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Official Canadian Federal Election Thread - May, 2011

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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
So, after the government unveiled the 2011 federal budget today (the most nothing budget in at least a decade), it seems certain, if not official, that there will be an election as a result of the vote on friday. It'll take place on May 2 or May 9. Although I am guessing no one will have much to say yet, things always heat up as the campaign goes along so I thought I would make a thread.

Will there be a conservative majority? Who will you vote for (or who would you vote for if you could)? Will the current issues surrounding the budget form a jumping-off platform for election issues? I'm thinking not - there is simply nothing really in there to campaign on or against, aside from the elimination of the federal deficit by 2015. From where I sit, the issues at stake will develop over the next couple of weeks and we'll be talking about completely different things than now. Aside from contempt of Parliament which is a good election buzzword.
Mar 22 2011 6:24PM
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Proletariat.
Posts: 1797 - Karma: 45
You are preaching to a Poly Sci major. I know quite extensively how Canadian politics work. You are also wrong about the senate, they do have shorter terms now, no longer for life.
May 8 2011 10:05PM
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Proletariat.
Posts: 1797 - Karma: 45
You have obviously never heard of Bill C-311...
May 8 2011 10:10PM
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,750
Well common. "they cannot keep their seat after they are 75"

Probably so they don't have to keep nurses on call to change their diapers.

But that's pretty much life.


And what the hell did I learn in Civics if that's not what they're for? Please be so kind and to explain, as the wikipedia article and my grade 10 civics class seem to be wrong
May 8 2011 10:17PM
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,750
lolol. posts reply, spends 5 minutes googling "bills that haven't been passed by senate", posts reply "You have obviously never heard of Bill C-311"

well have you before 10 minutes ago?
May 8 2011 10:21PM
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Proletariat.
Posts: 1797 - Karma: 45
I will admit you were right and wrong, I had learned of a bill that had been vetoed which sparked a debate in my class over senate reform. However I had to get the name of the bill so it didn't look like I was throwing a fact out there that had no substance behind it.
May 8 2011 10:23PM
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Proletariat.
Posts: 1797 - Karma: 45
I am also gaming on my xbox at the same time too, thats what I call multi tasking.
May 8 2011 10:24PM
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,750
actually looking it up I remember hearing a lot about that in the news.
May 8 2011 10:26PM
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corona
Posts: 12795 - Karma: 32,750
long as you're getting a good k/d spread
May 8 2011 10:30PM
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Proletariat.
Posts: 1797 - Karma: 45
No you have a pretty good knowledge of the concept.

The Senate was an idea borrowed from the UK's House of Lords. Initially the Senate was supposed to work like the American version albeit with appointed members which has to consist of wealthy land owners. They were part of the Canadian checks and balance system which would prevent dictatorships from occurring by having the ability to veto bills that could threaten Canadian society. The same way the house of representatives and senate works in the US. Except the inherent flaw as you pointed out was the appointment of these senators by the ruling party. Essentially the senate reform being tabled by the Conservatives is how our senate was originally supposed to work, that is why Stephen Harper has been stacking it with his senators on the agreement that they will pass the bill. Otherwise senate reform would get passed in the house but vetoed abruptly in the senate.

These old dinosaurs don't do anything at the moment because they aren't accountable to the people of Canada. When you are appointed you aren't a representative of the people so you dont have to act in the best interests of the public which they dont do.
May 8 2011 10:38PM
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