One, it's the fair and democratic way to do things.

Two, the Green Party do have candidates in all ridings. How come they aren't allowed to speak?

The BQ will never be the ruling party in this country for the simple fact they ONLY have candidates in Quebec. There just isn't enough of them

They could have another debate the next featuring the party leaders from the other parties.
It would also bring Martin, and any other politician who thinks this way down a peg or 2. He had the nerve to be so arrogant and say that this election is only between 2 parties. While I think he's right, his arrogance is disgusting.

I think you're going to have to have at least three debates to fit in the 20 or so parties and their views (unless the more "minor" parties have their chance, but only have it air on CPAC).

I think airing it on CPAC is a good idea.
Now I know there are a ton of parties and having them all speak in the same debate wouldn't work.
Also, I doubt all parties would want to speak. They would probably think it was a waste of their time knowing full well they wouldn't get the audience the 4 major parties would.

I'm just saying, give them the opportunity to speak. I'm pretty sure the Green Party would love to be able to speak to the nation in a debate, and I think they should. Like I said before, they do have candidates in all ridings, and I think they are gaining more and more support. I'm pretty sure we'll see a Green party member in the HoP soon.

Green seems to be gaining support mostly by idealistic young people under 35. not that there's anything wrong with being an idealistic young person.

I think you're probably right that the majority of their supporters are young. But I think you'd be surprised how many older people are now supporting their party because they are sick and tired of the Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP.

You beat to the punch on this one :) - it seems ridiculous that the Bloq can take part in the National debate, eventhough they only have candidates in Quebec. It's unfair that the Greens weren't allowed to participate, considering they have a candidate in every riding throughout the country.

I was thinking about it this morning, how it is imperically impossible for the Bloq to be the ruling party in Canada, since they only have ridings in Quebec, and therefore aren't exposed to enough of the population to get elected.

I also would like to know how the Bloq ever became, at one time, the official opposition?

Purely the number of seats

I guess the next question is how did the Tories, lose so many seats when they run in the entire country and the Bloq only run in Quebec?

I guess too many people decided not to vote PC and too many people in Quebec voted BQ. Weird things happen!!!!!

Four words: Brian Mulroney | Kim Campbell

The Liberal had a HUGE majority... the PC had very very very few seats. The Reform party was only in the West, and didn't get all the seats there while the PQ swept Quebec. Hence, PQ was official opposition.

I guess they do.

Side question:

Can you still call the new Conservatives the Tories?

Yep. Don't forget that the Progressive Conservative Party was a result of the merging of the Progressive Party and the Conservatives back in the early part of the 20th century. The Conservatives were known as the Tories before that "marriage".

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...lDecision2004/

Talks about how the media is covering the election. Surprise surprise, it shows the National Post treating the Conservatives far more favourably than the rest...

I question the methodology in the article though.... what is a good reference? a bad reference? they are vague terms.

What a biased media... Nooo! :rolleyes:

Really I'm shocked about the Post... I was wondering if they were going to side with the PC's or attack them for being to liberal.

I miss the good old days when each paper was bias to a different party - like Globe = PC, Star = Liberal, Sun = NDP... but those days are long past. Oh well only 10 days to go....

Did anyone watch CBC Toronto last night.

They had several candidates fom various ridings debating.
I was surprised to see the CBC included a Green Candidate in the debate.
They had the NDP candidate from my riding on, Peggy Nash. I actual went to school with her son.
Anyway, what did you think, if you watched. I thought it was informative, but there were far to many attacks by the NDP on The Green, especially by Ms. Nash

Yeah, The Sun's gone further and further right! These days, the only "liberal" paper is The Star.

Hey, has anyone gone to an All Candidate's Meeting?

The Bloc can become the offical opposition very easily b/c Quebec and Ontario decide the election because they have the most seats..now what does that say about our democracy when one provinces party can take offical opposition? Just a question..and thats one reason why the reform was created.. amoung others..western alienation etc. ANYWAYS...

Also-news-did anyone see the story about the killer wale in Vancover and the natives. The department of fisheries wants to take the whale out to sea to greet its pod and the natives believe that the whale is a recarnation of their cheif who just passed away. Big arguement.

Oh and i just wanted to say how much i love this thread..federal electiosn are a CND poli sci's majors dream!! LOL :)

I saw the story about the whale. Her name (his name?) is Luna.

My riding is having another all candidates meeting on the 21st. I am definitly going to that.

Though the Globe and Mail is pretty liberal too. I loooove my Globe and Mail.

Yeah I saw footage of the whale... I don't know it looks pretty happy to just hang out with the natives... almost like a puppy.

The elections are extremely interesting in that the tend to bring out people's opinions in no other way, espically if they are attached/involved with government... as it stands I have been working for the past month on a defense paper proposal (for CISS) based on the platforms of each party, as well as a compromise scenario... its very difficult to balance foreign policy and relations, economic issues, defense requirements and requests, and international obligations into a credible policy... or simply it's hard to convince the politicans to think in a decade long upgrade cycle, they only want to think of the now.

During the national debate the other day, both Martin and Harper said things I agree with.
Martin was saying, how Canadians were the peace keeper, etc, etc and we didn't need to be building a giant arsenal or weapons.
But Harper also said that our military cannot function with out of date equipment.

I agree with both of them. We need to update our military, yet remain the peacekeepers.

The PCs, Liberals, and NDP all include military upgrades as party of their respective platforms... but what exaclty those upgrades are what differs, and how these upgrades fit into the current and future tactical and strategic role of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Ah... gotta love the Conservatives... just when you thought it was safe for intelligent debate on policies they is issue the press release: "Paul Martin supports child pornography?"....

Way to go guys! Not only did you manage to turn Holly's case into a political issue despite the family's continued pleas and wishes, you also managed to quite possibly find yourself in a liable suit... in addition to sounding and looking like idiots.

Oooooh the campaign is getting a little more heated in the home stretch with inter-party sniping getting a little dirtier.

It's actually kind of fun to see what some of the party leaders are willing to do or say to get themselves elected... and now more people are weighing in... even pundits from south of the border.

We now have Moore advising against G.W.2 (Harper), while the US ambassador weighing in on Harper's behalf in a foreign policy review....

WOW! I missed all this. Where did you hear about it?

A local Letter to the Editor suggested that we read the following articles written by Stephan Harper:

http://www.ccicinc.org/nation/071803.html
http://www.ccicinc.org/politicalaffairs/060103.html

Okay the Michael Moore opinions and quotes were all made at the red-carpet screening of his new movie at the Varsity Theatre...

The diatribe by the American ambassador was quoted in my CISS magazine (sorry but I'd have to scan it.. and that does break copyrights)... and it is taken from a speach to the Empire Club made roughly two weeks ago; so who knows you might be able to catch it on that Rogers public access channel.

Does the Toronto Reference Library carry the CISS magazine?

I don't know... they might... the mailing numbers aren't all that big. Hold on I'll check the active membership numbers....

I'm going to say maybe because there are less than 100 mailed out... I know the UofT reference library doesn't carry it, but York's did (at least 6 years ago).

It wasn't all that much comment wise (1 paragraph) about Harper... basically the Ambassador commented that the Canada would be better served by Harper, and Washington would be more "supportive" of a conservative government led by Harper... basically the same shpeel that he said in after Canada said no to Iraq. Thing is he was preaching to the converted (Empire Club) in terms of a conservative government and closer political and economic ties to the US... sigh I miss the days when the Empire Club was full of hardcore Monarchists and Anglophiles.....:D

PS> Hey the Green rep is one my old friend's youngest brother... man that guy was baked when he came on his door to door....

Who is the Governor General?

Adrienne Clarkson. The Governor-General is Canada's representative of the Monarch in Britain. He/she is appointed by the Prime Minister every five years.

http://www.gg.ca/menu_e.asp

YEAH!!! That's what I like to hear! :D

Also, thanks for the info.

Thank you for the info. :)

You're welcome :)

Did any vote at the advance polls?

No, I did not vote at the advance polls. I will be going on Monday. Anyway, I heard that the GG has a right to keep Martin and the Liberals in power even if the Conservatives are technically heading a minority government, as long as the Liberals can form a coalition with another party. It has to do with stability. What does everyone think about that?

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1087899946667

or

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...lDecision2004/

However, Martin has said that the party winning the post seats should form the government.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...l=968793972154

Interesting. But I wonder if Martin would get enough support from the Bloq or NDP?

GC Canadian Elections Poll - who is going to win tomorrow? who do you want to win tomorrow?

It's going to be by the skin of their teeth, but I believe the Liberals will win, and that's the party I want to win. It will be nice to have a minority government though, first one since 1979!

Why would it be nice to have a minority government? They're not known to last very long! According to a recent poll, it looks like the Bloc would be the balance of power. That can't be good.