UofGPolitico

He probably won't have too. The HOC takes a week break next week, then the budget drops and then there is a two week Easter break. The only news over this that has been made over the last few days is by the Conservatives themselves. This suggests new information is drying up. The media will grow bored and with the breaks this may die right down. It can always flare back up again if and when EC comes out with more information.

It is within the PM's powers to request the GG to prorogue parliament at any time. If asked, convention suggests the GG would accept that request.

I agree about Raitt, she is very competent and I think she is going places. Future leadership aspirations maybe? Alexander I think has done very well considering his rookie stature. He'll make cabinet in 2015 if the Cons win again.

Many people rail against this party and rail against PM Harper as controlling and undemocratic and feel most of his minsters are mere puppets. This may be the case in some instances, but there seems to be some ministers that seem to be above that fray and relatively untouched by scandal and accusations of incompetence. I would say Jim Flaherty has established himself as a fairly competent finance minister and one of the better representatives for this government. Regardless of whether you agree with his ideology, I think most Canadians would say he is doing a decent job. John Baird, often seen as a pitbull in QP (especially when he was House Leader) also seems to have a fairly good reputation and that seems to be growing as now he is the influential Foreign Affairs Minister. Who else comes to mind?

Dean has been an embarrassment on this issue. Pierre Pollieve was annoying and kind of an asshole, but his message discipline was a lot better. Dean doesn't look confident and at times appears to not even know what he is saying. I imagine once this all blows over, he may lose his job as the PM's Parliamentary Secretary.

I agree. If he truly is interested in front-room politics, then he should run in 2015 to become an MP. He could always try leadership again if whoever the NDP choose fails miserably in 2015. My guess is though he will prove his opportunism and descend back into hiding and in the backrooms.

Being from Thunder Bay you of all people should be adapted to the cold. Do you not partake in winter activities? Or do you stay inside huddled by the stove for 6 months?

You are right, better wait until June.

Its not the arctic. If you dress appropriately coupled with marching and waving signs around and maybe the occasional hot drink, you would be fine.

Yes, and it didn't have them dominating BEFORE robogate either. And EKOS I don't really trust either way because they were so far off during the 2011 vote. They were the only polling firm that was suggesting the NDP could actually form government when it was clear they were no where near doing that on voting day.

People in Egypt and Syria are getting killed standing up for their democratic rights and you are saying cold weather is an excuse not to protest to protect our democracy, if in fact that is what people really feel the need to do?

People who feel like their democratic rights have been robbed from them, that's who. There are irregularities in our system, no question, and hopefully some of them can be rectified as a result of the on-going investigations. However, the exaggerated suggestions of some that our process is tainted and that we are living under some despot that must be deposed in a "Northern Spring" is absolutely ridiculous and belittles the fight for actual democracy in places such as the middle east and other regions of the world.

Which also did not show any significant drop for the Tories from EKOS's previous poll.

I would argue the complete opposite actually. No PM has imposed tighter restrictions on questions that can be asked of him and all out access to him as well. Many within the media cannot stand Harper, predominantly the CBC. Just because a certain newspaper takes an editorial stance in support of a particular political party does not mean that entire news organization is biased towards that particular party or leader. PostMedia has long been associated with centre-right views, but it was them who in fact broke this robo call story.

Exactly, if people really feel their democratic rights are being crapped on, chilly March weather should not be an excuse to explain low-turn out.

I don't know why they even bother polling Atlantic Canada with such a small sample size. The flucations are always so large. The Conservatives have jumped from 29% to 46% in a month lol.

So for anyone who did watch the debate today, what were your thoughts? It seems The candidates have decided who the front-runner is, Old Tommy Boy. The Globe made it seem as if Topp was just sitting their twiddling his thumbs, apparently he only got one question in the first round.

Exactly. Manley is often in his current private role speaking out publically in support of the Conservative government, especially when it comes to its economic policies. If the Liberals do disappear, we know where his allegiance goes. I doubt in fact that he is even still a Liberal.

It doesn't really matter in this case who the leader is, its the brand of the party. The NDP brand is a damaged brand in ON, the Conservative brand I think is too, but obviously to a lesser extent.

The thought of an NDP government actually scares a lot of people, especially in Ontario.

So in less than a year Rae has managed to put the Liberals back up to numbers they had before the election was forced last year. I mean, we are more than 3 yrs away from another vote, but still, I find that interesting and surprising none the less.

The Conservatives would love it if she were to win lol. I think they really are only scared of Muclair.

Where do you propose they came from them? LOL. What is your speculation? The Liberals vote share in Ontario dropped 8 points. The Conservatives rose 5, the NDP rose 7 and the Greens lost 4. I mean we could theorize all we want, but if you look at it logically, its not hard to see where that "speculation" came from.

Political scientists and commentators have said it. No, I myself do not have proof, but its a common theory out there. For the Cons to have jumped 5 pts in Ontario those votes had to have came from somewhere, and logically speaking that would be the Liberals.

I don't think any of the parties really want a public inquiry, because it most likely will expose some pretty unethical things they also have participated in. Only if EC or the RCMP A) find that this mess spreads beyond Guelph conclusively and B ) implicates some mid to high level people in the Cons does a public inquiry get called I think.