NationStates Jolt Archive

This is mainly a question for Canadians, or anyone who knows something about Canadian politics. Of course, you can still vote if you have some idea which way you would lean. So....the federal elections are drawing near, who will you vote for?

....if you chose other, please specify.

The Communist Party of Canada.

Come comrade. To the revolution! :lol:

No. If I could vote, it'd be Liberal.

Conservatives. The Liberals are as kleptocratic as any African government, and the NDP are hardcore statists who never saw a law they didn't like.

The Liberals are statists as well, and they're assumed "Canadian values" such as universal public healthcare are not my values. Paul Martin has used the words "collective responsibility" a few times, and I consider that term to be an evil fiction (I wrote a short think piece on it which you can read here (http://virtualdave.ca/discussiongroup/viewtopic.php?t=102)).

There are statist elements in the Conservative Party as well that I don't like, but by and large they are as close to my politics as a Canadian party gets.

Here's a fun fact, Canada has two Communist parties, The Communist Party of Canada, and the Marxist-Leninist Party. Neither have ever won any seats in Parliament. Perhaps they should join forces or something?

Conservatives. The Liberals are as kleptocratic as any African government, and the NDP are hardcore statists who never saw a law they didn't like.

The Liberals are statists as well, and they're assumed "Canadian values" such as universal public healthcare are not my values. Paul Martin has used the words "collective responsibility" a few times, and I consider that term to be an evil fiction (I wrote a short think piece on it which you can read here (http://virtualdave.ca/discussiongroup/viewtopic.php?t=102)).

There are statist elements in the Conservative Party as well that I don't like, but by and large they are as close to my politics as a Canadian party gets.

Bravo! You're my new best friend. :wink:

The Democrats.

Here's a fun fact, Canada has two Communist parties, The Communist Party of Canada, and the Marxist-Leninist Party. Neither have ever won any seats in Parliament. Perhaps they should join forces or something?
0 + 0 = 0

The NDP are commie enough anyway.

The Democrats.

The New Democratic Party are socialists. Just thought you'd like to know.

Here's a fun fact, Canada has two Communist parties, The Communist Party of Canada, and the Marxist-Leninist Party. Neither have ever won any seats in Parliament. Perhaps they should join forces or something?
0 + 0 = 0

The NDP are commie enough anyway.

Indeed.

The important thing is that I am made Dictator-for-life.

Sorry, still can't get Stockwell Day out of my head.. I don't see Stephen Harper as any better.. NDP is out of touch... Liberal by default.. They know how to keep the country going.. look at how many times Paul Martin has balanced a budget, we have a trade surplus more growth then any other country in the G8... It's not so bad folks.. They kept us out of the debacle known as the Iraq war.. Martin is going to increase the military.. and national reserves.. All politicians lie.. but Canada is in pretty good shape..

Sorry, still can't get Stockwell Day out of my head.. I don't see Stephen Harper as any better.. NDP is out of touch... Liberal by default.. They know how to keep the country going.. look at how many times Paul Martin has balanced a budget, we have a trade surplus more growth then any other country in the G8... It's not so bad folks.. They kept us out of the debacle known as the Iraq war.. Martin is going to increase the military.. and national reserves.. All politicians lie.. but Canada is in pretty good shape..

I agree with most of your points. Unfortunatly, the Liberals are just too left leaning for me. When Paul Martin first took office, I was kind of excited by the fact that he was unveiling what seemed to be a healthy right wing platform. Now? Mehhh....the Conservatives definitly have leadership issues, and I personaly wasn't overly thrilled with the Conservative/Alliance merger. Still, I think they should be given their five years to show us what they're worth. I'm personaly sick of Canada's so called "governing party". Too many lies, too much manipulation. I'm not a big fan of party dominated democracy myself, but I'd rather vote than join the hordes of dummies that "don't care". I don't really see any promise in any of the parties....the Conservatives seem to presently be the least of evils.

Here's a fun fact, Canada has two Communist parties, The Communist Party of Canada, and the Marxist-Leninist Party. Neither have ever won any seats in Parliament. Perhaps they should join forces or something?

What will people think of me when I wear a shirt with a hammer and sickle on it?

Conservatives. The Liberals are as kleptocratic as any African government, and the NDP are hardcore statists who never saw a law they didn't like.

The Liberals are statists as well, and they're assumed "Canadian values" such as universal public healthcare are not my values. Paul Martin has used the words "collective responsibility" a few times, and I consider that term to be an evil fiction (I wrote a short think piece on it which you can read here).

There are statist elements in the Conservative Party as well that I don't like, but by and large they are as close to my politics as a Canadian party gets.

Yes, I believe some Liberals are corrupt, but then again, almost everybody who assumes a position of power usually does become corrupt. One can promise to lower taxes, increase military spending, and improve education at election time, but once they become elected, it doesn't matter anymore because they still have 4 years or so until the next election.

But look at the Conservatives for a moment. Stephen Harper wants to have "the lowest taxes on the world". Yet at the same time, he wants to increase our military spending. Now, there is only one way I can think of on how this is possible. If he is telling the truth, then he must have a hell lot of money to keep this country running, but of course, he doesn't. So where does this money come from? Well, it will come from declining the amount of money invested in other services, like education. It should also be noted that the Conservative leader said that military spending should not be increased a few years ago. Did he just suddenly change his mind, or is he just trying to win a few votes?

Mr. Harper also shows a strong support for the war on Iraq. So will this mean that he will be sending Canadian troops to aid the Americans already there? Well, first of all, the Americans have no business to be in Iraq. They say that it is a war on terrorism, but really, it's a way to secure an oil source without anyone knowing. Second, I think Canada should deal with more important issues first, like the improvement of our healthcare system. Paul Martin, although I do not agree with him on many issues, says he wants to do this, but again, will he really do it?

Politics is mostly a bunch of lies. You just have to vote for which lie you think is the best.

Vote Liberal '04
Q

But look at the Conservatives for a moment. Stephen Harper wants to have "the lowest taxes on the world". Yet at the same time, he wants to increase our military spending. Now, there is only one way I can think of on how this is possible. If he is telling the truth, then he must have a hell lot of money to keep this country running, but of course, he doesn't. So where does this money come from? Well, it will come from declining the amount of money invested in other services, like education.

You really know very little about your country. There is no federal budget for education! It is a provincial responsibility. An increase in military spending is small potatoes compared to other ministries that can be cut. "Heritage" (propaganda) can be cut, for example. And there might as well be an official Ministry of Corruption under the Liberals, because it's so prevalent we could appoint a minister for it. Then the Conservatives could cut the budget of the Ministry of Corruption.

Second, I think Canada should deal with more important issues first, like the improvement of our healthcare system.
We don't have a health care system. British Columbia has a health care system. Manitoba has a health care system. Ontario has a health care system, etc. If you knew your own constitution you would realize that health care is a provincial jurisdiction and the federal government has no place in it. The "Canadian Health Care" myth needs to be destroyed. And once it is I'll be working for the abolition of public health care in my province. You can do whatever you want in yours.

You really know very little about your country. There is no federal budget for education! It is a provincial responsibility. An increase in military spending is small potatoes compared to other ministries that can be cut. "Heritage" (propaganda) can be cut, for example. And there might as well be an official Ministry of Corruption under the Liberals, because it's so prevalent we could appoint a minister for it. Then the Conservatives could cut the budget of the Ministry of Corruption.
I'm sorry. I did not know that, but saying I know very little about my county is kind of harsh, is it not?

Can you explain this "Heritage Ministry" and the "Ministry of Corruption" to me?

We don't have a health care system. British Columbia has a health care system. Manitoba has a health care system. Ontario has a health care system, etc. If you knew your own constitution you would realize that health care is a provincial jurisdiction and the federal government has no place in it. The "Canadian Health Care" myth needs to be destroyed. And once it is I'll be working for the abolition of public health care in my province. You can do whatever you want in yours.

Again, I did not know healthcare is dealt with by the provincial government.
That's strange though. I've been reading a lot of articles that says Paul Martin wants to put billions of dollars into improving our healthcare.

You actually want to abolish public health care? Why is that?

Alberta Cecessionist Party! :D
Free the grain!
A moose in every pot!
Something to offend everybody!
Enfranchisement to U.S. Vietnam War Draft Dodgers!
Enfranchisement to the Los Angeles Dodgers, if they stop wearing those silly uniforms and start playing with a hockey stick.
Make drinking age, the minimum age for military service, voting age, age of consent, cost of gas per liter, and the speed limit the same number!
I will call it the Abertanian Silly Party! Huzzah!

Can you explain this "Heritage Ministry" and the "Ministry of Corruption" to me?
The Heritage Ministry is, unfortunately, real. It was created in the 1990s by the Liberals with a goal of spending our tax money to make us feel more patriotic. They hand out flags that aren't equipped to be run up flag poles.

The Ministry of Corruption is not real, but my tongue in cheek idea that since corruption is so prevalent in the federal government that instead of each department being responsible for creating its own corruption, we may as well centralize it.
Again, I did not know healthcare is dealt with by the provincial government.
That's strange though. I've been reading a lot of articles that says Paul Martin wants to put billions of dollars into improving our healthcare.
Strange, isn't it? I'll bet most Canadians think that health care is the responsibility of the feds. Basically over the last 40 years or so the federal government has had unconstitutional creeping responsibility. They accomplish this undemocratically, by taxing citizens and then giving conditional money back to the provinces, when the provinces should be raising their own taxes to pay for any public health care.

Read sections 91 and 92 of the
constitution (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/c1867_e.html#distribution). Pay attention to words like "exclusive" and 92-16: "Generally all Matters of a merely local or private Nature in the Province." This is the foundational document for rule of law in the country. It's not a piece of toilet paper to be ignored.

You actually want to abolish public health care? Why is that?
Let me be clear. I want to abolish public health care in British Columbia. What other provinces do is no business of mine. But more important to me than winning or losing that fight is getting it back on B.C. soil. Public vs. Private health care should be debated and decided in the B.C. legislature, by British Columbians. I will go with the majority. But I will not go with the majority of Canadians, any more than I will go with the majority of Americans, or Chileans, or North Americans, or whatever.

My case for private health care is that involuntary taxation is morally repugnant. If there was a way for the government to pay for it without unilaterally seizing my property, that would be fine. But better yet would be a system where people get what they pay for, or get what other people give them freely.

It has to be Conservative , they are right for Britain and are right for Canada too.

Conservative. I'm a member, a volunteer and on the team in my Quebec riding.

The Communist party and the Marxist-Leninist party split way back, not exactly sure when. The party was going through a leadership change and the person chosen wasn't appreciated by half the party so they split into 2 components.

I have never voted NDP and never will. They work closely with their provincial counterparts and have managed to nearly run 2 provinces into the ground, Ontario and B.C..

The Liberals? Where to start...They've diverted funds so their friends could profit from it. It was widespread and seems to have started as far back as the first time they got elected. We got Mrs.Stewart's Human Resources waste, the Gun Registry, the helicopter contract being cancelled and a new one being instated, it goes on. They've lied and are currently leading a nice negative campaign against the BQ and the Conservatives here in Quebec.

In order to ensure "balanced budgets" they have starved the provinces and encroached unto their duties. They have systematically attempted to interfere in purely provincial affairs such as Healthcare. Let's take the example of B.C., if the provincial government decides to create a private branch for the healthcare sector; then what business is it of the Federal government or other governments? That is an issue purely for B.C. voters and NOT civil servants and people elected elsewhere. I got no affinity for centralizes who intentionally deprive local governments of their rightful constitutional powers. Stirner your right on the money.

As for the Conservatives; I was a member of the Alliance, now a Conservative. I like the new approach to taxes, justice, provincial affairs, military spending and overall just a fresh approach. Harper has never said he'd send troops to Iraq, he's avowedly more favourable to aiding the U.S. when they ask for it. Their our #1 trading partner and an economy which could easily crush ours; lets work with them instead of hurling veiled insults across the border.

And always remember;

Your money,
Their friends,
Martin has whole bunch of new friends.

I'm proudly NDP. I don't live in Quebec, so I wouldn't vote Bloc. I can't stomach Paul Martin and Stephen Harper's corporateness (to coin a word).

I love Jack Layton's ideas. He's going to bring us into the future with his green prosperous economy. Inheritance tax. . .I especially love that one. Jack Layton would be the best Prime Minister Canada ever had.

Quebec should be it's own country, whether it's residents want that or not.

Quebec should be it's own country, whether it's residents want that or not.

Could you please explain? Your statement is interesting, to say the least.

I'm proudly NDP. I don't live in Quebec, so I wouldn't vote Bloc. I can't stomach Paul Martin and Stephen Harper's corporateness (to coin a word).

I love Jack Layton's ideas. He's going to bring us into the future with his green prosperous economy. Inheritance tax. . .I especially love that one. Jack Layton would be the best Prime Minister Canada ever had.
So, people should work their whole lives, invest, make money and have it all taxed, and then when they die, whatever they have leftover should get re-taxed? That's just stupid and evil.