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.

i hope Harper doesnt get rid of boxing day, i know they dont celebrate it in the USA...

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh I was actually trying to explain that to someone this last xmas.

Source CBC.ca
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe
"Luckily this evening in Quebec, it's once again the Bloc Québécois," he told a cheering crowd, paraphrasing the party's campaign slogan. "Quebecers have put their trust in sovereigntists to protect their interests in Ottawa."

Duceppe used the occasion to send a message to Harper, who will need support to push through his legislative agenda.

"If he truly wants to settle the fiscal imbalance, and if he really gave Quebec its place in the national arena, he will find the Bloc Québécois at his side," the Bloc leader said.

"Everything that moves Quebec forward makes us much closer to sovereignty."

Translation:
If stepehen Harper wants us to help him out....

He is going to have to do what the Liberals did. "Pay Us Off !!!"

its not a Christian holiday so they should boot it...

Thanks for the update leggs. I'm from Toronto, but live in Barcelona and the press coverage here is non-existent. I'm glad that Harper has enough pressure of looming non-confidence to hopefully keep him in line.

Well technically Christmas used to be a pagan celebration so they should dump that as well... After all, Christ told his followers to celebrate his death and not his birth.. Funny how that doesn't happen really happen...

tax cuts on poutine to follow

That's why our economy is doing so great... ;)

There are couple guys waiting in line in the libreal party... I predict Michael Ignatieff will come out strong... he's another great thinker, a Trudeau with a wider vision... watch him.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have another man like Trudeau !!

I give Harper about 1 to 2 years. The liberals are going to re-group and re-work everything in the party. Undue some of the damage and then come out strong.

Explaining any parlimentry system to the average american is difficult. That said, a lot of people living in those systems don't understad it either. People still think they are voting for Tony Blair at at election time here are ignorant to the fact that only his actual area is voting for him and they are voting for their individual members of parliment.

Don't try to explain to most Americans how Tony Blair can be kicked out but it not mean there has been an election either.

How long have you been living abroad, Sarah?




2hp

It will be ten years in June.

I'm a political nerd though so I was that annoying kid in polisci that understood political systems.

Thats a pretty shitty thing to say unprovoked, you act like this country is filled with morons. :2 cents:

Then, as now, generous with what you know and see -- thanks -- :)



2hp

That is not what I was suggesting at all. However, it is a system that is rather different from the United States system and on that basis it can be difficult to explain. Heck..try explaining the electoral college to most British people and you will get even more confused looks.

Well as I have learned...
In the United States you are a nation filled with morons. You can't turn around without bumping into one.

But that doesn't mean everyone is.

I figure it is about 10% to 20% of the population is just plain stupid. But they are also the people that believe everything they see on T.V. AND CAN'T KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT!!!

You know...
Canadians and Americans are different. Especially if you aren't a full blooded anglophone. When we lived in L.A. it was pure culture shock that got to us.

But as I have learned...
America is one hell of a great nation!!! I've taken a lot of cheap shots at it over the years.

However, when you compare it to other nations...
It's pretty fucking awsome!!!

Canada should be thankful we have the United States for neighbours.
(And vice versa !!)

Brian Tobin would be the next person in line if Ignatieff don't make it, but he's had lots of of problems in the past too.

Do you really have to??

It sounds you got a lot of patience :winkwink: