weeks straight. I think we've had one or two days of rain/reprieve warmer temps (only -3 C! Yay!)...but otherwise it's been cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!

Ummm... its just that for somebody who has only lived in the tropics weather like that is kind of difficult to get my head around. I mean right now, what passes for winter here is giving us around 11-13 C minimum, and everybody is muttering gravely about the biting cold and zipping up jackets and pulling donw caps. I mean the coldest I have ever seen was on a vacation to the the Himalayas in a snowed-in mountain pass and that was probaly -3 C or so. SO i am reading your post, reading the temeperatures, but .....brrrrrrr

Actually your friend in Mtl is understating it.


Throw in the windchill (don't ask me to explain, just accept that it's awful) and the temp in Ottawa and Montreal the last two weeks has routinely hit -30.

Yes, that's right... we're down around the point where C and F cease to have any distinction.

[D'rek]

You know this is a proper Canada thread when it took only 10ish posts before we started talking about cold winters, even though the original topic had nothing to do with the weather


True story: I once almost got a chance to go to Alert (northern-most permanent settlement, mostly a military/research base), but the flight+opportunity was cancelled due to weather and resupply issues I was really disappointed we didn't get to go, it would've been so cool - imagine getting to experience what -65°C feels like!


For some perspective, here's where that is on a world map:

Spoiler

 worldalert.jpg (224.51K)
Number of downloads: 1

[Vengeance]

D, on 22 January 2015 - 06:17 PM, said:

You know this is a proper Canada thread when it took only 10ish posts before we started talking about cold winters, even though the original topic had nothing to do with the weather


True story: I once almost got a chance to go to Alert (northern-most permanent settlement, mostly a military/research base), but the flight+opportunity was cancelled due to weather and resupply issues I was really disappointed we didn't get to go, it would've been so cool - imagine getting to experience what -65°C feels like!


For some perspective, here's where that is on a world map:

Spoiler

worldalert.jpg

That is part of Canada? It looks like Denmark to me.

[Andorion]

D, on 22 January 2015 - 06:17 PM, said:

You know this is a proper Canada thread when it took only 10ish posts before we started talking about cold winters, even though the original topic had nothing to do with the weather


True story: I once almost got a chance to go to Alert (northern-most permanent settlement, mostly a military/research base), but the flight+opportunity was cancelled due to weather and resupply issues I was really disappointed we didn't get to go, it would've been so cool - imagine getting to experience what -65°C feels like!


For some perspective, here's where that is on a world map:

Spoiler

worldalert.jpg

Wow thats north of Greenland! I didn't even know ther was land north of there!

[D'rek]

Vengeance, on 22 January 2015 - 06:31 PM, said:

That is part of Canada? It looks like Denmark to me.

I linked the wikipedia page in the base name - it has a closer map that shows the exact spot and you can see the gap between Ellesmere Island and Greenland more easily.

Andorion, on 22 January 2015 - 06:34 PM, said:

Wow thats north of Greenland! I didn't even know there was land north of there!

Well, "north" is a pretty weird term at that point. The curvature of the map projections can distort it a lot of different ways. If you drew a 'straight' line (the arc of a great circle?) along the surface of the Earth from the south pole to the (terrestrial) north pole I don't think it could cross through both Alert and any part of Greenland. And Alert is actually between the magnetic and terrestrial north poles.

But yeah, basically!

[QuickTidal]

Way northern Canada is a place I've always wanted to visit/see. My brother in law is in the military and is super outdoorsy and we've been slowly planning to get up north Canadian Shield territory and try to see if we could make it to the place where Franklin lost the Erebus and the Terror. It just seems like a part of Canada that should be seen!

Alert sounds awesome too D'rek! I'd have been pumped to get up there.