OK, now I'm following the Canadian election even if no one else in the USA is

[Tzara]

Congratulations to the Liberals and Justin Trudeau, who seem to have secured a clear majority in parliament.

The PQ is only projected to have ten MPs. The NDP maybe 30, 35.

I think, from what I've read, that the NDP numbers are way down from the predictions. Was the PQ expected to be that low in representation? It doesn't seem that long ago to me that there was a real chance that Québec would vote to separate from Canada. What happened?

Signed, Clueless American

 

[greenmountaineer]

Congratulations to the Liberals and Justin Trudeau, who seem to have secured a clear majority in parliament.

The PQ is only projected to have ten MPs. The NDP maybe 30, 35.

I think, from what I've read, that the NDP numbers are way down from the predictions. Was the PQ expected to be that low in representation? It doesn't seem that long ago to me that there was a real chance that Québec would vote to separate from Canada. What happened?

Signed, Clueless American

I read somewhere Justin Trudeau, son of Pierre Trudeau and newly elected prime minister of Canada, came late to politics because he was a ski instructor.

Dude! Maybe Bernie's people oughta do lunch with Justin's. If they can elect a ski bum, America can a Democratic Socialist! LOL

On a more serious note I wonder how "La Revolution Tranqille" may have mitigated the fervor for separation as well as perhaps how NAFTA may have affected it in as much as Canada is the major trading partner with the U.S.

Canadian Lit friends may correct me here, but when there was a fair amount of violence in the sixties, the minority of anglophones were more in power. Although a foreign observer, I live 20 miles south of the Quebec border and have witnessed French culture predominating more and more since the early seventies when I moved to Vermont.

 

[Angeline]

I read somewhere Justin Trudeau, son of Pierre Trudeau and newly elected prime minister of Canada, came late to politics because he was a ski instructor.

Dude! Maybe Bernie's people oughta do lunch with Justin's. If they can elect a ski bum, America can a Democratic Socialist! LOL

My daughter has two Bernie t-shirts. The 20-somethings adore him. Whether they will vote is the question. I like him but I don't know if a self-described Socialist of any stripe can get elected here. The other side would be calling out that label without end were he the nominee. Also Bernie sounds a bit like my dad did. I don't know how I feel about that.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Congratulations to the Liberals and Justin Trudeau, who seem to have secured a clear majority in parliament.

The PQ is only projected to have ten MPs. The NDP maybe 30, 35.

I think, from what I've read, that the NDP numbers are way down from the predictions. Was the PQ expected to be that low in representation? It doesn't seem that long ago to me that there was a real chance that Québec would vote to separate from Canada. What happened?

Signed, Clueless American

Dear Clueless American (and I know you're not)

I feel sorry for the NDP, they fell so far. Their leader, Thomas Mulcair is a genuinely nice man who just couldn't live up to the drive of their previous leader, Jack Layton who died soon after the NDP's success. Layton created a huge surge for the NDP, mainly in Quebec, which the party couldn't maintain. Trudeau's roots are in Quebec and they rallied round him in droves.

The fervour of the PQ has dwindled somewhat and is now not much more than an ember. Non- Quebecois keep a wary eye on the remnants but the tiger seems toothless now.

The greatest reason for the upset was a deep dislike for Stephen Harper who has done more damage to Canada in his three terms (the last one with a majority), damage both at home and internationally. He ran on a platform of The Economy and Security. His record in both is dubious and he managed to dismantle much of Canada's successes abroad with his stalwart support of fossil fuels I could go on but I won't.....if you're interested just read Party Of One by Michael Harris.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Bo5w5eTJL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

 

[champagne1982]

My hope for the outcome of this election wasn't realized. I understand the benefits in having a majority government but I really wished for a minority, no matter which party came to win. That way they could badger each other and leave the business of running the country to the public servants and bureaucrats that really keep the red tape crisscrossing Ottawa.

Now, due to the economic dependency on fossil fuels in the west and a false impression that the country NEEDS that revenue to drive forward, I live in a province that will be at loggerheads with the federal government - again. Oh well, prime ministers are as mutable as clouds and with the election over we shall see what planks from the platform continue as foundation and which get turned into kindling.

ETA: the parti quebecois is a provincial party, in a federal election it is the bloc quebecois that runs.

 

[champagne1982]

Congratulations to the Liberals and Justin Trudeau, who seem to have secured a clear majority in parliament.

The PQ is only projected to have ten MPs. The NDP maybe 30, 35.

I think, from what I've read, that the NDP numbers are way down from the predictions. Was the PQ expected to be that low in representation? It doesn't seem that long ago to me that there was a real chance that Québec would vote to separate from Canada. What happened?

Signed, Clueless American

The main raison d'etre for the Bloc as a party was not to separate into their own country but instead to work from within and achieve "nationhood" much as the metis here in the west have been struggling to be recognized as a first nation.

Quebec is a nation within Canada. This tidbit shows why much of the fight went out of the movement because they had already reached their goal and fulfilled their mandate for recognition, at least in the hearts of most Canadians.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Never mind.

 

[Tzara]

My hope for the outcome of this election wasn't realized. I understand the benefits in having a majority government but I really wished for a minority, no matter which party came to win. That way they could badger each other and leave the business of running the country to the public servants and bureaucrats that really keep the red tape crisscrossing Ottawa.

Now, due to the economic dependency on fossil fuels in the west and a false impression that the country NEEDS that revenue to drive forward, I live in a province that will be at loggerheads with the federal government - again. Oh well, prime ministers are as mutable as clouds and with the election over we shall see what planks from the platform continue as foundation and which get turned into kindling.

ETA: the parti quebecois is a provincial party, in a federal election it is the bloc quebecois that runs.

Speaking as an American, where we have both houses in one party and the executive in another party, I'd say that a divided government is more a prescription for stasis than anything. Perhaps Canadians, who seem to be generally nicer people than my fellow citizens are, would embrace compromise.

It doesn't work down here, my dear Champ. I wish it did.

And thanks for clarifying PQ and BQ.

I did say I was Clueless American.