[IceFire]

I assume most people are of voting age around these parts.  Any thoughts or comments about the speeches tonight on national television.

My position is that we should let the Gomery Inquiry play out and then goto the polls as Martin suggested but I'm not sure if we'll get that.  On the other hand, some may be very annoyed with whatever party brings down parliament now as its only been a year since they got started.

Thoughts?  Comments?  Wisdom?

[Rictor]

For all my dislike of the Liberals, replacing them with the Tories would be even worse. But I don't really see how the Liberals can hang on to what little majority they have, so it's probably going to be a Conservative victory (the question is to what extent) or the Liberals and NDP (and possibly Bloc) will form some sort of coalition, which isn't really too likely to happen.

[Liberator]

Help us out here, the Tories would be related most closely to which US party?

[Rictor]

Republicans. The Liberals would be the Democrats, while the NDP would be sort of like the Greens (only more popular). There's a fourth party, the Bloc Quebecois, but they're only regional, though they still hold maybe 10% of the total seats in parliment (think Congress).

*Tories is a nick-name for the Conservatives. Its a throwback to Canada's British heritage, they use the same term.

[Ace]

I've been hearing online that the Gomery Inquiry is supposidely banned from the news and that it's tearing apart Canada's majority party.

I'm assuming that this is a mixture of exaggeration and wishful thinking on the behalf of some folks in the US.

[Rictor]

Its not banned, it's not even out yet. But yes, the government is really in deep ****.

[Trivial Psychic]

My opinion of the NDP is unfortunately tainted by experiences here in Ontario some years back, when they won an unexpected majority in the provincial parliment and proceeded to jack up the provincial debt considerably and made enemies of most teachers with the so-called "Ray Days".  As for the PC, I think they lack strong leadership to make them an effective gonverning body right now... same for any reminants of the Alliance party (if there is anything left).  Although I dislike Martin, I think he's our only choice at the moment, although I think that the country could benefit from having the NDP as the official oppostition in federal parliment, and with a healthy lead on any other parties behind.  It would force much of the nation to take them seriously for once, and possiby give them enough exposure and experience to make a viable alternative to lead the country in the election following that.  If they don't then its back to the Libs again.

Later!

[Rictor]

I think that as the current generation of teens grows up and starts voting, the NDP will naturally advance, even perhaps winning the federal election at some point in the future.

I too would like to see a Liberal victory with the NDP as the opposition, but that doesn't seem likely. The Conservatives are doing better than the Liberals right now, and if the pressure keeps up they could very well win it (though probably with a minority government.)

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Ace
I've been hearing online that the Gomery Inquiry is supposidely banned from the news and that it's tearing apart Canada's majority party.

I'm assuming that this is a mixture of exaggeration and wishful thinking on the behalf of some folks in the US.

There was a temporary publication ban on some of the proceedings while they worked through some details.  I didn't have too much of a problem with it...they eventually were officially released.

Its a minority government right now so the Liberals require the support of the other parties to pass motions in parliament.  Traditionally in Canadian politics, minority governments tend not to last very long.

Tories = Conservatives which are in many ways similar to the Republicans in the US.
Grits (as they are rarely refered to) = Liberals which are very much like the Democrats in the US.

Those are both throwbacks to traditional British parliamentary terms and parties.

I don't think the NDP has a true American equivalent...they are sort of like the "third party".  They are the socialists of the countrys politics...but they tend to be fairly mainstream.  I think they are a little like the Labour Party in the UK.

[Thorn]

I've been bogged down lately by exams and homework and all that fun stuff. Haven't been keeping up. Whats the short andsweet version of this "Gomery Inquiry" thing?

[Rictor]

Nah, the NDP is like is like the Green Party in the US, only more popular due to Canadians leaning more to the left then Americans, and like the Lib Dems in the UK. The Liberals = Democrats = New Labour, in that they are all mainstream centrist parties.

The thing is that in the coming election, the NDP stands to gain as much as the Conservatives from Liberal fallout, which means the Tories  will almost certainly have a minority government with a fierce opposition to contend with, even more so than the current government.

Originally posted by Thorn
I've been bogged down lately by exams and homework and all that fun stuff. Haven't been keeping up. Whats the short andsweet version of this "Gomery Inquiry" thing?

The Liberal government a few years ago under Chretien was corrupt and funneled state money into their friend's businesses and back into their own campaign funds. And now heads are rolling. Paul Martin assigned an indepedent commison to study the extent of the wrong-doing, headed by some guy called Gomery (don't know his first name). The commison is supposed to release the report I think sometime in November, but the Tories and NDP want to force an election now, while the Liberals want to wait for the report.

[MicroPsycho]

not being old enough to vote my opinion doesn't really affect anything. but I'd say I'd have to vote for the Conservatives, the lesser of three evils

[Thrilla]

I do have a question about Canada.  How does the government in Canada connect to the British Government?  I've never really looked into it.

[Rictor]

In no real way. Aside from having the Queen on all the coins and the $20 bills, there's no actual political influence from Britain, or anywhere else. Canada is part of the "Commonwealth" which is basically all the old British colonies (Australia, New Zealand etc, as well as the UK) which as far as I know involves playing some sports once a year and that's pretty much it.

[vyper]

It's a worldwide trading organisation too. I say it to this day the man who chose Commonwealth over Federalisation should be shot.

[Trivial Psychic]

Our last real connection with the British empire is the Governer General, and the Lt. Governer on a Provincial level.  They represent the queen and in theory, the Governer General has the highest ranking position in government... even higher than the Priminister.  Note, I said "In Theory".  Just as the Royal Family in Britain doesn't rule the nation anymore, the Governer General is just a figure head, as is now more like an ambassador of good will.  Unfortinately, our current and outgoing Governer General has raised some eyebrows with her spending habits.  The Governer General does have one interesting and quite influencial and crucial task... in the event of a national election resulting in a tie for leading party, the Governer General casts an additional vote, deciding the victor.

[Shrike]

As a FYI, we actually have a Green Party.

I never really connected the NDP to the US green party on any level.

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Thrilla
I do have a question about Canada.  How does the government in Canada connect to the British Government?  I've never really looked into it.

Its mostly a historical connection.  At the moment my brain is too full to disgorge the details but at one point there was the British North America act which largely gave Canada its independence.  We never had to fight a war of independance...we just signed some papers and talked to some people.

Canadian government has little to do with the British government and essentially all ties are symbolic. The Queen is still the figurehead of everything but thats about it.  She visits and waves and thats good for me.  Canadian parliament follows similar rules, conventions, and philosophy to British parliament.  I think thats for the best.