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Explaining the Canadian Election to Americans.
Election Results:
Conservatives - 124 seats
Liberals - 103 seats
NDP - 029 seats
Bloc - 051 seats
Every motion in parliment is carried by a vote. That means the Conservatives have 124 votes out of a possible 307
Any 50% plus 1% will pass any motion in Canadian goverment.
However,
The Liberals and NDP are long time alies. And often there is NOT a lot of difference on their political policies.
However, the NDP and the Conservatives are old enemies.
This means that Stephen Harper will NOT be able to count on them to help out or side with them.
Therefore this leaves the Conservatives seeking help from the Bloc.
But the Bloc is a Quebec party devoted to breaking up the country to obtain Independance for the Quebec Province.
The Conservative Party is primarly a construct of Albertian politics. And the intense hatred between these two areas of Canada is legendary. Furthermore, the two parties are radically different.
So Stephen Harper is kind of Fucked. If he does NOT stay to the centre... we will have yet another election.
This time, Paul Martin will be gone. And whoever takes his place might have a shot. Most of this election was caused because Martin is a lousy party leader and is being blamed for the recent scandals. (Which again go back to Quebec and the Bloc)
Therefore if Harper tries to side with them. He might be preceived as doing what he attacked the liberals for.
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