NationStates Jolt Archive

Wow, I didn't know that Canadians ever got that hot under the collar about politics. Sounds like someone up there needs a Valium. Is this typical of Canadian politics - can you insult entire provinces and get away with it?

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/486coeai.asp

Scott Reid, one of Prime Minister Martin's advisors in the PMO, lost his temper when Don Martin, of the Calgary Herald, pressed Reid for an interview with his boss during an event at the National Press Club. Reid told the reporter that "Alberta can blow me." Granted, the Liberals didn't count on winning too many ridings (the term for Parliament districts) in the western province, but still. Reid has yet to apologize.

Yes, that is very typical of Canadian politics.
Remember, we are the chief exporter of funny; even our politicians can't be taken seriously.

Yes, that is very typical of Canadian politics.
Remember, we are the chief exporter of funny; even our politicians can't be taken seriously.
I guess if people in Alberta aren't going to vote Liberal in any case, he can tell them to go stuff themselves.

I guess if people in Alberta aren't going to vote Liberal in any case, he can tell them to go stuff themselves.
That's usually what happens. Go regional politics!

Wow, I didn't know that Canadians ever got that hot under the collar about politics. Sounds like someone up there needs a Valium. Is this typical of Canadian politics - can you insult entire provinces and get away with it?

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/486coeai.asp

Not exactly an unbiased source, but then again, this sort of behaviour is not unknown in Canadian politics. Trudeau once told a delegation of Saskatchewan (that's a western province, for all our USian readers) farmers to fuck off and then flipped them the bird.

Federal politicians on the campaign trail do not worry about the west, as most of the population is in Ontario and Quebec. By the time these two provinces have finished voting, everyone already knows who the winning party is.

Not exactly an unbiased source, but then again, this sort of behaviour is not unknown in Canadian politics. Trudeau once told a delegation of Saskatchewan (that's a western province, for all our USian readers) farmers to fuck off and then flipped them the bird.

Federal politicians on the campaign trail do not worry about the west, as most of the population is in Ontario and Quebec. By the time these two provinces have finished voting, everyone already knows who the winning party is.
I've been to Saskatchewan. I think that the much-decried electoral system in the US tends to keep people from telling whole sections of the nation to get stuffed. You never know when you'll need a few more electoral votes in order to win.

A question - if Quebec were truly a separate country, how much difference would that make in terms of who would run the Canadian government? Who would gain politically from that?

A question - if Quebec were truly a separate country, how much difference would that make in terms of who would run the Canadian government? Who would gain politically from that?

First off I doubt Ried said something like that... especially after the whole "Beer and popcorn" comment on TV ~ ya tend to get muzzled after that. Besides it's not like the Weekly Standard doesn't have a wee bit of a bias when it comes to supporting conservatives and slamming liberals now does it?

Anyways if Quebec was to seperate the Conservatives would be the biggest gainer from the shift in the political landscape - as it stands now. Basically the Conservatives rarely get a seat in Quebec, while the Liberals always manage to grab a few after the Bloc...

I've been to Saskatchewan. I think that the much-decried electoral system in the US tends to keep people from telling whole sections of the nation to get stuffed. You never know when you'll need a few more electoral votes in order to win.

Although I'm not a fan of the electoral college, in Canada provinces have no representation other than that of their population, which means that Ontario and Quebec always end up deciding for the rest of the country.

The needed reform would be more in creating a Senate similar to that of the US, instead of the one made up by appointed "notables" as it is now.

Yes, that is very typical of Canadian politics.
Remember, we are the chief exporter of funny; even our politicians can't be taken seriously.
LOTS of politicians EVERYwhere "can't be taken seriously!" Heh! Sigh. :headbang:

Our politicians are well known for their off colour remarks. Ralph Klein is a goldmine all on his own...getting drunk, stumbling into a homeless shelter, tossing some change on the floor and saying, "Get a JOB!"...Francoise Ducros called Bush a 'moron', quite publicly, Trudeau is famous for his middle finger, and well...Alberta has told the East to stuff it a number of times. Religionalism IS Canadian politics. It's stronger than just Tory versus Grit.

Our politicians are well known for their off colour remarks. Ralph Klein is a goldmine all on his own...getting drunk, stumbling into a homeless shelter, tossing some change on the floor and saying, "Get a JOB!"...Francoise Ducros called Bush a 'moron', quite publicly, Trudeau is famous for his middle finger, and well...Alberta has told the East to stuff it a number of times. Religionalism IS Canadian politics. It's stronger than just Tory versus Grit.

This is one of the many reasons I love Canada. Other wonderful moments include anytime a politician gets cornered by one of the people from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and they have to smile and take it while the actor makes fun of them on national TV. Now I'm thinking about the whole Stockwell 'Doris' Day thing. :D

This is one of the many reasons I love Canada. Other wonderfulmomentsinclude anytime a politician gets cornered by oneof the people from This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and they have to smile and take it while the actor makes fun of them on national TV. Now I'm think about the whole Stockwell 'Doris' Day thing. :D
Ay...what's-her-face that does those kind of Xena-esque interviews...and Rick Mercer...god he cracks me up, but he kind of disappointed me when he was hanging around with Jack Layton. Hardly any digs...

We ought to export John Prescott to Canada. Screw wordplay, he just punches the daylights out of people.

Alberta has a nice "nothing is worth whining about unless it's us doing the whining" attitude. Also I resent Calgary for dissolving the Saint John Flames.

I've been to Saskatchewan. I think that the much-decried electoral system in the US tends to keep people from telling whole sections of the nation to get stuffed. You never know when you'll need a few more electoral votes in order to win.


In reality - it works out pretty much the same in the US. You're not going to hear of a big push of dollars to try and get Wyoming to vote Democrat for their 3 electoral votes because it would be a waste of money. Here we just don't have that extra layer on top, but the reality is that the Liberals aren;t going to put any extra money or effort into most western ridings for much the same reason.


A question - if Quebec were truly a separate country, how much difference would that make in terms of who would run the Canadian government? Who would gain politically from that?

The Conservatives would gain as any Quebec seats that don't go to the BQ almost invariably vote Liberal. Plus the BQ tends to vote with a fairly liberal bent when it comes to social issues.

Scott Reid isn't an elected politician. He's a paid employee of the Liberal party. "Communications Director" I believe.

He's hilarious. Yet stupid, and damaging to everyone around him. If I were his boss, I would have dumped him in a deep hole long before this latest spate of stupid comments. Makes me wonder what dirt he has on Paul Martin.

First off I doubt Ried said something like that... especially after the whole "Beer and popcorn" comment on TV ~ ya tend to get muzzled after that. Besides it's not like the Weekly Standard doesn't have a wee bit of a bias when it comes to supporting conservatives and slamming liberals now does it?

Anyways if Quebec was to seperate the Conservatives would be the biggest gainer from the shift in the political landscape - as it stands now. Basically the Conservatives rarely get a seat in Quebec, while the Liberals always manage to grab a few after the Bloc...

Oh, he said it. It's been in media a lot less biased than the Weekly Standard.

And without Quebec, we'd probably have a majority Conservative government. Which is why it's easy to believe that the "Conservatives are in bed with the separatists" line.

Technically, he said that Alberta coudl blow him... it's not as though Paul Martin or any other politician said it. The guy's a douchebag apparantly, but it's not like he's in charge of anything imporant. He could be a friend of Paul Martin's who got a cushy do nothing job.

At least he's not an incompotent boob who got promoted to a head major disaster relief agency or something...