maplesyrup

A little dose of reality about federal politics in BC: Regional Federal Party Support in British Columbia It is obvious the NDP are posed to make sweeping gains federally in BC. After the federal election, we will then deal with the NDP's rising provincial popularity.

Court to rule on election spending law I expect my confidence in our Supreme Court Justices to remains intact after their decision today. I am sure they believe in fair elections.

It is always a bit sad when people denegrate teachers, probably the most important group of people in our society, and in whom we place our future.

A lot will depend on the NDP's (read Jack layton) performance during the election campaign. My understanding is the NDP is going to do quite well on both coasts, and on the Prairies, excluding Alberta. Just not that clear about Ontario yet. Michael....I agree it will probably be either a Lberal majority or Liberal minority, with either the Bloc or the NDP as the Official Opposition. Interesting that Joe Clark is campaigning for Scott Brison in Nova Scotia. I am hearing that the Cons are going to decimated there.

Stephen Harper's ideas represent about 10% of the Canadian population's viewpoint and yet our business oriented media is talking about the possibilities of him doing well in the coming election. What a snowjob. Why do you think the Bloc is doing so well in Quebec? Sponsorship scandal? Nonsense. The left is on the rise throughout Canada, and the only way to prevent a Liberal majority is to vote NDP. Don't waste your vote on people going nowhere man. The Cons are a speeding disaster train heading for the crash of their lives. Remember Kim Campbell.

BC has fixed election dates, and we go to the polls, one year from now, on May 17, 2005. Previously the NDP has been elected with 36-37% in the polls. In the last election the Lberals took 75 out 77 seats Today the NDP are at 41-42% in the polls, and appear headed for a massive majority government next year. Incredible change in three years in BC The left is on the rise throughout most of Canada, and these provincial polling results in BC reflect it. Forget about what you are hearing in the mainstream business backed media who have a vested interest in tyring to keep the NDP out. The NDP are going to take between 12 and 20 seats in the coming federal election in BC (2 last time).

Harper syndrome I'm beginning to hear and believe Canadians want to teach the Cons a lesson.

This election is about running a country, not running a business. And there is a big difference. Unfortunately some people just don't get it.

Canadians want to teach Liberals a lesson Now I am ready for the election. BRING IT ON!

Sure, let's have one official language in Canada - French. So much for that theory, eh folks. Give me a break. Every country has its history, traditions, and customs. Canada's history is the merging of two linguistic groups, French & English. Of course, other languarges are encouraged, but perhaps we owe redress to our First Nations people for a third official language, if we are going to go that route. Canada is not the place for people who don't have an appreciation for our multilingual community. They need to move on - either learn some additional languages or move somewhere else. Having and respecting different languages is is very positive thing, and is only divisive by those who choose to make it so.

Une bonne idee! Much more productive than the lash

All this talk about reforming the Senate as some panacea for Canada's political ills is whistlin' Dixie. The Senate is a patronage club and the sooner it is abolished the better. If Canadians seriously want a democratic society they need to change to some form of PR for electing our MPs in the House of Commons. The last three governments in Canada have been Liberal majorities, with 38% to what, 42% of the vote. What kind of democracy is that? Let's say the Green Party (and I'm no fan) gets 5% of the vote - why do they not get 5% of the seats. No wonder so many Canadians, and probably more this election, have lost interest in voting. They consider it a ripoff. And you know what, they are correct. The system sucks. All the progressive political stuff is happenin' provincially or locally in Canada. Eventually the federales I suppose will be brought kickin' and screamin' into the 21st century. Too bad they are still functioning like they are in the 19th.

odie441....that's a crock (I don't mean what you are saying, but what what you were apparently told), and Michael is absolutely correct. Anyway people in Canada have had ample opportunity to become bilingual by now. Quite frankly I am getting very tired of the whining from both unilingual anglos and francos. Isn't it about time we started looking for a third official language to learn and adopt? Bilingualism is one of the prices you pay, if you look upon it that way, to be Canadian as far as I am concerned. People, we need to move on with some fresh new ideas here. Not the same-old, same-old. It not Quebec but rather the Ouebec-Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto-Windsor corridor which is the principle Canadian problem, with their constantly treating the outlying areas of Canada as their colonies.

Well Stephen Harper doesn't agree with you guys. He feels federal party fortunes are very closely linked to the provincial scene as per the following article. Harper sees good news in budget woes I think Hamilton East was a litmus test for what's coming federally in the Hamilton area.

Cons 7.4%, from 13%, down 5.6% Libs 26.6%, from 51.7%, down 25.1% NDP 63.6%, from 29.1%, up 34.5% By-elections are the time that voters express their frustrations with the governemnt, because they know they can do so, without bringing down the government. This drop of 43.1% in support for the Cons is a very bad omen for Harper. I think people in Ontario are still quite angry about the policies of the previous Cons government.

Bylaw officers remove Mills' signs Perhaps Mills really is brain-dead.

Liberals Move Into Solid Majority Territory But Voters Still Volatile 2000 Canadians surveyed May 7-9 & 11-13, 2004 Margin of error: + or - 2.2%, 19 times out of 20 Canada Bloc 11% Cons 24%, down 2% Grn 5% Libs 40%, up 2% NDP 15%, down 1% Oth 4% Liberals now have a 16% lead over the Cons, and the Cons have a 9% lead over the NDP. British Columbia Cons 23%, down 11% Grn 10% Libs 37%, up 15% NDP 30%, up 7% Alberta Cons 51%, down 1% Grn 4% Libs 29%, up 8% NDP 10% Saskatchewan/Manitoba Cons 31%, down 6% Libs 37%, no change NDP 25%, up 8% Ontario Cons 26%, no change Grn 5% Libs 49%, up 1% NDP 16%, down 4% Quebec Bloc 46%, up 5% Libs 31%, down 5% Atlantic Canada Cons 28%, up 9% Libs 48%, down 6% NDP 20% Canada-Wide Seat Projections: Bloc 54-58 Seats Cons 56-60 Seats Libs 171-175 Seats NDP 17-21 Seats As 155 seats are required for a majority, this poll does project a solid Liberal majority. It also shows however, the Cons and the Bloc running nip and tuck for Official Opposition, and a political disaster for both the Cons and the NDP.

Ken Dryden's future as a Liberal up in the air? So is Ken Dryden now getting cold feet? He says he is going to take the weekend to make his decision. Perhaps Ken might be perusing the Hamilton East by-election results, and the NDP momentum as he comtemplates his future. Regardless of his decision, I don't think life is going to change much for Mr Hockey.

These election results confirm all the polling which has shown the NDP seriously rising in popularity, and with this kind of momentum, is a very good omen for the NDP going into the federal election campaign. I just hope that the Cons vote does not completely collapse. otherwise it will be difficult to prevent the Liberals from acquiring another majority government. I wonder what can be done to help prop up the Cons, as their showing was a disaster. Cons 7.4% Grn 1.9% Libs 26.6% NDP 63.6%

Now there's a deep thought. Liberals, I believe, think Canadians are brain-dead. One would think after years of saying one thing, when one crosses the floor, one would have the smarts to keep a low profile, but no these clowns think they come with bragging rights, which often leads to ridicule at their own expense. Do you know any Canadian politician who has successfully crossed the floor? I cannot think of any off hand. Actually what the Liberals are really saying with that comment, is that a vote for the Conservatives or the NDP is not a vote for the Liberals. Well, duh!

Poor Larry zolf. Is there a Liberals Anonymous he could attend? He really is a broken record. Attack ads

Liberals plan early ad attack on Harper This could seriously backfire on the Liberals.

How the GTA pays the freight for Confederation in Ontario I don't know why Mills even bothers to run, as he is done like dinner. Everything I am hearing says that the Liberals are in serious trouble in the GTA.

Voter anger makes an Agostino dynasty unlikely

It is not racist, but people scorned will use every tool at their disposal to win an argument. There is no question what happened in Burnaby-Douglas will have an impact on the vote, as it contributes to destroying this image of a progressive Mr Democratic Deficit. Martin may well rue the day he ever used that term