well, some kids on campuses will join youth wings of political parties without the intention of helping a candidate because they cannot vote for that candidate (since their official address is not the school's).

For your reference...

the NDP are socialist...well not in the true sense of the word but they are our most left wing party.

Also (and keep in mind this is basic):

Stephen Harper (Conservative Party): conservative

Paul Martin (Liberal Party): liberal

Jack Layton (NDP - New Democratic Party): socialist

Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Qubecois): seperatist

That's true, but I would venture to guess that if we polled the population, the majority of people are not official members of a political party.

Interesting... I always pictured you as a staunch conservative - who knew that unionist/socialist/enivromentalist bent was hiding in the shadows ;)

As for National Defense I'd say Jack is only slightly stronger than the Seperatists. But he is all about increasing the wage and quality of life for soldiers and their families...

Nooooooooooooooooo! Don't let this get out, Rob; it'll ruin me! ;)

Re: Ever wonder how you'd vote in Canada?
 

no

I'll let it slide ;) After all you are used to a 2-party system that isn't quite so complicated or fluid in election issues...

Damn... some of the election stuff is actually getting interesting now.

- Gille Duceppe is completely candid on the CBC about the platform of the Bloc (looking out for Quebec, if that means seperation it means seperation, but he'd rather Quebec had semi-autonomy like Scotland)

- and now Paul Martin promising a sweeping ban on handguns; no longer restricted or prohibited - but banned for all civilians... it's an interesting strategy... and I'm sure the good'ol boys from the NRA will be making another foray north of the border again. It makes the Liberals look stronger on gun control and crime, but will alienate those pushing for easing gun restrictions (ie. many of the former Alliance party). But if Harper tries to cash in on the alienation it'll be playing into the hands of the other three parties...

There's been 5 shootings in the last week alone in Vancouver, and I know TO has had its fair share of shootings this year - in a nutshell, I'm all for banning guns.

But banning guns will just put more in the black market. I don't think it'll lower the gun rate all that much.

I think that "fair share" might be a bit of an understatement. It's getting pretty bad here right now. Last I heard the murder rate for thise was around 70 and most of them have been shooting deaths (some where around 50).

I'm all for a complete ban (though I will NEVER vote Liberal anyway). If there is not a complete ban, then something definitly needs to be done about the gun registry system.

I'm all for it as well - absolutely no reason why civilians need handguns.

I would however like to see what the proposed stiffer penalties for illegal ownership or gun violence are - along of course with the RCMP's plan to crack down on smuggling of handguns from the US.