Okay is anyone else getting annoyed with Harper and his constant references to how we should be more like the US? I mean politics, taxes, foreign policy and such..... hmmm could it be that he had politcal ties (and perhaps financial ties as well) to a organization that advocated that we at the very least adopt the US currency if not join with the US? No... that's just the paranoid cynic in me :rolleyes:

Oh well... hopefully he'll slip his handlers at the debate and go off on a rant praising G.W. Bush again.. that'll make the PCs slip in the polls.

I've herd that the conservative party wanted to buy an aircraft carrier. Why do you guys need an aircraft carrier?

Maybe we're getting a little too "open" and "liberal"? I swear that if Canada leans any more left, I'm going to pack off and move...ok, maybe not...but we do need to streamline our views a bit. Too many left winged people are having a say and people who are more traditional are seen as prejudiced. Isn't that sad?

That's one of the defense spending options expressed by the Conservatives.... as well as tanks, fighters, etc. Unfortunately that would not be in keeping with the strategic capabilities or policies of Canada.

I am! Whenever I hear a Canadian say this, I want to shake some sense into him/her. Sometimes I wonder if you guys really appreciate what a wonderful country you have.

You seriously don't think we're too liberal around here?

Steven Harper is the reason the Conservative party has lost my vote this election. They are far too right wing for my liking now. A lot of Harper's platform just doesn't fit with what I feel are Canada's values.

Also I won't vote for NDP - just from personal experience of having to live under a provincial NDP government.

I love the idea of the Green party, but they need to show me how health care, education, etc. all fit into their platform. I hope they get at least one MP elected so they can show us that while the environment is important, they can also deal with Canada's other needs.

Which leaves me with the Liberals. I like the fact for the past 8 or 9 years we have had a surplus and some of that money goes towards the national debt. Imagine what we could do with debt. I would like to see some sort of health care reform - not a two tierd system, just a better organized one.

I for one, however, cannot wait till this election is over. All I've seen so far is mudslining and it's starting to tick me off royaly. Only 2 weeks to go.

The Conservative party doesn't fit multigenerational Canadian values, but if you look at their platform very closely, many of their views actually reflect many newer Canadians, who are a little more on the traditional side of things. I'm now beginning to see why some immigrant parents don't want their kids to become "Canadianized" so quickly.

I've been thinking about this. You know how Harper wants to debate the gay marriage issue in Parliament rather than let the Supreme Court decide? I'm wondering if Martin wants the courts to deal with it (rather than introducing a bill in Parliament) because he's personally against it, being Catholic and all.

ETA: As for the new Tories being socially conservative, yet fiscally non-conservative, I guess if you look at it that way, then yes, they would appeal to newer Canadians. Harper already said that he wants to make it easier for immigrants with good credentials to get jobs that they were trained for in their old country. That is good news for people like my uncle, who went to medical school in Hong Kong. Sure, it's too late for him, but if it all works out, then other new comers won't have to go through some form of training all over again (my uncle didn't have to go through med school again, but training is still training)

Did Martin ever say he's against it? (not an attack... curious) A lot of Catholics are for same-sex marriage - you don't have to agree with everything the Pope says.. that may make them less of a perfect Catholic... but that to each to decide.

I don't think I like the idea of holding a open vote on it. If the law is wrong... it's wrong. It's like holding an open vote on whether or not abortion/birth control should be allowed in the early 1980s. A lot of Canadians were against it... but when push comes to shove it isn't their business... But, let's not get into that topic here (feel free to make a new topic)... just a comparison.

If anything, it would need to be a referendum of all of Canada.... what a headache that would be!

Actually, on that one topic, I do agree - we give preference to skilled workers who wish to migrate to Canada but then take away their ability to work with that trade? Seems ridiculous to me too - it's one of the Conservative views I'm all for. But their economic-unconservativeness doesn't really stem from there as much as their increasing spending; decreasing taxes and not really saying where they'll cut from to make that work!

Martin never said that he was for it, nor did he say that he was against it. He didn't say anything because either answer would make his party lose popularity and votes, whether there was a sponsorship scandal or not. That is PRECISELY the reason why things were looped to the Charter rather than an introduction of a bill. We are indeed socially too liberal, which is why there is such a division between newer Canadians and those of us who have been here for two or more generations. The whole "multiculturalism" issue has caused greater issues and gaps between generations than ever before. Today, it is almost sinful to be Christian while minority religions are celebrated. Catholics are lucky though because they have a separate school system. I feel sorry for non-Catholic Christians in public schools who are almost forced to hide their faith.

Absolutely NOT. Despite the current political realities in my home country, there are quite a few of us who aren't monster raving loony right wingers. I'm not as leftie as some of my American friends -- heck, sometimes I my views feel almost conservative compared to most of the Canadians I know, but I have to tell you -- living here feels like PARADISE compared to where I came from.

Is there really such a division - many newer Canadians I know are social liberal... (perhaps a birds of a feather flock together effect) - especially those from Europe or South America...

I disagree with your last statement about being Christian in society ... where I have been Christianity flourishs. As for the Catholic school thing... I'll start a new topic on that.

From what I understand -- and forgive me for making sweeping generalizations -- but many new immigrants from South and Southeast Asia are socially and fiscally conservative. MisterMadly says that accounts for the large number of Asians/Indians in the Liberal and Conservative parties in BC.

They called my house too - but when then said the riding I was sure they said Delta-Ladner, so I asked the guy, which riding are you calling about and he confirmed what I thought he said - so I told him that I live in the South Vancouver riding - he was a bit embarrassed and confused - but I would of told him that I wasn't voting conservative anyways, not until they bring Joe Clark back. :p.