Forum:2015 Canadian General Election

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On 19 October 2015, unless held earlier, Canada will hold its 42nd general election. The governing Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, holds a majority with 163 seats. The New Democratic Party, the Official Opposition led by Thomas Mulcair, holds 96 seats, down from the 103 they won in the 2011 elections. The Liberal Party of Canada, led by rising star Justin Trudeau, holds a mere 35 seats.

A lot of talk has generated from the rise of Trudeau and the by-election victories of the Liberals, but as I see it, if Trudeau wins, Harper retains his power, even if it's in a reduced minority. Harper would have to completely collapse for Mulcair to increase his lead, which would realistically net the NDP at a minority government. There's even talk of a potential coalition government between Mulcair and Trudeau if things head that way, but as I see it, Harper's here to stay, unfortunately. Serocco (talk) 19:28, 1 January 2015 (UTC)

For those that want Harper out of office, there is only one option this election and that's behind the most electable - which, much to the chagrin of most posters here, is Trudeau. Any other option will just split the vote; first past the post for the lose. Space Turbo (talk) 16:06, 2 January 2015 (UTC)

Why Trudeau? Why not Mulcair? Serocco (talk) 00:24, 3 January 2015 (UTC)

Again - MOST ELECTABLE candidate. That's why Trudeau over Mulcair. Space Turbo (talk) 05:11, 3 January 2015 (UTC)

What makes Trudeau more electable, though? His family name? His relative youth? Electable would mean qualified, which he hasn't proven since he's stuck between the Liberals' traditionally centrist positioning and his own experimentation with progressive policies. The NDP is in a similar position with Mulcair - to beat Harper, you need to stop trying to emulate him, thank you very much. Serocco (talk) 08:39, 3 January 2015 (UTC)

Elections have nothing to do with qualification and you should frankly know better - likewise, the answers to your questions are effectively yes. This is a popularity contest with as much to do with polling as it does with platforms, but go ahead and split the vote by throwing yours behind the guy polling behind the frontrunner against Harper. Also, can you even comprehend the irony in your last paragraph? Space Turbo (talk) 13:09, 3 January 2015 (UTC)

I'm an American. I have no leg in the race other than to see Harper lose. Serocco (talk) 20:07, 4 January 2015 (UTC)

Really? Why's that? Space Turbo (talk) 21:10, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

Have you SEEN his horrendous record as PM? Serocco (talk) 22:24, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

Dude, I know. I live in this country. So it's just an ideological thing? Space Turbo (talk) 23:51, 5 January 2015 (UTC)

It's more than ideological. He's a bad leader and far too autocratic. Too beholden to special interests, too much like Dick Cheney with a leaf on his head, and too anti-environment. He needs to go. Serocco (talk) 03:36, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

Or if you're where I am, the only electable option is NDP unless you happen to live in Goodale's riding, which is just fine with me. Compro01 (talk) 04:31, 12 January 2015 (UTC)

"All politics is local" has some legitimacy here although in the absence of a proportional representation system, I see it more as a detriment to anyone left of the Harper regime. Colour me pessimistic, I guess. Space Turbo (talk) 17:43, 13 January 2015 (UTC)

How important is it for the NDP to win in Ontario? Serocco (talk) 16:28, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

Let's qualify that one a little bit - what do you mean by "important"? Space Turbo (talk) 14:15, 20 January 2015 (UTC)

As in, how vital are the NDP's chances of remaining as the Official Opposition with Ontario? Oh, and can we make an article about their election like we just did for the 2015 UK election? Serocco (talk) 06:22, 21 January 2015 (UTC)

The process

So, as an American, I'm unfamiliar with Canadian elections. Do you just turn in your beaver pelts to the mounty before going into the voting booth, or are there moose involved somehow? Ikanreed (talk) 17:51, 13 January 2015 (UTC)

Dude, it's not the 1930s...there are no moose involved. You just show up to a voting station and present your family beaver pelt to the mounty and then vote by urinating on a very large set of boxs drawn on the snow. The winner is the candidate with the most yellow (or lack of snow) filled in one of their boxes. Great way to vote. ShabiDOO 18:03, 13 January 2015 (UTC)